July 23, 2010
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Xanga Really isn’t like it “used to be”.
A quick one while I’m finishing up my lunch period at work. No computer at home, so no internet, even though I’ve been only blogging only once a week or so for almost two years now.
I’ve almost completely abandoned my “style” of blogging. Gone are the long magazine articles with opulent graphics. Gone are the PhotoPosts, and the semi regular ElectricPoetry posts. If I write a poem, I post it. I’ve been mainly trying to write positive uplifting pieces for my few readers, and I’ve completely fallen off the “top blogosphere”. I do try to return comments, but I go for long stretches without even looking at a Xanga page.
I still read the occasional TheTheologiansCafe or Paul Partisan entry. Sometimes I even comment. But I don’t spread novel sized comments around the Xangasphere like I used to. No time. And with no computer, a bit difficult anyway.
I still like to look at the main page of Xanga from time to time, and just perused the list of “top blogs” showing and the rotating pix at the top of the site. Sex withdrawals. Yogurtaholics. Real Naked women. Jailbound Lindsey. on the rotathon. Makes Xanga look more and more like TMZ.com or the latest internet news(choke) choice, radaronline.
Under Top Blogs, Dan (TheTheologiansCafe) is wondering if someone is going to kill him. I swear, I didn’t even click the link. I know it isn’t what it might seem, knowing Dan. The “big news” or the “latest bandwagon” or what have you, the w(eak)ly dose of Xanga Drama seems to center on someone named Summer and whether or not she deserved to be (kicked off the island, booted off American Idol) er, forgive me, bounced off a round of some latest Xanga “contest” called MXA. I don’t even know what this is about. I’m so out of it these days when it comes to the Xangasphere.
I will say that this makes Xanga seem more like “reality television!”
I remember a time (sigh) when this was a writer’s community.
So I will proclaim once and for all, although I’ve been in deep denial when commenting about it.
Xanga Really Isn’t like it “used to be.”
It’s changed. And it isn’t for the better. (And I do acknowledge that there has always been “drama”, even before my time on this service.)
Oh well, weekend at the pool. Nice weather here in SoCal. I see my lunch period’s up so have to stop this madness. There, a “typical” blog entry, and from me. (And about Xanga.) What’s this place coming to indeed?
My “uplifting” entries (We Are Special and The Dichotomy of Life, f’rnistance.) are below the Facebook entry in case anyone hasn’t read them.
I remain, Michael F. Nyiri, poet, philosopher, fool
Comments (61)
I so agree.
To me, xanga has always been like this. It is just getting to the point where there are less users.
I agree that it’s not what it used to be. Dan might be right about the users. I blog a bit at blogger as well. That’s usually where I go if I have a lot to say but have already posted once or twice here that day already. My posts have been more and more politican and activist-y and NOBODY wants to read them. So it goes, eh?
It’s just a revelation of what the majority want~ or the loudest ones anyway. :laugh: Quite honestly~ nothing ever really stays the same. If people go through valleys and hills~ then anything people are involved with~ will do the same.
If xanga turns into nothing but a porn site~ I will still be here~ rattling about my horses and John Deeres. With my Levis and boots still on, of course.
You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself and that person is not to be found anywhere. you yourself as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.
Xanga has been irreversibly tainted by Facebook, Twitter and the phenomenon of “trending”… allowing– nay, demanding (however, subliminally) people to mindlessly become the very statistics they so abhor. We have gotten beyond the stigma of lies and damned lies. Nothing matters unless it has the support of numbers. We have become mere bits of the information age. We are the soul of the machine. The machine requires its numbers…
I remain outside looking in. It is kinda fascinating.
I really like you and have always enjoyed your posting and commenting style
@vexations - Bill, I was delighted to read your username among a list of “favorite Xangans” polled on someone’s blog the other day.
@TheTheologiansCafe - Dan, There are a lot less users. I guess you’d know that better than anyone.
@BoureeMusique - Emily, Your blog is one of the few I will actually go to just to “visit”. I can say that of very few Xangans, esp. these days.
