(no subject)
Oct. 31st, 2012 12:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pacificpikachuHappy Halloween, everyone! I hope you all have a good one!
I have no plans for Halloween itself (orz, here I have all these great costumes but I don't know where I'd wear them), but I do have lots going on today. I'm going to be prepping for NaNo, listing some stuff on Ebay, caring for my critters, maybe finishing/scanning a drawing, and watching the season finale of Face Off. (I love Face Off, and if you like cosplay and cool monster-y type things, you should really check it out! It's inspiring and amazing.)
I was reading some articles on the decline of LJ last night, and that made me sad. It's true that the staff have made a lot of questionable decisions and pissed off the loyal users. I've been around reading about it through Strikethrough, Boldthrough, and many of the changes in the site's dynamics with user backlash. I've been here since 2004, though I actually started visiting the site in 2003 for the Wolf's Rain fandom.
I feel like, even though not as many people are using LJ, I still love LJ for the people on it and the format that has allowed for cohesive discussion that most other social sites can't match. I have made SO MANY friends that I would never have made otherwise, and it's not only that--it's the QUALITY of friends I've made. I feel like you guys aren't just casual online acquaintances, but people I know well and really care about, and wish to be friends with forever if possible. When I've met many of you in person, it amazes me--because there's always that moment of, "Ahhh, this person is a stranger!" and then after we've talked just a tiny bit, I go, "No, this is my good friend who I know lots about!" and everything gets really comfortable and happy and fun. It's because LJ is a journal--a place where you can air your thoughts and learn to know someone on a much deeper level than, say, Tumblr or Twitter or even Facebook. I wish we could all live near each other and hang out IRL all the time.
I keep thinking back to Gin's wedding, where I met several of you IRL at once and got to hang out with you guys, and those memories are just so wonderful. I think many of us felt sad to leave (myself definitely included), because we had such a bond of kinship and leaving that behind was hard. That week or so was an experience I will never forget.
Anyway, the point is, though I sometimes don't post constantly, though sometimes I forget or am too busy to leave comments, I plan on staying on LJ. It's because I've met some of the most wonderful people here, and I feel like I can be myself here and continue to post my thoughts, feelings, silly things, art, and more.
NaNo starts tonight and I feel rather unprepared, eek! I mean, I feel like I'm ready to take on my story, but I haven't done much prep as far as going to the site, figuring out strategies, connecting with anyone... Ahhh. But, it'll be okay! I'm going to try to finish my 50k as fast as possible!
My story this time feels very fruitful, like I won't have any lack of things to write about and it probably won't have any dead time. The difference between it and my other stories is that most of them are quieter, kind of slow, whereas this one is much less inhibited and busier. The other difference is I feel like I've struggled for a long time with characters who feel somewhat flat to me. I think I've tried to impose likability on my characters in the past (not all of them, but many) and their personalities are less instrumental to the story. They often are too polite, too ordinary, too flat. This time, the characters sort of took on a life of their own, taking on characteristics that I wouldn't have anticipated, and they're much more deeply flawed and interesting dynamic characters.
I still want to write about my story premise, I think I'll do that in a separate entry a bit later in the day. It'll be a good warm up and way to get the juices flowing.
Never did finish that Halloween fanfic. ;; There's something wrong with it, something I don't like but can't pinpoint. I'm trying to decide whether to rewrite it from the beginning or delete after a certain point or just stick with it. IDK, I'll finish it whenever I want to finish it, I guess. I still like my story idea and much of the character interaction in it, but as it is something's not working.
I have no plans for Halloween itself (orz, here I have all these great costumes but I don't know where I'd wear them), but I do have lots going on today. I'm going to be prepping for NaNo, listing some stuff on Ebay, caring for my critters, maybe finishing/scanning a drawing, and watching the season finale of Face Off. (I love Face Off, and if you like cosplay and cool monster-y type things, you should really check it out! It's inspiring and amazing.)
