What's new? -----------> Me!!

[coldplay]

Originally posted by tommer
welcome to the ledge.

Now, i'm not referring to you personally, you are just one in a long line of "hiders". I donnow, maybe it's just me, but when someone introduces himself/herself online, i expect to know his/her gender, age, name... these kinda things. i find it a little impolite that there are ppl here who would post daily, yet won't reveal even the most general details about who they are.

Hey Tommer thanks for the welcome

You're very to the point which is great but I'm ambivalent about your post. I understand the need for personalised information but I find it unnecessary to know these things. My name, age, and gender say nothing about the decency of my character or what makes me tick.

One of the things that I like about the internet is that age and gender boudaries get broken down allowing us to focus on opinion, statement, and ability. Reading post by post allows me to engage with people's values and thoughts without imposing traditional generalisations upon them - be it conscious or unconscious.

That's nice relief from a world that tends to treat mature-aged people as less employable, teenage opinion as discountable while bestseller books divide the world into venus and mars oppositions.

I recently went to a party and took a friend. When she declared that she liked Michael Jackson she was asked how old she was. She replied "19". She was told "that figures..".

I really don't understand that comment because Jackson has fans of all ages. I also found it condescending towards her age.

In short, the 'blending in' you so dislike is what I actually enjoy.

Furthermore, if I had kids - I would encourage caution of disclosing personal information over the internet in ANY environment as friendly and trusting as it is. Hell, I even ask if there is third party disclosure of my email if I have to submit it in a real life situation.

However, in the spirit of sharing.... my name is Rochelle and I'm 32.

Cheers
CP