My greatest wish is that everyone would just let it go away. And by everyone I don't actually mean Ginger and Kim, I mean the viewers who have been getting into this and making it their business. While I understand the motivation behind it, THAT is really what I see more than anything as keeping this whole mess going.

It's irritated me to the end that this is my last post on the contestant's blog, and the last time I intend to view it. Or the guestbook. I am going to play the game, and talk to people in IM, and that's it.

I am siding with no one, and I just wish it would stop. There. I said it. I vowed I never would but the guestbook is really snarking on my last nerve. I seriously don't think it is Kim and Ginger having trouble letting this go--it's the viewers, who are being just as nasty to people as they claim the "perpetrators" are being. Tit for tat is not always right, and in fact, to me, it is downright annoying. I dislike the self-righteous. And this is only my take on it, my opinion, which may or may not be wrong, but it's mine.

Please, simmer down, and to the other remaining folks, let's do our best to buckle down and enjoy this thing!
*hugs all around*

jesus mary'n joseph maybe we should rename this to "kim and ginger idiot-fest" or something. christ you two need to just email each other instead of posting such inane crap here. and i believe that if anything kim you seem to be the drama/attentionwhore in here and not ginger, she stopped really posting until you started up more shite. time to delete the 'favorite' link.

Sinnamon posted:

"I am not sure why GB passworded her diary. I can understand her need to separate RL from online, but why not take the site down instead since that is the part you are worried about. Or take out your real name where it is referenced. I am guessing that she is worried about her readers getting over to the other site, but don't most of them know all the information that is posted there already? Why the concern, please explain it to me?
posted by sinnamon at 2:32 AM

I will be happy to explain, (though it should really be obvious). By posting that info and subsequently using my real name in connection with Gingerbug, you have taken away the semi-anonymity I had with my online diary. I don't care about the traffic from gingerbug to whatever else I do on the Net, but the reason I passworded was that there are people who could be coming in the other direction from the other sites to Gingerbug that I'd rather not share such intimate details with.

Thank you, Kitchenlogic for the comments in my guestbook and on the judges blog. Thank you also those who IM'd me last night. Edna: thank you too. I haven't asked anyone to say anything on my behalf, though a whole bunch of people have offered.

Kim, I really don't understand what I could have possibly done to deserve all this. That's one crucial bit you have failed to give an answer to. I never gave you and your friends reason for this months long campaign.

If I had known that joining a simple online game would indirectly lead to me having to lock up the diary, I certainly wouldn't have joined.

As for the accusations, IP details etc, etc - just because I signed sinnamon's guestbook leaving behind the router IP doesn't 'prove' all the wild things you suggest it does. This issue is not black and white, I agree and those whom I trust have been able to read my account of the events (in the diary at present). I haven't had any previous experience with flamers or stalkers, so unfortunately that hasn't helped. I would give you a full account of the events here, but 1. you would still twist it and yak at me for playing the victim 2. most people don't care about the details anymore (if they ever did) and can see things for themselves. 3. those whom I trust can read it where it belongs.

Let me put it this way:

You started something unimaginably childish and cruel for NO reason.

I ignored it to the best of my ability UNTIL you and your friends started posting copyrighted material on that board. Even then I didn't publicly do anything - just quietly emailed the host. Well, you know the rest: it was your actions that continued to drag me through mud because you chose to post all the emails in public. I would rather have kept a very low profile and let things settle.

You shat on this contest, the players, judges and organisers by making this all about you. You posted on the blog repeatedly about things that had nothing to do with the game.

Even when you publicly said it was 'over', you, telutci, uber, sinnamon - and even Meg from diaryland survivor were in fact members of the Yahoo Club you created specifically for the purpose of continuing your campaign. I didn't know about it until I was told - at the time, I was taking a break from diaryland to try and think about what to do with everything.

And so on and so on.

I don't personally have anything to hide, but there are reasons which leave me no option, but to re-shuffle everything now that you have stripped me of anonymity. I am upset and feel sick to the stomach over this, yes. I'm going to re-open gingerbug sometime in the next couple of days, but it will be used very differently to how it has been so far. The real diary will be elsewhere. You can't stop me from writing, but you have successfully caused a lot of hurt, frustration, wasted time and hassle for me and the readers who have followed along on the journey.

