Saturday, 17 November 2012
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Why xanga is in decline
Any reviewer who expresses rage and loathing for a novel is preposterous. He or she is like a person who has put on full armor and attacked a hot fudge sundae.
— Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.Xanga is one of the few social networks that can be properly called a social network. You can be yourself and write about any topic, post any picture, or even upload any video you would like. With browsing through other people's pages and letting others look into yours, you would actually meet other people that you would have never done so otherwise. Through my own various incarnations and usernames as a xangan, I have met people from parts of the US (and even the world) whom I would never would thought I would meet. These people themselves have given me an insight about other things in life that I would never have known about had I not been on xanga. I speak for myself, but think I can also speak for lots of others.
Ever since my first xanga account 3 years ago, there has been talk about xanga being in decline. Some blame the lack of advertisement. Some blame it on money. Some blame xanga's somewhat outdated format.
My perspective as to why xanga is declining is simply this: some xangans are ruining this site for others.
Xanga, as any other place in the internet, is place where one can express oneself and one's opinions. Just as human beings differ, so do their opinions. We have liberals and we have conservatives, we have people who profess a religion and people who don't, there those who take a pro-life stance and those who believe in pro-choice, and so on and so forth.
However, there are those hold certain views and take it personally if someone freely expresses a differing opinion. Some people take it personally that you live your life the way you would like. Those people do not have the maturity to simply click on a different page, to work on their own blog, or to even get off the internet start living their own lives. That's why we have drama on here. That's why we have xangans who waste their time telling others how they should as if the whole entire universe depends on them. These people don't know how to live and let live.
As a result, we have people who put themselves on friends lock, not blog for many months or years, or simply close their accounts. As a result, you see same 20 or so bloggers on the front page. Very few people people want to write and everyone is too afraid of attracting trouble just because they're being themselves. Nobody talks to each other anymore and this place is turning into a ghost town.
The problem is, we need to do what we can to foster an environment of diversity. We need to find ways to encourage more people to freely express themselves no matter what views they hold. We, ourselves, have to make this site safe and open for many people to be themselves. Censoring others is simply further xanga's decline. If we encourage everyone to write, we shall soon see improvements.
Here's what I have to say about the haters out there:
Guess what. Who gives a shit about some stupid trolls? Who gives a shit if some xangan has a grudge against you? Never censor yourself and write as you'd like. Someone out there would appreciate what you have say because someone in this world has to say it. If someone is going to spend even a minute of their time trolling your page or even thinking hateful and condescending things about you, then they obviously have nothing going on in their lives.
Trolls like them should be pitied.
Write and write to your heart's content. It's what you should do because it's what you wanted to do.
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Comments (85)
I'm on friends lock for many of these reasons. Great post!
Bravo, Sid. Well said, my friend. :) For quite some time I had the saying "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." as my headline on my Xanga page because I want that message to show, that you shouldn't be afraid of expressing yourself and be different. This was a really great post. :)
hm idk i think xanga has it's ups and downs mostly weather related, it's going to be all lively from now to around march when the weather is nice again :P I don't mind much about personal attacks on here, there're very rare in my experience, it depends in how you propose your ideas and how you deal with differences...i've been called a lot of stuff though, it's part of the fun :D
@EmilyandAtticus - Thanks! I'm glad you liked it!
@Babieboo_Annie - Cám ơn! That quote is very true.
@xXxlovelylollipop - Well some people do get their fair share, so I thought I speak up for them. Thanks for reading!
There are a few trolls out there. Good thing for the block option. I've been to a few blog sites and I've come back to Xanga because it's more fun here. And it's not as public as facebook. I can vent here and for the most part, not catch any crap for it. Good post. I agree with xXxlovelylollipop. It's seasonal and when it's nice, everyone is out an enjoying the nice weather.
It's because of ratings and banning xrated content. People get on the internet for titties. There aren't enough titties here.
@Zoz36 - The block option do help with things. I guess people do need to do something when it is too cold outside.
