Livejournal and Dreamwidth: not dead
Apr. 14th, 2015 10:31 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meridian_roseSo today is return to Return To Livejournal day. Only I've never left. Here are some of my thoughts about that – and while it's LJ day, the following refers to both LJ and DW, as blogging platforms that are almost identical to each other while being very different from other social media sites – and thank the internet gods for it. While I regularly visit lots of types of sites, from news sites to metaphysical webpages, and maintain online presences at many social media sites, there is something special about LJ and DW.
So, I've been here since Nov 2007 (DW since April 2011). I've not left LJ and fandom in favour of solely skimming through Facebook or because I've "outgrown" fannishness. I've not dumped LJ in favour of doing nothing but reblogging at Tumblr or viewing pics on Instagram.
Yes, I maintain a tumblr and a couple of fandom specific sideblogs, and yes, it can be easier to post an image you've edited and get more hits. But it's not really for fic or discussion; it's better used for skimming images and promoting fic and articles to read on other sites, sites which are better suited for text-based communication and easy to follow (threaded) discussions.
Yes, I regularly use DW to post to, but I maintain a presence at both sites and follow people and communities at both. Leaving LJ for the downtime during the DDOS attacks instead of switching to parallel use via DW was, to me, like giving up coffee because your favourite shop was closed for refurbishment – and there was a similar coffee house *right next door*.
I've stayed here while people disappear, come back and make one post, and then disappear again without interacting directly with anyone else. I used to always comment on these posts to show someone was reading and that they ought to post more frequently. I've largely stopped doing it, because you can only cheer someone on for so long without reciprocation.
I've stayed here because the content here is created, or meant to inspire creation, or is properly curated: fic, graphics, or well-annotated rec lists, and meta round-ups.
I've stayed here, able to read 1-3 posts per week made to a journal, rather than the 50+ posts some Tumblrs generate daily. Here that one really interesting meta isn't lost in the crush.
Here posts don't get lost or deleted because someone's changed their name for the fourth time in six weeks, breaking all the links to the material. Here there is a sense of pride and longevity, that we are creating things worth reading, worth preserving, something beyond mere ephemera. If Tumblr is a throwaway glossy magazine, LJ is a journal.
(And the management would well to remember it, and not try to emulate Facebook and other sites, driving their core users away.)
I'm here, having fun with things like![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
legendland and gameofcards which encourage creativity and connection and trying out new things.
I'm here for things liketherealljidol, being encouraged by things like ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
getyourwordsout/getyourwordsout, being inspired to create by things like 100_tales, hc_bingo/hc_bingo, allbingo, intoabar, mmom.
I'm here foryuletide and smallfandomfest andfancake.
I'm here formetanews and little_details and hdtv_caps and icon_textures. For the icon makers, and the journalers, and the fic writers and readers, the vidders and the reccers.
I'm here, where I can post more personal entries with varying levels of public or private visibility. I'm here, posting photos and icons. I'm here, posting fanfic, and original works.
I'm here, reading journals and comms that are still active and interesting. I'm here, and plenty of others are still here too.
I'm here, and I'm tired of hearing how LJ is dead.
So, I've been here since Nov 2007 (DW since April 2011). I've not left LJ and fandom in favour of solely skimming through Facebook or because I've "outgrown" fannishness. I've not dumped LJ in favour of doing nothing but reblogging at Tumblr or viewing pics on Instagram.
Yes, I maintain a tumblr and a couple of fandom specific sideblogs, and yes, it can be easier to post an image you've edited and get more hits. But it's not really for fic or discussion; it's better used for skimming images and promoting fic and articles to read on other sites, sites which are better suited for text-based communication and easy to follow (threaded) discussions.
Yes, I regularly use DW to post to, but I maintain a presence at both sites and follow people and communities at both. Leaving LJ for the downtime during the DDOS attacks instead of switching to parallel use via DW was, to me, like giving up coffee because your favourite shop was closed for refurbishment – and there was a similar coffee house *right next door*.
I've stayed here while people disappear, come back and make one post, and then disappear again without interacting directly with anyone else. I used to always comment on these posts to show someone was reading and that they ought to post more frequently. I've largely stopped doing it, because you can only cheer someone on for so long without reciprocation.
I've stayed here because the content here is created, or meant to inspire creation, or is properly curated: fic, graphics, or well-annotated rec lists, and meta round-ups.
I've stayed here, able to read 1-3 posts per week made to a journal, rather than the 50+ posts some Tumblrs generate daily. Here that one really interesting meta isn't lost in the crush.
Here posts don't get lost or deleted because someone's changed their name for the fourth time in six weeks, breaking all the links to the material. Here there is a sense of pride and longevity, that we are creating things worth reading, worth preserving, something beyond mere ephemera. If Tumblr is a throwaway glossy magazine, LJ is a journal.
(And the management would well to remember it, and not try to emulate Facebook and other sites, driving their core users away.)
