Bother Quote by David Byrne
“When it became easy enough to do dairy online, then I just thought, "Oh, I'll start doing this. I'll put the parts online that aren't going to get me in trouble. I'll save the rest for myself." It became also this kind of self-therapy. I could write about stuff that was bothering me, or personal stuff. And the very personal stuff I could edit out. But it was kind of the catharsis of getting it out and writing about it, that made me think, "Okay, I see why people do this, why they keep these diaries." So I thought, "Well, let's see what happens when I post some of it."”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, “David Byrne on Diary Culture”, 2014
The speaker describes using online diaries as a safe outlet for personal thoughts, editing sensitive parts, and experimenting with public sharing as a form of self‑therapy.
In simple terms: Online diaries let you vent, edit, and test sharing personal thoughts.
Key Takeaway
Use writing to process emotions, then decide what to share.
Themes
self‑expression
therapy
privacy
digital media
creativity
Mood
introspective
reflective
Type
personal
therapeutic
observational
When to use this quote
- personal journaling
- online blogging
- mental health coping
- creative writing
Key Concepts
catharsis
self‑reflection
boundary setting
Questions to Reflect On
- What parts of your inner life feel safe to share?
- How does editing affect the authenticity of your expression?
A Different Perspective
Public sharing may expose vulnerability and invite unwanted judgment.
![“Yes, we are [friends] and I do like to pass the day with you in serious and inconsequential chatter. I wouldn't mind washing up beside you, dusting beside you, reading the back half of the paper while you read the front. We are friends and I would miss you, do miss you and think of you very often…” quote by Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e87/jeanette-winterson-166_bother_yes-we-are-friends-and-i-do-like-to-pass_771703.jpg)
![“Brad [Dourif] would tell himself that he was not intentionally trying to mimic Jack Nicholson in any way. I think that actually bothers him a little bit. I just think maybe they have similar voices.” quote by David Kirschner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cfe/david-kirschner-22403_bits_brad-dourif-would-tell-himself-that-he-w_478.jpg)
