Recently, several of my daily reads switched to LiveJournal. A move I have to admit has lessened how often I read them.
I don't like LiveJournal - I've complained before that I hate only being allowed to leave anonymous comments (which is one of the reasons I guess I subconsciously don't visit those sites as frequently). It also bugs me that it seems that all the LiveJournals look the same ... they might have a different color scheme, and maybe even a graphic up at the top ... but they're so generic. No personality. Just ... blah. Granted, some people try to "make it their own" ... but for people like Addie and Christie who used to have such cool blog site designs -- that told you a bit about them and what they enjoyed -- to go from that to boxes everywhere is just ... grrrrrrr.
But then I'm a visual person. I use an RSS reader ... but I visit my dailies actual websites pretty frequently.
But everyone I know who uses LiveJournal seems to like it (obviously - or why else would they go there?). You even get annoying (we still love you though) pages like Addie's proclaming their love for this Blogger Stealing LJ.
Another baffling thing is that they feel more free to post on their LiveJournal than their blog? That makes absolutely no sense to me. Both are out there in the public eye? What's the difference? And Christie even says it stresses her to BLOG but not to LJ? How can that be? I can blog this entry in MT with like ... one keystroke.
I'm confused. Please. LJ people. I know you guys rarely read blogs ... but for those of you still surfing outside the LJ world ... help me out. What is the big deal about LJ? I don't get it ... I miss my daily reads ... and you just aren't the same on LJ.
It's easier to LJ because I can be less articulate on LJ. I can post a one sentence, "Lost was great!" and not feel guilty. Why? Because others do it, too. If you blog like that, eventually no one will come and read your blog. There's just a higher expectation with blogging.
Sometimes, when I'd blog a hilarious story about my kids, I'd get 25 comments. Then I'd blog something more mundane and I'd get 1 comment. At times I wanted to shout, "ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!"
I felt like a juggling monkey in some ways, just telling stories about my life to make people laugh. To make people like me. It started to get stressful.
The other reason I love LJ so much is that it feels more anonymous. I know it may not be, but it feels that way. I can friends-lock posts with info/pictures of my kids inside. It's like a little community, and if you friends-lock you know exactly who's reading.
I understand your dislike of LJ, your frustration of people heading over there, and I took no offense to comments you've made. I used to feel the same way, but it's really hard to understand the appeal of LJ until you're actually on LJ.
I don't expect you to understand my reasons for moving over to LJ or suddenly go, "Yeah, I'm getting one, too!" I just hope I've explained some of MY motivations, and I really appreciate your effort to stay in touch with me despite my decision to keep my blog closed. :hug:
Lacy for President in 2008! Viva La Revolution! You and I can be the last solitary bloggers in our little group. We can huddle around our two RSS feeds. Solidarity, sister!
Ugh. I cannot STAND LiveJournal either. So annoying and yes, so bland and full of conformity. Another thing that bugs me is people who password protect their ENTIRE blog. Why even have one then? Thank goddess for WP and it's password protected entries!
:moped:
i posted about this sometime ago. right before i caved and got my own livejournal. ha ha! i only kept it up for like 12 days though because it just seemed inane. i think it's a trend just like any other trend and i think that friends only thing caters to the elitist in folks. just my 2 pennies :)
I'm afraid that I'm one of those fence-sitters that use both. :\ Irritating, eh?
My blog is public. My parents, friends, siblings and RL and online accquaintances can read what I post there and I don't blink at the prospect. What I post at LJ is usually what I wouldn't feel comfortable RL people reading. Part of me wishes that I could be 100% open in my blog, but in actuality I know that I can't do that. I'd be censoring myself entirely from my blog and in my eyes, that's just pointless. So as a happy medium to myself, I use both.
That was a very long-winded way of telling you that I'm chicken, wasn't it? :P
Anyway, if you have a LJ username and would like to be added to my angsty LJ posts, just ask. :)
V xx
I like it most cause I can make it friends-only..
Well, I am one fo those who use LiveJournal for what could be considered a 'normal' blog. I like it as that, for a couple reasons:
It is completely seprate from my 1&1 Webhosting account. Because If I was to ever stop that I would lose my blog posts.
The friends page. I admit it, I like the ability to have friends, and the whole social networking thing.
Moods. It's just a cool little perk.
But I am thinking of switching to WordPress (but I would have to upgrade my webhosting package...).