So, there's that

[gwyn]

So, I made the mistake of trying to talk about the shitstorm, and got called a sociopath and a teabagger, and have had mass defriendings because god forbid, you try to put some things into historical context so people can have information that might aid in a discussion. No, it was all a personal attack on them, apparently. And now the discussion has morphed into something entirely different, and everyone wants to ascribe motivations to anyone saying anything, and I can't stand it anymore. What I really hate most is the name-calling and the assumption of motivations -- most of the people who are spreading the hate don't know anything about the people they're accusing of things, yet that doesn't stop them.

I really hate fandom right now. I've made a really tight filter, and I will probably cull my reading lists down a lot in the near future. I have a lot of work right now (probably not as much in the near future, but at least for now, there's more of it that I should focus on), and I want to write more.

About a month and a half ago, I stopped taking antidepressants and the desire to write again has finally returned, and I want to write RL stuff, not as much fanfic because, see above. I've thought about it for so long, but haven't done anything about it because the citalopram made it pretty much impossible for me to write (and read anything as long as a book). I want to work to get some of the weight I gained on it off. So there's a lot of stuff for me to do that isn't here. Everything makes me cry right now, and I'm back to having a lot of the overwhelming grief and PTSD around sis_r's death influence my feelings. I'm also back to my insomnia and restless leg syndrome, which makes it even harder to sleep, and not having sleep makes it... you know.

I'm not saying I'm not going to post, but I want to stay away from a lot of LJ and DW, and I still owe people some prompts from the class nightmare time -- but I can't see posting a lot. The one thing I can't figure out how to do is make the new filter appear as my default. I keep selecting it, but it always defaults back to the main viewing page. Right now, I'm just not capable of reading all that crap out there, so I'd like to filter it away, but I can't seem to make this work consistently. Anyone have knowledge they can help me out with?

Comments

[kass]

I can't be helpful with the default-view stuff, but wanted to say that I'm sorry this has all been so hard.

Though I'm quaking in my birkenstocks somewhat at the prospect of leaving Zaphod for four days (only because he's not a big bottle fan, so it could be kind of a tough weekend for his dad :-) I will be at VVC this year; will I see you there?

[umbo]

I'm so sorry you got pounded on. There's a lot of that going around. *hugs*

As far as filters go, I ended up making a bookmark for my reading filter at LJ (I still read my entire access list at DW, but I've cut out the people who are crossposting from my reading filter at LJ), because I wasn't aware of how to make that a default view either. But it works just fine as a bookmark up on the bookmark line/toolbar on Firefox, so I just click that when I want to read what folks on LJ are saying.

*more hugs*

[reginagiraffe]

On LJ you have to name the new filter "default view". I assume that's what you're doing?

If you can't get it to work, contact support.

[klia]

I'm sorry about all the shit you've been catching. Things have really gotten out of hand. Between this wank and the one last August, it's the worst thing I've ever seen and experienced in all my years in fandom. And if everything suggested is adopted by VVC, I can't see myself ever going back.

[ratcreature]

I think on DW because the reading filter functionality is not implemented yet, the "default view" doesn't work yet either like it does on LJ, but I'm not 100% sure.

[gwyn]

Oh, thanks -- no, I had a different default view, and nothing I could do would change the new tighter filter to permanent. Well, at least that one's done -- DW is definitely not changing, so I'll have to see if this works here too.

[cereta]

So far, my Default View filter is working pretty well (http://www.dreamwidth.org/manage/subscriptions/filters). Maybe because mine is capitalized? Hmmmn.

[ellie]

Look like I missed something again; however, considering that I actively avoid drama, it's not unusual for me to be oblivious to it. I am sorry to hear that people have been giving you a hard time.

[cathexys]

I have several reading filters and they seem to work pretty well, and i'd be happy to walk you through it. (I have named Reading1, Reading2, etc. and just bookmark them)

As for the rest--I'm beyond shocked at the ease with which people verbally assault one another. I've stayed out of the open debates because I can't do this right now.

*hugs*

[leela_cat]

Ugh. Sometimes I really do not understand people. I'm so sorry you're feeling pushed out, but I do understand why you'd feel that way. I hope you stick around LJ/DW though. I like having you on my reading list.

