venta

I've been thinking for a while that perhaps I ought to explain how I use Livejournal, because it seems to be different to some people's expectations. Then I noticed yesterday that

chrisvenus had published a similar thing, and it spurred me to get on with it.

Venta's LJ Manifesto

1. I don't read LJ reliably. If I'm away, or busy, or distracted, I don't make sure that I read every post that every one of my friends makes. Don't assume that, just because you posted something to your journal, I've read it. If I miss a party/invite/bit of gossip because of this, that's my lookout. However, if you actually want or need me to know something you've posted - point it out! I do read any comment posted to my own journal. Hell, I even read my email if you're feeling old-skool; address is in the user info.

I've said that before, and I'm going to say it just once more in case there's anyone who still hasn't got it: Just because you've posted something to your journal, don't assume I've read it.

2. I don't make friends-only posts. If you've ever wondered why I don't like you enough to add you to any of my filters, it's because I don't have any. If there's anything I don't feel able to post publicly, then I'm not putting it on the internet.

3. My friends list is simply a list of journals I'd like to have presented to me to read. If I've added you to it, it's either because you're someone I know and want to keep up with, or because I've found your journal interesting. I don't, as a rule, automatically add back people who add me - this is not an indication that I think they're boring or I'm not interested, I'm just trying to keep the number of journals I'm trying to read under control. Since all my posts are public, not being on my friends list has no further effects.

4. I have as much time for my friends who are not on LJ as for those who are. Anyone posting stuff on my journal referring to non-LJers as freaks/second-class citizens gets a slap. It's a blog-hosting site, not a religion.

5. I try not to write anything about other people that they wouldn't be happy to have posted on a publicly accessible site. In some cases, this is nothing at all. I try to refer to people by their LJ usernames if they have them, or by one name only if they don't; I don't use full names. My journal is marked as non-googlable.

If I've ever written something about you which you aren't happy to have posted, or about a third party which you think they'd object to, please tell me.