Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Art and life in a voyeuristic society

It used to be that to learn your neighbor's dirty secrets, you had to don a trenchcoat and peep through their window. Or go through their trash, or buy a pair of good binoculars. Now all you need is the URL for their blog or to know the forums where they like to post.

I haven't been going to online forums for long, so I'm still amazed at what people are willing to divulge: polyamorous relationships, abusive spouses, runaway children, nasty diseases. Others of us are more circumspect, a few get offended, most of us like to gawk.

A friend sent me a link to a website, PostSecret, where people share their secrets--dirty, funny, touching, fascinating, and sometimes tragic. "I was off my meds when I broke up with you," one reads. "I had to go back on them to live with what I'd done." Best of all, the secrets are sent in anonymously on one side of a home-made postcard.

"Before you marry her, you have to know she slept with three guys on the night of her bachelorette party!"

The tragedies and triumphs of everyday life combined with art. And you don't have to hide in the bushes.

4 comments:

FairiesNest said...

This is one of the best posts I've read in a while...too funny!

Callooh Callay said...

So nice of you, fariesnest. I just started this blog so it's good to get the feedback.

Bridget said...

great commentary on the modern world

Callooh Callay said...

Thanks, bridget!