November 11, 2008
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For the Record
If I sub to your site, you don’t have to ask people to rec your posts or insult me in the posts to get my attention. I read all my subs, so odds are that I will see your post.
I like to think I am pretty approachable. I’ve become good friends with a number of you. I’ve had lunch and/or coffee with dozens of you. I’ve talked on the phone with hundreds of you, and emailed/messaged with thousands of you. I even married one of you
.I understand that people are passionate about Xanga, and that’s awesome. I just want to point out that you don’t have to work very hard to get my attention. Just send me a link to your post and I will almost certainly read it.
I just got back from a weeklong trip to visit my parents overseas, so I’m a bit behind on subs and private messages. I’ll catch up on that, and then maybe write a public response to some of the posts that I’ve seen floating around in the past week or so.
John
Comments (106)
Hmm. People are assholes?
Seconded on that asshole thing.
Me, I always hate people who beg for recs.
You’ve had lunch/coffee with some of us?
*feels left out.
lol j/k
Thanks for clarifying.
And welcome back!!
Just to clarify guys, I’m not saying anyone is an asshole. Just pointing out that I tend to read almost any post sent to me (or that is in my subs).
Well, I rarely see you on my footprints….but then, I’ve been a lazy bastard as of late as well. I forgive you, John. Besides, I’ve never sent you a link to any of my posts, so I accept full responsibility. Ha,ha. I guess people are giving you shit, huh? Needy bastards!
@Xcholo4u - you took 2 months off between posts!
“I even married one of you” made me laugh. That’s so cute. Awwww
I hope you had fun with your weeklong trip. It’s so nice to have you back. Although, wait a minute, I’m not quite sure that’s very personal coz we haven’t really talked. Anyway, if you wanna talk to me (hahaha that sounds so funny, as if you need more friends to talk to–oh what the heck) I’m here.
Take care always, wonderful John.
WHAT!? We’ve never talked on the phone!
@resolc - That’s because you charge by the minute.
but… insulting people is so much fun.
Oh! I wanna talk to you on the phone! Please? You sound awesome.
PS: It’s okay if you don’t comment me much, I’m not the best writer anyhow.
I think you and the other xanga team people do an awesome job, particularly by keeping the old pages an option and coming up with new available features that are still just optional. Thank you for your hard work, it is appreciated.
Welcome back, John!! We missed our favorite stick-figure man around here!
Why didn’t you marry me, too? :pouts: jk. I don’t think I could handle your job. I’m pretty sure I’d ostracize most of the community if they started insulting me. My big temper would flare and I’d write some nasty post entitled something like, “Just a few of the Xangans who annoy me and why.”
And then I’d feel all bad about it and wonder why no one liked me anymore. HAHAHA.
Sounds like you’re politically-correctly trying to tell some bitching dumdums to shut it, hee hee. In either case, nice to have you back. Even the cynics love Xanga. *bows*
I have always found you to be a very nice and reasonable guy. Not worthy of being insulted. And I am shocked at the hours you work
Hehe I’m guessing you aren’t likely to do that marrying thing again any time soon – mirite?
BTW, I’m very intrigued about the John and Mrs. John story … There’s a fantastically sweet story in there, I know it!
i can’t believe how normal and accessible you are. i love xanga.
@john - ohohohohohhhhhhh snap!
@nimbusthedragon - I’m not telling anyone to shut it. Being insulted is in my job description!
I am just pointing out that there is no need to insult me to get my attention. It has been happening more regularly lately, and so I thought I’d mention that it’s not necessary.
@Dare2BDiferentt - Sure, PM me your phone number and I’ll give you a ring later this week. However, be warned: I am not awesome. Ok, maybe a little. Haha, not really.
@john - Will do, haha.
^.^
The one time I mentioned you in a post (the “Dear John” entry) I didn’t really expect you to see it. I was just looking for some way to kick off my Quest For The True Badge campaign…
…which has been suspended, by the way…
I don’t post nearly enough. Haha.
You take a lot of personal guff, John. You have way more patience than I have, you really do.
Testicles.
As you can see, I’ve taken on the task of trying to keep Xangans in top physical condition with my healthkicker blog.
Cool! I haven’t read an entry from you in a while.
John, I think you do a great job. And Xanga is awesome!
@sam@healthkicker - that looks like 25 pounds. can u really rep that with ease?
