September 15, 2010
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RE: I am unsubscribing to TheTheologiansCafe
I know that Dan does not need me to defend him, but Dan is a great friend of mine, and I told him that I will pretty much always defend him. I just read this post and I feel like I have to respond, even though I know Dan doesn’t take it personally. He even rec’d the post.
First, this person, fortheloveofwasabi, said that they find it “astounding that someone can throw in a picture and a few sentences and get tons of comments, recs, and subscriptions each day while someone who pours his or her soul into three or four meaningful paragraphs can end up with much less or nothing.” First of all, Dan has been here on xanga a loooong time. It’s taken him time to build up his readership. It doesn’t happen overnight! He has something like 27,000 friends!! Dan used to be a lot more open in his blog posts, when he first started blogging. He talks about that every once in a while. Having a lot of subscribers and friends like Dan does, yes, he gets tons of comments and recs. However, not all of them comment every post.
Another thing, if you’re so concerned about Dan getting comments and you don’t, it’s obvious that you’re not blogging for yourself. I’m not saying that’s a good thing or a bad thing, just making a statement. Also, depending on the subject matter, heartfelt blog posts don’t get much attention anyway. There are a lot of people who don’t know what to say to a serious, heartfelt post, or they feel their words are inadequate, so they don’t comment at all. When I write a personal post, most of the time I don’t get a lot of response at all.
“Many of the topics he chooses to bring up are highly controversial and it seems as if they are brought up simply to start debates.” Why is it so bad starting debates? Most of Dan’s posts, I don’t find offensive because I know what he’s doing. “If he had shared his own opinion on the matters, it wouldn’t be so bad.” If you know Dan, I think you can guess how he feels on a certain topic. You also need to pay attention to his word choice, and how he asks the question.
“However, he is simply mentioning topics that could be found all over several news channels and leaving his readers to fight to the death over who’s opinion is right and who’s is wrong.” There are tons of people who blog about what’s happening in the news at any given time. Not every blogger is a personal blogger. And while the word choices of “fight to the death” is quite extreme, debating isn’t a bad thing. It’s GOOD to debate. It keeps your mind fresh and on edge, and you learn from debating.
The fact of the matter is, Dan is awesome. He is a genuine and caring man, and he truly wants the best for people. I talk to him all the time in messages, and he’s always asking how I am. His recent post about Muslims and 9/11 was the first one that pissed me off in a while, but I told him that something as silly as a post would never get in the way of us being friends. True story.
When you have as many friends as Dan, there will always be haters. I think even I have a few haters (how in the hell did THAT happen??). So pretty much any time a hater hates on Dan, there will be me or someone like me defending him. Because that’s how it is.
I <3 Dan.
Comments (57)
Right on!
I think Dan is amazing
As far as posting a picture and 2 sentences and getting 128723872113 comments, I see that. But my view on that has never changed: Do I wish I could do that? Yes. Does it make me mad that Dan can do that and I can’t? Nope. Dan’s been here for a LOOOOONG time, and I remember reading some kick ass posts when I first started out on Xanga. The way I see it, he’s paid his Xanga dues lol. Whoever wants to aspire to that should be working hard to get there instead of being ticked off about it!
(So yes, I’m on Dan’s side
)
Well said, Missy.
I know what you mean about the not knowing what to say when you read a heartfelt blog. I’ve done that occasion (to you even), and I feel bad, but like you said, I don’t know what to say. D: But yeah, Dan has been here for a while. He put years, time, and energy into building his readership. It’s one thing when it’s like those beginner blogs with the “Hi, I’m new to Xanga,” getting a million recs and comments for no god awful reason. I understand trying to get them involved, but they haven’t established themselves or their blog at that point. It’s just silly.
But yeah, great post. If anyone deserves the readership they get, it’s Dan.
I am going to have to agree to disagree. Love you though.
I <3 Crystal.
She is a nice lady and I hope I didn’t cause her too much grief.
I would note however as I have in the past. If you take the total word count of all of my posts for the month and compare them to the total word count of all of her posts for the month, you will see that she did not even come close to my word count. That has been the case for any site I have ever viewed that complained that I barely write anything while they write “heartfelt” posts.
Having said that, she is a really nice lady and I hope none of this has discouraged her in any way.
Dan doesn’t comment for himself neither. Or he wouldn’t be making this a big deal. And the real thing good about his site is actually the comments. Not him. I have seen where someone will post somthing and he goes and reposts in different format. But hey, I’m just commenting. I don’t really care much about it all. Thanks for letting me comment on your site that he rec’d for it’s about him. =)
@ctaretz - i mean disagree with everyone against him.
Lol
She’s ridiculous. ’Nuff said.
Dan runs one of my favourite cafes. I love to browse through the comments and opinions over a strong coffee and I leave a comment if I feel the urge. Mostly I find his is the best place to see into the minds of this Xanga community. If we all ran or presented our blogs the same way this would soon become a wasteland. Needs more cake!
