One Personal, Sweeping Thought: I think I'm kinda depressed, which likely explains the crap to come below. Usually I have a healthy pessimistic outlook: Expect the worst and you'll never be disappointed.
I suppose the title should properly read "The State of Stim." I simply like the rhythm of "The State of the Stim," however pretentious it sounds to refer to oneself as "the Stim," or "the Jane" or "the John" [which leads to all sorts of fully deserved toilet-related guffawing].
Pretensions aside, I'm drawn to writing that enhances its topic with an underlying rhythm. A long, lyrical sentence describing a sunset at the end of a lazy Sunday. A quick franticness to drive home a fast-paced action. The punch of a punchline. However, as with most art, the underlying elements should stay mostly hidden. An extra ingredient that subtly rounds out the flavor of a dish.
What does rhythm have to do with a blogiversary post? Not too much.
As I mentioned in my second blogiversary post [no link given, because who the hell would actually look this up?], fewer OS bloggers had been writing posts timed for the anniversary of their OS start date. Over the past year, I've noticed even fewer such posts. Why? Don't know. Just an observation.
Here are a few more observations:
- Being at OS for three years really makes me one of the old farts.
- Although most of the names have changed, I still get about the same number of comments per post as I did early in this blog. Obviously, I've learned nothing about increasing my audience.
- The complaints about the cover page content and editor responsiveness haven't changed in three years.
- OS was a closer-knit community when I started. I know that sounds like the geezer griping "back when I was your age," but it's true. OS was closer-knit. A fair number of personal friendships developed. A couple business ventures were attempted. During a short burst, meet-ups became the thing. Someone from each meet-up would post about the gathering, including photos.
- On the other hand, flame wars broke out damn near every week. A lot of good writers left because of the flaming and personal vindictiveness.
- I've never kept track of the number of OS members or what posts had the most readers and such. Has OS membership increased or decreased over the last year or two? How many people left during those recent months when it took a full day for a post to load? I don't know.
- I do know that it's been awhile since I've seen a post with more than 50 unique commenters. By the time he left OS, Steve Blevins would occasionally break 100 unique commenters. And deservedly so. You can look up his posts. Go for it
I violated my general pessimistic principal when it came to OS. This place gives me moments of hope. Somehow OS keeps going despite the ugly stepchild attitude toward it from Mama Salon. That's a tribute to the bloggers who show up everyday, once a week or whenever they can and continue to post, read and comment. We the OS community deserve to pat ourselves on the back. Cause any sane group of people would have chucked Salon long ago.
And that's the State of the Stim.
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Plus, you're fun to bitch about work stuff with. And you knew about the Head of Trent. Cheers.
I'm coming up on two years. I wish I had been here in the "old days" -- the start-up of any community is always a heady time. I also miss Steve Blevins, and many other of the writers that were probably on the way out just as I came on.
cartouche - OS years must be calculated like dog years. It feels like we've cyber known each other for more like 21 years.
Scarlett - Definitely the comradery. Bitching about work is a bottomless well of source material.
Procopius - Someday ... someday I will get out your way, and we'll hoist a few.
BV - Three candles is about the limit of my lung capacity these days. As for the "old days" maybe we can start an OS version of VH1. Instead of old videos, we'll do Whatever Happened To re-posts.
Jeff - Thank you. I'm sure there will be SOTS IV. My OS momentum rolls along on its own these days.
Ah, the old days.
I miss 'em.
Here's a great big pat on the back for you.
Rated for a list of pertinence.
Happpppppppppppppppppyyyyyy 3 years!!!!!!!
R
Seer - Thank you.
Tink - Sometimes it feels like the spam is dampening the potency of the drugs.
Owl - We the few. The survivors.
Buffy - I hear you. Sometimes a month goes by before I realize that I haven't posted in ... a month.
OM - I'm happy that our posting/visiting timing worked out. You're right. This is more nostalgic. I save the pessimism for the rest of the day.
Chicago Guy - I am shocked - shocked - to find that writing is going on here.
I'm sorry you're feeling depressed. I wish I could help with that, and if there's some way I can, just let me know.
I wish you many happy returns, and I'm happy that even while you see certain things that have changed since "the good old days", you still feel a love and support for the OSers - what you've written here is so altruistic and kind. I hope the love you feel here helps keep you going, and I hope things look up in real life soon, too.
All the best to you.
Julie - Thank you. It's great that you've been around for most if not all of it.
Alysa - Thank you for your kind words. OS has been a better place since you joined. If you'd like to help, please fly over and help us pack. We move before the end of the year.
This is great, Stim. It strikes a chord with me; I appreciate writing (and try to produce writing) that can be read at different levels. My favorite writing doesn't demand a close initial reading to get something out of it, but if you think about the material or re-read it, you should get more. Like a painting, perhaps.
It's been way WAY too long since we've met you and Mrs. Stim for dinner. What are you guys doing later in the week?
OE - The great writing? Are you sure it wasn't just the topic? These days where can you go anymore to read about sex?