Getting Started on Livejournal - An Arashi Fandom Guide
WELCOME TO LIVEJOURNAL! ♥ ♥
Getting Started - LIVEJOURNAL ETIQUETTE
When you're new to livejournal, it can be tough to understand what's considered acceptable in an entry and what will cause people to ignore your posts. Livejournal has been around for so long now that it's become its own little civilization, and within the grand scheme of things there are general rules that all livejournal members expect to be followed.
Unfortunately! No one ever seems to explain these things to anyone at the start. It's certainly not in the livejournal F.A.Q.s. Speaking of which, have you read the faq page? It's a good place to have questions answered about all things technical - like how to post an entry, use html, and so on!
Once you've learned how to actually use livejournal, it's good to know the following things:
USE AN LJ CUT
Long entries require what's known as an LJ CUT. This looks kind of like a link in parenthesis, and acts like a "read more" button. LJ cuts are also expected when you have large pictures (generally anything more than 300 pixels in width or height), or more than 3 pictures in an entry. Most people will tell you (and not always politely) when they think you need to be using an LJ-cut. Try to figure it out before they do!
If and when someone asks you to use a cut or you decide to use one yourself - you'll need to do the following:
BE CAREFUL: There are two different settings for posting on livejournal. When you first create a livejournal, it will put you in the mode called VISUAL EDITOR.
TO USE A CUT IN VISUAL EDITOR MODE: highlight the body of text you want to cut and then click on the LJ-cut button (looks like a pair of scissors). If the cut doesn't work, you'll need to use HTML mode.
IN HTML MODE: Paste the following into your entry before the text:
The picture above shows where you can find the different modes. Click on HTML mode to use the method of LJ-cut shown above. (This won't allow you to click and get italics and bold like in Visual Editor mode, but there are plenty of HTML guides online you can find through LJ and/or google than can teach you how to do this with HTML).
DO NOT USE BIG, COLORFUL TEXT
No one wants to take away from your fun, and having colorful text might be your way of expressing yourself - but keep it in your personal journal, and even then try not to use colored text for an entire entry. It can be really hard on some people's eyes, or even look somewhat immature. More people will read what you have to say if you type without adding an HTML color at all.
Livejournal will automatically use whatever color your layout sets as the default. This should also be set to black, gray, or white, depending on the background you use.
Once you've spent some time searching livejournal, you'll come to understand when it's appropriate to use color and size for font in your entries. Until then, play it safe!
KEEP CHAT SPEAK/FANGIRL JAPANESE TO A MINIMUM
If you're reading this from Arashi fandom, there's a good chance you've learned a few Japanese terms. Learning a new language can be fun, but mixing it with English can be confusing. In fact, there are several livejournal users who find the use of terms like "ne", "kawaii", and "minna" an annoyance rather than endearing.
Once again, in your personal journal, using terms is entirely up to you, and might even be just another way of showing your love for the Japanese culture or the band you adore. But when writing for a community, the more proper English you use, the better you'll be received!
Chatspeak like "lol" or "omg" is more commonly accepted on livejournal, but use your best judgment. When having fun in the comments of an entry, it's more likely to be ignored or responded to than in an entry itself.
LOOK FOR THINGS YOURSELF BEFORE REQUESTING
The Arashi fandom in particular is blessed with several subbing teams, magazine translators, and raw media uploaders that post on a regular basis in the main communities, or communities that can be found by searching through interests. When people continue to ask for a subbed version of a show without looking for it either in the tags or the memories of a community, it can get on fandom's nerves. Try looking:
In the side bar of a community (this example from arashi_on).
Or click on "memories" on either the layout, or the button with the heart on a community's profile page. There's a good chance you'll find what you're looking for! As long as you've tried on your own first, people will be more willing to help you when you have trouble finding what you want.
