"LJ history" meme :)
Jan. 27th, 2013 01:07 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
floatingleafSnagged from all over my flist:
How did you come to start your LJ?
I was introduced to LJ through the VC fandom. I had joined a mailing list for Anne Rice fans a few months before, and some people on that list had links to LJ accounts in their emails. So I checked them out, and became intrigued with the idea of an online journal. At first it seemed outrageously exhibitionistic somehow - to post about your personal life online - but I felt very lonely and confused at that point in my life, and needed some sort of outlet for the emotional chaos I was going through... so I got over my inhibitions pretty quickly.:P
How did you find your first friends?
Well, back then you still needed an invite code to open an LJ account - and I was given one by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
versailles_rose. So she became my first "friend" (we didn't really know each other, but she used to write incredibly hot Lestat/Louis erotica, which I accidentally discovered online while looking for some Anne Rice fanart... btw, I wasn't even aware of being INTO m/m slash at the time, believe it or not - but after I found her stories, that changed very rapidly... LOL). The next one was HER friend gairid, who also writes incredibly hot Lestat/Louis erotica.:) I didn't have any other LJ friends for quite a bit after that - until sometime in 2004, after I got into the LOTR fandom...
Are those first friends still on your FL?
Yes.:)
How long have you been on LJ?
Since May 2003. It will be 10 years soon (!!!). I should mark the occasion somehow, non?... Also, kindly note that I have come full circle: the fandom that brought me here, that captured my heart back in 2002, is also the fandom that captured my heart AGAIN in 2012. That must mean something. Deep symbolism and all that... *wink wink*
Do you have more friends or communities on your FL?
Friends, even though most of them are old/abandoned journals at this point...
Do you do a lot of friends cuts?
Well, I'm never very quick to friend someone, so not really. You could say my friends are carefully chosen. I've done a few small cleanups over the years, mostly of some abandoned journals - but I kept others, simply because I still hope those people might "resurface" some day, and I wouldn't want to miss it...
What do you like in an LJ friend?
Depth, humor, honesty, an open mind, willingness to share their thoughts... I like people who have a lot going on in their heads (not necessarily in their lives, LOL) and enjoy talking about it.:) I like people who ramble - as long as it's ABOUT something that gives me food for thought. Simple mundane reports on daily life are fine, but I prefer if they're accompanied by some reflection... Also, sharing a fandom with an LJ friend and gushing about it together is always immensely satisfying...:D
What do you dislike in an LJ friend?
Bad grammar.;P Seriously, though, what really gets on my nerves are harsh, insensitive comments about other people, especially made behind their backs. Also, any hints of homophobia, xenophobia, racism and the like. However, I am not likely to friend someone unless they seem pretty open-minded in the first place, so that hardly ever happens.
What would make you un-friend someone immediately?
I'm not sure I ever unfriended anyone immediately because of something they did... but there were a few cases where I stopped interacting with a person after they treated someone unkindly (not me, necessarily, but another friend - or even a stranger who, as far as I could tell, didn't deserve such treatment). I am not prone to open conflict or "making statements" - but I do tend to avoid people if I am not comfortable around them...
Have you been caught up in a lot of LJ drama?
Not really "caught up", I suppose, but I've been witness to some major upheavals within the LOTR fandom. Those were usually the occasions where people threw harsh, thoughtless comments at one another and made me squirm. In such circumstances, I usually either stay quiet and keep "out of it", or try to act as a peacemaker - unless I'm in danger of getting smacked over the head for interfering... LOL.
Do real-life friends and family members know you have a journal on LJ?
The few really close friends do. My family doesn't. As far as I know, they're unaware of LJ's existence, and I'd rather keep it that way.:P
Do you also have Facebook and if so, what do you prefer – LJ or FB?
I used to have Facebook, but I hated it, and felt really uncomfortable there for some reason, so I left. Besides, nearly everyone at my workplace has Facebook, and the thought of encountering coworkers online is just plain disturbing to me. Seriously. *shudder*
What about Twitter?
I could never see the appeal. Like I said above, I love to ramble, and I love to read other people who ramble. Throwing out a witty "one-liner" seems utterly pointless to me, most of the time. Much like Facebook status. Tell me something deeper, or don't waste my time, thxbai. LOL.
Do you blog on any other sites?
Not really. I have a Dreamwidth account for backup, in case LJ goes to hell. I also have a Tumblr, where I am mostly lurking for the moment, ogling pretty pictures posted bygairid and meathiel.:)
How often do you check in on LJ?
It's pretty much always open on my PC at home. I never log out, and I refresh the friends page compulsively every hour or so... *shifty eyes*
What do you rarely or never post about?
Really squicky personal details, I should think. Other than that, there are really no taboo topics here. It's much easier to be open about stuff in a journal than in "real life" conversation, no doubt about it.
Why don't you post about that?
