Human nature and Live Journal were two of my favorite topics over the course of the afternoon. We were in agreement that people often read the Live Journals of folks they don't know and just assume that from doing that they actually know who the person is and what they're about. I want to say that's sad but the truth is, that's how people function. We see a person or a situation and in order to make meaning of it we fill in the blanks with our own personal experiences and imaginations. We can't not do it. Down to the core humans are meaning making machines. But because everyone has a unique set of experiences in life, dozens of people can read the same Live Journal and each one can have a different interpretation or assumption of who that person is.
Hmmmm...I'd like to conduct an experiment here just to illustrate this. Perhaps I can find a neutral LJ out there somewhere and have everyone describe who they think that person is and what they're about. You'll be surprised by how dramatically different all the interpretations will be.
Anway, dinner with friends tonight. Off I go.