Today, I want to talk to you about blogs, online diaries, and web journals.

They're happy little things, aren't they? Just point your mouse here, a little clicky-clicky there, and your thoughts become boredom-reading for the rest of the Internet-enabled world.

I'm sure I'm not the only person out there who reads the journals of complete strangers when I'm bored (or procrastinating). I even know that complete strangers read my Deadjournal. There's a big difference, however, between reading a journal where someone throws out random commentary and reading a journal where someone actually confides his or her darkest fears and most personal wishes.

What happens when someone's entries seem to take a turn for the worse?

I have read so many journals lately--of friends and strangers alike--and I'm troubled by the trend that I see. I saw one girl's journal last night; the entire thing centered around each time she'd gotten stoned every day. She even commented that she'd noticed that she was having trouble speaking correctly lately, and then, she said she'd just have to learn to live with it.

What if someone vows to kill himself or herself in a journal entry? What should you do? Dismiss it as an idle threat? Post a comment saying, "You don't know me, but I don't think you should kill yourself?" Personally, I'm confused about what to do. This isn't exactly something Miss Manners would cover--but you do feel that sense of responsibility for someone's life. The anonymity of the Internet kind of prevents you from taking action, though...

This has bothered me so much that I used it as a basis for the screenplay I wrote for my Broadcast/Film Writing class. I, um, even stole the screen name of the blogger who'd threatened to kill herself. I wish I knew what happened to her...she deleted her journal a few weeks ago.

The psychological ramifications of reading someone else's journal are numerous, and I think this is a problem that should be addressed if it hasn't been already. How can you comfort a suicidal stranger? What do you do with the guilt if the stranger goes through with the act? I just don't know...

Ah, my pretty hash browns...soon you will be mine! $3.51 and counting...

Must have 5 to reach Second Hash Brown Goal: (five)
I get hash browns! Eventually.

Helen