Hello again, flist! I know it's weird to see me post again so soon lol, but I've just had an interesting discussion with arrowwhiskers, and it's made me curious on something that I had just assumed as fact for the entirety of my fandom life:

What does "wank" (and also, "flaming/flamewars") specifically mean to you? Can you use it to describe drama and arguments that occur offline, or is it an online-only phenomenon?

More specifically, we're wondering whether characters in a fic can "wank" (and no, I'm not talking about masturbation... perverts :P), and if the tons of bullshit found in rl politics/political campaigns and such could also qualify as "wank".

To explain my own thoughts on the matter, I'm just going to copy and paste the conversation we had:

( under a cut because lol long )

HEY FLIST!

MY DEAR FRIEND [Bad username or site: sogep title= @ livejournal.com] MADE A BANNER FOR LJ, AND IT'S UP FOR VOTE!

IF YOU COULD TAKE A SPLIT SECOND OF YOUR TIME TO VOTE FOR HER BANNER HERE IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!

THANKS GUYS :D

HAPPY BIRTHDAYlittle_ribbon!!!!

To celebrate, I made you some icons!

( icons for Lin )

I discovered an aspect of Photoshop that I was clueless about before, and the discovery inspired me to experiment - quite a bit. So I've created 21 icons. (More than that, actually, but these are the ones I'm gonna share for now lol). Since the set is completely random I'm not going to crosspost them anywhere lol. I'm posting them mainly to get feedback - to see if I'm any good or not. But if you actually want to USE them, then go ahead with credit, you know the drill lol.

[+01] Adam Lambert
[+01] Dita von Teese
[+11] Fashion Photography
[+01] Jeffrey Dean Morgan
[+01] Kris Allen
[+01] Kristen Kreuk
[+01] Leighton Meester
[+01] Leisha Haley
[+01] Lily Allen
[+01] Marié Digby
[+01] Stock

( icons made by Bri?! WTF )

I'm thinking about changing my LJ name, cause it looks kinda ugly and no one knows how to even pronounce it, anyway. But I'm having a hard time figuring out what to do. I have 3 names in mind that I'm currently toying with:

aspirated: this is a phonology term, and I am a phonology nerd. Not only that, but I like the way it sounds as a username. This might be my favorite one right now, idk.

ilusionada: this is a Spanish word that I really like - and it's actually kinda misleading, cause it's not about illusions; it means "hopeful, excited". That false friend aspect of it is why I find the word so charming. But I'm worried that it'd have to same "how the fuck would you say that?" property as my current one.

brillando: this is my twitter name, a Spanish word meaning "shining". It's cute because it has a pun on my name, Bri. But again, since it's Spanish I wonder - is it pronounceable?

...It's sad that all the things I can think of are either Spanish or language related (I also considered ejective and palatal, more phonology terms - if you like the sound of those you can vote for them in the comments too). I can't even imagine what other kinds of words I WOULD use. I am such a nerd, lol.

Since I'm not quite sure yet, I'll let you guys pitch in with your opinion :)

[Poll #1461849]

Thanks for voting, if you did! I'll figure something out in a few days, probably. Maybe. LOL

apparently ambiance and I are gonna get hitched together, but not to each other??

[01:18] jetaimerai: LEO goes best with Aries, Sagittarius, Gemini and Libra
[01:18] jetaimerai: FUCK YEAH SAGITTARIUS
[01:18] ambiance: >saggitarius
[01:18] ambiance: teehee C;
[01:18] jetaimerai: clearly this means Cook and I are destined to marry
[01:19] ambiance: lmfao i get like, the other half of his cusp sign
[01:19] ambiance: capricorn
[01:19] ambiance: but his birthday falls in saggitarius
[01:19] ambiance: sagittarius*
[01:19] jetaimerai: Archie might be Capricorn :O
[01:21] ambiance: ........ don't feel like wiki-ing it
[01:21] ambiance: ):
[01:21] jetaimerai: must I do everything?
[01:21] ambiance: yep
[01:21] ambiance: hey i looked cook's birthday up
[01:21] jetaimerai: December 28! he's a capricorn
[01:21] jetaimerai: I think this means
[01:22] jetaimerai: a Cook/Bri, Archie/Chi double wedding is in order 8D
[01:22] ambiance: DOUBLE WEDDING?
[01:22] ambiance: lmfao yes
[01:22] jetaimerai: we'd be the perfect brides since we'd both be happy to be their beards

LJ never fails to piss off its users, lol

This time around, it's about Sponsored Paid Accounts, which, to my understanding, are basically paid accounts that you don't pay for, but advertisers do. The catch is that there'll be a banner in the userinfo, a subtly-branded layout you have to use, and they get to "screen" your public journal.

