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A therapeutic idea I wanted to share (lemmy.world)

submitted 4 months ago by Jeremy24k@lemmy.world to c/keepwriting@lemmy.world

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Hi everyone, I'm relatively new here. A few weeks ago I went through a complicated family situation, and I had no one to talk to about it. But I felt like I needed to get it off my chest. So I wrote a very intimate letter, saying all the things I didn't dare say out loud, and it helped me a lot. It was therapeutic, I'd say.

A couple of days later, once the storm had calmed down, an idea came to me. The thing is, I've been a web developer for about 3 years now, and I thought about creating a space – kind of like a social network or blog – where people could vent without pressure, without social noise, none of that. Just like a daily journal.

And that's what I've been working on for the past couple of weeks. So I'd like to know: does this sound interesting to you? Do you relate to anything I said? Do you think a site like this could help people? Anyway, I'm listening.

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[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 0 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

If it's too intimate to post on existing social media, IDK why I would post it on yet another website.

[–] Jeremy24k@lemmy.world 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

You're totally right. That's why I don't want to make another social network. The idea is more like a personal diary with an option for anonymous venting. The key difference: it's private by default, no public profiles, no followers, no post history. Each post is an anonymous island. And there would be a self-destruct option, like 'write and burn'. Just to let go of the weight, no likes, no digital identity. With that kind of extreme privacy, do you think it would make more sense?

[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 0 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Still requires trust that the people running the website won't misuse the data, and keep whatever they keep safe from hackers ...

[–] schmorpel@slrpnk.net 0 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Look, that's what a diary is for. In it's original form it's a paper notebook in which the person writes with a pencil. In modern times, people can also use a file or even a software on their computer. No, we don't need websites and webservices for everything, especially when it's intimate. "But what if I want to synchronize ..." I recommend the notebook, it fits in your pocket, it's also cheap and doesn't need electricity. You can use it for drawing, journaling, venting, drafting the next big novel ...

[–] Jeremy24k@lemmy.world 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Totally agree, a physical notebook is great, and writing by hand has its own magic that software can't copy. But there's a real difference between writing in a private diary and venting anonymously to the world. When you share something online:

The "letting go" feeling — like throwing a message in a bottle into the ocean. You're actually getting it out of your system and sending it away.

Knowing you're not alone — reading something from a stranger who felt the exact same way hits different. That shared experience is something a blank notebook just can't give you.

I'm not trying to replace paper diaries. I just want to make a digital option for when you feel alone and need to yell into a void where other people quietly listen.

[–] schmorpel@slrpnk.net 0 points 4 months ago

I agree, anonymously talking to others online is different from writing in a diary. But that's not so different than what we can do here with Lemmy (and before it got enshittified, Reddit) - where does your proposed solution differ from that?