@Amoralis - Ben, I’m more on the “outside” that at any time in my online history. But I gotta write an “observation” every now and then. Haven’t even updated my main website in almost a year. Facebook makes me ill. I have never even been to Twitter. Your assessment is so right on.
@NightCometh - Amy, One of my unfinished online projects is “a history of American Musical Theater” in under two minutes, or whatever. It will be a performance video showcasing lines from my favorite Broadway musicals going back to the 40s. Sort of a ‘showtunes mashup’. I think of you whenever I take another step toward actually making the dang thing.
@baldmike2004 -
Cool! I’m in South Pacific right now.
The “writing community” on Xanga fails to promote themselves. For as much as some of them complain, I have seen very few make any real concerted effort. Complaints from them make me laugh.
I had a different site two years ago. Things have definitely changed – I remember looking for users that now don’t exist anymore, back in April. I remember when it was just revelife and mommaroo. I remember when there were none of those offshoots at all….
I’ve found writers, really great ones. But the drama is overpowering. But I didn’t come here for fame – just to write. It’s been going alright so far. I guess it’s what you make of it.
I miss your poetry, btw. I’ve always loved it.
@Paul_Partisan - You’re very right which is why I never complain myself. I’m content with Xanga being the way it is because no amount of bitching is going to change it anyway.
Agreed. I’ve been on Xanga for 7 or 8 years, and when I first joined, it was peaceful and friendly. Now it just feels like a competition.
I appreciate it. You keep me on my toes.
Yep. Dan is either related to someone “xanga big wig,” or he bribes them. The third option is that large numbers of people are truly amused by posts that any 8 year old could make. Put up a link, a pic, and ask a question. Why, why…that’s brilliant!! Not.
@TheTheologiansCafe -
I don’t know if it can be blamed in less users or more people being involved in the drama. It’s probably a little bit of both. It pushes out the people who are willing to post other things because people are so focused on the drama they don’t know how to handle anything else.
Don’t change for a moment. I agree with Paul that the writing community fails to promote itself, so if it wants our comments, they need to really network. I do appreciate them when they come along.
I was on Xanga about 5-6 years ago for about a year and I’m back and you’re quite right…it’s very different…I felt there was still some stuff then that is still around now, but for the most part, not much well written stuff out there..
@Paul_Partisan -
Didn’t they used to have a self-promotion group that supplied bi-monthly writing topics? What ever happened to that?
I never aspired to be one of the writers, although I certainly enjoyed visiting. However, it does seem as there are so many less users that all of the genres of people I enjoy have fallen away, and those who seem to be on the upswing do not have the kind of posts I have any interest in following.
Glad to see you are out and about here, though.
I think it’s getting pretty difficult to find articles worth reading on xanga, and so have been reading more and more blogs off site.
So now the big question becomes…..where do the writers go to get that “writers community” back? I don’t know. I am getting the itch to shut down my xanga site. There just doesn’t seem to be much point in keeping it open. We’ll see.
It seems like there’s much more drama to avoid now — but I sometimes wonder whether it’s Xanga or me that has changed ~ ~ ~
God save us all from reality TV.
It still is so that the more you comment the more comments you get, for most of us it takes work to be read.
@Paul_Partisan - Dear Paul, I’m not really complaining. Just observing and reporting. Although not really active, I still think I’m “providing” some good content, even if I don’t spend the time I used to constructing the entries.
@NikBv - Dear Nik, I used to run one of the writer’s blogrings, the Internet Island. It was pretty popular for a couple of years. There is still Featured Grownups, and occasionally I’ll write an entry for them, although you stay on any internet platform long enough, and it seems as if the “prompts’ keep repeating themselves. Internet Island used to be criticized for the sheer amount of prompts I would post each month! I gave people TOO much to write about. And hate to (ahem) toot my own horn here, but I believe I’ve been providing quality content on Xanga for over six years. I’m just a little bit slower as I age. LOL.
