I’ve been writing recently about storytelling for healing and “memoirs-on-the-go” — autobiographical writing in blogs. (And, by the way, here’s a poignant take on a different kind of memoir through social media.)
An article by David Spark on SocialMediaBiz reminded me of a site that brings these concepts together and adds a third concept — anonymity.
Spark writes:
Experience Project (EP) is a unique social network in that it promotes anonymity. Most social networks focus on promoting yourself as a brand and connecting you to your friends by name. EP members are anonymous and are able to connect through each other’s stories. EP is not the first anonymous social network. It’s just the first one I know of that doesn’t have a predefined agenda. With other social networks joining them automatically identifies you as a rape survivor, someone suffering from MS, or some other ailment or a physical/emotional tragedy. While these social networks are all valid and helpful, people are first seen by their issue or ailment. It’s hard to break out of that image and when you overcome that issue, then there’s no reason to be on that specific social network.
As of this writing, anonymous contributors have shared nearly 3 million experiences (dare we call them “stories?”) on Experience Project, which launched in 2007 and describes itself like this:
As the world’s largest living collection of shared experiences. and the premier passions-based network, experience project is a comfortable and supportive place for individuals to share and connect with others around the things that matter to them most. With over 24 experience categories, experience project is the definitive online social conversation destination for people to connect with others who really get “it” — and them.
I’ve actually written about the Experience Project before — almost a year ago, and the site has clearly evolved since that time. While its intentions seem to have remained consistent, the site seemed a tad voyeuristic back then, while now it seems more bent toward helping people with issues realize they are not alone.
Spark interviewed users of the Experience Project about how the site “helped them cope with their concerns.” Anonymity was an important element in this particular healing storytelling.