Ugh. Yeah. She made it sound like Xanga is a popularity contest, and that blogs were written merely for comments and shit. Dan makes those blogs because that’s how he wants to use his Xanga site, and it’s not like he’s insulted anyone. If you want to use your Xanga site as a popularity contest then that’s fine, but don’t make Dan seem like the bad guy here.
Here’s the main thing you said that I agree with 100 percent. Theo really doesn’t need anyone to defend him.
I think if she wanted to write about unsubbing Theo it’s cool. It’s unique and it’s brave. And it’s clear by his comments up there that he’s not all upset about it, lol.
I couldn’t unsub Theo anymore than I could boycott FOX news. I’m not a stick-my-head-in-the-sand kind of person, and Dan most certainly does do politics. I like to watch them over there on the other side. I don’t want any surprises.
@Gaijinsays - Wasteland, rofl. Reminds me of a very good song.
You obviously are a very bright, enlightened and just one heck of a gal…Go Vikes!
I find the “I hate Dan” posts to be annoying. I never read them about any other blogger. I guess that means you’re famous when people dedicate an entire blog to you about why they’re un-subscribing.
I couldn’t say it better myself. Good one.
I disagree completely, and agree with the poster you’re responding to.
Just a quick look-see at Dan and his antics:
Clicky = An entry I wrote against the disgusting stalkers that have been bothering me for years. He recommended THEIR entries on their brand-new trolling sites, but refused to recommend mine.
Clicky = Stating the obvious – that Danny boy is a closet pervert that will never admit to it. He probably has stashes of porn, yet tries to pass off as a “moral Christian.” Laughable, at best.
I’ve noticed that most sites here don’t write for themselves..but rather an audience…Interesting post though.
This was my comment on her post. She said in one of her comments:
I applaud him for having a different style
and can see that people do like it.
I replied:
It didn’t sound like you applauded him. You said:
1.I find it astounding that someone can throw in a picture and a few
sentences and get tons of comments, recs, and subscriptions each day
while someone who pours his or her soul into three or four meaningful
paragraphs can end up with much less or nothing. – That’s sounds like maybe bitterness or jealousy, not applauding.
2.Many of the topics he chooses to bring up are highly controversial and
it seems as if they are brought up simply to start debates. - That again sounds accusatory, not applauding.
3. However, he is simply mentioning topics that could be found all over
several news channels and leaving his readers to fight to the death
over who’s opinion is right and who’s is wrong.
- That sounds like a cheap shot. I don’t see where you applauded him.
You should have just said you unsubscribed without the other stuff. But
that’s just my opinion.
I don’t get it. How can Dan, a man who writes thought provoking blog posts, get more comments than me, someone who write a bunch of borderline-illiterate crap? It just doesn’t make sense.
@sevencrystaltigers - I didn’t see any hate in that entry..
@Pink_TeaCups - In a way xanga is a popularity contest or else why would we have top blogs and whatnot and rec’s? If it truly wasn’t then..we wouldn’t need that feature. I don’t get how you see/read that she’s making him the bad guy. I unsubbed to Dan before but I didn’t post anything about it. If he’s not mad by it..then I wouldn’t worry too much about it. She has every reason to say why she unsubbed him. The only thing I felt was her annoyance and a tiny twang of jealously. But that’s normal, correct?
@Hinase - yeah, i think you’re right about the jealousy thing. And I guess you’re right about the rec thing, but I never saw Xanga like that really. I saw it as a way to meet new people… I wouldn’t be angry at someone like Dan who gets all the rec’s and comments. And anyway it’s not like people are disliking her blogs, it’s just that not many people know she’s there compared to Dan. Dan knows everyone because he gets around Xanga and adds people and reads peoples blogs. If she wants people to read her heartfelt blogs then she needs to meet people.
@musterion99 - The first point I agree with you but I’m not so sure about the others. It’s really how you interpret and the fact that most of people here love Dan and I simply do not. It’s really a matter of biased. I’m unbiased. That’s why I don’t love any of the top bloggers because loving them can cause enough problems.. I don’t worship any ground that he walks in. I just enjoy his blogs because they give me something to comment on late at night.
@Hinase - not this one, the one written by fortheloveofwasabi.
@Pink_TeaCups - You might of not..but others have. I’ve noticed it especially in the top blogs. It gets ridiculous and I’ve been on xanga since the beginning. Almost 7 years..and I’ve never seen this crap before. I think she does, like I do. That’s how I met a lot of wonderful people like yourself =) I comment on your blogs. But not everyone can do that..if I started working full time..I’m surely would be unable to be on all the time. But I do agree with you there. If she does want to meet/get new comments she needs to comment on their blogs. Easy way to make friends..which I love doing =)
@sevencrystaltigers - I still read it and still saw no hate. Maybe jealously…but that’s really all.