IF SOMETHING HAS NOT BEEN SUBBED - do not ask in the main communities for something to be subbed. It's considered impolite and will get you negative feedback from livejournal users. Try looking to see if subbing teams have a request post, or just wait patiently. There is plenty offered from fandom, but not everything can be subbed, and it takes time and effort to complete what has already been done.
TRY NOT TO CROSSPOST OFTEN
Crossposting is when you post the same question, information, or fanwork to multiple communities. Most Arashi fans watch several Arashi communities on their friends list, which means they will see your post appear more than once. When there are so many entries already to go through in a day, it can be a bit daunting. Try to post to one place first, and if you aren't satisfied over time - try again somewhere else!
DO NOT REPOST SOMEONE ELSE'S WORK WITHOUT PERMISSION
This includes scans, graphics, videos, fiction, and sometimes even copying and pasting someone else's words from a news post or discussion. If you're unsure of whether something is allowed, it's best to just ask the person involved. They will appreciate you taking the time to get permission from them first - even if you are turned down, at least it will be politely, as opposed to the potential trouble you'll be in if you take without asking!
REMEMBER TO SAY THANK YOU
It can be tough at times to give a word of thanks because we all click on the download links and then go off to explore other things. But subbers, scanners, fanfic writers, graphics makers - everyone loves feedback on the things they've worked hard to share with you. You can really make someone's day!
Why can I not access some journal entries?
If you see this message:
There is a good chance that the entry you are trying to see has been locked to friends only. What do you do when this happens?
WHEN IT'S A COMMUNITY or UPLOAD-SUBS-SCANS-TRANSLATION JOURNAL
This means you either need to join the community by clicking "join" in the profile, or you need to add the journal to your friends and ask to be made a friend in return.
BEFORE YOU DO THIS: Make sure that there aren't rules explaining how to become a member first. Most communities and journals meant for sharing media have requirements you have to fill before this can happen. Usually this means commenting on a post and promising not to upload works in other places, including streaming sites and forums. Most places will tell you how to become a member either in the community profile or in a public entry.
WHEN IT'S A PERSONAL JOURNAL
This entry is simply not meant for you to see. It will only become available to you if you become friends with the poster. Some people do not mean for their journals to be associated with fandom and really use it for personal, private things only - please respect that.
It's a good idea to first check their user profile to see if they have a friending policy. Some personal journals will have a public entry with a banner that says "FRIENDS ONLY". Often you need to comment on the post to be added to their friends list. But sometimes it's not enough. You should probably speak with the person directly, they'll give you an idea of whether they're willing to be friends.
If they don't have a friending policy -
When is the right time to ask someone to be friends?
This will vary from person to person, but there is a way to properly gauge when you might be getting close. Here are some Do-s and Don't-s for requesting to be friends.
KEEP IN MIND - THESE ARE ONLY SUGGESTIONS. Not something you have to follow.
DON'T
* Add someone to your friends list and expect them to add you back without any prior communication. If they don't know who you are, they have no reason to add you in return. It's okay to be shy, but no one likes to feel watched by a stranger. Why not say hello on a livejournal post or send a PM first? Just be careful not to -
* Add someone as a friend just because you like their fanworks. Enjoying someones fanvideos, fanfiction, or even just witty personal entries is never wrong, but asking to be friends just because of it is awkward for the person sharing. If you comment with 'I love your fan posts, let's be friends!', it only tells the person you know about them. What do they know about you? Try to make conversation and introduce yourself! Once they know more about you, they may feel more inclined to friend you back!
* Harass someone with PMs. The livejournal message inbox, which looks like this, can be a great place to send private messages to someone without worrying other users will see. It's one way to introduce yourself to someone as well. But when you leave several messages without the other person responding, it will creep them out. Try to keep PMs to a minimum! Also, make sure you are able to receive PMs as well as send them. No point in sending a message if the person is unable to reply!
