October 15, 2009
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Xanga The Community
Recently, I messaged back and forth with a person and I told the person that she just needed to jump in the community and get to know people.
She responded that she didn’t really care about connecting with others. She said she was just on xanga for an outlet for her writing.
What would you describe at your main reason for being on xanga, writing or connecting with others?
Comments (150)
Blogging about my day and talking to “friends”.
Originally writing, but now most def. connecting with others through reading their work and writing my own.
outlet of writing between me and a few friends.
Being first to comment on Dan’s posts.
@Rob_of_the_Sky - Unfortunately, I suck at that.
it certainly got my music an audience, in addition to positive feedback on my writing. The community aspect of getting to know people on a personal level (in some cases) is a nice touch, as well.
Connecting to others through writing. =)
I enjoy raping little girls
Started with writing, now it’s both connecting and writing. More connecting right now though.
I’m not really sure what it is anymore, to be honest. I go through phases of being here just to write and sometimes I’m only here to get my daily dose of social interaction. Depends on the day.
I just comment on posts out of boredom, now.
Connecting. I could write in a word processing program if that’s all it was about.
Half the time I’m here to write.
Half the time I’m here to start some shit.
Goes back and forth.
it started out as just writing, but then it became about connecting… now, it’s both.
Both for me.
at first it was writing, and keeping in touch with someone…now it is kinda both…smile
For me, it’s both.
I used to just be here to write for myself. I didn’t interact with anyone for the first three or so years. I’m definitely here for the community now, though. It’s why this blog gets updated multiple times a week and my livejournal hasn’t been updated since February.
I enjoy being read. And I love communicating with people who are nothing like the people I talk to all day off line.
It is a creative outlet for me but the community has become the reason I stay.
My top priority for using Xanga is, and has always been, as an outlet for my writing. I write to relieve emotional and mental baggage and blogging is simply easier than pen and paper. Also, an advantage of blogging about random things that plague me mentally/emotionally allows me to be more open with the world, which is a problem I have. I do define my enhanced shyness as a “problem”, because I truly do want to connect with people without feeling anxious from not knowing what to expect. I wouldn’t mind living in the moment and simply taking life as it comes without trying to plan for it and expect things in every conceivable way. Xanga, to me, is like a massive journal where I can say anything and even get positive/negative feedback. If I do connect with people, as is the case with social networking sites, then it’s great. I don’t come here expecting it. I simply come to enjoy the instant revelation of a thought that needs to be put down in a medium that can be accessed by others.
In truth, Xanga has helped me mature and to become the individual I am today, partly.
@Drakonskyr - you know what else goes back and forth?
I stay for the writing part, but I would like to do more of the connecting part… Does anyone want to connect with me?
@odiada - damn man
I used to post just to post. Then, I would post to connect. Now I just connect. I need to post more.
At first it was just for writing but once I got to know people more I loved the whole community feel.
started out writing, now i am involved in illicit traffic
The sexy clothing line of course.
The main reason why I use Xanga is because it’s a way to express myself and to keep track of my life. So I guess you could say that the main purpose I use Xanga for is writing as well as communicating with others and reading people’s thoughts and such. So it’s a mixture of everything, I can’t really narrow it down to just one simple answer.
@odiada - hahaha gosh this guy odiada is totally right he does enjoy raping little girls.
Writing is what kept me on here for years when I had no comments on any posts I did because I didn’t network.
The social aspect is what kept me here recently when I just didn’t have that much to say.
But honestly, I think they are completely intertwined for me now. I couldn’t have one without the other.
I like it just to meet people, but sense I left I guess I’m a ghost now!
Mostly sharing the Gospel. I started on Xanga because the youth at my church were active on it. It gave me a great opportunity to get to know them, help and teach them. Xanga has changed over time, and my audience and style have changed. But, overall the purpose remains the same. I also have made friends through Xanga, and I enjoy the discussion. And then there was XangaTV…
I’d say a healthy mixture of both
It’s for both, but at first only to connect with friends I already knew.
pure boredom and too much time on my hands.
Therapy.
its better than facebook, thats for sure.
hell, I like my subs on there better than I do my friends on facebook.
reading other ppl’s blogs.
connecting……………..
Honestly, depending on the day, I would say both…it’s pretty 50/50.
writing and reading the interesting articles
although im debating changing sites ><
eeee! not sure though
x
Both.
i find it improves my bowel movements.
writing
writing. completely.
her loss….(not taking benefit of the community that is xanga)
It’s an outlet for me.
I started out writing like a journal, until I realized that hey, people actually come to my blog, then I started connecting with people. I like making new friends
Both – to improve my writing, and meet others as well to share ideas and make friends.
Wasting time
Both. It s just in me to write. I actually have some poetry. But also, I am an information junkie. I love to know what other people think, and why. I think it is good to know exactly what you believe, and why, and exactly what you don’t believe and why. The more you know about a thing, the more angles you can look at it through, the better you can understand it, and the more accurate your final decision can be. And people {some] are simply fascinating!