@ShimmerBodyCream - Not enough titties? To the drawing board then! We must find a way to get more titties!
@Bodhiseeker3 - The times I've blocked and deleted posts is where offensive language is used. It's happened a few times.
I love Xanga. I am so glad to have discovered it. I never want it to go away.
I like the format just fine because I love Xanga.. heh hehI agree! Personally, the only problems I have ever had were from comments I made on the Dating-ish site. As far as my own blog, I usually either reply, delete, or delete/block. I am on sign-in lock, but thats only because I want this site to be private.
Also, you are right about friends lock. I have wanted to see some sites on Xanga, from a comment or REC only to then see the person is on friends lock. Since I dont know them, I dont ask to be a friend. While I understand why they go on friends lock, it actually keeps them from being more peoples friends I think. And I am not going to beg people to accept me as a friend so I can see their site.
I really like Xanga because it's another way to create layouts and graphics for people, as well as blogging. I've always been drawn to scripting style sheets, and my blog layout usually changes every couple of weeks.
Great post! I couldn't agree more.
i wanna vote you for xanga president
Sometimes I wonder if the xanga team is sabotaging itself on purpose. They're aware that the front page kinda sucks, yet day after day it's the same stuff.. They need fresh blood up there and some pictures would be nice too. On the app you can see the peep's pics but not on the normal webpage. It's fuckin so gay I just blah blah blah
I say we start blaming Obama instead of Bush now! It's about time he took some responsibility.
You mention "Xanga" in a title and you're #2 on Top Blogs :P
I love the block feature. It's helped with getting rid of a few buffoons. I don't really let the trolls get to me, because that's what blocking is good for.
I will have been here on Xanga for 8 years, coming next month. Why am I here after all this time, and I still intend to be here until it shuts down? I like the community feel here, which is A LOT more than what I got when I tried WordPress and Blogger. I love the very simple layouts here; I could never figure out WordPress for the life of me. Also, having the chance to make friends here who can also exist beyond the internet walls is phenomenal. To have you available, and Matt and Darcy living near me, are so great for starters (and people may not expect it, but Celestial Teapot and I are friends :) ). Also, I don't think WordPress and Blogger have the types of meetups that we've had! I know that I refrain from blogging about certain things, but it's because I feel like a massive hypocrite most of the time based on my past and what I still sometimes do, so I feel I have no right to say what I'd really want to say.
Good post.
Xanga is in decline because of weak, individual personalities. I should know since 95% of Xanga denizens have banned me forever from their sites simply because I say what is on my mind. Some have actually claimed to have banned me simply because of my username. Yes, I am a fascist. So what? Alas, that is enough to send them running to their 'block' button. That alone is very telling about specific individuals. I am a strong personality, with what many would deem to be 'extreme' views. It is those views that make many cowardly, simpering Xangans cringe in fright before pressing 'block' over my name. I do find it most amusing that so many of these wonderful Xangans purport to be strong believers in freedom of speech, yet block me faster than I can type 'boo'. Surely such individuals wish me to lie in order to keep them happy, yes? Well, it's not happening. I tell it like it is. If one does not like my views, one is free to block me, but the one should NEVER claim they are 'open-minded', or believers of freedom of speech because THEY are lying. I only have ONE person blocked, and that is some piece-of-shit Muzzie who runs around spamming everyone's sites with Islamic bullshit. EVERYONE, including those who have blocked me, are free to visit my site and to post comments whenever they wish. Ironic since I am a fascist, yet I give far more freedom to those who claim to be open and free. Whilst true that I fail to give a good goddamn if they block me or not, I do tend to find their bullshit most amusing and ironic. Truth frightens such people. I pursue it with gusto and damn the consequences. I would rather not live a lie as the hypocritical morons who block me do. Better yet, these morons I speak of know who they are because I have destroyed many in arguments pertinent to any subjects which they may be discussing. I even had one who claimed I was cursing and swearing, yet I linked her site for others to see for themselves that she was full of shit. I destroyed her in an argument, which clearly pissed her off, so she blocked me.
