(no subject)

[pensnest]

It is exactly nine years since I first posted anything on LiveJournal. That was the beginning of a brand new phase of my life—not quite the beginning of a new fandom, because I was already thoroughly addicted to popslash by that time, but the beginning of a new kind of interaction with other fans, with readers and writers and reccers and thinkers and squee-makers and icon-makers and all. It wasn't just the subject matter that gave me inspiration, it was the atmosphere of fannish encouragement and friendship that made it possible, and worthwhile, and obvious, to write stories and explore ideas.

The LJ (and DW) experience has faded for my still-beloved fandom, and for others too, which is a shame. It's hard to imagine a better place for fans to interact with one another, and I don't see an improvement outside the journalling world. But I'm hanging on here, because I have so many friends as a result of it. Thanks for being here.

Comments

[watervole]

There's less here than there used to be, but like you, I still value it.

I like friends I have here and I like the more relaxed pace of interaction and the longer, more thoughtful posts.

[pensnest]

Exactly so. My DW reading is a bit broader than on LJ, but there are (thank goodness) still thoughtful people who post interesting things. And, on occasion, silly, fun trivialities. It's an excellent medium.

[turlough]

Happy anniversary!!

We got our journals at almost the same time. My LJ anniversary is on the 21st. It makes me very happy that there are still people like you who stick to the journaling platform despite everything. I completely agree with you that I can't really imagine a better place for my fannish life.

[pensnest]

And I remember thinking you must have been around for ages, as you seemed to know everything that was going on in the fandom! It's a shame that such a lot of fannish activity has moved away. Feels like a mistake.

[ephemera]

happy LJ-versary!

[turps]

Happy ljversary!

[copracat]

Late but happy ljversary!

[ariadnem]

How lovely. A little belated but happy anniversary ^^

[sperrywink]

Happy LJversary!!

Such a long time. Popslash is what got me into journal-ing too- I'm so glad it did.

[pensnest]

I sometimes wonder if there's a Star Trek: TNG community on LJ the way there was a popslash one. Newsgroups at the time just didn't have the same community feeling.

[solariana.livejournal.com]

Happy LJversary!

I missed my 10 year in Feb *gasp*, but it was popslash that brought me to LJ as well!

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

My 12th was last month, and popslash was what brought me in, too. I suspect that's the case for a lot of us :)

[pensnest]

Popslash is *still* the Best Fandom Ever.

[solariana.livejournal.com]

The sparkly goodness of PopSlash is hard to resist! *G*

Happy belated 12th!

[pensnest]

The only thing is that I needed to meet a person to discover that I needed a LiveJournal—I'd never have discovered popslash if I hadn't encountered nopseud.

[solariana.livejournal.com]

I learned of LJ through reading PopSlash. I don't think I ever got a response to any of my emails to PopSlash people prior to joining. I found LJ a much better opportunity to interact.

I am so very saddened at how much LJ has slowed down. (DW is not very cooperative with me, although I have my fic backed up there). I love AO3, but there's not the opportunity just to chat other than in FB.

I'm glad you have stuck around LJ as it has been a great pleasure getting to know you over the years!

[pensnest]

I'm sad that LJ has slowed down so much, too—I actually do all my posting from DW now, and I prefer the interface there (except, of course, that I do not have this gorgeous layout on my DW journal), but LJ ought to be the 'friends' place while DW is the 'interesting stuff to read' place. *sniff*

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

Happy LJversary!

It wasn't just the subject matter that gave me inspiration, it was the atmosphere of fannish encouragement and friendship that made it possible, and worthwhile, and obvious, to write stories and explore ideas.

Yes. This, a thousand times. Also, totally agree wrt staying/hanging on for friends

[pensnest]

Yes - my LJ experience is greatly diminished these days, which makes me very sad, but I definitely don't intend to give it up.

[nopseud]

Wow, it seems like no time at all since I ensnared you at Redemption!

I think LJ is still the best environment for actual fannish interaction. A lot of the newer platforms seem like a lot of people shouting, but not so much in the way of conversation.

[pensnest]

And I have never ceased to be grateful!

Yes, indeed - although I do prefer the way DreamWidth works, strictly speaking. But Twitter doesn't seem like any kind of medium for fic, AO3 doesn't include community, and Tumblr... just doesn't, really.