There are certain things I don't need to know about other people, and I suppose no-one needs to know the same about me, either.:P (Though if I had a medical condition that sounded gross, but was serious enough to affect my life in a significant way, I would probably write about it, just to be honest.)
Have you ever thought about deleting your journal?
Nope.
Have you ever changed your username?
No. I'm happy with the one I have. I think it fits me pretty well.
Why did you choose your current username?
I wanted something that reflected the way I felt about myself and life in general... and at that point, I had recently moved across the Atlantic, which was a decision forced by family circumstances more than anything else... so I felt like I was "floating", with no control over where life took me. And the only way to make myself feel better about it was to see it as part of some higher design that rules over the universe. You know, coincidence versus destiny and all that New Age crap.;) And, silly as it may sound, I do believe that adopting this name brought me some sort of peace...
If you're looking for new friends, how do you find them?
Usually through fandoms.:) Recently, also "friendzies". And once, a few years ago, I did a random search through my interests and contacted a few random people who sounded like we would get along. Some of them answered...
Are you taking new people on to your Friends List just now?
I am not opposed to it, but I am not actively looking at the moment. In fact, I am beginning to have trouble keeping up with my flist as it is. I do manage to read it, but I comment far less than I would like to - and, obviously, if I acquired more friends, this situation would only get worse.:/ But if someone incredibly interesting popped up within my radar, I probably couldn't resist saying "hi".;)
Finally, tell us the reasons why you keep an online journal.
Because I am addicted to writing. I've always kept some sort of journal - ever since elementary school. I kept one even knowing that nobody would ever read it - so the idea of likeminded people actually reading, let alone RESPONDING, to my compulsive babble wasn't something I could conceivably resist... LOL. Plus, I am a total, socially impaired introvert. I suck at "mingling", small talk and other such everyday horrors.;) If I want to meet someone I can feel comfortable with sooner than about five years after I meet them, I have to meet them online. Sad but true. I've made friends here, I almost fell in love at least once or twice, I discovered amazing fanfiction, I learned so much about myself and what I really wanted from human interactions... It's been a hell of a ride, and it's still lots of fun 10 years later. Why would anyone NOT keep an online journal?...;D
How did you come to start your LJ?
I was introduced to LJ through the VC fandom. I had joined a mailing list for Anne Rice fans a few months before, and some people on that list had links to LJ accounts in their emails. So I checked them out, and became intrigued with the idea of an online journal. At first it seemed outrageously exhibitionistic somehow - to post about your personal life online - but I felt very lonely and confused at that point in my life, and needed some sort of outlet for the emotional chaos I was going through... so I got over my inhibitions pretty quickly.:P
How did you find your first friends?
Well, back then you still needed an invite code to open an LJ account - and I was given one by
versailles_rose. So she became my first "friend" (we didn't really know each other, but she used to write incredibly hot Lestat/Louis erotica, which I accidentally discovered online while looking for some Anne Rice fanart... btw, I wasn't even aware of being INTO m/m slash at the time, believe it or not - but after I found her stories, that changed very rapidly... LOL). The next one was HER friend gairid, who also writes incredibly hot Lestat/Louis erotica.:) I didn't have any other LJ friends for quite a bit after that - until sometime in 2004, after I got into the LOTR fandom... Are those first friends still on your FL?
Yes.:)
How long have you been on LJ?
Since May 2003. It will be 10 years soon (!!!). I should mark the occasion somehow, non?... Also, kindly note that I have come full circle: the fandom that brought me here, that captured my heart back in 2002, is also the fandom that captured my heart AGAIN in 2012. That must mean something. Deep symbolism and all that... *wink wink*
Do you have more friends or communities on your FL?
Friends, even though most of them are old/abandoned journals at this point...
Do you do a lot of friends cuts?
Well, I'm never very quick to friend someone, so not really. You could say my friends are carefully chosen. I've done a few small cleanups over the years, mostly of some abandoned journals - but I kept others, simply because I still hope those people might "resurface" some day, and I wouldn't want to miss it...
What do you like in an LJ friend?
Depth, humor, honesty, an open mind, willingness to share their thoughts... I like people who have a lot going on in their heads (not necessarily in their lives, LOL) and enjoy talking about it.:) I like people who ramble - as long as it's ABOUT something that gives me food for thought. Simple mundane reports on daily life are fine, but I prefer if they're accompanied by some reflection... Also, sharing a fandom with an LJ friend and gushing about it together is always immensely satisfying...:D
What do you dislike in an LJ friend?
Bad grammar.;P Seriously, though, what really gets on my nerves are harsh, insensitive comments about other people, especially made behind their backs. Also, any hints of homophobia, xenophobia, racism and the like. However, I am not likely to friend someone unless they seem pretty open-minded in the first place, so that hardly ever happens.
What would make you un-friend someone immediately?