I was reading some articles on the decline of LJ last night, and that made me sad. It's true that the staff have made a lot of questionable decisions and pissed off the loyal users. I've been around reading about it through Strikethrough, Boldthrough, and many of the changes in the site's dynamics with user backlash. I've been here since 2004, though I actually started visiting the site in 2003 for the Wolf's Rain fandom.
I feel like, even though not as many people are using LJ, I still love LJ for the people on it and the format that has allowed for cohesive discussion that most other social sites can't match. I have made SO MANY friends that I would never have made otherwise, and it's not only that--it's the QUALITY of friends I've made. I feel like you guys aren't just casual online acquaintances, but people I know well and really care about, and wish to be friends with forever if possible. When I've met many of you in person, it amazes me--because there's always that moment of, "Ahhh, this person is a stranger!" and then after we've talked just a tiny bit, I go, "No, this is my good friend who I know lots about!" and everything gets really comfortable and happy and fun. It's because LJ is a journal--a place where you can air your thoughts and learn to know someone on a much deeper level than, say, Tumblr or Twitter or even Facebook. I wish we could all live near each other and hang out IRL all the time.
I keep thinking back to Gin's wedding, where I met several of you IRL at once and got to hang out with you guys, and those memories are just so wonderful. I think many of us felt sad to leave (myself definitely included), because we had such a bond of kinship and leaving that behind was hard. That week or so was an experience I will never forget.
Anyway, the point is, though I sometimes don't post constantly, though sometimes I forget or am too busy to leave comments, I plan on staying on LJ. It's because I've met some of the most wonderful people here, and I feel like I can be myself here and continue to post my thoughts, feelings, silly things, art, and more.
NaNo starts tonight and I feel rather unprepared, eek! I mean, I feel like I'm ready to take on my story, but I haven't done much prep as far as going to the site, figuring out strategies, connecting with anyone... Ahhh. But, it'll be okay! I'm going to try to finish my 50k as fast as possible!
My story this time feels very fruitful, like I won't have any lack of things to write about and it probably won't have any dead time. The difference between it and my other stories is that most of them are quieter, kind of slow, whereas this one is much less inhibited and busier. The other difference is I feel like I've struggled for a long time with characters who feel somewhat flat to me. I think I've tried to impose likability on my characters in the past (not all of them, but many) and their personalities are less instrumental to the story. They often are too polite, too ordinary, too flat. This time, the characters sort of took on a life of their own, taking on characteristics that I wouldn't have anticipated, and they're much more deeply flawed and interesting dynamic characters.
I still want to write about my story premise, I think I'll do that in a separate entry a bit later in the day. It'll be a good warm up and way to get the juices flowing.
Never did finish that Halloween fanfic. ;; There's something wrong with it, something I don't like but can't pinpoint. I'm trying to decide whether to rewrite it from the beginning or delete after a certain point or just stick with it. IDK, I'll finish it whenever I want to finish it, I guess. I still like my story idea and much of the character interaction in it, but as it is something's not working.
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no subject
Date: 2012-10-31 10:22 pm (UTC)I can tolerate all the pointless "streamlining" (taking out subject lines, converting the friend feed to endless scrolling, etc), and I can even tolerate the things that they end up breaking on accident (rich text editor, looking at you)... but when they change the layout in ways that start giving people headaches/migraines and then ignore the user complaints, it really bothers me. The new friend feed gives me a headache after about 30 seconds thanks to the large amounts of white, and this is coming from someone who doesn't usually get headaches. I can only imagine how bad it is for people who DO get headaches and migraines on a frequent basis. I'm planning to stick around LJ as long as pkmncollectors remains here, but if they don't give us the option of customizing or opting out of the new friend feed, I may have to abandon the personal side of LJ. (Or I guess I could power through the headaches for the 10-20 minutes a day it takes me to read my f-list, but I would prefer not to. I'm a wimp who likes to avoid pain when possible.)
Anyway, good luck with Nano!
no subject
Date: 2012-10-31 11:57 pm (UTC)I haven't tried the new f-list, but it doesn't sound good at all. D: I'm really hoping they let us keep the old style if we prefer it, because why wouldn't they? But, they do have such a terrible history of not listening...
