Giant non-fandom friending meme
Mar. 15th, 2010 12:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
livHere's the thing: a lot of people are about ready to leave LJ over the latest shenanigans. But they don't want to make the leap to Dreamwidth because, frankly, there isn't enough going on here. The site is smaller, so there are fewer posts, and fewer cool people to meet. And all their friends are on LJ, which is of course a self-perpetuating situation: if "everybody" is still on LJ, then there's a huge disincentive against moving, which means that everybody continues to be on LJ.
Lots of people have realized that the best way to address this issue is, well, creating content. Some people are organizing collective efforts to create more content. This is a great idea, except for one small problem: the people who are really good at organizing and creating content are mainly fandom. I have nothing at all against fandom, but I'm not really part of it, and I think that a lot of other people who feel similarly are being put off because they see DW as yet another clubhouse for the cool fandom kids.
But I am going to take a leaf from fandom's book: I'm going to cease sitting around complaining about how DW is too quiet. Instead I'm going to participate in creating content and drawing attention to the cool stuff that already exists. So, I propose a giant non-fandom friending meme (thanks,delight). If you would like find some new, interesting people to read, or make new friends, or just help highlight how much cool stuff there is on DW, please comment to this post.
You're welcome to say whatever you like, but here's a suggested template:
Your identity: doesn't have to be A/S/L, but anything that you think people should know about you to be able to decide whether they're likely to be interested in getting to know you.
What you are passionate about
How you use Dreamwidth
A link to a recent post of yours that is characteristic of your journal or writing style.
A link to a journal on Dreamwidth you think people might enjoy reading, even if they don't know the writer personally.
Footnote 1: Some people have moral or technical objections to Dreamwidth, or actively prefer LJ. That's totally cool with me – this post isn't addressed to you. I'm looking to involve people who would like to make the move, but are put off because there isn't enough to read or enough people to meet here. I am not at all proselytizing, in other words, just doing my bit to fix what I see as the biggest glaring problem with DW. Other people may see other problems, and I am not trying to fix those.
Footnote 2: If you are involved in fandom, you're extremely welcome to participate. Perhaps you'd like to meet someone who shares some of your less fannish interests. Or you are welcome to go and join in some of the more explicitly fandom-related activities going on instead.
I am going to post this now, rather than waiting until the official three-week fest, because I think now is while the iron is hot and people are motivated to move to a new site. But I'll link it again when the fest starts up on 26th April, around the one-year anniversary of Dreamwidth entering Open Beta. I don't have any strong opinions about the DW-only content thing, and you don't have to be participating in that to participate in this meme.
So, go forth and friend!
ETA: And if you like the idea, please link this post all over the place. Or make your own version, or whatever, but mainly spread the word as much as possible
Lots of people have realized that the best way to address this issue is, well, creating content. Some people are organizing collective efforts to create more content. This is a great idea, except for one small problem: the people who are really good at organizing and creating content are mainly fandom. I have nothing at all against fandom, but I'm not really part of it, and I think that a lot of other people who feel similarly are being put off because they see DW as yet another clubhouse for the cool fandom kids.
But I am going to take a leaf from fandom's book: I'm going to cease sitting around complaining about how DW is too quiet. Instead I'm going to participate in creating content and drawing attention to the cool stuff that already exists. So, I propose a giant non-fandom friending meme (thanks,
delight). If you would like find some new, interesting people to read, or make new friends, or just help highlight how much cool stuff there is on DW, please comment to this post.You're welcome to say whatever you like, but here's a suggested template:
Your identity: doesn't have to be A/S/L, but anything that you think people should know about you to be able to decide whether they're likely to be interested in getting to know you.
What you are passionate about
How you use Dreamwidth
A link to a recent post of yours that is characteristic of your journal or writing style.
A link to a journal on Dreamwidth you think people might enjoy reading, even if they don't know the writer personally.
Footnote 1: Some people have moral or technical objections to Dreamwidth, or actively prefer LJ. That's totally cool with me – this post isn't addressed to you. I'm looking to involve people who would like to make the move, but are put off because there isn't enough to read or enough people to meet here. I am not at all proselytizing, in other words, just doing my bit to fix what I see as the biggest glaring problem with DW. Other people may see other problems, and I am not trying to fix those.
Footnote 2: If you are involved in fandom, you're extremely welcome to participate. Perhaps you'd like to meet someone who shares some of your less fannish interests. Or you are welcome to go and join in some of the more explicitly fandom-related activities going on instead.
I am going to post this now, rather than waiting until the official three-week fest, because I think now is while the iron is hot and people are motivated to move to a new site. But I'll link it again when the fest starts up on 26th April, around the one-year anniversary of Dreamwidth entering Open Beta. I don't have any strong opinions about the DW-only content thing, and you don't have to be participating in that to participate in this meme.
So, go forth and friend!
