March 9, 2011

• Random Encounter with an Unknown Follower

  

  During my birthday last week (thanks again everyone for your well wishes!), I got a lot of random messages from people that were apparently long time readers of my blog but have stayed under the radar until now.  There was one Xangan in particular (who will remain anonymous) that stood out.  She sent a message that read “URGENT: interview from UMD” (FYI, UMD is a near by college that I often visit).  Intriguing.

  She turned out to be a journalism major at the school who has been following my blog for some time but just recently subscribed.  She had a short assignment due in 14 hours for a class where she had to write up an article for a fictional magazine.  She decided to write about how in a world where Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter are the main leaders of the social networking world, Xanga is still thriving, partially through the Xanga meets other Xangans and I have put together. 

  I thought it was really cool and flattering that she thought about me for her assignment, so I had no problems with this last minute request.  After I answered some questions from her, she ended up writing this article (I added some appropriate links):

  On April 16, more than 50 individuals plan to meet up at the Lincoln Center in New York City. Some know one another and others do not, but they all have one thing in common: Xanga.
  
  Popular during the early 2000’s, the blogging and social networking website is still thriving despite Facebook and Twitter being all the rage now with over 600 and 190 million users, respectively.
  
  Alex Chan aka Roadlesstaken, 25, has been planning meet ups since he attended one held in D.C. in 2009. Meet ups opened up a new form of social networking for the graduate student.
  
  “I think people just like the idea of meeting up with people they’ve gotten to know for a while online,” said Chan, who has been a Xanga user, or Xangan, since 2003.
  
  Chan first started to plan meet ups in California due to its overwhelming population of Xangans, but decided to plan closer to home on the East coast. Last July, Chan hosted the largest meet up in New York City where over 50 Xangans attended. The meet up attracted people from Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, California, Massachusetts, and even, Canada.
  
  Typical meet ups consist of sightseeing, entertainment and food. Some meet ups end with an after party.
  
  After meet ups, Chan and other Xangans blog about their experiences and share photos on their Xangas.
  
  “What would have happened had I not befriended so many people online to the point where I viewed them as close, if not more so, than my current in real life friends? What would have happened had I chickened out of meeting these online people in real life?” Chan blogged after a California meet up last August.
  
  Chan recalls Xanga being described as a “gated community” where the network is small, but close-knit.
  
  “From the outside, you probably wouldn’t know all that’s happening in the Xanga world, but once you’re in and connected, you feel everyone is separated by less than six degrees,” said Chan.
  
  Over the years, Xanga has formed lasting relationships for Chan and other Xangans, connecting the West to the East, North to the South. Blogging may be the main aspect of Xanga, but meet ups take the blogging experience up a notch.
  
  “I’ve personally strengthen and made a lot of true friendships over the past few years thanks to meet ups,” said Chan.

  I say that was pretty good!  She mentioned she probably could get it published somewhere if we wanted to pursue that.  Hey, why not?

  I’m glad this long time follower got in touch with me and is no longer unknown.  Hopefully we will meet up sometime soon.  I wonder who else is out there reading my stuff?  Is it you?  (Yeah, I’m looking at you!)

  • 5:29 pm
  • 95 Comments