Am I playing the victim? I don't think so, I'm just stating how I feel. I received this note within minutes of locking up: "Just noticed that you are locked....bummer. Found you back in July after my fiance attempted suicide--your posts on your mom helped me out. Hope you are doing well...and if you unlock yourself (or care to share the pwd) let me know. Take care... ". I've had several messages like it since. I never wanted to write in public for personal attention, I wanted to write in public for this. You will no doubt found something wrong in that too.

Yes, I asked why you thought I was Scourge. Well, as far as I can tell, no-one called Scourge has actually ever posted at Open City. Why not check Scourge's IP? He has posted all over the place. My IP to that router and the IP of three usernames (?) from that board match. I know why that is, but you will have to read it from my diary to know. I have never sent anyone on that board, I have never posted on that board and no-one (to my knowledge) has hacked your board. I have not asked Edna, Disco, Gwen, Trin - or anyone to do anything on my behalf. 99% of the stuff you accuse me of is in fact stuff you are or have been doing. Such as attention seeking, for instance. Or checking IP addresses. (Just a couple of examples).

Anyway. I am really really sorry about the d-survivor contest. I apologise for discussing this stuff here in the Blog.

Holy fuck am I ever fucking glad I'm no longer in this contest.

That edna is the worst kind of moron. She just likes being in the spotlight. Yeah, she's a great friend to crazybug. If she thinks I'm a pyscho, well, why not wave a red flag in front of me. She could give a shit about Pia. She just wants to be in the middle of a contraversy.

If she was any sort of pal, she'd keep her mouth shut and comfort her 'wounded' pal.

Coattail riding fool.

edna, you attention seeking idiot, butt out.

Sorry to be so nuts but that victim bullshit when played by women gets my fucking goat.

Don't even start that twisting the truth shit about we first wrote such awful stuff about you that's why you had to burst onto our private board, guns blazing.

. She followed some links, read shit she didn't like. Don't even try saying QH made that comment about your mom and 4 abortions at that point. That came WAY later. We said you seemed like a pretentious ass. Damn, we nailed that. And you wrote you had 4 abortions in your journal, dumbass. That's a lot of scrapping. Maybe they took some brain cells. Jesus H christ on a raft. Now you have kitchenlogic buying your brand of bullshit. Stick to crazy dumbasses like Evil Edna. Birds of a feather.

GIVE ME A BREAK!
Gingerbug asked over and over why we thought she was Scourge or responsible for scourge...We told her. Laid the facts on the table. Now, oh boohoo, I have to lock my diary, boohoo, so mean!
Open City was a small, unadvertised, private board. She followed some links, sent her minions inEmmabats aka AbortionGoth Girl,thorn, wtf, proxy, fuck, I can't remember the personalities. Sent pissyass letters to the host and server that we reprinted her entries. Waawaaed to gengisdong, dumbass edna, disco the blubbering letter writer. All the time, playing the innocent victim. Oh miss ingenue. Puke! Here. My name is Kim Treger, I own walk the line shoes 703 s illinois ave carbondale il 62901 618351 1077 my ip is 208.133.198.106 I give two fucks if you know my name. Sorry I don't have a webcam in my house. Laurence and Pia can send me theirs, I'll put it up mty snatch if you want. Fucking baby.

Confession--this is sick but I think I'm getting a crush on crazybug. She's so freaking nuts and pretty! I blame ass cracker. She wouldn't shut up about her on Open City.

Gingerbug--Call me!

I beg to differ. Horse people usually have more money because an actual REAL THING they are obsessed with and it costs bucks, time and many accoutrements to maintain the habit.

But horses are NOT IMAGINARY.

Obsession w/imaginary animal = really, really nuts

LW, you said dragon people were nuts, but I think horse people are a smidge crazier.

I'd like the password please loudwomanme@yahoo.com

Before you locked your journal, I'm sure you had to change your pants you crapped in?

WHAT THE HELL IS UP W/THE DRAGONS? SOMEONE ANSWER ME! Is this Harry Potter satanism?

i watched the wizard of oz this weekend with my pluck pluck Javi baby. i now know that the way to hell is more elaborate than a handbasket, it also involves technicolor ponytails and flying monkeys. i could have learned that here.

Damn. I wonder if crow tastes better barbecued?

Sinnamon et all: that IP is not a proxy (never claimed it was), it's a router. The router box is used by an entire network.

The domain you linked to is indeed ours and that's me and W. Well done. I need to talk with him about all this, as I don't know the full picture.

