Diaries Vs. Journals
2000-03-26 19:17:33
There are several important differences between diaries and journals. A diary is a record of events. A journal is a record of thoughts. In a diary, one tradionally writes about what is really happening in one's life. In a journal, one doesn't traditionally write about anything. One is free to write about anything one damn well pleases. A diary is self-indulgent, and often devolves into little more than whining. A journal is self-indulgent too, but it's more about feeding a need to express oneself creatively than blatant narcissism. A diary is probably more honest, but a journal is better reading. Also, I just don't like the word "diary." It's too damn girly. It calls to mind 14-year-olds with nothing more to say than "Dearest Diary, You Know Who smiled at me today! :) :) :)" The point is, lately I feel like I've been keeping a diary. I tell you about my plans for the day, and I whine a lot. I don't wanna be that person. I'd rather keep a journal. I've also been feeling kind of strange about Saturday's entry. You'll probably never meet me or D., but I don't think I have the right to go behind his back and tell the whole world what's wrong with him. (Yes, I am indeed aware that new entries are posted here with such alarming frequency that my entry drops off the chart within 15 minutes of me writing it. No one who isn't specifically looking for my entries is going to find them. Probably, no one will ever read this. But I can't take the chance that someone might.) So, I'm going to try something different for a while. Less general whining. Absolutely no whining about D. (He's nowhere near as bad as I describe him when I'm upset.) More Journal. DISCLAIMER: Ms. Ng did not mean to offend anyone who writes what she describes as a "diary." She is fully aware that she is writing in a place called "DiaryLand." Her decision to fly in the face of convention and describe her diary as a "journal" is probably just orneriness. Ms. Ng has nothing but the deepest respect for people who choose to air their dirty laundry in the relative public of a website, but she chooses not to. Different strokes for different folks. Ms. Ng would also like to note that although she often makes disparaging remarks about young people, (see above "fourteen-year-old" comment, as well as yesterday's remarks about college students) she wishes them nothing but the best. As a bitter 25-year-old, she desperately wishes she could return to the carefree, but of course desperately angst-ridden life of a teenager. --Neil Esolenos Esq., acting legal representative for Ana Ng and Ngco Industries.
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