@seedsower - Dear Beth, I used to be “known” for my comments. As I stated in this entry, I am without internet access right now, and I’ve sort of been on quite a few hiatuses over the past couple of years, so I’m not really “active”. I admit I haven’t been commenting that much. I have been posting sporadically, and I certainly don’t criticize the comments I get or my readers, most of whom have been coming over here for five or six years. It’s interesting, however, that entries like the two to which I linked, aren’t too “well read” except by my “regulars” but a little entry like this that took all of four minutes to write and doesn’t contain any REAL writing at all gets this many comments (and recommends) in such a short amount of time. Also, I knew when I hit “submit” that would happen. You’re a rare example of a popular Xangan who still posts quality entries IMHO BTW.
You sure are known for your thoughtful comments they were never the run of the mill and always appreciated.
I just recently knocked myself off facebook to focus myself back on xanga and have been browsing a bit more. It is now crazy out there. Mostly because of the reply feature. People won’t necessarily go to your site to see whats up about you but just leave long comments on your comments on other peoples posts. I know that’s what the reply feature is probably for but I liked it when you actually had to show up at another persons blog and basically introduce yourself before going into a rant about a comment somewhere.
:wave: Well, I’m hanging in with Xanga, although, as you know, I’m re-evaluating time for it . Well, I just blogged about that yesterday, anyway. Facebook has some appeal for me as my family members post there frequently. Some Xangans such as yourself are making use of it, too. In addition, it’s been a good way for me to connect with organizations I’m interested in and Celtic musicians that I know. To me, what has changed about Xanga (at least considering the subs I started out with) is that so many don’t post anymore, not just because of Facebook, but for other reasons as well.
I also don’t have time to do anything fancy with my blog, so it’s usually devoid of photos I may take. I’ve still got so many in my camera that haven’t been transferred to computer. When will I do? I dunno. :rolleyes:
What happened to your computer? Did you have some kind of power problem with it? Now, I think you did mention that previously.
~~Blessings ‘n Cheers :goodjob:
@flatpick46 - Oh, Randy! Puhlease don’t! I so look forward to “Flatpick Friday”.
I think that it’s up to us to keep it honest and not just drama and sex.
Yes, things change. People come and go. I was amazed that you were always so insightful with each comment and still had the time to produce the quality of blogs that you did. As I have xanga to thank right now for making my life much more interesting and fulfilled, I plan to ride it out and see what happens. The no internet thing is harsh, I can understand why you wouldn’t be as active with that happening. Best wishes wherever you end up.
All will return it always does. All we need is a few good bloggers to bring something good!
Interesting article, I have been blogging here on xanga for several years and until earlier this summer just about every day. Every Friday I post some humor (at least it amuses me)and the other days I mix in lyrics of songs I like and pictures I have taken with my camera. I don’t have the same regulars as when I started, friends come and go (usually to facebook) but thats ok. I took a well needed xanga break and I feel better now…take care…Mike
I really don’t like how xanga’s changed. I remember a time before featured posts and top blogs, MXA, and Dan. When no one gave a damn about anyone else besides the people in their own little xanga bubble, and that was fine with me. Because most of these people, I don’t want to know. Xanga has become so debase, it’s been reduced to a popularity contest and those who regular make the top 20 top blogs want it to stay that way. And the xanga team doesn’t seem to give a shit about anything we think or say about how the site has gone to hell. They just keep changing it for the wose, with their superfluous additions without remedying what people already don’t like. They seem to do it in spite of us. I like livejournal so much better, but even that’s starting to change, trying to keep up with twitter and facebook. Do we really need another one of those though? The answer is no.
And these ish sites drive me crazy. They’ve nothing to do with xanga whatsoever. it’s just the same tripe being shat out all over the front page like verbal diarrhea. If I see one more weight debate from lovelyish, I might have to start “trolling” it again.
I commented on your post on my site. It is supposed to be explaining why it seems different to those who have had one for awhile via the vantage point of someone just starting it and why there isn’t alot of users. If it sounds negative it is only supposed to be describing my dissappointment in xanga and why others might not join, not negative toward the post you wrote. Wanted to clarify. thank you.
Gee and just when I was beginning to think my standards were just too high. Thanks for this post, it is hard for xanga to keep my interest much anymore. I do go to another site where there are very good and long blogs and very interesting. I am not interested in half this stuff I can get off of Yahoo or other news sites. Who cares what Lady Gaga does? Not me.
