We Gotta Stick Together, Bloggers!

Originally posted on Myspace Nov. 12, 2010:

Myspace......Myspazz......Myshit......

MySPACE is no longer MY space.  With all of the changes they've made, it's become so UN-user-friendly to us bloggers.  With 3.0 comes the death knell to Blogging As We Know It.
Last week when I got "3.0'd" as Karen so eloquently and accureately puts it, I was Freaking Out.  Freaking Out, because this little ol' community here in cyberspace has become such an important and integral part of my life and I could see it all slipping away, and right at a very difficult time.  I'm trying to pick up the pieces of my life that I smashed up AGAIN a few months ago and that's hard enough....I DO NOT NEED THIS SHIT RIGHT NOW, MY-FUCKING-SPACE.

After frantically copying and pasting all of my past blogs that I wanted to keep to a Word document saved to my computer, I relaxed a tiny bit.  At least those pieces of me purging my soul won't be lost to the My[Fuckers].  And those awesome, patient saints such as Marian, Barbara K. and C.C. have kept up such a positive, accepting attitude throughout all of this change that I was calmed a little.  Maybe, just maybe, everything will be OK.

Well.  The thing is, so many people have already left and won't be returning.  Even if things settle down after they get out of Beta testing, the blogging community here won't ever return to what it once was.  The people who have already left or who are currently planning on leaving won't be enticed back, I'm afraid.

And what of the people that remain?  Will they be content having their circle become even smaller?  What will happen to BFF and Blogophilia?  Darlene at BFF is already searching for alternative blogging sites to permanently move to.  I have not heard about our fearless leader of Blogophilia, Marvin, on any alternate plans. 

The thing is, there are tons of blogging sites out there.....and that's great!  MySpace was never a true blogging site, it was a social network that happened to have a blogging feature, almost tacked on like an afterthought.  But it seems no one can agree on which blogging site would be best to move to.  So we have people throwing up duplicate blogs all over the place on Blogger, Wordpress, etc, just in case.  Everyone is becoming scattered.  And some people have just left without even telling any of their friends and readers where they're at now.

I know we all want to stick together......well, at least I do.  I guess I can't speak for the rest of you, but I would really hate it if Blogging As I Know It comes to an end.  I may not write about sunshine and rainbows all the time but I really value your feedback and support and encouragement.  And, the occasional kick in the ass when I need it.  I know I have a lot of lurkers who read but don't comment....I can only hope that my words might have some value to you, maybe even help if you're struggling on the same path I am, and would want to continue to follow me down the yellow brick road. 

I feel like I'm rambling pointlessly now....I guess what I'm trying to get at is if you value this blogging community as much as I do, lets make sure to stick together through this change. 

--make sure you have a way to contact your friends/readers with an email address or Facebook add, something outside of Myspace.

--if you're on Facebook, a Myspace Bloggers group has been established for just this purpose, to catalogue everyone's new non-myspace blogs so we can keep track of each other.  Friend/message me on Facebook if you'd like the link.

--plan for the inevitable.....eventually, myspace blogging IS going to come to an end.  Even if you have no intention of leaving now, plan ahead.  Unless you're planning on just quitting blogging altogether once the end comes, that is.

--re:  planning.....if you haven't or don't already, if there are any of your past blogs that you want to keep, make sure you have a copy of it somewhere OFF of myspace, either saved to your computer or moved to another blog site.

--about blogging elsewhere.....really, it's not so bad out there.  We CAN establish a new blog community somewhere else and have it be as close knit as this one is, yes, really!  It'll require making some changes, but that's small potatoes considering the major changes we're going through right now. 

--lurkers, if you want to keep in touch at all, message me privately to share info if you want.  Or just follow me to my new site.

--here's my contact info again:

email:  clarkster68@aol.com

facebook:  Steven Clark

Blogger:  Steven's Rants


And, my friends, please just don't disappear without a word to anyone.  If you're quitting blogging altogether, fine....but please tell us. 

I fully expect that we'll lose touch with some people as a result of this, and that's sad, but inevitable.  But it doesn't have to be the end of things.....one chapter is closing, another one is opening.

See you on the other side......

Alone

Alone

Watching life from the sidelines

Everyone laughing and smiling

Watching football games with mates

or having dinner with friends

Everyone putting on a mask

to hide their realities.

I learned about masks long ago

how it can save, protect, and make one

feel included in the masses.

But lately the mask has been torn

and it's getting harder to wear

Who am I trying to fool, and

Who am I trying to hide from?

Myself?  Or them?

Both.

Dreams: a Blogophilia and BFF Write

Dreams are elusive...

lost from the mind

upon awakening,

or lost in the wind

once spoken.

