In general why do you read journals. Specifically, why do you read this one?

Yes, curiosity (and a discussion on a mail list I read this morning) got the better of me. Heh.

-- Catherine (catherine@cmjcom.com), October 07, 1999

Answers

hi catherine

i read your journal because you are a far more articulate version of me. Reading your journal every day puts me in touch with you, and also, myself. My higher self. Why? I don't know.

jean

-- jean collins (lunarcy@cyberus.ca), October 07, 1999.

Why? Why do I read your journal? Why she asks? Well........ Lots of reasons..I learn..get ideas..it's like getting a letter from a friend...I like reading about feelings we all have, but can't or don't get out. I am fascinated by your pictures, your abililty to write..and reading your words helps me to open myself to my own feelings...thinking...relating. For a little while everyday..I am taken into your world..and I thank you Catherine,for sharing yourself..your talent with all of us.

-- Carol Peddle (cpeddle@netrover.com), October 07, 1999.

i read journals to find out what other people do, and why. i'm fascinated with the different styles of expression - what makes one person matter-of-fact while another one is humorous, and another is dramatic? i like it when there are pictures to show me what the person looks like, and what else is important to them. i'm really curious.

i read this journal because i'm drawn to reading about creative people, especially the ones who have a multitude of different interests. naked eye covers a wide range of thoughts and experiences, and gives me those pictures i crave. it's excellent.

ann

-- Ann Monroe (monroe@chorus.net), October 07, 1999.

I read online journals because I have been writing a journal since I was in High School-I write several times a day in my journal-I also like reading journals by other people-today in the mail I received a two books-one of the books is titled Emerson In His Journals Selected and edited by Joel Porte-Why do I read Naked Eye-because I like the way Catherine describes her Life-she is Real-honest-I like reading about her life-what she is thinking-doing-feeling-I like reading about her existence-what can I say more? I wish I knew people like Catherine in my neck of the woods-it is very rare to find someone willing to be real-to open up themselves-to share being human-woman- mother-well I suppose I will go Read-Jonny

-- Jonny Ray Keen (jonny@freenet.macatawa.org), October 07, 1999.

i read it because i know you and i care about you catherine - and it gives me hope as im just another unschooled artist trying to make it this world.

noin

-- noin (noen@asarian-host.org), October 07, 1999.

Because you're smart.

-- Anthony V. Toscano (atoscano@mindspring.com), October 07, 1999.

I read different journals for different reasons. Some of them for laughs....I know they will almost always make me laugh, and others to make me think. About what, you ask? anything and everything. =) Yours is both to me.

-- Alli (alli_f@yahoo.com), October 07, 1999.

The first answer that came into my brain (about why I read *this* journal) was, "Because it changes so often." I love the creativity that seems to just explode off the screen - neverboring, this is. *smile* Of course, good writing (and interesting thoughts) don't hurt. And why journals in general? I'm endlessly curious about how people "manage" their lives - the choices they make, their ideas about themselves and their world, the "background noise" - the things that inform choice almost out of awareness. I particularly like "mature" (*ahem*) journals - I have, sad to say, limited patience for the "UR SOOO KEWL BUT TEACHERS SUK" school of journaling. So why am I here? The site - graphics, writing, the whole package - is beautiful, interesting, and piques my curiosity - what *will* happen next? Don't stop, eh?

-- Catherine (hinesc@mindspring.com), October 08, 1999.

Understanding myself. Any one person is only a part of all a person could be. Getting to know how other people understand themselves and their place in the world helps me see where I am ungifted, ignorant, unjustifiably dismissive (and I think I'm so great). They help me be a better person (as I understand better as applied to people - compassionate, self-knowledgable appreciative and unselfish.)What we learn of ourselves in loving someone else (in the flesh) is echoed in what we devote our attention to in art (and journals are a product of creativity and a need to communicate like 'art' is). They can also be funny , they're like a soap opera and i don't underestimat sheer nosiness. But not every journal, very few of them do I return to , or like yours read every day. Is that because i feel a need to be more like you and I try to gauge what you're 'really' like or because I feel you're seeing the world in a complementary way? I don't know. But thinking about it keeps me coming back. And you have an eye for beauty. And a beautiful speaking voice. And an uplifting effect on me.

-- Chris Latimer (chris@clatimer.freeserve.co.uk), October 08, 1999.

Catherine, Your journal is educational, enterttaining, creative, opinionated and offers something to all of us that we can learn from. I also like the pictures that you are showing daily. We also have two kids that are 4 years apart and alot of what you are talking about is daja vu. I would make one reeommendation and that is to offer a link daily that you like. Most people who read your journal whould also like your interests. Good luck

-- Dale Wilkins (wsu737x@gte.net), October 09, 1999.

Journals, in general? Well, I used to read a lot of autobiographical books. Now I read fewer of those and more journals. I like people. I like listening to (or reading) them think about things. I used to work on a *crisis line*, for pete's sake;). This one? You're smart. You're funny. I admire you. You are gutsy (despite your protestations otherwise). You let us in *just as far as you're willing*. You are self-aware, mostly. You remind me of Canadian things (and yes, you remind me of the Atlantic ocean, for some reason). You love well. And, I enjoy it. Every single entry resonates somewhere within me.

-- Marianne Aldrich (marseillaise@hotmail.com), October 10, 1999.

Catherine: I happened to find your journal inexpectedly, and wish to congratulate you on the topics. It's not easy to find someone who is interested in profound themes, the ones you have hidden in your soul and cannot share with just anybody. Please keep this going on. Thank you again

-- Gloria Beauregard (globeau@hotmail.com), October 11, 1999.

This is a few months after the question, but I like this question. =) Reading any journal makes me think I /know/ that person. It's a nice feeling, if gives me an insider's look into someone else's life and makes me feel *special*, you know? Just like you feel when someone confides in you or tells you a secret...that feeling that you know the person and they appreciate you enough to tell you /things/. I love it. I get so very little of that sort of relationship (However false. It's what /I/ think, no? ^_^) in real life, that online it's a feast of knowing. Wonderful. -Brianna

-- Brianna Flynn (jtflynn@accessunited.com), February 07, 2000.