Ungainly

[greatbear]

Okay, it's reached the point of no return.

My LJ friends list has become way too large to comfortably deal with. Now, rather than take the path of some and move some of you off of my 'default view' (also known as 'stealth defriending', where an LJer effectively removes another user from their preferred friends list yet does not actually remove them as a friend) I will give the power to you. I will not create a filter list to remove any of you from my daily reading. I mean, what's the point of keeping people that don't interest you? I do have couple filter lists that remove graphic-intensive communities for low-bandwidth viewing, as well as one to prevent adult content from showing up when perusing LJ in a public setting, but that's it. Why bother to hold on to anyone when I will essentially never read their entries?

So, with that, I will make life easier for the both of us. If you truly have no interest in reading my stuffs, click here. Follow the link to remove my entries from your friends list. I will not take it personally. If you decide to do this, I will then reciprocate by taking you off my list. I am doing this in order to maintain some measure of mutual interest among my readership, and with so many there (well over 300 mostly active posters) it's way too much for me to keep up with. If I am away from LJ for any period of time, it takes me an hour or more to catch up. Should I be gone for a couple days, there's no way to go back without skimming and missing the good stuff entirely.

Granted, those on my flist who have put me off of their default view will not see this post, so it's not a perfect solution either.

This is not meant as any sort of flounce post, incitement of drama or anything of the sort. I'm just looking to make the best of this thing which has gotten a bit too awkward and time consuming. I'd rather do this than pull the plug on the entire deal, which has crossed my mind more than a few times of late. There are also more than a few instances where my comments go unanswered in threads full of other dialog in other folks' entries. I really would rather not intrude into places I dont fit.

I really do appreciate the help.

Comments

[erstexman.livejournal.com]

300+ friends is a lot to keep up with on here for sure. I have a hard enough time with my relatively small list of friends on here. Since I am fairly new and still getting to know you, I hope you will keep me intact!

:-)

[xianjessen.livejournal.com]

100-ish LJ friends feels about right. 300 or more does sound unwieldy. I don't know how people do it.

Sadly, I still find you very interesting. Sorry. ;)

[barak.livejournal.com]

I admit it, I don't filter people's posts, but I do skim a lot. The signal-to-noise ratio is higher on my list, but that doesn't mean there's not a lot of drivel out there. Most of the people I love to read, don't post anymore because they've been sucked into World of Warcrack or they're too busy twittering.

I have no compunction about cutting a journal that is making my daily read of LJ a pain in the ass. But really, its about if my blood pressure is rising when I see so-and-so's latest post- then I know its time to unfriend. I came the realization a few years ago- that if I don't like them as a person, why am I keeping them around?

Persistent spoiler revelations, political discussion and repetitive religion references are pretty much the only reason why I've cut people in the last couple years, although... Currently, there are a couple that I'm considering cutting- I mean, does anybody really have to post five times a day?

PS: You can't get rid of me!

[kumapaws.livejournal.com]

I'm always used to reading yer posts off looking at another friends list. Still quite the list ya got there so I can see why you would wanna filter n stuff.

[fingertrouble.livejournal.com]

Well I read you still :-)

Stealth defriending aka filtering happens here and on Twitter, and yeah like giving them shout-outs on the podcast (yeah I do that, interesting who say they listen yet never respond ;-) I know some people do it. It's rather annoying.

[furr-a-bruin.livejournal.com]

I'm going to keep reading your journal, but you don't need to feel compelled to read mine in return if you don't really want to. I do sometimes wonder why people drop my journal, but I try not to take it personally.

[arktos62.livejournal.com]

I enjoy reading your interesting and honest postings, so have no intention of jettisoning you. Oh, and you're one of the woofiest guys on my list ;-)

[djmrswhite.livejournal.com]

i prefer to stay of course

[champdaddy.livejournal.com]

good or bad, I'm in for the long haul, bub...

[nyrimmer.livejournal.com]

I always enjoy reading your posts even though I don't comment that often. I can't imagine having 300 friends! I don't think I have 20 But having all these friends that aren't friends really isn't all it's cracked up to be. I'd rather have a few real ones rather than hundreds of imaginary ones any day.

[anziulewicz.livejournal.com]

1: I tend to post in fits and starts. But I try to post more than just clutter.

2: I read all of your posts. I'm always interested in what you have to say, even if I don't often respond.

3: I LOVE that icon!!!

[meddler-inc.livejournal.com]

But I like reading your stuff, so no linky clicky. :)

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

So, if we want to continue to read your posts, we don't click on anything, right?

HUGS!

[dakoopst.livejournal.com]

LOL...I'll join in the chorus and say I don't want to go anywhere.

[restoman.livejournal.com]

I enjoy reading your posts.

I can certainly understand how you have a hard time keeping up with 300 friends. Sometimes I have a hard time keeping up with 64 friends.

But, I like you, ...so I plan to stay!
;-)

[tonethbone.livejournal.com]

BTW Happy Birthday

and I'll hang around

[ciddyguy.livejournal.com]

I'm still gonna hang around too.

Your posts are most interesting even though I don't always comment.

As some others have said, they drop people who post adnausium about politics, religion etc or simply post like 5 times a day. I rarely post that many in a day any more and even if I did it's to ask a question to the peanut gallery etc.

But I can see where 300 friends can get a little unwieldy.

[msclwolf.livejournal.com]

'default view' ..... 'stealth defriending' ... crumbs, who knew not taking an interest in others, for whatever reason, could become so complicated LOL I took forever gettin my head around the distinciton between 'friend' and 'mutual friend' re who sees what, but have given up LOL and given I have barely 50 chums on here, is no hard task for me so far. As for you n your 300+, I soooo don't envy you! LOL

[mhkrabat.livejournal.com]

Myeh, If I get bumped, I'll learn to accept it, but dammit I like reading your posts. No easy out from me!