On the subject of "locked" posts...

[the_eggwhite]

Just as a kind of "I hope it's not me" kind of thing, and a reassurance, as I know some folks start to worry about locked posts.

As a general rule, I only lock certain kinds of posts:

Type 1: Game related stuff... If I'm running a game and need to communicate with other involved people (STs or specific players) then I'll often do so via locked posts, visible only to relevant parties (particularly common for the assorted LARPs I'm involved in).

Type 2: Work related stuff... Work related things, if I go into any kind of specifics, are available to my friends list only. This strikes me as common sense.

[Edit: Type 2.5: Occasionally it's easier to put up a locked post rather than send an email, such as if somebody's email is down or I can't remember their address. Such posts are normally brief and are unlikely to interest anybody besides the "addressee".]

Type 3: Massive Upheaval related things. This one is more complicated. On occasion, I may discuss things with small groups. These things will be locked to those groups only, and are usually me angsting or seeking advice over things that affect me deeply on a very personal level. However, these are always things which will come out anyway... I'm just a very private person, and sometimes getting the news out is a difficult thing for me. I find that doing it in stages helps, and so talking to a few first makes talking to many easier. Things from these posts will become public over time.

Example: When I broke up with sea_cucumber... Some people knew the whys and wherefores before others. Everyone knew before long... I just don't like announcing things on that scale as a "hey everybody" kind of thing. I will always try to control the way that such news is spread, especially when other people's feelings are involved, but it will be spread. I advocate care and responsibility in the transfer of information, but not complete restriction of it.

If you notice from the calendar widget that I have private posts, it is probably a Type 1 or a Type 2 [Edit: or a Type 2.5].

If it's a Type 3, don't worry about it. If you're the kind of person who knows me well enough to worry about Type 3's then you'll probably be able to read them.

Comments

[nemy.livejournal.com]

Not that I have any axe to grind either way but what brought this on?

[eggwhite.livejournal.com]

Reading one of cryx's recent posts and going "huh?", then going back through old friends list posts and seeing much angst caused by people posting locked entries.

It transpires that when you post a locked entry (friends group entries, etc...) it puts it on your calendar that you've posted, but people can't see it. Recently I've been posting a lot of locked posts (CamUK & Darkages ST stuff), thus announcing to the world at large that I've been saying stuff that you can't read (Muhahaha!).

So I thought I'd just say outright that I'm not bitching at people behind their backs, mocking folks for their beliefs where they can't see it or any other related evils.

Also lets people I've angsted at in the past via locked posts know that I'm not having a massive angst fest now (hidden in a flurry of locked posts)... just a lot of ST chatter...

[nemy.livejournal.com]

ah I see. Just one of the inherent evils of LJ I think. I think Borusa has commented similarly on said causes of paranioa.

I'm less bothered by that I must admit. People talking behind your back is something that human beings do. Whether its malicious or they are plotting your next birthday gift. Another thing I've also noted because of one of the staunch republicans I have on my LJ friends list, is people who post to select groups to avoid heated political debate. Sometimes its just too much hassle (a sentiment I agree with) to be open to all if you get 15 posts disagreeing with you or correcting you on your grammar.

These days I also usually discuss anything personal with those closest to me. I find that the electronic medium of LJ leads to far too much detachment. But thats just a personal view.

[sea-cucumber.livejournal.com]

*nods*
A lot of people have mentioned this today!
I have 4 segments of my LJ. one for strangeness, one for camarilla posts, one for sabbat STs and one for project of doom. They are more divided up so people don't get bored by gaming talk or me being varying levels of weird, or so people don't find out the plot!! :D

[izzy-stradlin.livejournal.com]

i don't bother with friends posts mainly. mind you, i think thats because i know most of thepeople on my friendslist well enough to trust them. plus, i tend to forget that such an option exists....

[blue-cat.livejournal.com]

Yes. I have a variety of groups besides friends only.

I have 4 for specific people only (eg. charliemouse) for when I want to send an 'e-mail' to one person - or with hubbie, for specific discussions.

I have a Women only group for icky girly stuff whinging - a sort of 'ok girls, lets go to the ladies for one of those chats....'

I have one for Cam stuff.

I have one for Real Life friends only - like people who already know my home address - as I am weird about using my real name and would never put my real address here.

I had one for people going to Buckland house.

I tend to vary what I post - it really depends who might read it. Sometimes it is friends only more because there are specific people who are NOT on my friends list that I specifically do not want to know certain stuff. - so yeah, I do that. But if I do then there is a reason, and it is very unlikely to be a whine / rant about people and more, this is private stuff.