Those of you who have been around for a while know that A Free Man originated as a site that was cleverly named after myself – my full name. I started to get a little nervous about internet pirates and also wanted to prevent coworkers or old high school acquaintances from finding the site. I wanted to be anonymous. To be able to say what I wanted without occasionally reckless or borderline libelous statements being attached to me forever. You never know, I may still make that run for president. For the most part, A Free Man works OK. If you google my name, this site doesn’t come up as a hit. Perfect.
But I occasionally still find myself lacking in the anonymity that I need. For example, I would love to chuck a huge therapeutic rant at the internets today. I would love to just vent, to use the full therapeutic capacity of my blog to get a whole load of minor frustrations off of my neck. That’s supposed to be one of the benefits of anonymous blogging. But I can’t, because despite the fact that Google doesn’t know who I am, a lot of people out there do. I can’t because a lot of what I want to rant about is other people. I can’t because Person X who reads this blog is related to person Y who would feature in the rant. I can’t rant about the real reasons that Christmas Day is filling me with dread rather than the emotion it should be filling me with because Person 1 is involved. Person 1 is a friend of Person 2 who knows Person 3 who reads this blog. The internet is great for making the world smaller, but sometimes a small world is just a little bit to small.
So, I’m stifled and stuck and a bit pissed off with no real venue to throw it out there. Maybe I’ll write my rant and not publish it. Or maybe I need another blog that I don’t let anybody read.
Or maybe I’ll just listen to a good album, like the one by the artists who released my choice for the fifth best album of 2008 – Jon and Roy. The Victoria, BC trio jammed their latest album, “Another Noon” into my inbox earlier this year and I just fell in love with it on the first listen. It’s dead simple – acoustic and folky with a tinge of the Carribean, a couple of guys with a guitar and various percussion. It’s low key, cheerful and just sublime – a little bit Jack Johnson, a little bit early Beck. These guys, to my knowledge, are unsigned so take some time to have a listen. Jon and Roy are the kind of musicians that are working their butts off for not very much recognition. So, if you like what you hear then strongly consider buying their album from 
.
Some machinations on the contest front. Arizaphale has called out her readers and even somehow managed to get links on blogs I’ve never heard of resulting in dozens of votes for her limerick. So this one may be wrapped up. I guess the invocation of Florida politics was prescient. The good news is that the Tagline contest is still wide open, so write me a new tagline by the end of business tomorrow for a chance at a marsupial pouch full of new music. AND stay tuned for the GRAND PRIZE contest which will be immune to political skullduggery, dodgy judging and will require very little effort (for the lazy among you).
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by People in the Sun
18 Dec 2008 at 17:07
I know what you mean. My anonymous blog is getting less anonymous every day. Which means that even if I say nice things about the people I know, it feels like I do it because they might read it. Which isn’t the case, but you know what I mean.
If you really need to vent, though, you can always visit my blog for a guest post or an unrelated comment. Anything goes. At least until I find a direction for this thing. Maybe next year.
And screw Christmas. Seriously. But not literally.
by headbang8
18 Dec 2008 at 17:15
Fuck Christmas. Fuck it, big time.
Oh, here’s a suggestion. Rant to their face, and hang the consequences. Then you can write about it, with a clear conscience.
by SSG
18 Dec 2008 at 18:47
dude, you’re welcome to come rant on my blog, no-one reads it anyways….
or set up iloveranting.blogspot.com that’s totally totally anonymous and rant your heart out. then send the link to me so i can laugh. no, seriously, do a free blogspot or .wordpress one, you can even password protect so you know who is accessing. it’s no good to keep it all in (she says). peace.
by Angel
18 Dec 2008 at 21:19
I really wanted to win one of your contests, but I’m creatively brain dead this week. So I’ll just watch someone else receive all those wonderful cds, and I’ll try not to think bad thoughts about them.
I understand what you mean about the blogging thing. I “say” I still write what I feel there even if I think someone might not like it, but the truth is I do hold back sometimes. I don’t think I censor myself as badly as some or even as much as I should, but there are things I’ve wanted to write that I haven’t just because I knew this reader or that one might be hurt by it. It’s weird. As I get older, I get less worried about pissing off people, but more worried about actually hurting someone.
But a big problem I have, one of the things that made me even start a blog is that some things don’t feel “said” or ranted if I know no one is going to read it. Blogging has spoiled me by making me feel better by knowing I’ve sent something important to me out there to be acknowledged by someone else.
You could always come up with a secret name, and I’ll let you guest post on my blog. I’m pretty positive the five people who read it don’t know you, so you could vent endlessly! I’ll even let you be all liberal and crap in your posts!
by admin
18 Dec 2008 at 22:16
PIS – How would one literally screw Christmas? I may take you up on that invite.
Headbang8 – That would be the best way to deal with it, wouldn’t it. Unfortunately I carry the recessive passiveagressive1 allele. Legitimately inherited.
SSG – The last thing I need is another blog, but again may take you up on the guest idea.