I'm not sure I ever unfriended anyone immediately because of something they did... but there were a few cases where I stopped interacting with a person after they treated someone unkindly (not me, necessarily, but another friend - or even a stranger who, as far as I could tell, didn't deserve such treatment). I am not prone to open conflict or "making statements" - but I do tend to avoid people if I am not comfortable around them...
Have you been caught up in a lot of LJ drama?
Not really "caught up", I suppose, but I've been witness to some major upheavals within the LOTR fandom. Those were usually the occasions where people threw harsh, thoughtless comments at one another and made me squirm. In such circumstances, I usually either stay quiet and keep "out of it", or try to act as a peacemaker - unless I'm in danger of getting smacked over the head for interfering... LOL.
Do real-life friends and family members know you have a journal on LJ?
The few really close friends do. My family doesn't. As far as I know, they're unaware of LJ's existence, and I'd rather keep it that way.:P
Do you also have Facebook and if so, what do you prefer – LJ or FB?
I used to have Facebook, but I hated it, and felt really uncomfortable there for some reason, so I left. Besides, nearly everyone at my workplace has Facebook, and the thought of encountering coworkers online is just plain disturbing to me. Seriously. *shudder*
What about Twitter?
I could never see the appeal. Like I said above, I love to ramble, and I love to read other people who ramble. Throwing out a witty "one-liner" seems utterly pointless to me, most of the time. Much like Facebook status. Tell me something deeper, or don't waste my time, thxbai. LOL.
Do you blog on any other sites?
Not really. I have a Dreamwidth account for backup, in case LJ goes to hell. I also have a Tumblr, where I am mostly lurking for the moment, ogling pretty pictures posted by
gairid and meathiel.:) How often do you check in on LJ?
It's pretty much always open on my PC at home. I never log out, and I refresh the friends page compulsively every hour or so... *shifty eyes*
What do you rarely or never post about?
Really squicky personal details, I should think. Other than that, there are really no taboo topics here. It's much easier to be open about stuff in a journal than in "real life" conversation, no doubt about it.
Why don't you post about that?
There are certain things I don't need to know about other people, and I suppose no-one needs to know the same about me, either.:P (Though if I had a medical condition that sounded gross, but was serious enough to affect my life in a significant way, I would probably write about it, just to be honest.)
Have you ever thought about deleting your journal?
Nope.
Have you ever changed your username?
No. I'm happy with the one I have. I think it fits me pretty well.
Why did you choose your current username?
I wanted something that reflected the way I felt about myself and life in general... and at that point, I had recently moved across the Atlantic, which was a decision forced by family circumstances more than anything else... so I felt like I was "floating", with no control over where life took me. And the only way to make myself feel better about it was to see it as part of some higher design that rules over the universe. You know, coincidence versus destiny and all that New Age crap.;) And, silly as it may sound, I do believe that adopting this name brought me some sort of peace...
If you're looking for new friends, how do you find them?
Usually through fandoms.:) Recently, also "friendzies". And once, a few years ago, I did a random search through my interests and contacted a few random people who sounded like we would get along. Some of them answered...
Are you taking new people on to your Friends List just now?
I am not opposed to it, but I am not actively looking at the moment. In fact, I am beginning to have trouble keeping up with my flist as it is. I do manage to read it, but I comment far less than I would like to - and, obviously, if I acquired more friends, this situation would only get worse.:/ But if someone incredibly interesting popped up within my radar, I probably couldn't resist saying "hi".;)
Finally, tell us the reasons why you keep an online journal.
Because I am addicted to writing. I've always kept some sort of journal - ever since elementary school. I kept one even knowing that nobody would ever read it - so the idea of likeminded people actually reading, let alone RESPONDING, to my compulsive babble wasn't something I could conceivably resist... LOL. Plus, I am a total, socially impaired introvert. I suck at "mingling", small talk and other such everyday horrors.;) If I want to meet someone I can feel comfortable with sooner than about five years after I meet them, I have to meet them online. Sad but true. I've made friends here, I almost fell in love at least once or twice, I discovered amazing fanfiction, I learned so much about myself and what I really wanted from human interactions... It's been a hell of a ride, and it's still lots of fun 10 years later. Why would anyone NOT keep an online journal?...;D
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2013-01-28 09:06 pm (UTC)I also prefer to have people with a bit of depth on my Flist. Some people just basically list what they do during the day and I find that hard to comment on. You only get a feel for who someone really is if there's at least the occasional bit of depth or introspection.
(no subject)
Date: 2013-01-29 05:43 am (UTC)No doubt about it. You are definitely the most prolific "poster" I've ever had on my flist... LOL.
Some people just basically list what they do during the day and I find that hard to comment on.
Precisely. Even if some of my posts are like that, too, simply because I lack the time and/or energy for further elaboration... *sigh*
(no subject)
Date: 2013-01-29 12:52 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-01-30 03:45 am (UTC)