To those who post here, if you are going to complete a blog, expect responses and quit whining and bitching about those with whose views you do not agree. I would truthfully suggest such people should find their way OUT of Xanga, and stay out. They defeat the entire point of Xanga itself. They turn it into their own bitchfest, and to hell with anyone who disagrees with them. I have two words for such people: GET OUT.
@Zoz36 - You blocked me not because I 'trolled' you. You blocked me because I wiped the floor with your ass in a discussion. You lost, cried and immediately blocked me. You people need to stop using the 'I was trolled' whinefest and admit to defeat.
@ShimmerBodyCream - Sweetiepie, I don't need the internet for 'titties'. I can get them outside here just fine, thank you.
@Doubledb - Wrong, they are on 'friends-lock' because they are cowardly, whiny pussies and you know it. My own site is wide-open. I've received more insults than everyone on the site combined. Alas, I have cojones and can take it, unlike those who spout their hatred towards me. Perhaps if they actually mattered to me...?
@dw817 - Kid, no one can be 'hurt' on the internet. Get real.
@ChainBracelets - Who's the cutie?
I am an apologist. I defend and I investigate. I also click on what interests me. I follow a recommendation. I read many of the posts that shows up in my subscriptions. All in all, I get something of what I need here. My needs come high on my list of priorities for my time here. Also, I click on a post asking for help often times. That is a high priority for me too. I came here for those three reasons... to give and to receive and to encourage opportunities for such giving and receiving as may be possible. I tend to receive satisfying rewards and I hope that others are getting usefulness from my efforts to help; to even take some time to sort out what is of little consequence for me... for example: this issue is of no consequence for me. Thanks for the post Bodhiseeker3. You made a contribution here with this topic and it seems that there is a need to address the issues with the management. Best wishes for satisfaction.
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RE: "Any reviewer who expresses rage and loathing for a novel is preposterous. He or she is like a person who has put on full armor and attacked a hot fudge sundae. — Kurt Vonnegut, Jr."
NICE! It makes little sense to get worked up into a frenzy... about a novel... usually. Let us too keep in mind that the blogs are perhaps similar to novels; but the blogs are also not similar.
"It's because of ratings and banning xrated content. People get on the internet for titties. There aren't enough titties here."
Meantime, it seems that Bodhiseeker is putting your other idea into a creative stream... good luck with these ideas. I think though that I do prefer the banning of x-rated content to remain. 
@ShimmerBodyCream - I think you deserve a title. I hope someone will come up with one that fits you.
"The block option do help with things. I guess people do need to do something when it is too cold outside.... Not enough titties? To the drawing board then! We must find a way to get more titties!" @Bodhiseeker3 - I did block one jealous user.
Perhaps I'll lift the block someday. 
"Some people take pleasure in hurting others." @dw817 -
that isn't good! I hope that you are safe.
"There are a few trolls out there. Good thing for the block option. I've been to a few blog sites and I've come back to Xanga because it's more fun here. And it's not as public as facebook. I can vent here and for the most part, not catch any crap for it." @Zoz36 - This is my only blog membership (that I actually use). I like it here too.
"I'm on friends lock for many of these reasons." @EmilyandAtticus -
stay safe!
"the front page kinda sucks, yet day after day it's the same stuff" @twilike - I do share a similar view of the Xanga front page.
What may you suggest as imporvements?
"I really like Xanga because it's another way to create layouts and graphics for people, as well as blogging. I've always been drawn to scripting style sheets, and my blog layout usually changes every couple of weeks."@ChainBracelets - Happy creative people are fun to be with!
"I love Xanga. I am so glad to have discovered it. I never want it to go away." @z_stands_for - Me too.
"For quite some time I had the saying "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." as my headline on my Xanga page because I want that message to show, that you shouldn't be afraid of expressing yourself and be different." @Babieboo_Annie - I like that!
Thanks for the recommendation M.
You are always right-on!