Telling it like it is
By Guo Shuhan (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-11-26 10:51
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A new tool of communication called the 'drift diary' is doing the rounds among young college graduates. Guo Shuhan reports.
There was a time people wrote personal diaries, those repositories of one's most intimate thoughts, an unfailing refuge from a cruel world. With the dawn of the Internet age the diary died, but heralded the birth of blogs, or Web logs. But if the advent of the "drift diary" in China is any indication, life has come full circle. Except, these diaries are not about being private but rather are about opening up, to total strangers.
The "drift diary", like those ancient paper messages stuffed into a bottle left to drift on the high seas to reach some kindred soul hundreds of miles away, connects lonely hearts.
For a student of Northwest University in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, becoming an anonymous diarist has so changed his life that he no longer skips classes.
The "drift diary" was first started by a Beijing woman, who goes by the Net name Little S, in 2007.
It has becoming the preferred tool of communication among youngsters afraid to reveal their innermost self to peers, but nonetheless crave to share their lives with others.
The way it works, explains Li Meng, a Beijing sophomore who launched her diary in a blog posting in May, is that the initiator of the diary mentions it on popular Internet forums such as Tianya and Douban.
Those wanting to react or otherwise add to the diary then send their real names and addresses to the initiator via e-mails or text messages. The numbers in one group are usually restricted to between 30 and 50.
The diary then passes on to another person by express delivery or personal handover. The diary writers are mostly anonymous but if they wish to reveal their identity they can do so by posting their contact information at the end of their postings.
Typically, a group of diarists comprise university students and graduates, aged between 20 and 30, Li says.
It usually takes one year for a diary to return to the initiator.
The last recorder is the luckiest one, with access to all previous entries, while others can request photocopies of these from the diary's initiator.
"Writing a diary allows people to step back and record their busy lives," Li says.
Nearly 50 people, mainly from Beijing and Guangdong, have so far joined her diary.
A quick look at popular Chinese Internet forums shows diary activities being launched frequently in big cities.
The diary writers add not just words but also embellish the plain notebooks with cartoons, drawings or even dress it up with a ribbon or a new cover.
Every initiator of the diary is free to add his or her requests to the writers.
Li, for example, asks that each new entry is accompanied by a small gift for the next person.
Interesting experiences, travel logs, the simple joys of everyday living or sweet recollections of childhood, all find a place in these diaries.
Most often, though, the writers pen their frustrations and dilemmas.
Li says she started the diary at a time when her life was mired in confusion. She had no idea what the future held. Desperate for a way out, she reached out to others with her diary and is now eagerly waiting for its return carrying words of wisdom.
Some claim to derive courage and inspiration from the entries.
Chen Yueyuan, a senior high school student in her third year in Xi'an, says she launched her diary after reading about it in a magazine. A former participant recalled how the "drift diary" had changed his attitude toward life.
"He said he felt like redeeming his lost youth," Chen says.
The diary's popularity has even lured one company to use it as a promotional tool.
The Guangzhou Teyuedian Cultural Event Planning Company, wanting to design novel communication events for youngsters, has organized a series of seven diary rounds.
"The first five diaries threw up many stories of unrequited love," says Grace Lu, from the company. "Maybe, the writers felt at ease after telling their stories to strangers."
Peter Hanwuji (not his real name), in his 20s, a three-time participant of the diary rounds, says it is a unique way to extend his friendship circle and know what his peers are thinking about.
Li Meng says once her diary returns, she will make photocopies of it for the group, to express her gratitude.
Chen Yueyuan, on the other hand, wants to auction the diary online. The money raised, she says, will go to charity.