Grar. *shakes fist* Come back onna my lawn!

[ullman79.livejournal.com]

Happy LJ anniversary!

It made me look at my first LJ journal (ullman) and I realized my 10 year anniversary on LJ was a few months ago. First came to LJ way back when I was first introduced to slash fanfic after innocently googling something after watching an - in hindsight - particularly slashy CSI episode. ;)

[pensnest]

LJ was really the perfect fannish medium, I think, for all its flaws. I'm so glad I found it!

[ullman79.livejournal.com]

Me too! I'm still hoping for something of a revival (it gets awfully quiet here these days), because I'm too old to adapt to seemingly more fleeting things like Tumblr. Or perhaps I'm just old. ;)

[pensnest]

We old folks actually like conversation, I think, and have slightly longer attention spans than the average Twitter user...

[morgana-st.livejournal.com]

Happy Anniversary! It's only been 7 years for me so far. It was popslash and Supernatural that brought me to lj, but I've found that the popslash community was by far the friendliest and most welcoming.

[pensnest]

And there are still a few of us here, so it's odd, really, that we all feel a bit... bereft. Coming into popslash on LJ was an awesome experience for me.

[brandywine28.livejournal.com]

Happy LJ-versary!

I'm another one who came for the popslash, though I held out a lot longer than most everyone else. :)

What's funny is that while the mass migration to Twitter, Tumblr and beyond is undeniably A Thing, all I ever hear about those platforms is how horrible they are for fannish interaction. Like screaming all your thoughts and opinions into a big, black void. I'll stick with LJ, thanks.

[pensnest]

It really puzzles me how newer fandoms, the ones that are more Tumblr based than journal based, manage to work as fandoms at all. Maybe they all post fic on AO3 and talk to one another in the comments? 'Tis very odd.

[trumpeterofdoom.livejournal.com]

Happy ljversary! My ten year anniversary was last August (and now I can't remember if I marked it or remembered it, eep), and I came here for very much the same reasons as you. And people like you are the reason why I'm still hanging around, though much less talky. *hugs*

[pensnest]

I suspect far too many of us are Growing Up and therefore have less time to be fannish. I exempt myself as I was theoretically grown-up when I started here...

*hugs back*

[idahophoenix.livejournal.com]

I agree. I came into fandom and just a year later Tumblr and other platforms exploded--it's a much more confusing world in terms of making real connections. I love AO3, but hate the fact that so few people take the time to comment on it. I'm glad that you continue on LJ. I haven't been on for a while, but your Lambert/PopSlash cross overs remain among my favorite fics.

[pensnest]

I like a lot about AO3, including the fact that one can leave kudos without having to think of a comment, and I dislike, well, the fact that one can leave kudos without bothering to think of a comment. Sigh. And it doesn't at all have the feeling of a conversation between friends, which my journals do.

Did you see my recent Dragon Big Bang story? Posted about a month ago, another Lance/Adam AU.

[idahophoenix.livejournal.com]

No! I've only been back on LJ in the past week. Where do I find the story. Squee!!!!!!!!

[idahophoenix.livejournal.com]

Also, I do love the kudos and being able to see so easily how many hits a fic gets, but a conversation like this would never happen. Just chatting with you reminds me how much I used to love being on LJ. Maybe I'll even do some posting again. It's such a nice mix of a place to post fic with room also to just ruminate with like minded souls.

[pensnest]

Exactly that - I used to love going through my friends list, not knowing whether a cut tag would lead to fic or a long rambling story about someone's life. And conversations here are definitely more interesting than the comment/thanks for commenting you generally get on AO3. It's an excellent resource, and a lot easier to find stories there than on LJ (usually), but it's not the same as a community.

[pensnest]

*grins* http://pensnest.livejournal.com/454369.html is the beginning on LJ, or you can read it all in one piece on my website. Hope you enjoy it!

[zillahseye.livejournal.com]

STILL HERE, CAN'T LOSE ME.

[starturtle0977.livejournal.com]

Happy belated LJversary! I just checked my profile and I've been around for 11 years now...doesn't seem possible. I never transitioned to DW but I've always loved the concept of LJ. My brain can't seem to wrap around tumblr and such.