How do you use LiveJournal?

[theljstaff]

We appreciate all the feedback you have already given us on both the redesign of the site and the recent discussion about a potential +1 feature. With this post, though, we're wanting to get your input on how you use LiveJournal rather than just asking about a specific feature or page on the site. So, with that said, on with the questions!

• What

Comments

[mystereos]

What are the main reasons you use LiveJournal? To journal about daily life, for introspection, and to keep up with friends here.

What are the things you love best about us? The ability to have a journal and choose who reads it, and to find like-minded people to get to know.

What are the features you like most? The icons and other privileges that come with a paid account. The generous amount of tags.

What makes LiveJournal special to you? The people I've met here.

In your opinion, what do we have that other places don't? Honestly, not a lot. Dreamwidth does what you do and shows a lot more respect to its users, but all my friends are here so I'm staying here. The one thing you DID have - the fact that you're not an FB or Tumblr clone and focussed more on in depth meaningful interactions is slowly being eroded by your constant unwanted changes.

[sewcute]

Would you want to be Lj friends?

[tripleransom]

I've been a member since 2002(!) so I have a long history with LJ

[quirkytizzy]

Permanence - yes. I like your use of that word. Absolutely.

[boywhocameback]

Me too!

[arilla]

Agreed; I like to KEEP things on Livejournal. Other websites can deal with the ephemeral "happening now" stuff in 140 characters, the LJ is for the things you don't want to forget.

[mangofandango]

Two primary things: journaling and reading friends journals (rather than just status updates and other short form, highly public thoughts), and communities. I also saw the fandom aspect of LJ as really huge for a long time, and I would still be using it that way - but I know fandom has largely left, which is a bummer. I'd like to still be doing more of that here.

For journaling, I like the customizable nature of writing semi-privately (under a username and not a real name, but openly if I choose) or more privately (with friends lock, custom groups, and private options). I like that I can really get to know people better this way, and read more about their lives and thoughts than I could in other forums. I like documenting my life in a way that is more open and personalizable (not a word, but).

Communities have been huge for me on LJ. I have learned a lot, gotten to know people, and found subject-specific places to talk about things. I like that communities are self-governing and self-selecting, and that some are more intimate groups

[thtsgoodsquishy]

You touched on a lot of the reasons I'm here--your three middle paragraphs are things I would have mentioned (but haven't gotten that far as of yet).

[vvalkyri]

God yes. Long form, and not trying to divine what one might or might not read.

[eve_n_furter]

What are the main reasons you use LiveJournal? - Fandom communities and discussion possibilities. I know DW has taken over a lot of this kind of content, but their features are still more rigid than LJ's, even with the "recent" forced gui-upgrades to LJ.

What are the things you love best about us? - My fandom friends that remain here. (The upside with the youngsters "living" on tumblr now is that there's more room for grown-ups over here.)

What are the features you like most? - Ever-working vintage posts and readable, linkable threads with headings (which still can be achieved with a hack).

What makes LiveJournal special to you? - My invested time, thought and history. LJ's original history of catering to users and fandom. (Hey, you're recent forays into communication with your users really get my hopes up!)

In your opinion, what do we have that other places don't? - Grown up discussion about squee-worthy things. Anonymity. Being the one place on the Internet where female pronouns fit better than male in general discussion,

[eve_n_furter]

Ugh! "your", not "you're" up there on #4. I thought I fixed that. (But there might be more: I apologize. It's getting late here.)

[quirkytizzy]

1) Content: Livejournal has been more than simple journaling for me. While a good many of my posts over the last 10 years have been about the day to day grind, Livejournal has been the place where I have done the majority of my healing work from trauma. My friends here, many who have also been through similar things, are invaluable - as is the safe space that Livejournal has provided. Other places do not give that, nor do other places - even other sites like Blogger or Wordpress - allow for such easy communication and conversations

[belenen]

100% ditto (my trauma was not that intense I don't think but it was a long time healing). I don't know if I would have survived without LJ.