ETA: And if you like the idea, please link this post all over the place. Or make your own version, or whatever, but mainly spread the word as much as possible
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 03:51 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 04:04 am (UTC)I am twenty-seven years old, female, bisexual, polyamorous (dating a couple), Egyptian pagan (dedicated to Anubis). An artist. A writer. A feminist. More than a little goth.
Passionate about: writing (both fan fic and original stuff), art, Paganism and magick, the environment/being green, cooking, fandom stuff, cosplay, books and manga, Japanese language, German language, other things that I am forgetting.
You could also look at my profile to learn more about me. Or you could ask me questions. I don't mind.
How I use DW: fandom stuff, pagan/magick stuff, cooking/sewing/household/craft stuff. I also talk about my life, but anything really personal (pictures of me/where I live) will be flocked.
Some random posts: blah, blah, blah, blah.
A link to some other place:
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 04:05 am (UTC)I'm a queer, white, cis feminist, currently in a relationship with a man. My training is in science, although I'm not pursing a traditional scientist career. I'm a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism (yes, it has flaws; I don't really have other reenactment options in my area, and it's the closest I've found to a comfortable community for me, at least in parts). I'm almost done with my M.S.
I love science, history, museums, speculative fiction, crafts, and cute animals! I'm passionate about a lot of things, including all of that, plus social justice issues.
Most of what I post publicly is about crafts, the Society for Creative Anachronism, book reviews, periodic social justice stuff, and sometimes photo posts (I'm working on doing more of these). I've been known to post recipes in the past, and might in the future. Under access lock, I post stuff about work/personal life; it's mostly pretty boring.
Recently I wrote about plans for remaking a 16th-century-style shirt (actual dress diary with photos coming up!) and brief thoughts on books I've read recently, pending actual reviews. And for a not-so-exciting example of a photo post, some recent illumination and embroidery projects and experiments.
I am a big fan of
I mod several pretty quiet at the moment communities about crafts and/or the SCA, plus
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 04:08 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 04:13 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 04:19 am (UTC)What you are passionate about: I love nectarines, history, Dune, Zanzibar, Berlin and John Sheppard. In no particular order. I also volunteer a lot of my time for the OTW.
How you use Dreamwidth: I go through phases. Currently I post a lot of links to stuff I find interesting. Some of my posts are about fandom, some about politics and society, some about RL, university or work (those are mostly locked, though). 90% or my posts are in English but occasionally I switch to German.
A link to a recent post of yours that is characteristic of your journal or writing style: My most recent post is about the first episode of The Pacific (spoilers!). This is how my usual linkspams look (half English/half-German). And a random RL/university post that's not locked.
A link to a journal on Dreamwidth you think people might enjoy reading, even if they don't know the writer personally.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 04:25 am (UTC)Good luck!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 04:27 am (UTC)PAPYRUS, UNG. I mean, I don't like comic sans either, but I'm pretty sure it's the victim of the poor taste of others. Papyrus bends people to its evil will, it's the only explanation.
I <3 my bjds - they're (comparatively) less expensive Bobobie/Resin Soul models, but I like them the best so it's win/win [pats them].
Fantastic - adventures in paramedics sounds v. interesting, I will be adding you back! [goes off to do so]
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 04:31 am (UTC)How you use Dreamwidth: I have a professional account which I use for 'serious' blogging and this account, which is for fun. I've thought long and hard whether I should blog personally again after leaving my various guises at LJ and am now tentatively exploring the idea.
I want this account to be an alternate reality to the one I live, an oasis focused on esthetics, beauty, enjoyment, culture, philosophy and the finer things in life.
A link to a recent post of yours that is characteristic of your journal or writing style: nothing yet!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 04:32 am (UTC)What you are passionate about: Music and writing. I write a lot more about music though. I go on several roadtrips a year to see some band or other, and I try to fit in at least one folk festival a year (usually Summerfolk). I blame this on Moxy Fruvous.
How you use Dreamwidth: I post at least a couple of times a week, most of it under lock. (My public feed goes to facebook and my cousins just don't need to know about my online life that much) Public posts tend to be concert or album reviews, random rants about life, the universe and everything and the very occasional fic.
Here's my latest album "review"
Here's my last rant
People on Dreamwidth
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 04:46 am (UTC)Basically, I am a huge dork who is prone to tl;dr. Add me!
ETA: I reed unstrictunz goodlier. Duh.
Your identity: I think I covered this part above, but just in case... Hi! I'm Kat and I can't read instructions. :)
What you are passionate about: The SCA is my primary hobby, with an emphasis on bardic and fiber geekery. I don't knit though, but a lot of my friends do! I am a true aficionado of hand-knit socks. I am addicted to spellcheckers on computers and it annoys me when they don't recognize common words like internet. I am a college student in Middle of Nowhere, Midwest, USA, majoring in religion. I'd like to get my Master of Divinity degree (aka go to seminary) and eventually end up in either the Navy or as a bioethicist. I'm still a fair bit away from that though, and I usually post all religious musings under a cut (which, ftr, doesn't happen that often). I believe that living passionately is the only way to live.