I haven't really got anything to hide, but I have always kept my diary separate from my real identity to protect others. I don't really care about myself in that respect. However, as a result of divulging these details I have now had to lock my diary. I would not want to cause any hassle.

Anyone wishing to get in contact can email gingerbug@diaryland.com.

I might be posting more soon.

wow. You dragon lovers are nuts!

Kim, if I'm wrong I'll admit it. I've been wrong quite recently - about people and about other things! :D

As for the points you make: I try hard to be as accurate as possible so that I won't get accused of twisting the truth - that's why I try to mention names when they are known to me (except in cases where mentioning names is likely to cause problems).

There is no 'ginger war', just a bunch of people reading and observing (and I suppose, in the case of the goth girl, she went a bit further.....her efforts being a bit misguided, I have to say). Someone like Gwen has nothing to do with any of it. She just read a diary entry or two of mine and decided to mention something in her diary. Simple as that. For the same reason as mentioning names, I also try to state my matter as clearly as possible. This can lead to people taking me as overly tight-arsed or arrogant, which simply isn't the case. I muck about in other places and at other times. Mary Poppins? Heh, heh. No. Perfect - absolutely not. I have made some dumb moves in my life and in this game, I've never claimed to be perfect. Not to mention other flaws, such as character flaws, or physical flaws. I simply respond and try to defend myself if it is required. So, for the a, b, c: a) if you prove me wrong, I will be first to admit and apologise, b) making fun and teasing is one thing. You can't possibly liken the depth of which you (and various other people you associate with) went to with 'making fun and teasing'. Besides, I only 'got upset' at a point where my copyrighted material was appearing where it shouldn't and subsequently when private emails were published. I'd have been an ass to not stand up for myself at that point. c) I attention seek sometimes, sure. But you have likened me defending myself to attention seeking, which is not accurate. Your continued actions long after both of us were out of the game, and in areas which had nothing to do with the game have certainly provided me with more attention than I'd care for. Posting in this blog seems to be the only way to enter into at least some kind of conversation with you and others, so I guess that could be taken as attention seeking, but I'm just attempting to clarify some issues using the only means possible.

Are you ever not disingenuous?

crazybug, I'm sorry I lash out at you. I get frustrated because you say the same shit over and over, each time in a more convaluted fashion. I start to read thinking 'maybe we are getting somewhere' and end up glazed over and bored. All I get is you, like Mary Poppins, are practicully perfect in every way. You get upset if someone a)says you are wrong b)makes fun of or teases you c) points out your attention seeking. Why did you even name that dumbass evil-edna or that gwenilian w/the purty nudie, old time photos? I knew evil edna was sticking her snoot in all over, she signs as many guestbooks as Trinity And she's as freaking nuts as that woman she's feuding with. Ok that was a cheap shot. But the gwen lady I didn't know of til you just had to say it on the board here so we'd all know who fights in the rightous Ginger War. Are

Yes, I do vent in IM sometimes when I'm stressed or irritated. But it doesn't happen too often, and I can easily move on to more interesting topics. I just don't choose to come storming in here every two seconds to rail against the internet Gods because I'm bored. And I always sign my name to anything I comment on or let it be known that it's me.

Ho-hum. I guess I was hoping too soon. I know, I know...should have known better! :D

Gingerbug = sliding on her own vaginal lubrication that she's back in the spotlight

Scud = really, *really* dumb.

Uber:

Back and forth, forth and back.
Indeed. But at least we're discussing! Excellent.

Ginger, the reason my last post didn't seem to be all about you is that it wasn't - I was also addressing the concerns of some other people in the things I was talking about.
Where did I suggest that the last post you made was all about me?