Naturally, many people are pissed about it, but personally? I'm not. I got pissed at the removal of basic accounts, but for a different reason than just ads. Forcing your new users to either have ads or PAY is fucked up.

BUT, I'm actually all over this sponsored paid account idea. xD;; You mean I can have a paid account without having to actually pay for it?!?! SIGN ME UP! I mainly pay for an account for all the icons (and now the edit and expand comments feature; well I think they're only for paid accounts), so seeing a banner in just MY info and layout? Doesn't bother me.

And I actually think that subtly branding layouts is a much better idea than just ugly ads. o.O At least, when the layouts are done right. They had some example layouts and there was one I wouldn't mind using right now! Haha.

Basically I'm not too anal about actually seeing ads... because I recognize that LJ is a business. It was a pretty fail move though when they said the removal of basic accounts was because it was "too confusing" to have 3 options and then GIVE US ANOTHER OPTION. Really, LJ? >___>

But that's just what I think; what do you all think of the development?

For those of you who don't already know, there has been a strike scheduled for Friday, March 21st, 2008, during which we hope to have many members of LiveJournal provide LJ with absolutely no content for twenty-four hours. This means no posting and no commenting. If you post elsewhere and have it set up to be posted through a feed on LiveJournal, don't do it. Stay away from LiveJournal for twenty-four hours. That can't be too hard, can it? I know some of you are probably quite active on LiveJournal and will find it hard to stay away for an entire day, just as I will, but this is something that needs to be done, to show the people running LiveJournal that we're watching the changes they are making, that we're paying attention, that we're discontent, and that we want to be heard and taken in to consideration. We are not simply users who can be tossed to the side and ignored. We are the people who make up LiveJournal. Without us, without the content we create, without our words, our voices, our creativity, our participation, there would be no LiveJournal. This is a fact, and it needs to be realized and understood and then taken in to consideration when making decisions regarding the way that LiveJournal is run. The strike is only a few days away, so there isn't all too much time to prepare. While this is unfortunate, it isn't enough to keep this strike from taking place. It will take place, the second it is meant to, and it would be best to have as many people take part as possible. Please, spread the word. Spread it fast. There are only a few days to organize this. If you find that you care about LiveJournal or care about the people you interact with on LiveJournal or simply want it to remain a place where you can entertain yourself without constant censorship and money-hungry practices being thrown in without the consideration of those who use the service, act now. If you don't wish to spread the word, that is fine, but please: refrain from using LiveJournal on Friday, March 21st. Do something else for a change. It's for a good cause. (:

For background on this strike and why it is being held, please read the following posts:
http://beckyzoole.livejournal.com/394838.html
http://beckyzoole.livejournal.com/395310.html

To find out exactly when the strike begins and ends, depending on where you are located, please see this:
http://beckyzoole.livejournal.com/395125.html

What's this about?

* It's about free and ad-free LiveJournal accounts being abolished for new members, ignoring the advice from the newly-formed Advisory Board.
* It's about LJ staff trying to sneak this decision in under the radar, and when people found out, telling the users it was done 'to make the signup process less confusing'.
* It's about LJ staff failing to apologize for trying to hide the facts from view and for lying about the actual reasons for their actions.
* And finally, it's about the latest decision to hide certain user interests from the list of Most Popular Interests, some of them being fanfiction, bisexuality, sex and depression. This decision was not announced or explained in any way. Users found out for themselves.

-Taken from the journal of m03m

I think I'm rethinking my sexuality.
I've told a whole lot of my friends this, except for you, because you said so yourself to me that you'd be all bitchy and pissed off about it if it ever happened.

By the way, it's called experimenting, or in other terms, a phase. People have them. Your "personal experiences" are no excuse to lash out at them.

Whoever this is (I'm almost positive I know who this is, but I could be wrong), I'll say it point-blank: I'm so sorry. I can't deny it, I know I have said something like that at least once. And you're right, I do use my past experiences to jump to conclusions and as an excuse to lash out, and you do NOT deserve that, at all. I realize now in hindsight how heinous my attitude has been about this subject; I was a fucking bitch, and I'm really sorry for hurting you, and for anyone else that has been hurt by this attitude. There is absolutely nothing wrong with experimenting or phases and I'm appalled that I've been so close-minded about this.