I’d say that after I was here for a few months the two became intertwined. I do it for the writing, I guess, but the social aspect keeps it fun and makes me want to write here rather than anywhere else.
main reason: to have a home where i can discover who i am.
it’s mostly about the free beer and titty pics.
Bit of both. I don’t care to make millions of friends but I do enjoy the few friendships I have made on here.
writing. like 90%. i’ve been more social recently, but i’ve become somewhat of a credit whore just cause i want to change my username. also, i’ve run out of new books to read. and some of you people are actually interesting
I’m so confused.
I am here to save boobs.
or to write….
it was one or the other.
Both
I like to read other people’s posts and the various views on certain things.
Started out as just writing… I’d started a lot of journals in the past and for some reason I’d either lose them or forget about them but my thoughts would still be bottled up. So, I have Xanga. And I can’t ever lose it
And after a bajillion years on here, I’ve made a few friends 
outlet to write
On it for the same reason as her, but it’s always nice to make new friends
A good question–I think many Xangans are not truly interested in interaction, and comments are a bonus for them.
I say both. Sure. I love to write but it’s very nice to interact with others. There are some nice people here.
when i started (like 6 years ago) i tried connecting.
now i just use it as a diary mostly. for those times i have no one to talk to (or don’t want to talk to anyone). its good for venting since no one i know uses xanga.
the connecting part is still there but its not my priority anymore.
~GiGi
definitely outlet for writing what’s on my mind
A bit of both for me
I used to write a lot. But I haven’t had anything to write about for the longest time. Just a place to post my pictures of my travels. I do enjoy commenting on others’ blogs and I do value the connection.
I really love reading the xangas!
writing
i also like my xanga because most of my friends dont know about it and i feel like its easier to express what im really feeling.
Writing first. Then connecting with others for the sake of discussion regarding my writing.
interesting….
Connecting.
writing. i keep my blogs private nowadays. i used to really be into the connecting thing and was part of a lil community that would always comment and eprop each others blogs but that was years ago and they all quit xanga. most of my friends dont blog anymore or moved on to other sites like tumblr or blogspot. i prefer to stay at xanga tho, even if none of my real friends still use it
I do a bit of both, but mostly for writing… I’ve met so many people on here, but usually they leave (or shut down) their site 3 months later… but I still keep writing.
Connecting.
both ^_^
Connecting to others through my writing and theirs. Usually I don’t do writing only for an outlet; I like to write in ways that will draw in people to connect. I am attracted to reading these similar types of writers, but I read all kinds of stuff. I do admit that I am a bit more of a writer than a reader, but either way, it is to connect with others. Otherwise, why not just make it a private thing? Those are my thoughts on the matter anyway.
mine started as an anonymous outlet and my therapy now that i have no counsellor. now it’s also a way to connect with my new friends
Both
I’m here in Xanga for BOTH.
Am on xanga for both… Writing and Connecting. I’m yet to fully start blogging but its one of the main reason i’m on XANGA
Uhm… very simply the writing is primary for me, and my blog is very disciplined accordingly. I have two blogs on Xanga, or really 3. One is about my book Closing the Circle, which is this one, and here is my most activity. Then I have one as Vliscony, which is about Green Energy, and it is a bit quiet, but I’m about to get a new business off the ground, and as soon as that takes shape, I’ll be more active there too. Last I have a blog in Dutch about a Dutch author whose work I’ve (partially) translated into English. That one I moved to blogger recently, because I cannot conveniently do co-blogging on Xanga, which is actually an idea I’ve suggested for quite a while.
For me the social part is also fun, and I love to read other blogs, and I play around that way via comments, and pulse’s, and sometimes just messaging. Not least, I may decided to go to Vanedave’s birthday bash on Friday, which would be my first time seeing Xangans in the flesh. Until now I don’t believe they’re real
For the people I have gotten to know through Xanga, for the people I have yet to meet, and for feedback on my writing. I looooove feedback.
~V
My main reason to be here is to connect with those who share my thoughts and whom I can communicate on both personal and intellectual level. I’m not here to win people over or to gain acception and popularity.
I’m just here to post pictures of my breasts. I guess I’m not doing such a good job
Connecting with my real-life friends and family, which (thanks to my mom’s stardom) has led me to connect with other people.
I am an observer of human behaviour.
@ItsWhatEyeKnow - Do you need help? !!!
@Da__Vinci - You’ll be my photographer? How altruistic!
a little bit of both
I came here to just have a place to write and to keep up with a few friends that I know IRL. I have made some pretty good online friends here too though, which is a very unexpected blessing.
Both. If I wanted to write, I’d just fire up my favorite word processing program. If I wanted to connect with people, I’d use Facebook. I want to write and get feedback, thus Xanga.
@ItsWhatEyeKnow - woohoo. I have several camera’s.
It has become a hybrid of both.
connecting for sure.
@Lithium98 - Same thing for me.