You can't imagine how tickled I am to be called a hypocrite by you of all people. You have been caught red-handed trying to hack into/screw up someone else's website. Nobody believes your lilywhite denials. In previous DLS contests the anonymous cranks have had the good sense to fade away once they were outed, but you seem not to get the message - maybe you relish the humiliation too much. A technical point though, it may not have been YOU precisely who did these things but it was done with your knowledge and/or approval unless a mysterious crazy person is sneaking into your house and using your computer. I haven't read enough of your journal to know what level of computer skills your boyfriend has.
Okay, let's clear this up: caught doing what exactly? I post through a router and sometimes through a proxy. I have signed a couple of guesbooks (as one does) and leaving behind an IP that points to a router and/or a proxy. You and your friends have made up the rest. My web host is Demon. Lots of other people use their services. I also occasionally post from our company router (which broadcasts a static IP). My actual computer's IP address is always hidden and has not been left anywhere (so I don't really understand what you're talking about as regards to someone using my computer, please do explain!) As for my boyfriend, he's a nice enough guy, though I can't imagine what he has got to do with any of this. Again, you are making assumptions that have no basis in reality. I've been checking out what you guys are saying about DS2 (I think, or was it 3? Sorry if I'm getting this wrong!) and it seems that your theories are based on something that happened then. Why the insisting that everything has to be the same as before? I'm happy to answer any questions you (or others) might have, if asked normally in a discussion. That's much preferred to the previously used methods of spreading rumours and slurs for no reason. Thanks for taking the time to communicate. I mean this sincerely.

As to the anonymous posters IP and FV being judges, that really isn't logical. Judges have no reason to hide their identities because nobody is going to vote them off if they get all uppity. It's kind of telling to note that the most vocal contestants are now ex-contestants while those who keep their own council (or just don't care) like Matt and Ms. M and Alternamommy are still in the running.

Well, heh, I was just throwing out a wild guess. You might well be right, I'm just curious as to who these two (and a number of other anonymous posters!) might be. As for vocal contestants vs. non-vocal....well. From what I've observed, there are two kinds of contestant in this DS4 - the ones that are pretty vocal out in public and the ones that are pretty vocal on IM.

I really don't understand your comment about "drones." I don't think I mentioned anything like that. You might be thinking of someone else.
That comment was not addressed to you specifically. No biggie.

Oh well. I was hoping to have a mature, sensible dialogue with you, Kim and July. You don't have to go down that road! I'm still here, not mad, just patient.

Uber: You have a real talent for taking things the wrong way/out of context/making assumptions. Where did I yell at you? I just called you a hypocrite because of what you said to Kinetix. As for the emails being sent to QH - they were sent to him by Modwest, but not to be published on three web sites. I know you can't see how that's wrong, so I won't try to explain (you are entitled to your opinion), but can you at least see why you came across as very hypocritical when you told Kinetix off for posting an IM convo in his diary?

As for 'drones' - well, I must say, the view of those who assume every comment 'against' or 'in defence' is made by folks that I have somehow ordered to do so is pretty blinkered from where I'm standing. I have knowledge of precicely two people publicly 'standing up for me', one of them is an existing contestant and one of them is the 'goth' girl whom I chatted with way back when about all the junk going on at that board. I have no idea who the others are. Is it so impossible to think that people involved with this contest or visitors/viewers who have been following might take it on themselves to make comments? Lately, a couple of diarists such as Gwenllian and Evil-edna (who read my diary and thus follow what happens) have made diary entries about various happenings. I certainly didn't ask them to or expect them to. If you see something on the Net, it might make you want to write about it or even participate. I have made a few diary entries in the past, inspired by something I've seen elsewhere. Stuff like this happens - people act independently. (I am sorry if any of this sounds patronising - I honestly don't mean it to! I am just struggling to explain things as clearly as possible and to leave as little room for mis-interpretation as possible).

BTW- It would be nice to see who are hiding behind FV and IP. I reckon they are both current judges.

Sinnamon: I don't think you understood what I posted about design. I may have explained poorly. Hmm. I'll try it like this: you know how there are thousands of different designs for a stereo? It's a functional object, but it can look different depending on what the trends are or who manufactures it. And that's cool and that's innovative - however, most stereos will have the familiar >> << symbols on 'play', 'pause', 'rewind' and other buttons though. Because people have got used to how stereos work and it's just easier and more user friendly to follow those similarities. Or - let's take software (my favourite subject!). You might come up with a completely new and innovative software program (there are some interesting ones out there) - but if it's made for the Windows environment, I guarantee it'll have a 'file' drop down menu and possibly also 'tools' menu. Or a car! Car is a good example - the way a car works - fundamentally, that is - has not changed in YEARS. Yes, there are lots of new designs, improvements, differences, but there is a steering wheel and four wheels.....do you see where I'm going with this? When a diary is online, it is an individual work of expression first, but it is also a functional object second. So I'm more than in agreement with you about diversity in how diaries/blogs look or 'read' - that's right, the last thing we need are clones and copycats. Unlike a car, which as an object has been around a lot longer, the way blogs and diaries 'work' is still evolving. I'm not claiming that the review sites are some holy grail of good design - far from it - all I was saying is that they have helped diary communities establish some basics (such as using the concept of archiving better, or using cast pages, having navigation in an easy to find place...).

what the hell is up with the abundance of using *'s instead of knowing halfway decent html and using the bold tag?

ps to gingerbug - I will craft my thoughts on the design issue to you after I finish with GJ's interview. That means tomorrow sometime.

pps to kim - So are we ok now?