@john - Honestly, that sucks a lot. I do my share of bitching in general on my blog… (not about xanga) but I appreciate Xanga, and having a blog to bitch on, seriously. Those people should not get the benefit of your attention. Anyway, this is all too bad. All my best, and good luck.
and maybe destroy all humans
You probably get more bitching than you to praise, so I would like to say that I love you, and I love xanga! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I can’t imagine how annoying it’d be to have your job, in some aspects. I already get enough unsolicited IM demands to read posts that are already on my SIR list, much more of that would make me lose it. I read my subs, why send messages to tell me to read what I already do see and read? Those really annoy me.
sorry John. that stinks. I hope you had a great trip, welcome back and remember that WE LOVE YOU. forget the assholes ok?
I respect you.
Oh yeah, there are MANY awful people on Xanga. Too many to count. But you’re definitely not one of them.
John,
Being the object of someone’s attention is always a hard thing to deal with. I know that you are a very busy person.
I am sorry that people feel the need to talk to you/about you just to get your attention.
I certainly hope that you shrug it off and just go on….
Take care and thanks for just being you.
Tina
awh, I’m sorry people are being such bums, John! You’re awesome.
why the heck are people *insulting* you?! geez!
It just makes me sad that people insult you. I hope that at least the parental visitation was fun.
John – I’ve seen a couple of posts on what Xanga can do to improve. You folks have always listened and I appreciate that.
So now I want to ask you and your team: what can we do to help Xanga improve, grow and thrive? (“ask not what Xanga can do for you, but what you can do for Xanga.”)
Thanks for listening (uhm… reading).
@john - FOR GOOD REASON, TOO!
@Schristian - Word.
I think you’re great!
hi john,
i haven’t talked to you in a long time. i still think you rock.
yikes. not good…
otherwise I hope that you had a very nice trip.
@john - daaaaaamn!
As much as some of may joke about Natalia’s three hour lunch breaks or your sometimes lack of actual blogging, we’re crazy appreciative of y’all.
People were insulting you to get your attention? That’s nuts . . .
Thanks, John, for being a cool and accessible guy. Cheers!
i can’t imagine anyone who would want to insult you. that’s nasty.
i dunno if you are a sub to my site… but i am subbed to you….
and i’m rarely an ass because there are plenty of them out there already
love ya!
So I can stop with the insults?
Good post, John. I’ve never seen the logic in being insulting; I don’t understand why people feel like being disrespectful is the best way to get attention (over the age of five, that is).
I’m sorry that people have been insulting to you. That sucks.
I hope that you had an awesome visit!!
@john - I’m glad to see your sense of humor is as sharp as ever. That comment made me LOL.
i’m so sorry you were insulted. it has got to be one of the hardest job ever to deal with people who tend to forget you’re human too. =(
Insulting you in posts? Really. I guess I should keep my eyes peeled.
Oh, the internet.
I’m impressed you read all your subs.
i don’t think i could maintain the level of patience you and your colleagues do. i think even if it benefited my livelyhood to be nice, the constant complaints disguised as suggestions would wear my nerves thin. kudos to you.
you seriously married one of them? that’s romantic!
I hope you had a lovely time with your family.
I do consider you a friend.Anything I have to say to you I would send in a message out of respect to you,posting a complaint before addressing it privately is just plain rude.
wait…we got married?
it was one phone call, man.
i didn’t realize that was a ceremony!
pfff…i won’t send you links to my posts. you know? you’re a busy guy. if you stumble across it, you stumble across it. but for the most part, they’re usually pretty yawn inspiring.
…i still just canNOT believe we’re married.
YOU SUCK JOHN! j/k
.
some ppl are such attention whores, that’s all, hehe. I guess in a way, it should be flattering. You’re important enough such that people want you to pay attention to their lives!
@LuckyStars - Haha, yup. Now we need to get a divorce, so I can get some alimony goin’!
@Drakonskyr - I so agree.
I can’t fathom asking for a rec.
I hope you had family fun and that you aren’t jet lagged. I don’t envy you this job. You do it well. I salute you sir by raising a glass of a beverage of my choice!
You never married ME, you cheating bastard.
hope you had a nice time with your family.
yay attention whores
I completely agree!
people are looking for a little too much attention. you have no obligation to comment if you don’t want to, especially given the time and effort you just explained that you put into people.
kudos to your patience, my good man!
rock on, john. we haven’t talked, but you seem like a cool guy.
Did these bloggers you refer to not get enough attention as children, I wonder?
Aw. When do I win my lunch with John? I feel shunned.