So I'm sorry, and I can keep saying that again and again, but in the end I just want to know what I can do to fix this and make it up to you. Unless... you don't want to be my friend anymore, which while would make me sad, in the end I would respect your wishes.

I moved this here because I would rather not discuss this over at the anon meme, but whatever way we talk - here, there, AIM, MSN, etc. - it's all up to you.

ETA: Things have worked out between the two of us. :)

Okay! With the results of the last poll, and some personal thoughts, I've decided to go with Clarice, little_ribbon. :D Now hopefully you can get her before she's all gone! ;_;

And I'm saying this here because I'm not going to be on AIM/MSN for... awhile. xD For serious, this time. It depends on how well I manage my time, so wish me good luck, yeah? Haha. If all else fails, I'll be back on Wednesday. ♥ And no, this is NOT an LJ hiatus; like I could ever do that successfully, lol.

First, a hilarious meme stolen from xenoamorist:

Go to the Wikipedia home page and click random article. That is your band's name.
Click random article again; that is your album name.
Click random article 15 more times; those are the tracks on your album.

Ashland, California
by Behice Boran

01. Minnesota Muskies
02. Beli Potok
03. Buddy Joe Hooker
04. WAFN-FM
05. Consistory
06. Okello
07. Anteojito y Antifaz, mil intentos y un invento
08. Ranga
09. Nephilengys cruentata (this is a fucking spider! *shivers*)
10. 1981 CART World Series Season
11. Peng!
12. Gregson Centre
13. Giovanni Gentile (it took me so long to say his name right. I suck at Italian. xD)
14. Office of eDiplomacy
15. Camille Neviere (this model is so pretty :D)

That wasn't as funny as it should be. :( Ah well.

And now, for the hardest decision in my life: little_ribbon, the wonderful girl she is, is going to buy me a plushie from Build a Bear Workshop for Christmas. The only problem? I can't choose between two, and it's killing me. So, I implore you to vote, and help me make a decision. :D

[Poll #1102611]

Note: I did a much needed friends cut today. If you were cut, don't take it personally. Either you were inactive, never commented, or I just skipped over your entries. Who knows, maybe one day we'll meet again and things'll be different, but... for now, that's what I needed to do.

I had the biggest scare of my life today. @__@ My wallet fell out of my pocket when I rode to work today! My wallet... with my debit card inside. I only realized this happened AFTER I clocked in, so I couldn't try to find it until I went on lunch.

So I rode home, looking all around as I did, bracing myself for the need to cancel my debit card... only to find out that some amazing soul picked it up, saw the address on my ID card, and returned it.

Holy shit. I wanted to cry tears of joy. After a really shitty shift, finding that there IS a good person out there... my faith in humanity has been restored. Thank you, stranger. ♥

I finally did my overdue friends cut. None of my new friends were affected. If you were cut, it was because of either of these two reasons:

1) You're inactive

2) I tend to skip over your posts when I check my friends list.

If you want to be added back, then you can just ask. I didn't mean it as a personal attack; I like all of you. :)

I am really upset with a lot of things on the latest news post....

But!

This is the best thing I've read in TWO DAYS

OMG I LOVE HEROES FANDOM SO, SO MUCH. HERE, HAVE MY BABIES OR SOMETHING.

And oh dear, it's almost 4 AM. I should probably go to bed before it's light outside! Unlike yesterday, when I stayed up until 7 AM. Yeah, that wasn't very smart of me. xD

Remember my last post, which while was made for wanking, was really just for shits and giggles?

I'm not laughing anymore.

Fuck you, Livejournal.

No way am I renewing my paid account, after all this shit.

So, I'm sure you all know of the wank by now. If not, then dude, do you live under a rock?

Anyway, I'm not going to waste this entry by being all scared of it. 'Cause I'm not.

But COME ON, PEOPLE, WHERE IS THE RAAAAGE?!

I invite you all to express your anger about this shit here. Hell, feel free to rant about anything. I'm kinda in a bitchy mood ('cause that's what happens when I gossip with seer), so come on! Rant!

Let's all wank together. (LOL that sounds so wrong). And I thank mneiai for indirectly inspiring this. ♥