I'm here, having fun with things like
legendland and gameofcards which encourage creativity and connection and trying out new things. I'm here for things like
therealljidol, being encouraged by things like getyourwordsout/getyourwordsout, being inspired to create by things like 100_tales, hc_bingo/hc_bingo, allbingo, intoabar, mmom.I'm here for
yuletide and smallfandomfest andfancake.I'm here for
metanews and little_details and hdtv_caps and icon_textures. For the icon makers, and the journalers, and the fic writers and readers, the vidders and the reccers.I'm here, where I can post more personal entries with varying levels of public or private visibility. I'm here, posting photos and icons. I'm here, posting fanfic, and original works.
I'm here, reading journals and comms that are still active and interesting. I'm here, and plenty of others are still here too.
I'm here, and I'm tired of hearing how LJ is dead.
no subject
Date: 2015-04-15 12:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-04-18 09:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-04-14 12:24 pm (UTC)Especially this:
I'm here, and I'm tired of hearing how LJ is dead.
If your LJ is dead, you're doing something wrong.
no subject
Date: 2015-04-14 03:15 pm (UTC)Your submissions are so varied and interesting. I really admire you for refusing to abandon LJ and for continuing to contribute in so many ways.
I miss everybody I used to talk to here. I miss them so much. Hopefully, someday I can get back into the swing of things - it's all my fault.
It was kind of sad to see that this is the last round for Legendland. It's been such a struggle for me to let go of Seeker.
Keep fighting the good fight.
no subject
Date: 2015-04-14 03:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-04-18 06:06 pm (UTC)I'm crushed about Legendland and I'm still hoping for a reunion phase at some point in the future. I'll still keep active in the fandom though, because it's still a favourite.
I shall keep fighting - and reading and blogging and creating :)
no subject
Date: 2015-04-18 06:02 pm (UTC)For me, I'm reading a lot more than I'm being read, so I'm not seeing a dead LJ, but sometimes I feel like I'm talking to the void! When your interests are smaller fandoms, original fiction, and oddities like asexuality and pagan sabbats, it's harder to develop/keep an audience. Most people following me have left completely, or migrated solely to Tumblr. Which sucks. But I'm not giving up.
no subject
Date: 2015-04-18 05:59 pm (UTC)I've been posting more to AO3 and only promoting here, which for very long fics that would need *so many entries*/3 sentence fics (unless I have several I can group together), is okay. But I have decided to go back to posting more fic here too. And to do more of my landcomm icons/tumblr graphics round up posts.
no subject
Date: 2015-04-19 03:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-04-19 04:07 pm (UTC)Aura
your Dreamwidth entry "Fic: Turning the Tables
your Dreamwidth entry "Fic: First Meeting"
your Dreamwidth entry "Fic: Scar Tissue
your Dreamwidth entry "Fic: Costume Party
your Dreamwidth entry "Fic: Temporarily
your Dreamwidth entry "Fic: Wake
your Dreamwidth entry "Fic: Not Cyanide
your Dreamwidth entry "Fic: An Invitation Not To Be Refused"
your Dreamwidth entry "Fic: No Time For Games
your Dreamwidth entry "Fic: We Haven't Got Time For Games
your Dreamwidth entry "Fic: Swedish Pineapples
your Dreamwidth entry "Fic: Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
your Dreamwidth entry "Fic: Aura drabbles
your Dreamwidth entry "Fic: Old Friend
your Dreamwidth entry "Fic: Chopin"
your Dreamwidth entry "Fic: The Tide Will Turn"
your Dreamwidth entry "Fic: Heaven Enough"
your Dreamwidth entry "Fic: Noir"
your Dreamwidth entry "Fic: Violets Are Dead"
your Dreamwidth entry "Fic: Retreat"
Call Me Mistress
http://meridian-rose.livejournal.com/226044.html It's the hair
Meta fiction
http://meridian-rose.livejournal.com/435462.html (LJ idol entry) Trapped
LJ Idol misc
http://meridian-rose.livejournal.com/432817.html Watching The Stars
http://meridian-rose.livejournal.com/433717.html Communication
http://meridian-rose.livejournal.com/434216.html With a Little Help
http://meridian-rose.livejournal.com/434713.html Poem: hypocrisy
Other
http://meridian-rose.livejournal.com/335286.html Poem: There's 3 people in a love triangle…
http://meridian-rose.livejournal.com/406017.html poem: smile and the world will turn a blind eye
http://meridian-rose.livejournal.com/446317.html Storm in a Coffee Cup
http://meridian-rose.livejournal.com/447341.html Bliss
I hope that's helpful :)
I'm actually hoping to get feedback on standalone original works (prose/poetry) ie not part of any series, for my portfolio. Because I'm trying to convince myself and others that I'm a professional writer, and I need samples to prove it. So if there's anything you come across that stands out, please let me know :)
no subject
Date: 2015-04-16 03:38 am (UTC)I admit I don't post as much as I used to, because I don't get much response. But this is the only place where I'm open about every part of me, including fandom, writing, sexuality, work, family, hopes, dreams and goals. There are parts of me I put out in other places, but this is the only place that's everything.
Livejournal is my home. It's quieter, but that's because I'm not in as many communities. I lost touch with some friends who drifted away or moved on, but that's not any different than irl. I'm still here too.
no subject
Date: 2015-04-18 06:04 pm (UTC)Most of my interaction is via communities, so maybe that's why I'm still seeing plenty of action, even though I'm not getting much audience these days.
I'm glad you're still here :)