Ok, I am posting about drag queens again but this time it's more because I need help from my f-list

[stormkeeper_lovedoris]

I get that LJ isn't really considered where it's at or that popular anymore. But where the heck does one go when they get into a fandom and actually want to communicate with other fans??

I've tried several things...

Got a Twitter account since RuPaul made a #sharonandalaska4ever hashtag. It's cool seeing what others post there and I had a nice exchange with another fan, but it's all so brief there. (I know. That's the point of Twitter!)

On FB, I read and comment on posts, I 'like' other people's comments, and I even messaged two of the others who seem to be the most die-hard fans. But I've had no real interactions there.

There are several Tumblr pages (some geared towards Sharon, some towards Alaska, some to both), but Tumblr has always been a mystery to me. My skill has always been words, not images. I can't even make a basic icon for LJ, so posting and interacting on Tumblr has totally escaped me.

I like all of these forums, and I know I'll sound like an old fart when I say that I miss how it used to be in fandoms. I remember getting into the Misfits (in 2004!), finding denisia on here, and loving talking about our fandom via email. Or getting into Firefly and finding some active LJ comms - and getting that interaction with other fans (including some people I'm still friends with) via posting and commenting.

Where do you go if you want to have a dialog with other fans?? Am I missing something? Should I just do what I did for Azazel/Riptide in 2011 and create an LJ fan page? Back then I'd feared that only like 10 people would join but we got to over 130. Should I just try it and see how it goes, even if LJ isn't cool anymore?

I think I really need to pay some 18 year old to sit down with me and teach me Tumblr and how to make visual stuff, maybe give me some Twitter pointers too....

Comments

[denisia.livejournal.com]

I can give you an invite code for dreamwidth, if you want. I have a bunch so you could always start a comm there too and see what happens. There is a promo community where you can advertise new comms and a lot of them are fandon related.

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the offer! I realized that I am angsting about starting any comm for Sharon/Alaska on either website because they are real people. When I did the Azazel/Riptide one, I knew that they were fictional characters so I didn't worry if only 10 people signed up. Maybe it's weird, but because my queens actually exist (and seem to be online a lot), I am hesitating to do this.

But thank you for the offer. :)

[denisia.livejournal.com]

Sure - that makes sense. Know the invite to Dreamwidth is always extended (I still hold futile hopes that my f-list will all decamp to Dreamwidth so I won't have to keep cross posting to LJ and can finally delete it, LOL).

What about a general Drag Race community? I'm sure talking about the show would be less awkward than zeroing in on two participants, and there are certainly lots of comms and message boards for that.

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

There is a fairly active Drag Race comm on LJ, so that's cool. I just want to interact more with those fans who are specifically into my OTP. I'll keep searching for ways....maybe i just need to get used to Twitter!

[denisia.livejournal.com]

*shudder* Twitter is all short attention spans but I've seen people have back and forth conversations on it - so maybe.

Oh, just thought of something!! Is there any message board/list/Facebook page of the people going on the cruise? Or even those who are affiliating with Alaska on the cruise? There you go, obviously, lots of fans of that OTP are there, I am sure!

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

I make you shudder? --- accck!!

Yes, FB is good. People post there on Alaska's page. I comment and Like and stuff. But there's no dialog like you and I had back in our Misfits days.

[denisia.livejournal.com]

LOL, no, not you - Twitter makes me shudder. It's just so inane, trying to read someone's Twitter feed is like seeing half of an old IM conversation or something. IMHO Twitter's really awful unless it's updating breaking news and it makes good conversation even harder, because people get so used to communicating in tiny snips.

It does seem as though there's been a change in the way fandom works online in a lot of places, and that message boards and fan communities are dying breeds in some places. It's too bad, really, because there's good conversation to be had.

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

Yes - amen on everything!!