[twistedchick]

You do what you have to, and take care of yourself. ::hugs;:

[tazlet]

I fully empathize with your feelings about the situation.

[devilc]

I've set my journals not to allow anonymous posts, and this latest round of wank has me thinking about several preemptive bannings.

Gwyn, just rest assured that the people with, y'know, brains, still love you like pie.

[gwyn]

I"m afraid I can't go this year, and right now, I'm kind of glad. The hard part is not seeing people like you, but at least I don't have to look at the people who make me want to puke, and they unfortunately have a rather large presence there. Also, I'd probably end up in jail because I'd punch some people in the face. And then I'd just miss the con entirely!

[dine.livejournal.com]

I have no knowledge of filters, just *hugs* for you. I can't believe some of what I've read (except I sadly can, people being people, and similar stuff having popped up before) and as a non-vidder, I know I've probably missed a lot

[nagasvoice.livejournal.com]

Word here on what dine said.
I don't know if it helps to know that a similar flap is going on in filk music fandom about badly-managed organization at one of the conventions, as well.
Having watched the blast fragments fly past on some of the other big defriending flaps in fandom, I have a tendency to assume that groups of a certain size will eventually explode something like an aging star does.
I've seen it happen in various hobbies so often that I assume some people-to-people irritant sets them off, as if they're looking for some excuse--such as picking up things out of context from your post. I also think of it as being rather like those cell-growth games and screensavers eventually split off. It's extremely consistent.
Now, the interesting question: why?

[chasarumba.livejournal.com]

Just bookmark the URL that corresponds to the group filter you want to read -- if you named the group, say, "sanity," then the bookmark would be something like gwyn-r.livejournal.com/friends/sanity

Hope that helps! Take care of yourself.

[suaine.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if there are LJ or DW settings that let you use a filter as default, but I usually get around this by simply using the direct link. I haven't looked at my default flist in ages. There's probably Firefox add-ons or little script thingies out there to make it even easier, but I've yet to look them up.

Also, I'm debating getting off citalopram for the rest of summer because while I do have some motivation and ideas on the pills (better than the venlafaxine I was on before, at least), the actual writing part is just not happening. It's always a battle between being able to cope and having that creative spark, and I have yet to figure out which side I'm on -_-

*hugs*

[sol-se.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry you're having such a hard time right now, in real life & in fandom. I've had a lot of experience in going off & on antidepressants if you ever need someone to listen. (Can't promise I'll have any useful advice, but I am a good audience.)

The one thing I can't figure out how to do is make the new filter appear as my default. I keep selecting it, but it always defaults back to the main viewing page.

For the filter on writing your own entries, I was looking in the My Account Settings (http://www.livejournal.com/manage/settings/?cat=privacy), and there is an option to select Default Entry Security, but it looks like you can only select public/private/friends and not a custom filter. But I could be missing something.

As for reading the friends list on a filter, I found this. (http://www.livejournal.com/support/faqbrowse.bml?faqid=219&q=filters&lang=): If you create a custom friends group named Default View, your standard Friends page will display entries from your "Default View" group. I hope that helps.

[greenpear.livejournal.com]

I promise to stay as harmless as possible. I learned the exact lesson you speak of so I do not wish to cause anyone else any grief...

It's amazing what some meds will do to the creative process. Until they changed my Blood Pressure medicine I couldn't do anything that required creative thought. it was a horrible time...

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean -- and then there's the weight issue, for me at least, and that whole dichotomy of "fat & happy or slim & sad." I really hate the having to choose. I was talking about this with Killa a few days ago and it helped me see that I wasn't alone, which was nice, and now I'm hearing from people like you that it's similar for them, too.

I've only ever taken citalopram -- my doctor thought it would be the right one for some of the issues I have and medications I take. But it definitely seemed to fit in with the other things I heard from people coming off most of the SSRIs -- electrical weirdness, space-cadetiness (I got my first ever speeding ticket, and also had not put my insurance in my car, so got cited for that too), and I had something I referred to as sparkly -- it was like if I turned my head, it felt all sparkly or effervescent inside. It was weird. That took like a month and a half to go away.

