Still here

[bop_radar]

It's a funny time on LiveJournal right now. I've been watching fandom explode/implode over the recent TOS issues, and haven't felt like speaking up. While I understand why it's shaken a lot of people, I've found the frenzy at times... well, embarrassing is probably the best way to put it. I guess one of the reasons I don't have much to say is because I'm not particularly surprised by the behaviour from LJ/6A.

While I've read many well measured responses to the whole thing, the three posts on the matter that I have most enjoy are as follows:
- rivkat pointed out the hypocrisy in mainstream American culture (with reference to Smallville specifically)
- mskatej talked sense as usual.
- cesperanza called people on their bullying tactics.

Am I going to migrate elsewhere? Not if I can help it. However, I have backed up the contents of my LJ at insanejournal. I'm going to try cross-posting there for a while. I have a greatestjournal too but I don't use it. It's just for emergencies. :) I can't honestly imagine keeping up with multiple f'lists so I really hope we settle down somewhere--preferably here--sooner rather than later.

For me, the most important thing is to keep on enjoying what we do and the relationships we've built here. I've found myself disinclined to post recently because everyone is in such high angst, but if we stop posting fun fannish stuff, we'll only be defined by the screaming, the in-fighting, the bullying and the hysteria. That's not what I'm here for. So this is my little pledge to start posting more regularly again.

I had THE best shopping experience the other day! *beams* I work in a very trendy area of Melbourne and usually I know better than to walk into any of the boutiques on my lunchbreak. But one of them had a sign in the window saying there was a sale on Metallicus and I needed some new work tops so I thought I'd pop in. An hour later I came out with a suit, a new dress and a new top and it goes down as the best shopping experience ever. The shop was really quiet and the sales assistant was chatty without being too pushy. When I tried something on, she dug out another couple of options for me, which is when I realised that she was really really good at her job. She had a fantastic eye for what would suit me and she didn't make me feel enormous, which is seriously amazing.

By and large I hate clothes shopping, especially under the scrutiny of skinny sales assistants who smile fake sympathy at you when some part of you fails to fit in their clothing. And being rather short, with skinny limbs, but generous tummy, shoulders and bust means a lot of cuts don't suit me. I know I don't know a lot about fashion, but I'm also rather particular and fussy about my clothes and I need them to have a certain character.

This sales assistant was SO GOOD. She actually acknowledged my figure without making me feel like a freak, and said things like 'with your skin tone', 'with your bust', 'with your cute retro look'... and found clothes that worked for me. This is SO RARE! I could have bought so much more from her. In particular there was a shirt that was absolutely divinely beautiful but I couldn't afford it. However, I did get a very cute little suit which I'm pleased with because it has enough character that I will enjoy wearing it despite the formality (I usually hate formal clothes). And the truly amazing thing? She made me try on a size 8 dress. 8!! (I'm usually a 12-14 in Aus sizes.) And I am not joking, but I doubt you will believe me when I say that I came bouncing out of the changing room to show her how cute it looked on me. It is now my favourite dress EVER. It fit me perfectly (if not the way it was perhaps originally intended on skinny-model-girl) and is totally adorable. It can be dressed up or down and I LOVE IT! *beams*

I hope she's on a really good commission, because DAMN she deserves it.

Note: I will probably do a little clean-up of my friendslist in the next couple of days. I'll only defriend where interests have diverged or we don't interact, and if you want back on, as always, pipe up.

Comments

[sadface.livejournal.com]

\o/

I'm glad your shopping experience was good, you should post pictures of your dress!

I, too, am trying to be posty again. It's not going especially well.

*HUGS* I hope you've been feeling better recently, I was going to email you but didn't want to unintentionally bother you.

[kristiinthedark.livejournal.com]

Aw, what a happy experience! I love it when that kind of thing happens. *twirls you*

And I'm not going anywhere either, unless they drag me away. I like it here. :)

[slinkling.livejournal.com]

Hooray for happy shopping! (Did you tell the salesperson how great she was? I'm sure it would have made her day.)

Do we get to see pictures of your awesome new dress?

[duskwillow.livejournal.com]

That sounds like an awesome shopping experience!!
I'd also like to see the dress. :)

I hate shopping, and like you mentioned - usually not very helpful people work there.

[latteaddict.livejournal.com]

I'll never give up LJ. I'd have to be physically dragged away. Every friend I've made in fandom is here, all the cool stuff, the cool links, the interesting people. The thought of sitting in isolation with an unsued account sounds very lonely. Unless the entire BSG fandom picks up and moves elsewhere, I'm here for the duration :)

And *yay* for happy shopping! Being busty makes so many styles unwearable unless you want to look like a hooker or like you're wearing a sack - it's very unfair! So I'm very pleased that you got something stylish. Lucky you!

[ender24]

yay for superb shopping experiences!!
she deserves a huge commission for making you looking fabulous :D

now, you totally make me jealous! i wanna see you in that dress :D

[fleegull.livejournal.com]

Hooray for happy shopping experiences!

[emrinalexander.livejournal.com]

I agree with you - I'm not going anywhere. I have accounts all over the place, but I can't even remember how to access them, and even if that weren't the case, and I weren't terribly lazy, I would not want to spend all my time bouncing around five or six different blogging sites trying to keep up with people. LJ has problems, but it is still the best game in town.