Recurring over and over

without any further

understanding of

what it's all about.

Day dreams,

night dreams,

dreams of the future,

dreams of the past...

why does no one dream of the present?

Ah, but we have,

and we will...

for the present is

yesterday's future

and tomorrow's past.

I would give anything for

the chance to stay in my dreams

and avoid the harsh realities

of cobbling my life

back together...

But this cobbler must awaken

before the harsh realities

of his dreams

overtake him.

 

Blogophilia 36.3 Topic:  I would do anything for...

Bonus Point (hard, 2 pts):  mention something lost in the wind
Bonus Point (easy, 1 pt):  include a cobbler
BFF Topic:  Recurring Dreams

Dreams - a Blogophilia and BFF Write

Dreams are elusive...

lost from the mind

upon awakening,

or lost in the wind

once spoken.

Recurring over and over

without any further

understanding of

what it's all about.

Day dreams,

night dreams,

dreams of the future,

dreams of the past...

why does no one dream of the present?

Ah, but we have,

and we will...

for the present is

yesterday's future

and tomorrow's past.

I would give anything for

the chance to stay in my dreams

and avoid the harsh realities

of cobbling my life

back together...

But this cobbler must awaken

before the harsh realities

of his dreams

overtake him.

Blogophilia 36.3:  I would do anything for....

Bonus Point (hard, 2 pts):  mention something lost in the wind
Bonus Point (easy, 1 pt):  include a cobbler

BFF:  Recurring Dreams

Judge Not....

So I was at the store today, and standing in line at the checkout there was a mother with her toddler daughter in front of me.  The girl was probably about two or so, and was sitting in the shopping cart seat so she was facing me.  This little girl looked up at me and gave me the most beaming happy smile.....I couldn't help but grin back.  It was an innocent, heart warming moment.

Well.  At that moment her mother turned round and saw me smiling at her baby....she gave me a withering glare and moved in between us faster than you can say pedophile.....for that's obviously what her glare told me she thought of me.

I have to say, my feelings were hurt.  I know my exterior shouts "felon!" rather than "choirboy!" but what did she think I was going to do, follow them home and kidnap her?  Actually that's probably exactly what she thought. 

I have enough self-loathing going on lady without you adding to it.  Thanks.  I admit I've done a lot of bad, shitty, illegal things and made bad choices in my life....but I've owned up to them, taken responsibility, and am trying to lead a decent life.  When all is said and done I don't think I'm that bad of person despite my past.  Not everyone with a rough exterior is an axe murderer. 

Why are we so quick to judge others?  Is it programmed into us from birth or is it an innate animal instinct?  Maybe a little of both?  For as much as I was hurt that she judged me, I judged her right back:   You have no idea who I am or what my life is like, bitch, so fuck you. 

I'm just as guilty.

Another day in the life...

I.....

I stole this from another blog.  If you wish to play, copy and paste into your own blog then erase my answers.  Be as witty or serious as you like.

I...

i am: just me
i know: I need more sleep
i want: a cookie
i have: lots of laundry to do
i wish: money grew on trees
i hate: drivers from 37 county
i miss: her
i fear: drivers from 37 county
i feel: dazed and confused
i hear: a car driving down the street
i smell: nothing.  thank you clogged sinuses.
i crave: all the wrong things
.
i search: for balance
i regret: so much
i love: irish breakfast tea
i care: or do I?
i always: am late for everything.  Punctual I am not.
i believe: that kilroy is watching me
i dance: NOT
i sing: NOT

i don’t always: return library books on time
i truly desire: to be free from addiction
i like: post it notes
i write: and am surprised I'm good at it
i lose: patience with drivers from 37 county


i win: at Scrabble most of the time
i try: but fail often
i  never: get enough sleep
i am grateful: for my pets
i listen: to 103.1 The Thunder
i am scared: of myself
i need: a lobotomy
i am happy about: having enough money to pay my rent this month
i tag: anyone who wants to do this

New Blog

So here I am on Blogger.  Having blogged on Myspace for the last 2 and a half years, I almost feel like I'm being unfaithful to a friend....but with all the shitty changes they're making over there I figure it's time to have a backup plan.  Plus so many people have jumped ship already in favor of Facebook, Twitter, etc. it's getting to be like a ghost town at the 'Space.

I'll double post to here and at Myspace and link it to Facebook, that should cover all bases. 

I'm sad that the good days are over at Myspace, I was so reluctant to sign up in the beginning but I'm glad I did; I've met so many awesome people there and received so much support, it's been a definite plus in my life.  I still shake my head and chuckle at the thought of blogging though.  Who'da thought 3 years ago that I would be blogging for christ's sake?  Not me.  Just goes to show how many odd twists and turns life takes.