Tahnks, Drone-y! A wise man *once* penned "Arguing on *the* internet is like running*the* Special Olympics. Even if *you* win *cough,cough*you're still retarded."*Have* truer, hehe,words *been* written?
Naturaly it was only *a* matter of* time* before I became the center *of* this whole thing. I tried my damndest to 8stay* the hell out, but you *sigh* play the cards that life hands you I guess.
There. I warmed you up for your exit interview w/genis dong and paid homage to crazybug and moxsie.

*Wow!* Well *said,* Kim!

'I think it's silly to assume though, I would have imagined you of all people to be an advocate for thinking for yourself! '
Aren't you just the snotty thing? Better watch out or I'll put a plate of pasta in front of you and snap a candid as you burst into tears. I enjoy thinking for myself and, added bonus, I don't need a team of inferior drones chiming in w/the 'well said!' everytime I post. I think you are wrong about what is ok on the net, so we're back where we started, chumley.
Be sure to cover your pizza hole when you *cough* ...just plain good manners and common sense.

Okay, cool - let's discuss July. I agree with some of what you say, but kind of fail to understand (and please do explain!) where you got the idea that I was suggesting that:

1. Diaryland was full of good design (it ISN'T! You know it, I know it - haha, ideed! But lots of people are making the effort to improve...surely that's what matters?)
   
2. That Diarylanders 'invented' cast and bio pages etc, etc. I was merely saying that there seems to have been a strong influence from lots of folks getting reviewed and from lots of diarists/bloggers adopting a set of 'unwritten rules'. Using something in a particular way or in particular context isn't the same as claiming to have invented it.
   

I know you're not attacking me personally. Thanks. I welcome debate and discussion.

I think my personal pet peeve about design and related issues seems to be people who think that just because they've been there, done that and bought the t-shirt, they have nothing new to learn. WRONG. I fall into that trap sometimes and then something happens and I catch a glimpse in the mirror.....whoops! I'd like to think that I've achieved a fair amount web-design wise, but BOY do I still have shitloads to learn! It never stops and sometimes the new starters have fresh views and ideas which are really worthy of taking seriously. Anyway (and this is written with a smile, not a snarl, please don't take it as an insult) - I think you sometimes come across as a bit arrogant (which happens to me, you, lots of other people - especially those with a strong creative drive). From what I can deduct, you seem to be especially against conforming (am I even close?), so I can see why you would get annoyed about the stuff that goes on in 'cliques' and rings etc. I have to question though: why are you then so keen to belong to a number of 'cliques' yourself? The desktop theme thing, QH's board posters, Diaryland Survivor even - these are all 'groups' of some sort. It's okay to want to belong and to participate, it doesn't have to take away from your individuality! You can do both. You're too hard on yourself, maybe?

I think the way lots of diarists have 'links', 'cast' and 'bio' pages these days is at least partially due to the diary review phenomenon and how diarists and bloggers have kind of developed a set of unwritten rules on what's good design and what isn't. -Gingerbug

This is precisely what bugs me about "community" when it comes to the web. Diaryland people all think they invented the world. At the same time, so do Blogger people, LiveJournal people, etc. The truth is that none of these communities were around back in the "dark ages" of HTML 3. And there were cast and bio pages back then. They might not have been spectacular looking, but they existed.

As for design asthetics in the diaryland community... heh. That's a good one. You said "good design" Heh. heh. H! ha ho ha he hee he ha ho ho! ha ho he!

The point is this: every group on the web claims to have invented the wheel, and it's annoying.

note: This was not an attack on you, gingerbug. It is meant as a critique on a popularly held notion, of which you are a part.

