Dear Featured weblogs,
Okay, I get it. You want to feature people who don't get too many comments or don't have too many subscribers, but you are making xanga look bad. Most of the content is regenerated from other content. Emails I read weeks ago, suddenly becoming a featured blog because the wording has been slightly skewed is total crap. AT the very least, the VERY minimum, can you look for content that isn't stolen from somewhere else?
I have enjoyed the recommend feature that has recently been implemented, even though some people abuse it, it allows me to read blogs that I would not have otherwise had the opportunity to read. And you know what, that feature has given me innumerable amounts of amazing reads, while your featured weblogs on the front page of xanga has given me nothing but regurgitated crap.
You want more traffic to xanga? Let me clue you in on what bloggers are looking for. We want good content, first and foremost. We want to have community, which xanga provides well, and we want to be read by as many people as there are that care to read us. Putting CRAP content on the front page of xanga is like advertising Kobe-Style Steaks with a sign that says "beef for sale." People are reading the front page and are dissapointed, they dont know that xanga has the best bloggers out there, because you are giving them leftovers.
There are some fantastic blogs out there, and I can point you in the direction of about ten that deserve the top slot of being featured. I understand the chatboard, I get that we have the opportunity to self-promote or promote other readers, but really, who gets listened to on that thing, anyone? Raise your hand if you have suggested something and its been featured...... bueller?
Turn the featured weblogs over to the people. Those of us on xanga who read through and sift the drivel from the gold. Stop picking favorites by the close-your-eyes-and-point method. Its getting old.
Best Wishes,
December
EDIT-
Seems I was out of the loop and changes are being made. See John's comment below.
Comments (37)
Xanga loves the antisoccermom because she is honest, and will help improve the site, instead of letting it go to shit.
It's been said.
@Drakonskyr - Where?
bueller? ha!
and I AGREE.
ryc: welcome!
@antisoccermom - everywhere. The only people who aren't tired of the frontpage are the people on th frontpage.
What I really hate are the featured pieces that have about 3 comments. How can it be featured if no one has read it?
I COMPLETELY AGREE! Sheesh, I'm sick of seeing a blog I read weeks ago - getting featured. Or blogs that don't have much point, or jsut copy/paste things.. It's rather annoying..
When did you get TRUE?!?! I'm so glad for you! ^_^
~Misa
@awth44 - Why must we sit idle by and let this continue? If so many people are upset about it, WHY ARENT THEY SAYING SOMETHING. Cause they know antisoccermom will be the bad guy.
its okay, xanga already hates me.
Bravo!
Down with the Featured Weblogs... until it's one of ours
That new featured blog was already one that had been featured in January! I DECLARE SHENANIGANS!
@methodElevated - Thanks for the rec! It wasnt a terrible read, but it was regurgitated, which is just laziness on the part of those picking the blogs.
@antisoccermom - Yeah, it was nice the first time around. I even commented on it to that effect in January.
it's true.
I don't hate you at all. You seem to want me to hate you... I have no idea why you continue to write about Xanga as if it's a faceless corporation, and ask people to recommend your posts so that "someone who might be able to make the changes we all want to see".
I read all of your posts. I don't hate you. I've told you this before, but I guess you don't believe me. I think I read you post once that Xanga must hate you because you've never been selected to be featured. I understand that this must be at the heart of at least some of your frustration.
We're going to make some tweaks to the frontpage based on your, Drakonsykr, and TheTheologianCafe's feedback. I'll loop back in with you afterwards...
John
ps You've mentioned that you don't mind being the scapegoat. I guess I do mind being made the scapegoat, when I try to make such a big effort to engage you on the issues you bring up. But my personal feelings about being scapegoated are not going to affect whether or not we listen to you... we're definitely making changes to the frontpage.
as I think about this its really of no relevance to me whether I am feature or if I am TRUE. I am on here purely for the sense of community, hell; sense of FAMILY! I do have my smaller circle of treasured friends that I am more communicative with (you are slipping dangerously into that circle). Everyone else I read at least twice a week but don't necessarily even comment on their sites. I agree however, that most of the featured content is booty.
Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing a section of featured for those who have locks put in place.
I don't think I should be skipped over just because I like seeing the people who are reading me.
I find most of the content on your site is chauvinistic and foul. Maybe that's why you aren't featured.
@john - When I write to xanga, or speak about xanga "hating me" its in satire John. Because in the beginning, I tried SO hard to be featured because thats what I wanted. It has nothing to do with you, or how I feel about you as a person. You are in fact, my favorite xanga team member because you actually ADDRESS the issues that need to be addressed. My subscribers have told me many times that "xanga hates you" just because I dont get the more prestigious things, without asking or begging for them (true badge, featured ect). I believe the featured weblogs should be good blogs, not regurgitated information found on mass email forwards. You can agree with me there, can you not?
I am not making you the scapegoat. In fact, I had no idea you were in charge of the featured weblogs at all. I do see that as a faceless corporation, because we have no way of knowing who picked what, and who to blame for it. Im glad that you are so proactive, I want to insist to you that I would never bother emailing myspace about how their stuff works, because I know they dont give a damn about their readers/writers.
I write the way I write because this is my voice. It is the same. I often write to celebrities who will never read my musings. But my subscribers do, because I try to stick to the truth. I try to write what will make people laugh, or make people think, or change something that has been profoundly bothering people on a personal level. I have nothing against you, and I dont believe you personally hate me. What you know of me is very little, and what I know about you is very little. What I do know is the changes that need to be made, and I wanted to be a voice for those who are too meek to speak up for themselves.
@tjordanm - chauvinistic? Ha. Keep reading, you havent even touched on it.
Amen.. I love the recommend feature too.. I just hope it doesn't look like I'm stalking people. I usually read it if someone recos it.
@antisoccermom - Yea I read some more. You're kick ass. You're the shit, man.
@tjordanm - Obviously you dont like my stance on anything. So, why are you still here?
@antisoccermom - Bored as hell.