And even though I'm overwhelmed with stuff right now, I definitely can feel the motivation to create coming back. If you want to talk more about it privately, I'd be happy to.

[destina.livejournal.com]

*sends hugs and support*

[spasticat.livejournal.com]

Come join me on drama free island. I've been sipping on gin and tonics while letting the cabana dude fan me with a large palm frond. We're doing karaoke later on where I choose the songs and he sings them. OH, and the puppy petting starts sharply at 6pm, be sure to not miss that!

I do like another commenter mentioned and have a bookmark of my reading list and have a link to it in the left panel of my LJ.

A friend says that yoga helps her a lot with her depression. Bike riding helped me...which I need to get back to once my arm is better healed. I still take the lexapro but am off the shitload of meds I was taking last year.

Hugs and more hugs!

[suaine.livejournal.com]

The weight issue is difficult for me, because while I do gain a lot of weight on the drugs I don't actually feel fat. It's weirdly like having a slight body-dismorphic disorder, except I feel thinner than I actually am. Every time I see myself in pictures I'm shocked at how, er, chunky I look. It does become an issue because my family are fairly fatphobic and can be downright cruel about it.

The sparkly! Once I realized (the first time I went off the drugs by accident, not having a refill at hand years ago) that it was a regular withdrawal side-effect, I began to almost enjoy the sparkly feeling. It's hard to describe to people who've never had it, but there's something otherwordly about it. Not so good for people with driving licences though ;)

And even though I'm overwhelmed with stuff right now, I definitely can feel the motivation to create coming back.

I had one of my most creative periods in the months after I stopped taking my first SSRI. I still had to wrangle all my issues and some days were really bad, but I finished over 70,000 words of fanfic and I felt like the stories in my head would never stop. It was brilliant.

If you want to talk more about it privately, I'd be happy to.

Any time :) (my email is suaine@gmail.com)

[milly.livejournal.com]

I offer hugs and cookies. And whatever else might be needed *HUGS*

[varina8.livejournal.com]

Sorry it's been all "mean girls" lately. A drama-free summer with more writing and exercise sounds wonderful to me.

[belmanoir.livejournal.com]

i know how to do the filter thing! for lj, anyway. you have to name the filter "default view". and then it happens automatically! at least, that worked for me after i started filtering after the ds wank last year. let me know if you have problems and i'll try to figure out if there's anything additional i had to do...

[ex-akemi42.livejournal.com]

Heya sorry to sound ignorant but by shitstorm are you referring to the VVC stuff? I feel like it is all posted under some filter I don't know about. I decided to go after I got off the waitlist and now I am a bit nervous.

I am glad to hear you want to write again! Although no sleep sucks. One of my coworkers has restless leg syndrome and a dopamine activator was super helpful. I know you probably don't want to go on more meds though.

If you want to meet up and get drinks at Feedback or something, let me know.

[trepkos.livejournal.com]

I don't know what the shit-storm is about and I'm quite glad I don't.
I'm back in the 70s right now!

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

I'd been wondering how you were doing with the latest kerfuffle, since it was something close to your fannish heart and, I suspected, involved good friends of yours (I've not really been following the whole thing very thoroughly beyond reading the original document and some of the first comments). I'm sorry it's ended up being so stressful for you and that there's been so much fallout. Sometimes, online fandom can really suck. :-(

And it looks like someone else has already given you the filter advice I was going to pass along (thankfully, I haven't had to use it much, but during election season I sometimes do it just to get away from all the political talk). Hope it all gets better for you soon!

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

If you create a custom friends group named Default View, your standard Friends page will display entries from your "Default View" group.

That's how I did it, so I know it works. :)

[kassto.livejournal.com]

I'm really sorry you're having a shitty time. I don't know what the kerfuffle was about, but I've seen a few from the sidelines and they are deeply pathetic. I can't believe the level of hysterical immaturity that abounds. Take good care.

[unovis.livejournal.com]

Our room will be a shitstorm-free zone, to the utmost of my ability.

And we'll have cookies.

[ex-akemi42.livejournal.com]

Yes! I think I landed some great roommates. :)

[mackiemesser.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry that things have been so rough lately. I hope that the renewed urge to create can help make up for some of that.