If all else failed, I'd migrate to Dreamwidth maybe, but I do plan on staying here as long as possible unless they really screw things up. I'm debating whether I'll renew my paid account, though...
no subject
Date: 2012-11-01 12:18 am (UTC)Good luck with Nano this year! <3 I decided to opt out this year due to school but I will be rooting for all of my online buddies in their novel-making. :3
I've only met with pkmn collector members once and I will never forget it and really do missing being around people with the same interests as me, I had only met them and in just a few hours we were talking like we had known each other for years. xD
no subject
Date: 2012-11-01 01:15 am (UTC)I'm just hoping they don't downgrade my permanent account to something stupid :|
no subject
Date: 2012-11-01 02:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-11-01 04:22 am (UTC)I love LJ for the friends it has given me.
LJ was a place that I could come for community and relate to other fandoms groups and people.
Definitely, I feel the same way that the people I know here (even if it's not IRL) I know better than just adding someone out of the blue on Facebook. I've gotten to know people, share in their stories, parts of their lives, and what we have in common.
The changes though are kind of odd to always encounter when you log in. It's always like WOAH! I'm never sure what happens and what goes on with LJ nowadays.
I don't think I'll ever leave. I may be gone for a little bit but I believe that LJ might be a constant.
no subject
Date: 2012-11-01 05:32 am (UTC)Nice how they just consider us money generation, right? I mean, I guess that's the same for most sites, but it still makes me mad in conjunction with their lack of caring about our preferences.
I'll miss my icons if I do decide not to renew, as silly as that is. I guess I'll just think about it for now and decide when the time comes.
no subject
Date: 2012-11-01 05:35 am (UTC)Thank you! That's a shame you decided not to do it this year, but school is more important! Maybe try to do some writing anyway, in honor of NaNo?
I know, isn't it fun? It's really wonderful to have Pokéfriends, and I only wish I could be so surrounded in normal life. ;; I've met other collectors on several occasions, and they've all been great! I'm thankful to be in California, where I can meet people at cons, but as far day to day life, I need to make more friends and engage the ones I have more.
no subject
Date: 2012-11-01 05:37 am (UTC)I hope not, too! I don't think they can do that, though.... That wouldn't be fair to you at all!
no subject
Date: 2012-11-01 05:39 am (UTC)Yeah, the ways LJ is changing are upsetting. From a technical/site layout standpoint, staff standpoint, and a lack of users standpoint. But, this has been too influential of a site for me to drop it. I'll be here and I'm glad you will be, too!
Thank you! I hope you do decide to go for it! It's never a bad thing to give it a shot, even if you fail you're still better off than you were before!
no subject
Date: 2012-11-01 05:43 am (UTC)Same here in regards to LJ! I'm just sad that fandom has mostly moved elsewhere, as the quality of discussion here is much better than most other sites I think because of LJ's format, but, well, fandom will always be changing and evolving and moving around. It's always been that way and always will be, I suppose.
It's just been a great tool for getting to know people and making real connections. ♥
I agree, though, I'm not liking what I've seen of the changes. I haven't switched over from most of the old systems, though--I'm scared to do it in case I won't be able to go back! D:
Yeah, I come and go somewhat, too, but I can't see myself abandoning it any time soon.
no subject
Date: 2012-11-01 05:45 am (UTC)I can't really blame them for thinking in terms of profits; they are a business. What frustrates me is that they seem to have failed Marketing 101. Why would you remove a source of revenue from the site? Even if the amount of people with paid accounts is decreasing, surely some extra revenue from paid accounts is better than no extra revenue in the event that they quit offering paid accounts. On that note, ignoring criticism is driving away a significant percentage of the userbase, which is also not good for profits.
no subject
Date: 2012-11-01 11:09 am (UTC)LJ's been my blog site of choice for over a decade, so I'm definitely here for the long run. I don't post as much as I used to, but I always read everyone's posts!