@Hinase - You don’t love me?? *sadface*!!! JK
@crazy2love - I love you silly! =) how could i not? You’re so pretty haha
@Hinase - My point was that she said she was applauding him and I pointed out she was in fact, doing the opposite. As far as the rest of your comment, I completely agree. I don’t come close to worshiping anyone on Xanga. I don’t care how many comments they get.
“There are a lot of people who don’t know what to say to a serious,
heartfelt post” <- EXACTLY!
Yay!
I’ve seen some really racist stuff on his site. I think he creates drama!
@musterion99 - Oh, I just didn’t understand your point..that’s all.
I agree. It’s not like Dan gets 100+ comments per post from people appreciating him, complimenting his writing, or even so much as asking him what he thinks. When the average Xanga post gets maybe 3 or 4 comments, that’s generally what those comments are: people communicating with the writer. But the comments on Dan’s site are just people talking about their point of view because Dan’s blogging format asks people to do that (and Dan is smart and knows that Xangans looove to talk about themselves). Do other people seriously WANT those kinds of comments enough to be jealous? I’d rather get the 3 or 4 comments from the 3 or 4 Xangans who give me the time of day, than 100+ opinions from a bunch of strangers who just love to talk about themselves and argue amongst each other.
Haha. What a ridiculous header. Aaron Rodgers ftw!
I saw the sort of stuff she liked. I really was surprised she said anything because it was all far from deep. I could see why she would not like Dan topics
I <3 Dan, because Dan is a freakin winner. : D
Dan’s post are never long but he does have a lot of them.
While I may not agree with his choices sometimes, I consider Dan a friend of mine. I <3 TheTheologiansCafe!
I <3 Dan too
i was friends with theologianscafe on my other xanga page that i had forevers and i agree, his blogs did change from the last time i was friends with him but i like it now. cus personally there are days where i dont like reading novels that some people write. i like how he gets to the point but yet its still so interesting to read.
This was touching.
@Hinase - I don’t exactly write for myself or an audience. I don’t care if I get lots of attention or a little, and I don’t care if I spread my message or whatever. It’s mostly about connecting with people for me. I want to have a conversation with all of the lovely people here.
yep
Looking at your comments and the comments at the refernced blog it seems DAN even generates comments for others. It is the person’s right to unsubcscribe…why not just do it? Why write about it? It is for the same purpose of getting people todebate and comment.
As you say, Dan doesn’t really require a defense in cases like this, but I think this was a pretty good summation of why I like Dan as well. You’re right. When you understand his goal in blogging, it makes sense. He’s really good at what he wants to do. How many of us get to say that? Even about something as silly as blogging?
The only thing I would add is that he gives a really great perspective tempered with his life experience when he DOES offer a “lengthy” personal opinion. I’m always interested in what he has to say.
I don’t check Dan’s site often, but when I do it’s because I’m interested in what the Xanga world has to say about an issue. I get curious about popular opinion. I think it’s valuable to have at least one site where I’m confident of seeing at least a hundred voices express an opinion.
~V
I <3 Dan.
Well said. Posts about un-subbing and un-friending people, especially posts about Dan or other popular Xangans, always seem to have an undercurrent of jealousy in them. If I don’t like the way someone writes, I’ll un-sub quietly, without telling the person or the rest of Xanga about it. To blog about why you un-subbed/un-friended just seems kind of like a cry for attention to me.
Oh, and love your banner. GO VIKES!!!!
Ha! I was on xanga for about 3 years, then closed the site and blogged elsewhere (and/or gave up blogging, I don’t know) and came back the other day to notice, right away, that things never really changed and people still are hating on Dan… (Funny, I never knew that was his name til now- Maybe I should start reading him more, eh?)
Have a great day.
Dan has been here doing what he does for a long time. I always find it interesting to read his posts and to read what everyone else thinks about what is sometimes a controversial topic, and sometimes a silly topic. He is a good guy, and friendly to all. It’s his blog; let him run it how he wants, right?
nice entry
liked it
These seems like a no duh situation.
I think that people that don’t really know Dan as well as you can know a person through the internet either get jealous of the attention he is capable of getting or they don’t see through his sarcasm and satire. This may not be true of everyone, but I think it is true of people that write posts like that one. He is one of the few people that are just really good at using satire to get his point across.
If I unsubscribed to everyone who got more comments and visits to their site than I do, then I wouldn’t be subscribed to anybody…lol …..
Xanga drama. You people should quit it and find something more interesting to write about. I seriously wish I could come on the main Xanga page without having Dan’s friends and enemies write posts to each other. Use private messaging or something.
I’d be willing to bet everything I own the ONLY reason she bothered to write something like that is to garner traffic. And guess what? It worked! People are flocking to her site to comment and multiple blogs are being written about her. For some people, ANY attention is better than no attention.
I love that this person unsubscribed because Dan gets so many comments and they (supposedly) don’t, and now they’re getting all these posts written about them…that’s gotta increase traffic some.