Sharing, Judging, and an Exercise in Selfishness

I read an article on sharing today (very sciencey so not really that related to this post), but it did get me thinking about my attitudes on sharing.  I consider myself a pretty open person in that if someone asks me something about my life, I’ll answer it honestly.  I am plain so there is not much to hide.  I understand people who don’t want to talk about themselves.  Maybe they think it is pointless or the other person will not understand; people live their own way.  I’m also not like a Japanese author who pours his soul into his book so it is exposed to all.  Really people who want to know learn about me , so I guess so far that is a good policy.

Why do I understand people who don’t follow that policy?  Because I don’t follow it in sharing things I like.  Ask me what my favorite book or song is and I’ll probably not give you an answer.  One because I don’t really think of art in those terms and two because I think there is no point in telling others.  I do like it when others give me book, song, and TV shows recommendations, but I think it is common knowledge that by giving others a recommendation, you are exposing yourself to judgment. 

I don’t think it is wrong to judge those things.  If someone recommends me a book I don’t like, I’ll judge them on it because they liked it.  Just means we have different tastes.  Judging isn’t bad; it is just a way to organize data in the brain.  Still people don’t like to be judged for their tastes so that could be a reason I hesitate on giving recommendations. 

I’ve mentioned deep personal stuff and recommendations, but even everyday life gets shared. With Facebook (and blogs ahem), people now share their ordinary thoughts and feelings to the world.  Last summer I wanted to take a lot of photos of things I’ve done and share it with people.  I think it was part I wanted to prove to people I didn’t really sit around all day and to keep up with others who throw out their daily life on Facebook too. 

I realize how pointless a lot of that is now.  Things like taking pictures and posting them has a sharing element to them, but I think it is better used to organize your memories.  I mean why else do we take pics but to look back on them later with nostalgia.  I use this blog to organize my thoughts for myself, hence why I may leave some thoughts unspoken because they feel obvious to me.  Yeah I share this blog with people but I would be just as content by writing all this in a word document and saving this on my computer.  Selfish or not? I don’t really know.  Depends on if these words are worth being read by anybody other than me.

Overall I think I'm slowing growing into a person who shares less about myself.  I don't think there is a right or wrong way to go; more that you have to adjust it as you live.