LJ Etiquette Question

[wickedgoodgrrrl]

I have a bad habit of looking at strangers' LJ's just because I like their avatars. I've seen some interesting stuff--and bookmarked a lot of pages so I could potentially go back, read about said strangers. I also think this is pushing the limits of So Very Not Cool, especially if I think I'd like to eventually ask permission to gank and use

Comments

[selkiechick]

If you can read it, then it's public and ok to read, bookmark or whatever. As for icons, as I understand, it is considered polite to ask if you can use thier icon, and give credit where credit is due... (I post sources in the notes that go with the icons)

I don'think htere is anything wrong with lurking, and but there are a lot of different social customs about friending out there....

[wickedgoodgrrrl]

Hey, never let it be said the obvious DIDN'T escape me: if someone has something on their LJ open to all comers, it's fair game for anyone to read. Since I've kept a private diary for a quarter-century which no one read except my ex-husband...the sneak!...this "open diary" format still blows my mind a little. But, tellingly, I've been LJ'ing more than keeping up my private diary.

However, I think you prompted me to what's really problematic: when to friend someone you've never met before in person. I have no problem with always asking permission to use an avatar and giving due credit; I asked if I could use her avatar and give due credit, hence the "I AM smiling" eagle. I probably would have waited far longer to ask permission if I hadn't known her husband . I haven't friended her, but I before long I introduced myself just so she knew who I was. It seemed the decent thing to do, and I 'd be delighted to see the both of them if they made it up here to Beantown

Darn it, I _meant_...

[wickedgoodgrrrl]

...kmelion and zachkessin respectively.

The issue I will tackle is how to edit my comments after I've made any spelling, grammatical, HTML-tag, etc. errors. Ergh!

Re: Darn it, I _meant_...

[wickedgoodgrrrl]

As in "The next issue I will tackle". Huh. Guess I have a few issues. :P