My birthday is coming up on Sunday. So I am having people send me stuff. If you would like to send me an audio of you singing Happy Birthday, I will post it on my audio blog. Or you can also send me a picture or something you made to help me celebrate my birthday. I will post it on my site in the photoblog section.
Here we go:
I received a message via the message feature from Building_A_Mystery. In the message box we talked back and forth about the “appeal” of xanga. She told me it was ok to share her thoughts with you:
“You have a point. But I think part of the “different” appeal of xanga and say something like myspace… is this is a blog first, and a social network second. Whereas myspace is a social network first, that happens to have a blog. Both are okay… but some prefer one over the other.”
I actually agree that myspace is a social network first and a blog or other things second. But I also believe that xanga is a social network first and a blog second.
Do you think xanga is a blog first or a social network first?
Comments (139)
First?
blog
I think it’s a blog site first. Social networking follows that. But with all the new features, that may be changing.
second?
Blog first. And I like it that way. Though I have both, myspace has the “whorish” undertones.
blog, but I talk to my friends through xanga too.
I would say blog first. When I started on Xanga, I didn’t care who else had one, or who would read what — I just put it out there. Whereas MySpace is just…annoying.
xanga is blog first. and I agree with sillymonkey boy, about the “whorish undertones”.
it is definatly a blog first… hint hint not everyone has a zillion friends like you
Blog first.
Blog first
I think it’s a social network that happens to be a blog. How’s that?
blog, people don’t get a xanga so that they can stay in contact with their friends, they get a xanga so that they can write down what they’re feeling.
as it turns out, most people find others they know on xanga, but that’s not it’s primary function.
I use it as a blog.
Blog first.
blog
Blog….everything else just comes with the territory.
Blog. MySpace is the social network.
Xanga is blog first. It’s for people who just have to write something for people to read or ignore. -_-
But MySpace is like, COMMENT ME. For socializing… err, online.
again, depends who you ask.
many people use it mainly because their friends use it, but there are those who actually use the blog as a personal stress reliever, not a social networking tool. you’ll find barely anyone like that on myspace.
Blog first. I did five entries before I even visited someone else’s Xanga.
For me: Blog.
It’s definitely a blog first. I don’t really meet new people or old friends on Xanga, I just write whatever I want on here. It’s chronicled my whole high school career, can’t abandon it now.
-David
I think most of us use it as a blog first, social network second. (at least I do)
Blog first.
I think of it as a blog. But I think it has a stronger appeal than some other blog sites because it has a stronger social networking emphasis.
Xanga’s a blog first!
Blog First
I know I started it as a blog first. And it has grown into a social network for me. Not sure what others think.
Blog.
Hey, my birthday is on Monday!
best of both worlds, but blog first
Blog first.
mmm, yeah, blog first.
Blog for sure. If you’re looking for a social network, you don’t think to come to xanga before considering facebook or myspace first. If you’re looking for an online journal, then xanga comes to mind.
Myspace seems silly unless you have a reason to be on there, like a band or business.
Blog first. I have been on it for years as only a blog, never a networking thing. I’ve just started checking out other blogs this year, really.
Wow. What the hell is up with the person who left that ridiculously long and pointless chain letter before my first comment.
Ignorance is not bliss to those found in the presence of the ignorant.
xanga is a blog first. i use my xanga to write, and if i happen to socially network, woohoo. myspace i use to talk to my friends and if it’s something i want them to read i might blog it.
Blog. Period.
Also, I really wish I had more free time this weekend — I would totally crank out some birthday artwork for you.
I think it depends upon how you use it. I use it to stay in touch with two of my friends who I otherwise would not stay in touch with.
blog first. though it is trying to be more of a social network.. it really is trying.
I believe I will ride the fence on this one.
On the one hand, I have logged on to Xanga countless times just to write out what it is I am thinking/feeling. I post it only to delete it within five seconds for fear of the total stranger who will read it. Blog first. Then social interaction. However, social interaction, or rather the anxiety of, moves me to delete a post.
On the other hand, I log on sometimes just to see who has commented, to read other posts, to send a message. While on, I will write a post about something. Sometimes nonsensical things, sometimes serious ones. Blog second. Social interaction first.
