share and share alike
A lot of people are talking about Emily Gould’s story in the NYT Magazine about her history as a serial blogger and her discovery of the consequences of writing for everyone about pretty much everything in her life. What I find most interesting about the story is the word Gould uses to describe her addiction to blogging about her intimate experiences: “oversharing.” As in: “Of course, some people have always been more naturally inclined toward oversharing than others. Technology just enables us to overshare on a different scale.” Of herself, she writes, “I’m an oversharer.”
Now, Gould didn’t make up the word. But it’s pretty much the only one she uses to describe her habit, and I can’t help noting that it makes endless self-revelation sound like a species of generosity — as though Gould is saying, Darn it, I just can’t help myself, it’s just my nature to give. Well, that’s one way to put it; but there are others that wouldn’t be so self-flattering.
alan, i saw your new book at my local independent bookstore, and i thought, “you know, i would be much more likely purchase this if i knew alan jacobs the person, not just the intellectual.” so how’s the marriage going?
— razib · May 23, 03:34 AM · #
I mean this as praise, but I really hope you never have cause to critique my writing, Alan.
— Justin · May 23, 05:13 AM · #
I thought of reading that article, but when it comes to the petty dramas that swirl around someone’s public sharing of their petty dramas, I’m an undercarer.
— Matt Frost · May 23, 10:16 AM · #
Hanna Rosin’s December ’07 profile of Elizabeth Edwards for TNR used “overshare,” too. The giving argument was actually quite convincing in that context:
http://www.brijit.com/abstract/9932/The-Revealer
— Maureen · May 23, 11:59 AM · #
Thank you, Matt. I now have my own self-description: I’m an undercarer.
And razib, I’m an old-fashioned guy: instead of blogging about my marriage, I plan to write a How To Be Happily Married book, make a few bucks, and then get a divorce.
— Alan Jacobs · May 23, 01:36 PM · #
I hope that marriage book would sell since you’d have to give up your job as Kilby Professor – congrats (which certainly came with a big pay jump?). Well deserved in my alumni opinion.
— Randy · May 23, 03:04 PM · #
Justin, as a former student of Dr. Jacobs (just one class), I can attest that it is indeed a nerve-wracking experience to hand the man a paper, and a humbling experience to receive said paper back with his critique. But he made me a better writer.
— Karl · May 23, 03:21 PM · #
Thank you kindly, Karl. And Randy, I’m sorry to report that there have been no big raises from Wheaton College — or from The American Scene. Sigh.
— Alan Jacobs · May 23, 06:01 PM · #