Can people be studied by reading their blogs?

I don't think so. Would someone be able to understand me by reading my blog? Would they be able to draw a correct picture? Not really.
People only blog on certain issues, a blog is one window into their mind. But it is not the only window. There are several other angles, other windows, which together make up a person's life.
I recently read that recruiters try to gain more insight into a prospective employee by going through their internet profiles, blogs, etc. So I wondered, what would someone think about me if they read my blog? I think they would think the following or not know the following about me:

1. This blogger is very religious, thinks too much about religions all the time.
I am just another normal person. I take interest in the history of religions, cultures. But I am not obsessed about them to the point of being fanatic. It is not like I spend all my times praying or performing some rituals, in fact I can't remember when I last did some prayer ritual. I am more into spirituality rather than rituals, and I don't say that as an excuse. ;-)

2. O what a prude, what a bore, over-thinker:
Wrong! I think about right-wrong, ethics, morality, law, character etc. Well, that is part of what they try to teach us under "Corporate Governance", isn't it? So if I blog often on these issues, it doesn't make me a prude, it is just that I really feel for these issues, and talk about them because I do not believe in pushing things under the carpet and pretending like they don't exist.

3. Sad angry person:
I guess I have blogged so much on things that I find wrong in this world, I might come across as a pessimist, or somebody who is dejected with life or angry with the whole of mankind! Wow, it is not at all so. The kind of person I am, I can't silently shut up and tolerate wrong things. I do understand that not everything is perfect in this world. I have no problems with adjusting when things go wrong. But what makes me hurt is irresponsibility, unaccountability, callousness, apathy, laziness, liars, cheats. If something goes wrong inspite of our best effort, it is okay, it is the will of God. I appreciate people who put their heart into their bit of work, I like that attitude, the helpful nature, the desire to learn & improve, the responsibility to own up for errors & the will to rectify them. But what about when people intentionally do things wrong because they don't want to be better, because they want to take the easy way and make us suffer the consequence? What about people who refuse to discharge their minimum responsibilities/duties? I feel frustrated when I have to bear the brunt of such people in my life. Since I can't do anything else, I blog about it. Probably that makes my boiling blood cool down? It also builds my resolve, that I will never make another person suffer if I am in the position of control/authority. I also hope that if somebody reads such blog entries, it might register in their mind/heart too. Now if I keep on collecting such angry frustrated entries, I might sound like an angry sad person. I guess I should concentrate on blogging some happiness & cheer too :-)

4. There is so much in my real life that I never blog about. I never see myself blogging on IFRS or US GAAP, though studying accounting takes up most of my day. So this blog would really be a very incomplete picture of me.

5. Music. Indian classical music, Ghazals, such a huge part of my life. Though I contribute my bit to a cousin's music blog, I have never blogged on the part music plays in my life. And yet, it is a huge part of my life.

6. I lovvvve reading books, and I have never blogged about the books that I read, which leaves a huge hole in my blog character.

7. I have noticed a stark contrast between real life people and their internet profiles. The same could be true of me too! It is very easy to 'break the ice' in internet based social networking, it is faceless, a definite confidence booster. People may not be as aggressive or as egoistic in real life.

8. Talking of ego, since blogs are written by the author and are a one way communication, naturally, they may tend to sound egoistic. My blog might make me sound egotistic. After all, my blog is about my world and my perception of the world & its events. Real world communication is face to face, it is two way, has multiple stakeholders, it is not just my thought that matters, but another person's thought too. A blog cannot predict real life.

My blog is a part of me, it is not the whole me. In fact, it is a very small part of me!