Maybe I am not riding a fence. Maybe, after a while the social side of Xanga takes over the blog side…
Forget it. I am talking in circles.
blog first.
Wow,Who was the dumbass who posted that long chain letter?
blog
I definately think it’s a blog first.
Blog first. Especially for me when I just started on xanga. I still use it mostly to talk to close friends.
Wow Dan, thanks
I’m honored. I guess now I have to update
I joined xanga to blog. I wasn’t looking for any more friends.
Blog first, social network second.
it is a blog first. That is why I like it.
For me, it’s a blog first, but that also makes it a social network I mean… for a few months, that was the only way I communicated with several of my friends, and I talk to a lot of people on here, so for me it’s kind of both…. without, as some put it, the “whorish undertones” of MySpace which, on that I DO agree, is a social networking site.
Blog first.
blog. i think that the team at Xanga is tryhing to make it a social network first with all the new features.
blog
I think Xanga is set up such that you could use it either way. I use it as a blog, first and foremost. There is a social networking aspect to what I do, though, because Xanga, unlike Blogger, gives me easy ways to find and share with readers and other writers. Blogger is awesome, but I only post things on Blogger that I don’t expect anyone to actually read or comment on…haha.
Blog.
Agree – it’s a blog first. That’s why I like it so much.
Definitely a blog first, social network second for Xanga. In Xanga, you make your posts and comment on other people’s blogs. In Xanga, there’s a lot less focus on the “FRIEND ME!” and stuff like that.
Myspace doesn’t deserve to be called a blog – it’s the worst social network junk I’ve ever seen, and in the rare occasion someone actually makes a blog post, it’s really short and pointless. Of course, that doesn’t apply to everyone, but it’s what I’ve seen most of the time.
blog
blog
Xanga is blog first. Most people I know have a MySpace, not a xanga, because MySpace is a social thing to hook up with friends. Xanga – generally – is more about writing than a social network.
I think it’s a blog first. After all, the first thing you do after making your site is probably write something, not look for other people.
… At least, that’s what I did.
Blog first- I don’t really network with anyone (however that might be a little hypocritical of me to say considering I haven’t even reall written anything on this [my] xanga site.
mmmmm. candies taste good.
blog first
It’s definitely a blog first. Myspace is social first.
I’d say that it’s a blog first. The whole site revolves around the blogs of all the users, and it’s not the same with myspace. I used to have a myspace, and I never used it as a blog; the only reason I got one was so that I could talk to my friends and get updates from bands. Everyone I know used their myspace in the same way. I like xanga more because it’s got some of the features of a social network, but the main focus is the blogs.
blog first, fo’ sho.
I think Xanga is blog first, social network second though the latter feature is very strong, too. Lately Xanga’s been trying to become much more social like Myspace with their new profile system, and etc. But I still think it’s mainly a blog system.
That’s a main factor Xanga has over Myspace, in my mind. The blog feature on Myspace is barely there, and rather messy. I only really go there for the music.
a blog .. i have myspace and xanga i def use xanga as a journal
myspace is for my promotional company and my personal account
Blog first
blog first
Blog first!!!
blog first. for you, it might be social network. =P
btw, xanga should NOT become myspace.. xanga > myspace
Blog first.
Blog first.
dont even know the difference
for me it’s blog first and social second..i knew some of my friends had one so i checked it out but primarily i ended up liking it as a blog first social network second
Blog.
Blog first.
prolly blog…can go both ways though….your individual site is definetly social…all several hundred comments daily
Blog first.
Xanga actually used to be a review site for music.
Blog, definitely.
blog.
A blog. Because the core function of it is to act as a “webjournal”, not as a way to meet people, that function was just a plus that came from having public blogs.
well i would say social network first…because I have made better friends on here then i have in “real” life for the most part…seriously, some of the people on here are amazing…
myspace may be a social interaction (I would defiantely not consider it blog…) but it isn’t exactly the most friendly environment to make friends either…..
I guess the social aspect of xanga for me is that you get an inside look at the people you make friends with on here…you become a part of their every day life…
Blog.
I remember around 2004-05 everyone at my school had these. [I still have mine.] It was a social network then because people never updated and stuff, just left comments and updates saying stuff like,”Yeah. [name] here. Short update. COMMENT MEEEE!” Basically. But now everyone migrated to MySpace [I have one] but I still use my Xanga to write, and my MySpace to socialize. No one even reads the MySpace blogs except if you’re a celeb or musician talking about an upcoming show or single.