Mainly I read others’ writing. I like the community. I would write more, but I my editor slashes most ideas.
Venting.
I used to think that I could isolate myself here, drop by once in awhile to vent out.
Then I figured that there’re loads of cool people here…so now, it’s both ^.o
Nice Shirt!!
Writing, I don’t really care about connecting with people either.
i just like to read what other people say. i don’t care about my writing, and i don’t care about making friends.
I post on here so I don’t have to send out 20 emails a day to keep friends updated on my life.
For me its both!
I have to say… if you just want to blog and not go in the community, DON’T expect people to comment or care about you.
A bit of both. Mostly just jotting down my thoughts though. ♥
Connecting, and a place to put my very rare profound thoughts into words.
Under a former username, I wrote, read, and connected. Now I mainly observe others’ delusions of grandeur.
definitely writing. I never understood wanting to “connect” on a -blogging- site.
I’m here to debate with others… I suppose this is a form of connection.
It’s more about connecting for me.
Writing is a priority, absolutely. There are other sites that are more for social networking, I think. That is what I use Facebook for.
Writing, and learning about people. There are many people on Xanga that have a wide variety of different viewpoints from my own. I read around to learn those viewpoints, and often engage people so I can better understand them.
both!
Both. I love having the creative outlet, but it’s the people I’ve grown to love that keep me here.
Writing….but there are quite a few people I enjoy reading, even if I don’t always comment.
Both of the reasons in your question Dan. =]
writing, and reading other people.
writing and connecting, I like the people I talk to here on xanga…they’re pretty cool. I feel you can really get to know who someone is by reading their posts
The main reason I blog is connecting with myself AND others.
I use it for a few reasons. Either to inform, entertain, or just write what ever I need to get out. I also like getting responses to my thoughts or opinions. If I wasn’t interested in that, I would just go back to writing in a journal. :] Plus, I like reading posts from other people. *shrug*
I mainly blog to share information and provoke thought. Connecting with others just makes it more fun and easier.
XANGA is my punch bag @ escapism.
At first it was just a ournal fior my own use. Now it is reading and friends.
originally my purpose in my Xanga site was to use it as an outlet for my writing and to wander blindly through my thoughts in that way until i “found myself” again … typical cliche, i know. but as i started writing and i`ve found myself, i`ve put myself out there as well and i`ve connected to so many great people and come across some great viewpoints – both similar and dissimilar to my own. ^.^
Much Love <3
Rapture
Teh bothz0rz
Writing, but the benefits to finding and learning to care for people all over the world, has been tremendous!
it’s always been writing
Wow, are you talking about me?
Haha that’s kind of cool. [:
I’m on Xanga, to see see other peoples view points of situations and to blog about whatever is on my mind.
Started out as an outlet. Now I just need something to do while I’m drinking. Something that won’t get me arrested.
Connecting. I initially came on just to comment my friend’s entries, so really, it was none of those two reasons.
But now, I am online every day, without fail… and yet I post once in a blue moon. It just goes to show what I’m upto: going out there and connecting with others.
How about journaling my life and sharing God’s love with anyone who stops by for a read.
Writing, and staying in touch with my friends.
Usually, I just like to read other people’s stuff
for me it’s the connection. My very best friend since 8th grade died in 2006 at 55yrs old and I just needed to say hey,world…what’s it all about?
Both. And looking for drinking buddies.
neither
Writing.and copying and thinking.
I started to keep in touch with a friend. Since then, it has turned into an outlet for some things, but more so a way to find people who write interesting things. I’m more a reader than a writer.
Connecting. I originally came at a friend’s request. We had some laughs, but those days are gone now. I also tried some posting of my own, but never got much of a response. I’ve enjoyed some social interactions now and again, but my main interest has always been the exchange of ideas and opinions. I don’t write for myself, but I’ve never really developed a sure sense of who my audience is either.
personally for me it was an outlet for my writing and emotions and i honestly didn’t care who read my page. but over time as the focus of this place shifted from blogging for yourself to blogging for a fanbase…. yeah. i don’t blog or write here very much anymore. the occasional, if at all lately it seems like, life update for my friends but that’s pretty much it.
I enjoy sharing my photos on Xanga.
yes, they go together
Hmm… yes.
Writing. Connecting is simply a benefit.
I like to know that people are reading what I have to say. I like to keep it open, which is why I was pained to make it limited by going to the “log-ins only” type feature for xanga. n_n; Haha. Oh well!
It will always be a source of writing for me. However, I’m thinking of creating a new one sometime soon… One where people who know me in real life don’t know about it… That way I can be even more completely open without the fear and worry of what people may think. I would do a private blog like that… But I just like to know that people can see it… That maybe my struggles could help someone else, you know? That’s my aim, not just in my journal, but in my life.
<3, ~*Akarui Mitsukai*~
Initally, I re-joined Xanga to spread my writing. I’ve posted a few things, but fo the most part I’ve been more interested on the articles, because I have learned a lot from reading them.