Name calling and political one sided self righteousness seem to be the formula for success. Seedsower is still posting great pictures and great stories and making it into the top blogs quite regularly.
To me, Xanga was something I did when I couldn’t sleep and when I was holed up in a room trying to study for Chemistry. My life changed after I graduated and I drifted from Xanga. I’m a little surprised I managed to make my way back to it; however, I soon found out that I wasn’t the only one who didn’t have time to write anymore. I still hope to keep in contact with everyone though.
Back at the beginning of the year 2000, this was a very vibrant, exciting, self-discovering community. I remember a time then when you could actually comment on everybody who wrote a post on a given day. And back then peeps wondered what to do with this new expressive media. Was anything possible? Was everything possible? Writers emerged, poets emerged, silliness ran amok. There were many “firsts” and I was the author of some of them. “Firts” were always fun for me in the sense that I was bringing new functionality never before experienced on Xanga (or, perhaps, even the entire blogosphere). The first group blogchat was sponsored on my site. Even John (CEO) thought it was great. And is was. A little later, I sponsored a mobile webcam that fed directly into my blog. I remember bloggers commenting “turn left” “turn right” as they followed my live webcam blog driving around the city. So there was lots of innovative fun in the early formative days of Xanga.
Now Xanga seems more like a retirement community. And I don’t mean so with regards to the age of the participants, probably much, much younger now than at Xanga’s startup when a teenager was a rarity! Nor do I mean so with regards to post content which appears to still retain much variability. Rather, with the exception of the featured top blogs, interactivity has grown senile. Xanga’s a much more solitary place now if your not featured than it was any time before. It’s a good place for hermits who like occasional interaction now and then. But it ain’t where the party is at anymore.
Hong Kong Xanga is still an exception to the above trending. It appears things are still hopping there. “Ni hau ma?” “Hua bu hua! Ni ne?
I’ve been here almost 8 years and you’re right.
I dont follow the MXA. It’s just so American it makes my eyes bleed.
Xanga is the redheaded stepchild of the blogging community, I think. I like to peruse other blogs on other sites, such as blogger (blogspot) and wordpress and it seems that is where the writing is to be found. I have thought about this subject a lot since I have been on xanga collectively for about 5 years now. What makes xanga unique is the connectivity to be found here. No, you can’t open up an OpenID and just comment away as you can on the other sites, but there are features here that make it worth staying around if you are not a “serious” blogger. (privacy, etc)
Yes, Facebook has contributed to the overall decline in bloggin in general, but there are good aspects of Facebook that keep me there. Where else can you keep in touch with family, friends and co-workers all in one place?
I still enjoy reading entries from you and discovering new “friends” here when I have time. I always appreciate comments, but if the comment is novel length or just a sentence, that is still OK with me.
I purposely keep my “friends” list short so that I can concentrate on commenting on those people who write consistently. I do like hearing about the lives of my xanga friends and I comment when I can.
I hope you stick around even though things have changed.
I started on xanga about four or five years ago and it’s already changed a lot since I came. The change is not for the better. I comment less than I used to, because all blogs seem to be about around here lately is drama, and people asking questions with the obvious purpose of starting drama. I use xanga as a journal. Some people use it as another place to get their needed power trip. Whatever, to each their own I guess. But to say the least within the pat few months especially, I have been contemplating just joining another blogging site and ditching xanga.
Good post, props.
Well it sounds like xanga was a great place before I got here. Did I screw it up?!? oh no I am awesome.. No really I try to write meaningful stuff that it what I started a blog for but then I have had a major case of the sahm insanities way out here in the country and my blog my have gotten a little… well… anyway. I will shut up now.
@seedsower - Yes indeed – save us from reality TV. Actually, most TV!
@explosive - The ish sites drive me bonkers, too. Everytime I click on a link on an ish site, I regret it. I actually avoid the frontpage entirely (most of the time) by logging directly into my own xanga and driving from there.
@NightlyDreams - I completely agree about the reply feature. Now you don’t get the cross-pollination because all the comments are handy on one site if the reply feature is used. Good for following a conversation quickly, bad for “meeting” new Xangans.