<33
you are in that much need to have xanga kids half your age celebrate your bday for you? wow.
blog first. i made friends afterwards as a result of the blogging feature… myspace is like IRL in that once ppls notice i am married, there IS no social feature, and the blogging is strictly secondary there
I think xanga is both, but xanga has less comment whores than myspace, which is good.
blog
blog
I think it depends on the user. For instance, i use mine as a blog first, i write lessons and such on it, for the purpose of people reading the blog. Then i use it to connect with those people, and others through them. But others use it as a social network first. So back to the point, i believe it’s either, depending on what the user wants their site to be.
Living in freedom,
Heath
blog first. xanga actually has something of substance whereas myspace has bulletins saying you’ll die in five minutes if you don’t repost it, yadda yadda etc etc.
Blog first– that’s what all the features are about. You can choose to make it about socializing, too, with subscriptions and profiles, but then it’s still focusing on the blogs themselves.
Myspace is a social network with a piss-poor blog option.
blog first.
Blog.
Blog first. It can easily be used as both, but it’s primarily a blog first. One person writes. Other people read. If they like what they read, then it becomes a social network.
it depends on who is using it. For me it’s both, equally.
I kind of think it depends on how you use it, but I lean toward blog first.
Xanga is a blog with social networking tied in.
I use it as both, but I use it as a social network before anything.
Blog
a blog. I agree with that…
blog
blog first
blog.
Blog first.
weB Log = Blog. As you know blog or Xanga and My Space are online journals/diaries. In this case it’s the egg before the chicken
blog. Myspace is a music network first. social network down the list, blog way down the list.
Blog first
blog first
Blog.
Thank god for xanga. Blog.
http://www.xanga.com/markverace/520976673/item.html <— In which you should read this.
awesome, your birthday is the day after mine.
and I think it’s a blog first and foremost
Blog first.
When you type in Xanga.com/username, you go to that person’s BLOG, not they’re pimped out profile.
For me a blog.
I use Xanga as a blog first, and then a social site. However I met my wife on Xanga, so its social benefits shouldn’t be underrated.
Blog.
for me its a blog, I dont know any of the people I comment with on Xanga, but I now I have a myspace to link up with real life friends, but I dont journal there.
its a blog that gets people socializing.
BLOG. I started on this site because I needed to clear my head. Writing was one way to do it and then the added benefit of communicating “in that way” helped me to also hear from friends who could make comments. It has really encouraged me in the last year and a half.
blog. i love to be able to get things off my chest. if no one reads it, well who cares.
It depends on how one looks at it
to moi, blog first, then social network. facebk is my social network
I think Xanga is more of a blog
(Happy birthday, btw)
blog first.
I think it is a social network, but in a different way than Myspace. MySpace admits that it is social, but the blogrings on Xanga tend to point towards social-ness. I personally use Xanga more to keep up with my friends. Not so much to see other people’s opinions and such. That’s what I use the rest of the Internet for.
Blog first.
Aww. I have a nice bday card idea but I can’t make it away from home.
I think a blog because it’s basically like, the main feature and purpose of it.
Blog first. That’s what I mainly use it for. I wish people used the “Profile” section more and filled out more parts. That part is kinda like Facebook.
> Definately blog first, fellowship second, more on an cerebral level…. You have to go by the blog content to decide if you would want to respond to and interact with the other folks…. On myspace they want your age, bra size and preference and underwear color, almost…. Too nosy, for me anyway….
Peace
FOR ME IT IS A BLOG AND A PHOTO BLOG FIRST
for me it’s a social network, but that may be because i’m kind of a part of the “ana” clique in xanga.
Define each. Probably blog.
Blog
Most people use it as a blog, but other people don’t even post blogs and they just use it to talk to their friends. I, for example, use xanga as a blog site mostly, because I like to get my thoughts out. I talk to people sometimes, but I could really care less if no one at all posted any comments on my blogs, because I just use them to get my thoughts out. Other people I’ve seen on here, have never even posted a blog in their whole time of having a xanga, because they just use xanga as a means of communication with other people.
-KrIsTiN-
blog.
blog first
blog first