Dear Crystal,
I’ll just read what you have on this page, and then make some general comments. You wrote about Dan and somebody whom I guess criticized him. (I followed a link you provided, but the blogger seems to have removed the post to which you refer in your entry.) You wrote: “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 don’t know the blogger in question. I’ve read Dan’s (TheTheologiansCafe) blog for a long while. I do want to say that some of us don’t necessarily “blog for ourselves”. I can only speak for myself, of course. I blog on Xanga because there was a comment feature here and not on Blogspot, so I switched venues back in 2004. I’ve been writing for an “audience” and love the feedback I get on Xanga. I specifically pulled out my old poem books from when I “wrote for myself” and “published” them online in hopes that they be read. Thanks to Xanga, I’ve found that ‘audience’.

One thing I always wanted Dan to do was to create some kind of consensus of what his readers responded, but he knew what he was doing. I similarly like that Dan will always lend an ear and have personal IM or message “conversations” with you. I’ve learned a lot from him, and I’ve been on Xanga longer.

On Xanga, one thing I will NOT do is send friend requests. That way I don’t feel bad if I have to “delete” somebody’s “friendship” if they don’t visit my blog. I like your advice to write about boobs or other Xangans or about Xanga. If I want to make it to Top Blogs I usually write about Xanga. That always does the trick. It’s a lot easier now to get featured than it was “back in the day.” I can remember when Dan told me to “post naked” and when I did, I made it right to the top of featured. I usually post naked once a year, and I’m an old bald guy. There used to be lots more porn on here too, in the past.

My whole blog is a “life lesson”. People tend to read and recommend shorter posts than the ones I post, however.

I’ve found that timestamping tends to offend readers with short friends lists. Those with hundreds of friends can “lose” posts in the Ubox quite quickly. All and all good advice to the Xangan looking to get to the top of top blogs. Having friends who are really popular reccing your posts works quite well. Any post of mine recced by Dan, for instance is one I don’t have to worry about at all. It’ll get new friends and subs too.

I don’t play any games. No time.

Friends are very important. I’m participating in a “friendship week” series from my friend Kelly (webofsimplicity) right now, in fact.

I wish Smaranda would visit my blog more often, but she’s quite a Xangalebrity. I was really touched when she “voted” for me in the “Xanga Hottie” contest in which she was a contestant, when I posted my parody entry post. I’m really glad she’s your Xanga crush and that her post helped you feel better about yourself. We should always feel good about ourselves. I love my body, bald head and beer belly, and every old bone, and even the new titianium ones. LOL

Well, I’ve had a nice visit.

Michael F.Nyiri, poet, philosopher, fool