October 30, 2003
People I've Known
I've been thinking a bit more about an idea I proposed here a couple weeks ago -- documenting all the people I've known. It's been in the back of my mind since then, sitting patiently, waiting for me to devote a little more time to it. Today, after looking at Matt Haughey's "Ten Years of My Life" project, I'm a little more inspired.
Matt is documenting the next 10 years of his life. Whereas he's looking forward, my project would be backward-looking, creating a sort of auto-biography through descriptions of other people -- what I write would, of course, say as much about me as about the person I'm writing about. It would be made up of anecdotes, primarily, since many/most of the people I'd be writing about I have no photograph of, no website or book or whatnot to reference.
There are lots of things to consider: Should I include full names? Am I potentially violating others' privacy? How should I organize it? Should I lump everything about a person into a single entry, or should I just make multiple entries for a person that can then be organized together as a category or something? I'll think about that as I develop the idea further.
I really want to do this. The nice thing is, there's no deadline and I don't have to write something every day.
Posted by Andrew Huff at October 30, 2003 01:52 PMI think it depends on what you say about them, Andrew. Of course, I doubt you'd take the time & use your space here to slam anyone...but I also doubt you can find something nice about everyone you've met. Althou, if you want someone to find you, use their real name...they're bound to google themselves and wa-la, you come up! OK, I haven't given you an answer, does that really surprise you? But I do think multiple entries...esp for those of us *ahem* who have had multiple roles in your life.
Posted by: Roni at October 30, 2003 04:32 PMI've been thinking about something similar, and started thinking about it more since you wrote about your idea. There's definitely people in my life who I've lost track of. I don't really want to write details about all of them, but like Roni says - they're bound to Google themselves at some point. If I made a list of "People I've Lost Track of, and Wonder What Happened to," (I know, bad grammar), they would come across their name and get in touch with me if they want.
I think if I found someone was writing details about me online, it might bother me. Especially if it's someone I'm not really in touch with now. Just my ramble.
Posted by: shokufeh at October 30, 2003 06:30 PMWow-- thats a great idea. I always find it amazing that all I can remember about the majority of the people I have met is stange anecdotes or silly details like the type of shoes they wore or the way they talked. Anyway great idea-- wish I thought of it (or had the time & tenacity to do it).
Posted by: Craig at October 31, 2003 01:32 PMOh one more thought-- I think a cool way to graphically present this concept online would be to scan a photo of say a group shot or elementary school yearbook page and then making mouse overs links on each person in the photo that would pop up a small window with the anecdote.
Posted by: Craig at October 31, 2003 01:35 PM