Thanks for the answer Kim. I see now that you are basing this assumption on, well - assumptions. I geddit. If I understand correctly, you think some users who signed up at QH's board were in fact Scourge? And because the proxies of those users match and because I also use proxies, that makes me Scourge? From what I can tell, there has been a LOT of speculation and confusion over this. Oh well. Thanks for clarifying! I think it's silly to assume though, I would have imagined you of all people to be an advocate for thinking for yourself!

And have to add: QH is (in my humble opinion) really wrong about what is okay on the Net and what isn't. But there we go. There are laws and regulations in place, which affect the world wide web as well as things done in 'Meatspace'. Not to mention.....*cough* ...just plain good manners and common sense!

You're going to go crazybug on me when I answer but here goes..

I'm leaving to go to Paducah for the day so I won't be able to reply, my husband's breathing down my neck.

qh wrote....
Yes, the original GB IP from the guestbook entries (before the
> drama) is the same as that of whomever was signing up at OC
> over and over again trying to defend her/hack me: Thorn, WTF,
> ThisLilPiggy, et al. - 62.49.28.24
>
> Using a proxy, the first couple of subnets might be the same, but
> not the entire IP on every post. It was when I banned the IP that
> we got the goproxy, proxyportal and anonymizer registrees:
> henchmen, truss, starthappy, FTW, BadDogNoBiscuit, etc. -
> that's when scourge suddenly appeared on the scene as well.
>
> It might be her beau, but if so he was using her computer at first,
> then suddenly switched to proxies. Just like her. Hmmm.
>
> As for reproducing "private" messages and email - NOTHING
> ON THE INTERNET IS PRIVATE. Also, just like regular mail,
> once it is sent it belongs to the person who receives it, not the
> sender. If Joe Schmoe wrote me a letter I would have every right
> to reproduce it in any way shape form or number I wished, and to
> let it be read by anyone I wanted. I posted GB's and Allen's
> emails because I could, because they were sent to me and thus
> became my property to do with as I pleased.
>
> Netiquette? That's the faggiest concept I ever heard of. Forced
> niceties are for sucker drones. People who expect everything to
> be pleasant are delusional. The day I start pulling punches so
> that some fucknut who wants the world to be a Hallmark card
> isn't exposed to a less-than-shiny-happy moment is the day I
> want one of you to shoot me. Telutci, you have guns - can I count
> on you for this?

The answer to your second question: yes and no. I'll try to be brief this time!

No, you don't win a tangiable cash prize or free gold membership. But that's not what the clix or review sites are for.

With review sites, you 'win' a few more visitors to your page and advice (hopefully!) on how to improve your design. With clix sites etc you 'win' more visitors to your page (if you rank somewhere close-ish to the top). So who cares? Well, it's not a compulsory activity and even if you never participate in these things, you can still have fun as a diarist and just not give a damn.

Personally, I'd say that I've 'won' many times over. As a direct result from participating in various sites (Bloghop, Clix and Blogrolling) I have come to know several extremely cool diarists (they found me or I found them). I've even met one of these people, a Finnish girl who is in London right now. I'd say that's worth more than free Gold Membership any day!

Okay, my turn to ask a question: why do you think I'm Scourge? I'm asking this seriously - I just don't get it :D

I posted the poll link on my Anderson Cooper page and on datalounge and a shihab rattsani page I frequent. And badgered my pals to vote because I thought it would be fun and funny to be voted 'most popular' when no one knew who I was. Had I known it was going to be the beginning of the end, w/chrome and you and scud and scrouge, oop, I said you, all pissing and moaning and acting like 100 karat gold babies----I would have done it anyway but gotten in more votes.
Tahnks for seriously answering my question. But one more..do you actually win SOMETHING? Free gold membership or something?

Hey, good question Kim. If I just speak for myself (at first): couple of years ago, there really weren't that many review sites around - that's until DiaryReviews really got going. Back then it was something really kind of new and exciting and since there didn't seem to be that many diarists getting reviewed, it seemed almost like getting featured in some magazine and I thought 'woo, wouldn't that be nice, I could do with some visitors and feedback'. At the time my design was pretty plain (with black background, white text, red hyperlinks and the bare MINIMUM of extras - even you have more on your diary now, Kim, than I did then). Well.....but of course when the review site said 'it would be nice to see your diary rigns on a different page', etc, etc....it kind of started the thought process of improving the user-friendliness of my diary. Subsequent reviews have happened each time I've changed something (I know a few diarists who do the same) - so every time the design changes, I'll apply for a review just to see how it worked out.