On a more serious note, I totally appreciate what you do. I was shocked the one time you messaged me.
p.s. Do we get to read the “even married one of you” story any time soon?
Orly?? People are assholes!
Uhm…just enjoy your life.
Just so you know, I appreciate all the work you and the team have done.
Thought I’d just say it. (as if y’all didn’t know already).
@john - alimony? for me? aw, john. you’re so kind. :]
anyway, kid. keep up the good work and don’t let the “read-me” ho’s get you down.
Take your time John.
Well, since you have good taste, and every other “one of you” on Xanga is far less attractive than me, I’m going to assume that the “one of us” you married is me. Yes, John; I do.
Hope you guys enjoyed your trip. Welcome back.
Hi John, nice to meet you.
I have to tell you that I have been quite upset at what “some people” have been posting lately. You sound like a kind and extremely patient person, and you shouldn’t have to put up with being insulted at all. To do that in an open post is just low class, in my personal (and sometimes humble
) opinion. I think if someone has a problem with the Xanga team, they should write a private message explaining the problem and asking for help, not gnaw on the hand that feeds them til it’s a nasty mess.
There are a few of us that are getting more than a little fed up with this.
Take care, and I’m really glad to hear you took some time off (you did, right? this wasn’t a horrible business trip or anything?) to relax. You should do that more often.
John, we can’t get married — prop 8, remember?
Oh wait, you’re already married.
I hate when people ask for recommends. It’s almost rude!
i love xanga.
@john - 25 pounds I can do 10-12 reps…but that’s a 35 pound weight in the picture, and I usually just do shrugs with that.
“I’ve had lunch and/or coffee with dozens of you.”
you whore! and i felt so special….
Awww…you do a good job. People just like to complain (me too, sometimes) and get comments (which often come from sites that are full of comlaints).
I would never do that to you!…=)
i wasnt on xanga last night and have SOOO much to catch up on already…..(its only been 10 hours)
@NDM - haha, i concur! ;P ahh, the little joys in life…!
Awwwwww…..((((((HUGS))))))
You ARE very approachable. And you take us seriously, which makes this feel more like a family than just a business. I appreciate that a great deal. It’s why I stay and why this is the blog I focus on more than my others.
@MiracleMax - you were special to me baby… the others meant nothing.
dude that’s messed up
Aww life on Xanga. Never boring. Have a good rest of the week.
Ohhh.. I think I know who you’re speaking of..
If she doesn’t like it here? Why doesn’t she pack up her keyboard and GO.. and she can take all her sad little groupies, who seem to have no opinion of their own, with her..
She demands that anyone who happens across her blog, recommend it. Then she ends up on the frontpage. And then bitches about being on the front page. She’s insane.
If you have to demand that people recommend your site? That’s kind of sad.
If they tried too hard to get you to befriend, featured or sub them, then they aren’t worth your time. It is better to look out for those who blog out of their love of blogging alone and not for glory and fame.
It sucks that people dont realize that the CEO OF XANGA cant always read and respond to every little thing that they send to you. I’m sorry that you are such a nice person that you do read and respond to a great deal of messages that are sent to you. People take advantage of that and then think that you’re an ass when you’re actually just busy or trying to have some private time to yourself.
People insult you in their posts?? That’s mean!
mmm xanga love eh–eh
how often are u on here?
I thought so… we’re not friended! I sub to people but don’t often friend them. How eccentric of me.
ugh. it annoys me when ppl ask for recs.
so THIS is where the cool kids hang out. it’s a who’s-who, here.
must be nice, Mr. Xanga. it’s nice to meet you.
I think it’s funny how, after a time, xanga has become like an obligation to the world. Rest easy, it’s okay.
“I read all my subs, so odds are that I will see your post.”
Thanks I guess?
John,
I can vouch that you’re very approachable. We’ve messaged back and forth a number of times. You’ve listened to me whine about how Xanga behaves (particularly in Opera). You have accepted my suggestions and criticism without reproach. When I was in a pretty low place you even offered to look over my resume and see if I could be of some value to Xanga.
I will go further to say that you must surround yourself with the kind of people the exude these same kind of qualities. I have publicly mocked and denigrated new features when they were announced and your team responded to my scorning by discovering why I didn’t like the new feature and what could be done to make it work better.
We may disagree politically on certain issues but I believe that when cut you bleed. I want to say thank you for being the stoic person that you are and abiding my antics in my darkest hour. If I am ever in need of a job in the future, you will be the first person that I turn to for employment.
Thank you for building this community.
ProfessorTom