* (Don't) forget that this is not a forum. When you add someone as a friend, you are actually giving them access to a journal. While some journals are for fandom only and may not mind making quick friends with others (and will sometimes indicate this - then you have less to worry about), some do contain personal information that the poster won't feel comfortable sharing with just anyone. Make sure you understand the significance of what you are asking this person - not just to chat, but to be allowed to read through their personal experiences. When you add them as a friend, they'll be able to read your blog as well. If you get denied a friend request, try again with someone new. Everyone's different about what they allow, and aren't trying to harshly reject you when they don't agree to being "friends". In short - you can be friends without clicking "add friend". :D
DO
* Find a way to make conversation that isn't centered around how much you'd like to be friends first. For example, if you really like someone's fanfiction, ask them questions about it! "How did you come up with the idea to make Ohno a tap dancer?" for example, will have a better chance of getting a response than just a smiley face.
* Give a reason why you'd like to be friends. Just because someone has friends already doesn't mean they aren't shy when meeting new people. Without a reason why you'd like to be friends, they may not want to respond to you. Do you think your sense of humor is similar? Do you want to get to know them better? Let them know!
* WRITE IN YOUR OWN JOURNAL FIRST. Even if you don't have much to say, having one public entry or two for people to read and get to know you will really help with making friends. If you don't have any entries in your journal at all, people may assume you are a robot or someone untrustworthy. Even though this can be a fun place just to comment around, it is first a foremost a blog site.
GETTING INVOLVED - WHAT THE LJ COMMUNITIES HAVE TO OFFER
Just having links to communities provided to you may not be helpful in finding a place for you to fit in. Here are some good examples of Arashi communities on livejournal and what they have to offer you as a fan.
Note: I will not link to fansubs, scans, uploads, or personal icon communities. Some wish to remain private, and you may have to search a bit harder for them.
a_ra_shi - arashi_on: It's likely that you already know about these two communities, as they are the main source for Arashi information on livejournal. However, that is the only purpose they serve. Think of them as a gateway to several other communities where you can find media, graphics, and fandom fun! If you want to know about the latest Arashi news, ask a question to all of fandom, or promote your own community - these are the best places to go. BUT REMEMBER TO READ THE RULES BEFORE POSTING. Every community has them, and often on their profile page!
arashirabu - FANFICTION COMMUNITY. From general fiction, to slash fiction with pairings, most Arashi fanfiction can be found in this community. Other communities for fanfiction or pairing specific posts are: ohmiya, kotobayori, jent_fanfics, shoneenclub, sakumoto, aibajun, sei_shoku. FANFICTION SHOULD NOT BE POSTED IN MAIN COMMUNITIES. You'll probably get yelled at if you try it.
Other communities can be found in the profiles of the ones listed, by searching livejournal interests, or in the tags of the main livejournal communities.
Comments on this entry are disabled - this is only meant to be a short guide for getting started. I really don't have enough time to answer individual questions. If it's really important to you, I wouldn't mind being sent a PM. Otherwise, take the time to read through livejournal's faqs or explore on your own - often that can be rewarding. ♥
GOOD LUCK! And once again, WELCOME TO FANDOM! :D :D
Getting Started - LIVEJOURNAL ETIQUETTE
When you're new to livejournal, it can be tough to understand what's considered acceptable in an entry and what will cause people to ignore your posts. Livejournal has been around for so long now that it's become its own little civilization, and within the grand scheme of things there are general rules that all livejournal members expect to be followed.
Unfortunately! No one ever seems to explain these things to anyone at the start. It's certainly not in the livejournal F.A.Q.s. Speaking of which, have you read the faq page? It's a good place to have questions answered about all things technical - like how to post an entry, use html, and so on!
Once you've learned how to actually use livejournal, it's good to know the following things:
USE AN LJ CUT
Long entries require what's known as an LJ CUT. This looks kind of like a link in parenthesis, and acts like a "read more" button. LJ cuts are also expected when you have large pictures (generally anything more than 300 pixels in width or height), or more than 3 pictures in an entry. Most people will tell you (and not always politely) when they think you need to be using an LJ-cut. Try to figure it out before they do!
