I came across something unexpected during my visit last week in San Francisco, a city deeply immersed in technology and social media.While reconnecting with a former colleague well steeped in the ways of the Internet and blogosphere, I learned she was essentially blogging offline. (In talking to Andrew Getsey over at Atomic Public Relations about it, I liked his term -- analog blogging.)My colleague and a few of her friends have created what is known as a circle journal. While others are posting the most intimate details of their lives online for the world to see and read, her group of friends is sharing personal thoughts and experiences with each other using paper and pen.The circle journal is not about rejecting technology. It is recognition that private conversations are not only personal; they are powerful. Friends share their emotions in their own handwriting.Describing her experience, she said,"We don't write anymore. It's a way for us to stay connected even though we live in different cities. It's safe; but it's dangerous. It's about trust. It's also a physical thing. I can see their heart beat in their writing. It's raw. Typing is very different. With circle journals, there is no spell check. There are no penalties for sloppiness."Ultimately, it's not about expanding your audience. It's not about instant gratification. Its power is in keeping thoughts private and physically holding friends' trust in your hands in a journal that moves from one person to the next and back again - full circle - in the time it takes to write and mail a document.At first glance, this topic may seem off message, but it goes to the heart of online conversation. As professionals we are so focused on what people are saying on blogs and social networks. At its best, social media facilitates open and honest conversations. It fosters engagement and customer loyalty. At its worst, its irreverence and lack of decorum can blur the boundaries between public and private, decent and indecent, respect and disrespect.For social media advocates, it's easy to forget there are limits to transparency. Not everything is suited for corporate blogging and public disclosure. Power is not always found in wide distribution. That's often a lesson lost on many in the MySpace generation who may someday regret the utterly personal pictures they post online. Circle Journals are also a reminder of the many conversations that don't make it online.Living in a world where reputation is everything, I would not participate in a circle journal, but I can appreciate their allure.They represent to me a basic desire to build connections that can only exist in the private sphere. It reinforces the need to be selective and vigilant in what we say, when we say it and how we say it.Let me get back to you.Technorati Tags: Circle Journal;Blogging;Save to del.icio.us
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