There are stacks of writers on Xanga, and it is possible to organise them to achieve things, as I recently demonstrated. However, two things are needed: go for it without asking anyone’s permission, and ignore your critics..
Xanga is like high school / college drama… I’m contemplating on leaving and going to a different blog site…
@WildWomanOfTheWest -
If it is a porn site, you might not have on your Levi’s
I am actually thinking of making the switch to Tumblr…it isn’t really geared (from what I have seen) for writing, but I think that things can be done…it is a personal decision though…the excitement isn’t where it used to be for me on here…and I feel that the people I wish to reach are not the people that the heads of Xanga want to reach…which is a problem…
I think there are still writers (though admittedly I have only recently joined). You just have to go out of your way to look for them, and understand that most of the stuff on the front page tends to be drama-filled, etc.
I guess I’ve never really been in the loop to know what Xanga was/is. I do see Xanga drama at times & find it annoying/amusing. I see where you’re coming from & enjoyed this post.
I agree it has gotten less personal, and I sort of miss the old days. It might be partly because my group of Xanga Friends has grown so big, it is hard to stay in touch with all on a personal level. Ironically I’ve only been here about 2 years, maybe less. Still, you’ve always been one of the good ones. I hope you stay around.
=/
I’ve only been on xanga for ~1 year, and I also feel the increased negativity
I agree! I was on xanga for about 3-4 years, and I slowly got bored with it, and didn’t have time ot read all the posts, (they are all so LONG!). All of my friends went to FB, and it’s quick fun banter, and I like that. I also don’t feel pressured to comment. An old xanga friend begged me to come back, and I like reading hers, I have tried it, and I just can’t get into it anymore. Also I have been reading some of the newer writers, and they sound (and probably are) teens, who are writing blogs that sound like magazine articles, not real life stuff. anyhow, I know what u mean.
I agree with you wholeheartedly. It has changed. It used to be more about writing and using your blog to express yourself. The majority of people still do use there blogs for that reason but the majority of the attention on here is given to bloggers who tend to write in a domino effect. Someone says something bad about you and a single entry is made followed by numerous other entries in response by more top bloggers. The entry about the person who was going to commit suicide is a good example. DearRicky is another example. I’ve noticed that’s how front page has been moving lately. But it doesn remind me to clear out my friends list. I want nothing of xanga drama. I’ve have enough of it in real life and this place is supposed to be a community where I can relax and just write.
@sonnetjoy -
are you stalking me now?
@NightlyDreams - Not intentionally! I just kept seeing interesting comments and replying to them, and I am more likely to respond to a comment if I recognize the commentator’s name. If I’m bothering you, let me know and I’ll avoid commenting on what you say.
@sonnetjoy - Don’t worry about it. I think I’ve been on another plane lately.
One of the things I like about you is your honesty and your lack of willingness to stoop to the level that one must often stoop to get widely recognized. Kudos to you sir!
I have no idea what it used to be like, but I, too, have lately really cut down my time on xanga. I don’t know what it used to me, but to me it seems heavily weighted ‘rightwing’ and ‘jesus freak’ (the new, non-denominational christians who lean fundamentalist). Neither of those are me. When I blog political controversy, people either hate me or love me, mostly hate, LOL. Sometimes it suits my mood to just come back on that blog and cuss out all the evil T baggers and rightwingers. It’s too easy, but I do need some light entertainment with escrow still happening.
In the mean time I’m re-upolstering my couch (have you ever tried something like that? Hell of a project! Harder than I had anticipated!) and co-writing a murder mystery novel with my mother. And trying to get this place organized so I leave it nice (maybe he’ll give me some of that 3,500 back, I need it, the house needs all new appliances, they are ancient or non-existent!)
I think I looked at the top page the same day as you did, with that Summer this and Summer that, LOL, I just signed off. Some days, Just looking at the top blog place makes me think there’s got to be a blog place that’s better for me than xanga. Honestly, I could care less about most things that make top blog, so I do hope it used to be better cuz it couldn’t be much worse.