If and when someone asks you to use a cut or you decide to use one yourself - you'll need to do the following:
BE CAREFUL: There are two different settings for posting on livejournal. When you first create a livejournal, it will put you in the mode called VISUAL EDITOR.
TO USE A CUT IN VISUAL EDITOR MODE: highlight the body of text you want to cut and then click on the LJ-cut button (looks like a pair of scissors). If the cut doesn't work, you'll need to use HTML mode.
IN HTML MODE: Paste the following into your entry before the text:
The picture above shows where you can find the different modes. Click on HTML mode to use the method of LJ-cut shown above. (This won't allow you to click and get italics and bold like in Visual Editor mode, but there are plenty of HTML guides online you can find through LJ and/or google than can teach you how to do this with HTML).
DO NOT USE BIG, COLORFUL TEXT
No one wants to take away from your fun, and having colorful text might be your way of expressing yourself - but keep it in your personal journal, and even then try not to use colored text for an entire entry. It can be really hard on some people's eyes, or even look somewhat immature. More people will read what you have to say if you type without adding an HTML color at all.
Livejournal will automatically use whatever color your layout sets as the default. This should also be set to black, gray, or white, depending on the background you use.
Once you've spent some time searching livejournal, you'll come to understand when it's appropriate to use color and size for font in your entries. Until then, play it safe!
KEEP CHAT SPEAK/FANGIRL JAPANESE TO A MINIMUM
If you're reading this from Arashi fandom, there's a good chance you've learned a few Japanese terms. Learning a new language can be fun, but mixing it with English can be confusing. In fact, there are several livejournal users who find the use of terms like "ne", "kawaii", and "minna" an annoyance rather than endearing.
Once again, in your personal journal, using terms is entirely up to you, and might even be just another way of showing your love for the Japanese culture or the band you adore. But when writing for a community, the more proper English you use, the better you'll be received!
Chatspeak like "lol" or "omg" is more commonly accepted on livejournal, but use your best judgment. When having fun in the comments of an entry, it's more likely to be ignored or responded to than in an entry itself.
LOOK FOR THINGS YOURSELF BEFORE REQUESTING
The Arashi fandom in particular is blessed with several subbing teams, magazine translators, and raw media uploaders that post on a regular basis in the main communities, or communities that can be found by searching through interests. When people continue to ask for a subbed version of a show without looking for it either in the tags or the memories of a community, it can get on fandom's nerves. Try looking:
In the side bar of a community (this example from arashi_on).
Or click on "memories" on either the layout, or the button with the heart on a community's profile page. There's a good chance you'll find what you're looking for! As long as you've tried on your own first, people will be more willing to help you when you have trouble finding what you want.
IF SOMETHING HAS NOT BEEN SUBBED - do not ask in the main communities for something to be subbed. It's considered impolite and will get you negative feedback from livejournal users. Try looking to see if subbing teams have a request post, or just wait patiently. There is plenty offered from fandom, but not everything can be subbed, and it takes time and effort to complete what has already been done.
TRY NOT TO CROSSPOST OFTEN
Crossposting is when you post the same question, information, or fanwork to multiple communities. Most Arashi fans watch several Arashi communities on their friends list, which means they will see your post appear more than once. When there are so many entries already to go through in a day, it can be a bit daunting. Try to post to one place first, and if you aren't satisfied over time - try again somewhere else!
DO NOT REPOST SOMEONE ELSE'S WORK WITHOUT PERMISSION
This includes scans, graphics, videos, fiction, and sometimes even copying and pasting someone else's words from a news post or discussion. If you're unsure of whether something is allowed, it's best to just ask the person involved. They will appreciate you taking the time to get permission from them first - even if you are turned down, at least it will be politely, as opposed to the potential trouble you'll be in if you take without asking!