But.......it can become an addiction! And some review sites are absolute bollocks (some kids who can't even spell, 'grading' your diary.......no thanks).

It's fun. You can take the advice of leave it. You get a few hits if you're lucky. OR you can end up getting a little bit...... obsessed ;)

I've got to admit, at first I had this really snooty attitude to getting reviewed or having anything other than the bare essentials in a diary. I though 'pah! I'm here for the words!'. But I've come to treat the whole diary thing as a constantly evolving thing. And no matter how much you think the diary is just there for the words (which still remains the main purpose for it being there for me), it's ALSO a web site whether you like it or not. And for that reason, you need to pay attention to usability and visitors. Just the way the cookie crumbles. That's the way I see it anyway.

I think the way lots of diarists have 'links', 'cast' and 'bio' pages these days is at least partially due to the diary review phenomenon and how diarists and bloggers have kind of developed a set of unwritten rules on what's good design and what isn't. I think of it now as a web usability issue - similar to how most software applications operate in a familiar 'Microsoft Office-esque' way: to put it simply - people have got used to a particular thing (diary) working in a certain way, so why make things over-complicated.

Whoops! I bet I lost Kim somewhere in the first paragraph.........sorry!

Oh, and because I love to pimp, here's a special Diary Review bumber issue for more info on the subject (including a guide to starting your own review site.....hey, KIM, you should start Kimmikins reviews! THAT would be fun......)

P.S: the vote and clix sites are not about winning, but about just straight-forward, no bullshit hoping to get visitors-kind of thing. Nothing serious about it for most diarists, except in a couple of cases where people have gone to the trouble of 'fixing' their ratings. But you wouldn't know aaaaaanything about trying to fix polls or ratings, now would you, Kimmikins? :D

Since we're all being palsies, I have another question. Genis dong and gingie keep tahnking people for their counter hits.

Since DS4 I 've been reading all these 'popular diarists' instead of my motley crew of pals.

I notice all these clix shit, reviews, 'vote for me'........

The DS4 poll, I got all those votes on a lark.  Being funny.  I had no idea people would take it so seriously, like foaming at the mouth serious. Now I see people take this shit dead serious.
 
Example, Trinity 'the mad guestbook signer' 63 has clix, best entry, DiaryEvals Can You Make The Grade? Are You Ready For Inspection?
What's up w/this?  Do you get something tangible, like gold membership, if you win?

Thanks for the tip, July! Now I understand. I had to fetch my pink glittery dildo and LO - I can post! Wheee....

Kimmikins: I'm really sorry if you thought I was bringing it all up (I wasn't), but go ahead and play if you want. There - you have my permission. I'm kind of missing the days when I had 1000 pageviews! Thanks *smooch*

Seriously though: what I posted in the comments section was just used as an example to show what a hypocrite Uber is. I laughed so hard when I saw what he'd written to Kinetix about netiquette.

As for Jon and da exit interviews......umm, he's not all that good with interviewing, is he (no offense, Jon!) so why are you surprised? I've had dealings with him before, so I knew how to handle him. All he needed was a good whipping and some small gerbils and it was like he'd turned to butter in my hands.

Congratulations to Scourge and Kitchenlogic!
This will be a celebrity wedding to remember. I've applied for a bridesmaid's position.

It's fun, July! Like staying real late at a party and the hosts are stretching and making 'my it's late!' noises and you say 'Want to play monopoly?' and see the look of terror on their face.

Since gingie don't want to drop it, I don't either. She and flopcksie are my new role models. I've found I crave popular diarist respectability. I gots a question. Why, in the exit interview, were genis schlong and gingie so up each other's tushs? They seem like unlikely bed fellows. But it was like watching Liza w/a z not Liza w/a s and David Guest kissyface. Freaky but spellbindingly so.

Just flexing my "booted contestant still being able to post" muscle. Curiously enough, I have come to find that this muscle is located in the groin area! Now I understand!

Whhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I can't wait til that darn comments guestbook lets me sign again.

My comments are THAT important. :thumbsup:

'Posting IMs and private emails without the other party's permission is a violation of trust and bad netiquette. '

It's only bad manners and a violation of trust when you do it to folks you enjoy and respect. When you do it to dumbasses, it's called entertainment.

No offense to anyone I like who I posted their private shit. It's your own fault though. Everyone knows I can't keep a secret