Angel – Don’t worry, the next contest (for the big prize) won’t require any work except for a statement that you want to win.
by The Unbearable Banishment
18 Dec 2008 at 22:41
Do you know the Canadian singer Luke Doucet? Or am I behind the 8-ball on him, as well as everyone else you recommend? I use to be fairly cutting edge. I don’t know what happened…
by JChevais
18 Dec 2008 at 23:46
There’s a “basement” blog out there that is meant for ranting anon. It’s run by a mommy blogger in Canada (Her Bad Mother) at http://herbadmother.blogspot.com. Maybe that can help?
by Gypsy
19 Dec 2008 at 00:59
This is why I am trying to remain completely anonymous on my blog. There are a few people in my every day life who know about it, but not many, and I’d like to keep it that way.
Good luck getting that rant out without alienating everyone.
by SSG
19 Dec 2008 at 01:34
that bad mother’s basement is quality. think I might send some stuff that way. sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet.
by courtney
19 Dec 2008 at 03:44
Sometimes I want to rant about the people I know in real life, but some of them read my blog. So it’s a no-go.
Sometimes the girl who runs And You Know What Else (in my blogroll) organizes a Blog Share, where you can guest post anonymously on someone else’s blog while someone anony-posts on yours. I’ve done it before, and it felt good to get all the feedback from people who don’t know me. I’ll let you know next time it comes up.
by mongoliangirl
19 Dec 2008 at 04:53
Oy vey, A Free Man! What am I going to do with you? Well, I’m going to continue to admit I’m lazy. ; ) And I’m also going to admit I have another blog. Yes. I. Do. I know it’s hard to believe I would have something ELSE to say since The Cusp is so full of writing about all kinds of pooh (sometimes literally, as you know), but I do. And I love it.
CONTEST FOR TAG LINE ENTRY (yes, I am even too lazy to go find the correct post for this).
A Free Man
-Stepping Up From Down Under
by Starrlight
19 Dec 2008 at 04:56
I have that exact same problem. I have another blog that is by invite only. Once or twice a year I vent and just email those folks I am ok with having a looksie.
by admin
19 Dec 2008 at 08:29
TUB – I have heard Doucet – he’s awesome! I tried to get a copy of his album for review but his record company is a bit flaky. He probably would have made this list.
JChev – Good call, I may check that out!
Gypsy – Yeah, you do a better job of anonymity. No pictures means no accidental discovery.
SSG – Are you going to rant about your boyfriend?
Courtney – I saw that last time and wanted to be involved, definitely let me know if she does it again.
Mongola – 1) What’s your other blog? Is it top secret. I may send you a mail in a sec, cause I’ve got a ranting plan.
2) That is a great tagline – potentially the best so far. Shame you didn’t leave it on the right post. I mean, rules are rules for everyone.
Starr – The invite only thing’s a good idea. I just couldn’t possibly maintain two blogs.
by mickey
19 Dec 2008 at 09:26
I consider starting another blog from time to time, one that no one knows about, save the anonymous internets. I’ve also considered starting a blog I can share with my parents, and just putting the cleaned-up, non-controversial stuff on there. They like to read my stuff, but they can’t be privy to the Waitress.
by Jessica K
19 Dec 2008 at 10:12
I know a girl who started a blog just for this purpose. It’s all guest posts, you can do it anonymously by dropping it into her io account (whatever the heck that is) or you can come up with your own screen name. It’s sole purpose is the spilling of the things you can’t say on your own blog. She does reserve the right to edit anything TOO very offensive. The site is bartenderface.blogspot.com Maybe you can get some of the junk off your chest over there!
by arizaphale
19 Dec 2008 at 10:40
I have a blog friend in Illinois whom I occasionally email with the ‘real’ story. It helps.
by heather
19 Dec 2008 at 15:31
But now you are looking for hidy holes in hidy holes.
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by A Free Man’s Top 10 of 2008: No. 4 - Frightened Rabbit - “Midnight Organ Flight” and THE GRAND PRIZE! | A Free Man
22 Dec 2008 at 13:07
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by admin
23 Dec 2008 at 20:53
Mickey – You’re never really naughty on your site, are your parents a bit of a PG crowd?
JK – I’ll check that site out.
Ariza – Me too, but not Illinois.
Heather – I know. Bizarre world isn’t it?
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by Laying round in bed on a Saturday morning | A Free Man
31 Dec 2008 at 13:04
[...] 7. Frank Turner – “Love, Ire & Song” 6. Vampire Weekend – “Vampire Weekend” 5. Jon and Roy – “Another Noon” 4. Frightened Rabbit – “Midnight Organ Fight” 3. Okkervil River – “The [...]
by bluestreak
04 Jan 2009 at 04:58
This is precisely what is preventing me from having anything to say of late.
by velocibadgergirl
06 Jan 2009 at 23:23
Her Bad Mother’s Basement is another site where you can post anonymous rants. I almost sent one in about my father-in-law over Christmas