Monday, March 31, 2008

  • Boycott Footprints.




    When I started xanga, I dont remember there being that nasty little tab that allowed you to go and look at everyone who has stopped by your site, and I liked it better that way.
    Footprints have a way of inducing a sort of panic emotion from me, or rather, they did. Until I decided to boycott footprints altogether.

    At first, it was comforting to see who was scrolling through all of my pictures and who was reading post after post. But it seems now I can be too easily insulted. After all, when tokyo stops by and reads thirty pages in a row, I cant help but wonder. Why? And Who? And, dont you have something more interesting to read?

    It caused confusion, and often times, annoyance. What were these people looking for? And now that I know who they are and where they came from, what am I supposed to say in return? Visiting a xanga site has a stigma, you cant just walk next door and stare into your neighbors windows watching them raise their children, you have to knock on the door and introduce yourself. Lest you look like a total creep.

    Well here I am, a creep. I like to look into windows, and frankly, if there isn't anything worth commenting about, I just simply meander to the next house without leaving a note. I must expect people to do the same to me and this is why I am no longer checking footprints, I am no longer logging IP addresses, (cause its always the same loser with nothing better to do.)

    I am going to surf xanga in a way that is liberating, and free. The way the internet was intended to be.

    Join me! stop staring at your footprints wondering who left them. Stop wondering if the person who left no comment was being malicious, Stop caring that people even visit at all,

    Do you write for you, or for tokyo?
    Who cares if you are no longer anonymous, just keep writing.

    Damn the consequences.

Comments (57)

  • Southernlass
    I like footprints just from the simple fact that if someone new stopped by maybe THEY have an interesting site I would like to see.  I always go and check them out!  If I am not interested in their site either, then I just float on by. :)
  • bethro78
    lol I feel obsessive about them too! I hate the ones that just show a state name.
  • SladeTheGreyFox
    I use footprints to check out other sites and to make sure that certain people aren't coming to mine when they're not supposed to be.
  • IfWallsCouldTalk21

    sometimes i check them, sometimes i don't.
  • blunt_force_mama

    Yeah, I too am only wary of certain people. New visitors are fine as long as I can ascertain that they are NOT a certain someone. If I see that someone has come via another site, that's cool. If they came to me through Google... uh uh. They're blocked.
  • nothingbeast

    Honestly, I like my Footprints.

    Mainly because I like seeing how many people are reading my blog.

    Don't really care for much else after that. (I guess I don't have many internet enemies).

    It's nice to check it to see what new people swung by and where they came from.

    But it has been a useful tool when past psycho-bitches tried sneaking in under my radar by being (what they thought was) clever. Gives me a link to their site so I can tell them to fuck off once I find out who they are.
  • antisoccermom

    @nothingbeast - 

    haircut?

    Thats kind of the point, not caring what the psycho bitches are doing anymore, ya know? What are they going to do? hurt you? They are the ones wasting their time, right?
  • tx_christian

    Most of the sites I sub to, were found because they visited me first.  I am glad Xanga has footprints, because it's just one more cool way to get to know new folks on here. 

  • TheCheshireGrins

    I think the footprints are a good way to find cool blogs... most of the time. I do admit that I kind of wonder about the people that are either refreshing my blog very often or scanning through every picture/pulse/comment/what have you because that's a little crrrrrreepy.
  • GodAintGood

    I like footprints too...it's usually my friends...
  • LifeNeedsProtection

    I don't mind the footprints.  But I guess it would be nice of them to at least stop and say hello.  I try to leave a comment most of the time, not just my little footprints.  I alway said it's like ringing someone's doorbell and running away. 

  • wowselesta

    i could do with or without them. To me, i dont mind if u just stop by to read, leave a comment.. or dont. I write for me, and if there is even one other person out there who read it or liked it, thats great. or not... whatever.
  • face_the_strange

    I agree.  Though I don't know if I can apply it.  ;)

    Nice site, btw!!
  • cApNhOwDy

    There's no way that I'll ever NOT use my IP logger and tracer, I have too much fun with it.
  • nothingbeast

    @antisoccermom - Well, I guess it's a "baby with the bathwater" sorta thing.

    I just have more pros than cons with my footprints.

    Occasionally I have someone floating around being a dick... but for the most part, my footprints are just a good way to see who's reading.

    Met some of my friends that way.
  • Evowookiee

    I like following comments of other people...'tis how I got here.  Its interesting, you know, the people you meet out there.
  • Jaynebug

    I like footprint for many of the same reasons already listed.  I have found that some bloggers are more readers than commenters so when I go to their site they haven't posted a a month or two.  I try to leave a message at most just because I agree about the knocking on the door and introducing.  I also do the same from the blog rings.  I tell them where I found them so I don't look like a stalker.  There are still others that I follow the footprint and say opps and back right on out baby! Some of my subs, I just read and don't comment, but I like to go to the site to read the other comments on that post.  I enjoy hearing other's take on a post.  Shows me the community spirit.  Hope every day is doing its healing goodness for you! Lyne
  • mama_jess

    I never get the obsessive thing some people have with their footprints, all, "How dare you stop by without commenting, you stalker!"

    Is the whole point of a blog to get strangers to read it?
  • AliasUndercover

    I'm just fascinated by them.  Sometimes they are very puzzling.  One time I gave an entry a title that had the words N*ked & n*de (not spelled out on this comment or you will also get unwanted feetprints).  It's amazing how many people google search for scantily clad girls.  I don't suppose it is surprising, just amazing.
  • RockOfEadie

    it bothers me when i see alot of people read a certain post and didn't comment
  • ME_ondisplay

    I could care abot the footprints some days and and other days I obsess about it.  Its cool though.  I mean that is how we met, and now I love your page.
  • Lmoisan

    I sometimes (ok, quite often) forget about the footprints.  So I guess I already, in my absent-minded way, boycott footprints.
  • sarahsD

    I love footprints.

    I have met so many inspirational people behind those footprints!

    Feel free to peek in my cyber window anytime....

    And yes I can freely admit.... I will peek in yours.

    x
  • antisoccermom

    @ME_ondisplay - 

    hooray! I love people who love me!

    @eadie - 

    but you are like uber-famous and featured and all, isnt it hard to wade through all the footprints? Its me isnt it, Im the one not commenting.Sorry.

    @Evowookiee -

    I wonder who it was..............hmmm.....

    @cApNhOwDy -

    I found I got too annoyed. It gets old when its the same three people from the same place. Maybe Im just not popular.
  • maayana

    I rarely look at my footprints.

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