The GDGF had the bright idea that, in the spirit of the Blorgy, ten local bloggers should interview each other in a rapid fire Q&A session of about ten questions and post the results simultaneously. Here, I interview Darcey of Strip Search City. If you’re interested, you can check out Joseph’s interview with me over at Monotonous. This interview was conducted Monday night over instant messenger, and has been edited some for typos and grammatical snafus, but not for content.

Rusty: If you’ve read someone’s blog for a while before meeting them in real life, how different are people generally than the impressions of them you’ve built in your head, and why do you think that is?

Darcey: When you’re reading someone’s blog, you begin to develop assumptions to fill in the “holes” that you don’t know about their life. You string together bits of information based on what they provide you with — much like editing on so-called reality TV shows, the blogger self-edits and becomes a character of sorts. So, when you meet them in person, you’re getting the whole package, rather than this specific facet (or few facets) of their personality that they’ve demostrated through their blogging.

Rusty: What first attracted you to blogging, and what keeps you doing it?

Darcey: I met a blogger at a UGA/Auburn game post-party in 2002. He gave me their site’s address, told me to check it out. When I got home, I spent some time reading their stuff, and thought it was hilarious. I started my first blog within a day or so after that, and it kept going for nearly 2 years before taking a brief hiatus. It was a way for me to vent, to entertain, to keep my friends up to date on my life. (Yes, it’s selfish, but it’s fun.) I started this most recent incarnation at the end of March, as I needed to change things up a bit. Now I see it as a way to share my viewpoints, my various activities (hashing, college football, dating life), and just general day-to-day life.

Rusty: What’s different about the image you project on your blog versus how you are in real life?

Darcey: I try not to censor myself on my blog (unless it’s going to hurt someone’s feelings), so I’d like to think that there isn’t much of a difference between “The Muse” and “Darcey.” However, I know that’s not the case. I think I’m far more introspective in real life, and much less “on” all the time. I don’t delve into too many depressing or serious topics in my writing, as I want to keep it lighthearted and interesting and my own escape from everything else. There are times that I go back to read a post to make me laugh at myself. That’s the point.

Rusty: At what point does an employer have a right to protect its corporate interests by holding something an employee blogged in his/her free time against them, and/or at what point is an employer butting into the blogger’s personal life? In other words, how much do you think a blogger should be able to write about work without a reasonable expectation of repercussions?

Darcey: I think that a blogger’s responsibility is to NOT name the company or list any direct identifying characteristics of the company to protect their own interests. If a blogger is giving proprietary information, trade secrets, information on business deals, etc., then a company should be allowed to protect its investment by releasing the offender of their employment. However, a company would definitely be overstepping its boundaries should they be reprimanding the blogger for venting menial gripes about their office environment (without naming names, of course).

Rusty: Do you forsee yourself blogging in ten years? Why or why not?

Darcey: I definitely think that I’ll be using some sort of public forum to express myself, whether that expression is blogging, through artwork, or maybe spending my time actually writing a novel (which I have been promising/threatening for years).

Rusty: Do you have an idea of what type of novel you want to write (i.e. what it’d be about)?

Darcey: I’ll happily admit that the book would fall under the category of “chick lit” — something entertaining and a perfect uplifting beach read… girl wants boy, girl goes through a million things to get boy, boy is an ass (as they tend to be), girl leaves boy and finds a better one (who happened to be in the background all along)… or some variation on that nonsense.

Rusty: Do you think some people are overly snobby about what they read? Or do you think some people’s derision for “beach novels” (chick lit, Tom Clancy, etc.) is legitimate?

Darcey: I think there are those types, yes. I have some friends who would never stoop down to read something of the “beach novel” variety, because they don’t see it as worth their time. However, reading is not only to learn information about a subject, but to enjoy yourself. No, it may not teach someone about quantum physics in that kind of story, however, it will entertain someone, maybe provide a bit of inspiration. I can say that many of those types of books have both served as a way to relax (and avoid watching unnecessary tv), and as inspiration for me to get off my ass and try something new.

Rusty: Why did you post pictures of your boobs ( . ) ( . ) ?

Darcey: Because they are frequently topic of conversation, and I felt like just confronting the topic head on. And mostly, because I damn well felt like it.

Rusty: Why did you feel you needed to confront the topic?

Darcey: Maybe confronting the topic may have been too aggressive a word. I was looking to talk about it. I’ve mentioned the focus on them in passing, and joking. I just figured it would be amusing to just get it out there. And I like the attention.

Rusty: What were your first impressions the first night you met me?

Darcey: I had only read your blog maybe once or so before that, so I didn’t have any preconceived “blogger assumptions.” I thought you were entertaining, sarcastic, and could completely understand how you fit in the group dynamic. Oh, and you liked your beer.

Rusty: Okay, final question. WTF?

Darcey: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot…

Darcey: I don’t know, exactly, WTF. That would be like trying to understand the sudden loudness of my upstairs neighbors with their somersaulting hippo breeding.