(I have no desire to even remotely participate in any fandoms lately--they all seem viciously intent on self-cannibalization.)

[carbonel]

I'm not really sure what the whole kerfuffle was about; the first I saw about it was the apology from the concom, and the second was the rewritten policy.

Is it possible, if it's not too triggery, to get the 100 words or fewer description of what was going on?

[owlrigh.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear that you got so much bad flak for your post. I, for one, appreciated hearing what you said from a historical context, and know that someone else values your opinion (for I'm sure there are lots of silent people, eg, my housemate, who appreciated your view). Certain circles of fandom are highly vitriolic towards anyone who doesn't toe the standard line or ventures to offer alternative opinion, and I know that I, for one, am not willing to stick my neck out and offer it to the hordes all too willing to swoop down and peck me to death over it. Just not brave enough. Very sorry this has happened to you :(

Get away from livejournal and do rl stuff! Ride a bike :D Ahem, this is always my suggestion, but bicycles are awesome, trust me. Especially in parks and stuff like that, and when you get your fitness up it'll help keep your weight down. Antidepressants stuff you up in new and creative ways sometimes ... suffice it to say: know where you're coming from. I hope you find a good balance to help you manage.

[therienne.livejournal.com]

*hugs you tight*.

It's been a crappy weekend. But, you stood by what you believe.

If you want, you can always hop on a plane to visit us, and we will have our own party, and eat lots of cheesy nachos!

(Or maybe one of these damn days I'll get out *there*)

[sperrywink]

I hope some distance brings you some happiness and good luck with the RL stuff.

And, man, getting off anti-depressants is so hard. Definitely good luck with that.

[lunasblues.livejournal.com]

I friended because of the post. Hope that's OK.

[vagabondage.livejournal.com]

I'm really sorry to hear you were called names and took abuse because of your post. Personally, it's the one post I've read about all this shit that made sense. I LOVED your post!

*hugs*

[viverra-libro.livejournal.com]

Oh, that really sucks, that people were idiots. Sadly, I've come to the conclusion that most people on the Internet (as in life) are indeed idiots; for me, at least, it makes me not want to share content with them. I did a similar major flist cut a few years ago, in response to a display of mass stupidity.

Sounds like some good changes are coming for you, though -- let us know how you do, when you have time, and good luck!

[soundingsea.livejournal.com]

I hope you get some great sleep and write some kick-ass RL stuff.

[brynnmck.livejournal.com]

*very many hugs* I know this whole thing has been extremely painful for a lot of people, and I'm so sorry that you're one of them. I love you and you're in my thoughts, and I hope that the filtering--of various kinds--helps you find some equilibrium. *more hugs*

(And I have not seen you in forever! Maybe we can descend on SDW for some Guitar Hero and Justified sometime... I also find Puplet snuggles to be very therapeutic.)

[beerbad.livejournal.com]

Just wanted to throw this in here and say that I thought your post was awesome and I'm with you - and I know I'm not the only one.

about Arthur of the Brtions and your icon

[valkyrie4clex.livejournal.com]

just commenting on your icon - Is that Arthur of the Britons and his closest friend Kai??? I loved that show and they were SO much a couple- if it was being shown now, I feel sure people would be writing them.

[valkyrie4clex.livejournal.com]

I just went to Shore Leave yesterday and connected with some "old" style fans i haven't seen in years. I relly needed it ebcasue I have kind of losst touch with RL fans and have been depending on Lj for contact and discussion and fiction. The last 2 kerluffles have made me very depressed and wonder if I should cut way down on LJ reading- to ne fandom is sharing common interests - thru fiction; artwork; vids; discussions; and lately fanmix's. I don't come for name calling and accusations and the rest of the stuff flying around lately. I totally understand your unhappiness with this and hope you get trhough everything soon. Maybe this stuff will blow over and fandon can get back to its roots.
Although I'd like to read fanfic from you, you need to write what is calling you.

Re: about Arthur of the Brtions and your icon

[trepkos.livejournal.com]

It's on DVD - cheap too!

We are writing them!

Buy it, watch it, join us!

http://community.livejournal.com/arthur_britons/profile