[marenfic.livejournal.com]

Great links- it's refreshing to see people posting thoughts more in line with my own. I'm not seeing that much on my own flist. I haven't posted my own manifesto because the last thing we need is yet another write-up of this situation. Let's just say I think it's time for people who are so angry that they want to leave to, you know, go ahead and make the move. I'll keep up with my friends on other journals but will probably just stick around here myself.

One benefit is that I'm feeling fannish and writing in three fandoms right now when I haven't in months, so yay?

[sarmoti.livejournal.com]

Mmm, shopping.

Thanks for the links about the latest kerfluffle. I've been watching it mostly from afar and am sort of amused, but really just want it to end!

[random-serious.livejournal.com]

Wow, sounds like you had a good trip shopping. (Personally, sales assistants freak me out with their *selling*, and I prefer to be left alone with my shopping endavors)

[obursts.livejournal.com]

Thirding... or fourthing the request to see pictures of your new dress! :)

[cinderella81.livejournal.com]

Yay for cute clothes tha tmake you look good!!!

As for LJ ... I have an IJ and a GJ and honestly? I hope O don't have to move to either, but if it happens then so be it ...

[capnzebbie.livejournal.com]

I got a permanent account just before this latest round of...whatever it is. So here I am and here I'll stay.

Sounds like an awesome shopping experience! :)

[serenography.livejournal.com]

*tacklehug* I'm so happy for you and your fabulous shopping venture. Salesclerks like that are GOLDEN, and far too rare. Be sure to throw hints out to your boy about that top you couldn't afford. There's always birthdays and other things he might need ideas for. ;)

I supposed I'll do the IJ thing as a backup, but I don't plan on going anywhere. The whole censorship kerfuffle left me with a lot of questions, but I can't work myself into as much outrage as others seem to be experiencing.

For me, the most important thing is to keep on enjoying what we do and the relationships we've built here. I've found myself disinclined to post recently because everyone is in such high angst, but if we stop posting fun fannish stuff, we'll only be defined by the screaming, the in-fighting, the bullying and the hysteria. That's not what I'm here for.

I bow to your wisdom (once again).

[elsmoka.livejournal.com]

Such good sales assistants are so rare. I am looking for a nice dress but I never find one I really like. It totally needs at least little sleeves because I hate going sleeveless. :(

BUT YAY FOR YOU! Finding clothes you are totally happy with is awesomesauce! :D

[canadiangirl-86.livejournal.com]

Yay for awesome shopping experiences! You wouldn't consider doing a picspam-modelling thing for us, would you? *G*

And I know what you mean about sales people. I went into an Abercrombie and Fitch for the first time a few months back and the entire atmosphere in there was completely intimidating. It was packed with, like, models for employees and smelled like cologne. Generally it's not that hardcore when I go shopping but I tend to like avoiding trying stuff on because I just feel uncomfortable.

[norwich36.livejournal.com]

Wow, there are salespeople in the world who are helpful and know their job?

*Boggles*

I'm glad you had such a good experience! And yay for pretty clothes.

[clari-clyde.livejournal.com]

I was thinking about posting something about the strikethrough controversy and someone on my f-list keeps egging me to post what I have drafted but, it feels like it’ll do no good with people so paranoid from the confusion and change. Right now, I’m more into sitting back and letting this all sort itself out before offering my opinions on the matter.

And I’m not leaving LJ if I can help it. Fandom will never be the same again now that it’s not under the radar as it used to be and every place that fandom settles into will have the same problems as LJ sooner or later. Also, I think that, despite 6A’s blunders, a lot of these changes will eventually be for the better. Besides, I like it here. I actually really like Vox also but oh well.

[carylerg.livejournal.com]

Yay for super fun clothes shopping! Have you ever noticed there are days that the stars align for perfect clothes fitting? Unfortunately, those always seem to be days when I have no money. *pouts* :)

I can't imagine moving to another journal system. I like my LJ, and if BSG fandom left, I'd feel very sad.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Hee. You never ever bother me, hon! I have been feeling rather quiet and lonesome, actually. It's silly--I should just post and be chatty and get over it. ;)

I'm a bit freaked out that everyone wants to see the dress. Hee! I may have over-hyped it. ;)

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Oh, stylish new icon! *admires*

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

I did! :) We were on first-name terms by the time I left and she told me the days she works so I can go back. \o/

I'm a bit freaked by these requests to see pictures, but I'll work on it. ;)

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's usually a pretty depressing experience and this season everything seems to make me look pregnant. *g* But not these new clothes... at least I don't think so!

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the idea of migrating fully fills me with horror. :D I've been resisting the entire idea for some time. I just want to be with my friends, and thankfully BSG fandom doesn't seem to be very flapped by the recent events.

Being busty makes so many styles unwearable unless you want to look like a hooker or like you're wearing a sack
YES. Apparently the solution is to wear a teenie dress the 'wrong' way instead. Who knew!? I actually don't look pregnant in this--it's a miracle! (At my old work, there was actually a pregnancy rumour about me once--really not what one wants when one is SO NOT PREGNANT.)