How you use Dreamwidth: I am 1/3rd of the Support Triumvirate here on Dreamwidth, with an emphasis towards user education and volunteer training. Besides that, I mostly use Dreamwidth to record cracktastic imaginings, interesting conversations and links to things that amuse me. On occasion, I'll commit TL;DR in a spectacular fashion on some topic that is driving me mad. Often, it will be something from class, but sometimes it will be a long-form rant on some random subject that no one else really cares about. In very rare cases, they're even informative. :)
A link to a recent post of yours that is characteristic of your journal or writing style: Here's my most recent long-form rant why, exactly, I think Dreamwidth is really awesome and... hold on, I've got another one around here... Nope. Well, here have two entries containing amusing slicen of life.
A link to a journal on Dreamwidth you think people might enjoy reading, even if they don't know the writer personally:
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 04:50 am (UTC)what i'm passionate about: photography! politics of daily life (i have a master's degree in political science, to me pretty much everything is political), knitting, gaming (computer, board and tabletop games), classical music, comics, the list goes on...
how i use DW: aside from the occasional fannish contribution, i post everything under lock. i pretty much grant access to everybody, though. i just don't want the chronicles of my life out in the open for the entire internet. my journal is a journal much more than a blog. i sometimes link to news articles, i mostly write down the continuing narration of my life.
rec: i mod
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 04:57 am (UTC)I am passionate about teaching, writing, sewing, participation, science, literacy
I use Dreamwidth to post my fics, my thoughts about my fics and writing in general, things about my job (locked). I mod
A link to a recent post of yours that is characteristic of your journal or writing style rambling about sewing
A link to a journal on Dreamwidth you think people might enjoy reading, even if they don't know the writer personally -
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 05:00 am (UTC)What you are passionate about: Women & media representation. Intersectionality. Sustainability. Food. Fiction, storycraft, music, pop culture: art that tries.
How you use Dreamwidth: Honestly, I don't quite know yet. I come out of fandom (current main love: Star Trek - DS9 & TNG in addition to STXI) but have been feeling pretty adrift and wordless lately, and have not managed much original content lately beyond filtered chronicling of my mental health. Fascinating! But I feel on the cusp of of journalish sea change, and think Dreamwidth might be instrumental in me finding my voice again. I think I need a new community. I certainly love reading my network here.
My writing style of late is extremely inconsistent, but may range from capslock about TV to serious contemplations of Jewish identity to music sharing to half-baked analysis of sci-fi tropes. Next: who knows?
I really enjoy
And for a taste of things I think about on a daily basis, my google reader shares and tumblr probably say a lot more than my DW front page.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 05:28 am (UTC)What you are passionate about: history, my major field is Latin American history. I'm also in the SCA, and various activities associated with them
How you use Dreamwidth: Well, to be honest I just joined yesterday and I'm debating moving over from LJ or not. Right now I have no friends here. LJ I use to post photographs, and talk about day-to-day life if I think something is worth remembering, ranting about, or talking about. That's probably what I'll use DW for as well.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 05:32 am (UTC)What I'm Passionate About: My friends, my writing, animals, people's right to be who they want to be.
What I Use Dreamwidth For: Posting when I want to just be me and not worry about what anybody else might have to say.
A link to a journal on Dreamwidth you think people might enjoy reading:
Hello!
Date: 2010-03-16 05:33 am (UTC)* I work on internet things for my day job, and I'm about to start my third season performing at the Bristol Faire in Wisconsin. This year I'll be playing with swords as part of the fight cast. \o/
* In addition to Ren Faires, I'm passionate about: transgender identity and politics, gender roles and constructs in a more general sense (about which I also have a blog here), noticing and deconstructing privileges (racial and otherwise), character/plot meta in my fandom of the moment, tabletop and live-action roleplaying, and general geekery.
* I do use Dreamwidth to post fandom commentary and fanwork recs, but also to share interesting links and discussions and occasionally to rant or rave about one of the topics above. Or sometimes when my cat does something I absolutely have to share. Much of my journal is access-locked, but I'm pretty free with granting access to those interested.
* Here's my entry on a recent SyFy character bio debacle.
* I love reading
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 05:36 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 05:37 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 05:40 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 05:43 am (UTC)You like cats and books. Yay! And you can't go wrong with shiny things.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 05:46 am (UTC)Re: OK, let's try this
Date: 2010-03-16 05:46 am (UTC)Plus hey, you share information. I love knowing stuff.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 05:47 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 05:48 am (UTC)And I'm all about seeing other people and how they live their lives. People is fascinating.