How has LiveJournal affected your life? (How) have you changed your posting style since starting? Did you make promises to yourself that you've kept or broken?
LJ has had a huge impact. I started on LJ very briefly in the fall of 2002, but then took it up seriously in December of 2003. With thanks to the Lord of the Rings: Return of the King fandom, I got to know a bunch of great people and a couple of real asses, with of course an expected amount who fell between. One of them became one of the best friends I've ever had. I've also now got a gardening mentor who has inspired me to do so much more outside the house and away from the computer than I think I'd have ever done without her. So, yeah, people are the important part.
As for my posting style? Well, for awhile I tried to post like the people who turned out to be asses. I was posting something like ten times a day. Posted a lot of memes. Used LJ instead of e-mail to communicate with individuals. Now it's a lot more of a cross between a personal record and a way of sharing my questioning and explorations with people I trust.
I've never made promises to myself where LJ was concerned, although when I got trampled by one of the asses, it took me awhile to trust people again. Now I don't trust as quickly or expect much, but I've figured out a lot better how to deal with that 'getting to know you' time.
I used to think of myself as an LJ addict, but now it's just part of life. My friends are here. Some friends have wandered off, but I'm glad that I'm getting to know more. It's really very much like life anywhere else, though I find it's easier for me to just go ahead and "talk" here... chances seem better that I'll find someone who knows what I'm talking about. If I go to the Professional and Academic Women's Conference, I'm afraid they'll just talk about their careers or their kids or whatnot, and I doubt one person would have any idea what I was talking about if I mentioned that I watch House... So, yeah, I'm a bit more comfortable here.
*cracks knuckles and goes after comment #5*
LJ has had a huge impact. I started on LJ very briefly in the fall of 2002, but then took it up seriously in December of 2003. With thanks to the Lord of the Rings: Return of the King fandom, I got to know a bunch of great people and a couple of real asses, with of course an expected amount who fell between. One of them became one of the best friends I've ever had. I've also now got a gardening mentor who has inspired me to do so much more outside the house and away from the computer than I think I'd have ever done without her. So, yeah, people are the important part.
As for my posting style? Well, for awhile I tried to post like the people who turned out to be asses. I was posting something like ten times a day. Posted a lot of memes. Used LJ instead of e-mail to communicate with individuals. Now it's a lot more of a cross between a personal record and a way of sharing my questioning and explorations with people I trust.
I've never made promises to myself where LJ was concerned, although when I got trampled by one of the asses, it took me awhile to trust people again. Now I don't trust as quickly or expect much, but I've figured out a lot better how to deal with that 'getting to know you' time.
I used to think of myself as an LJ addict, but now it's just part of life. My friends are here. Some friends have wandered off, but I'm glad that I'm getting to know more. It's really very much like life anywhere else, though I find it's easier for me to just go ahead and "talk" here... chances seem better that I'll find someone who knows what I'm talking about. If I go to the Professional and Academic Women's Conference, I'm afraid they'll just talk about their careers or their kids or whatnot, and I doubt one person would have any idea what I was talking about if I mentioned that I watch House... So, yeah, I'm a bit more comfortable here.