REMEMBER TO SAY THANK YOU
It can be tough at times to give a word of thanks because we all click on the download links and then go off to explore other things. But subbers, scanners, fanfic writers, graphics makers - everyone loves feedback on the things they've worked hard to share with you. You can really make someone's day!
Why can I not access some journal entries?
If you see this message:
There is a good chance that the entry you are trying to see has been locked to friends only. What do you do when this happens?
WHEN IT'S A COMMUNITY or UPLOAD-SUBS-SCANS-TRANSLATION JOURNAL
This means you either need to join the community by clicking "join" in the profile, or you need to add the journal to your friends and ask to be made a friend in return.
BEFORE YOU DO THIS: Make sure that there aren't rules explaining how to become a member first. Most communities and journals meant for sharing media have requirements you have to fill before this can happen. Usually this means commenting on a post and promising not to upload works in other places, including streaming sites and forums. Most places will tell you how to become a member either in the community profile or in a public entry.
WHEN IT'S A PERSONAL JOURNAL
This entry is simply not meant for you to see. It will only become available to you if you become friends with the poster. Some people do not mean for their journals to be associated with fandom and really use it for personal, private things only - please respect that.
It's a good idea to first check their user profile to see if they have a friending policy. Some personal journals will have a public entry with a banner that says "FRIENDS ONLY". Often you need to comment on the post to be added to their friends list. But sometimes it's not enough. You should probably speak with the person directly, they'll give you an idea of whether they're willing to be friends.
If they don't have a friending policy -
When is the right time to ask someone to be friends?
This will vary from person to person, but there is a way to properly gauge when you might be getting close. Here are some Do-s and Don't-s for requesting to be friends.
KEEP IN MIND - THESE ARE ONLY SUGGESTIONS. Not something you have to follow.
DON'T
* Add someone to your friends list and expect them to add you back without any prior communication. If they don't know who you are, they have no reason to add you in return. It's okay to be shy, but no one likes to feel watched by a stranger. Why not say hello on a livejournal post or send a PM first? Just be careful not to -
* Add someone as a friend just because you like their fanworks. Enjoying someones fanvideos, fanfiction, or even just witty personal entries is never wrong, but asking to be friends just because of it is awkward for the person sharing. If you comment with 'I love your fan posts, let's be friends!', it only tells the person you know about them. What do they know about you? Try to make conversation and introduce yourself! Once they know more about you, they may feel more inclined to friend you back!
* Harass someone with PMs. The livejournal message inbox, which looks like this, can be a great place to send private messages to someone without worrying other users will see. It's one way to introduce yourself to someone as well. But when you leave several messages without the other person responding, it will creep them out. Try to keep PMs to a minimum! Also, make sure you are able to receive PMs as well as send them. No point in sending a message if the person is unable to reply!
* (Don't) forget that this is not a forum. When you add someone as a friend, you are actually giving them access to a journal. While some journals are for fandom only and may not mind making quick friends with others (and will sometimes indicate this - then you have less to worry about), some do contain personal information that the poster won't feel comfortable sharing with just anyone. Make sure you understand the significance of what you are asking this person - not just to chat, but to be allowed to read through their personal experiences. When you add them as a friend, they'll be able to read your blog as well. If you get denied a friend request, try again with someone new. Everyone's different about what they allow, and aren't trying to harshly reject you when they don't agree to being "friends". In short - you can be friends without clicking "add friend". :D
DO
* Find a way to make conversation that isn't centered around how much you'd like to be friends first. For example, if you really like someone's fanfiction, ask them questions about it! "How did you come up with the idea to make Ohno a tap dancer?" for example, will have a better chance of getting a response than just a smiley face.
* Give a reason why you'd like to be friends. Just because someone has friends already doesn't mean they aren't shy when meeting new people. Without a reason why you'd like to be friends, they may not want to respond to you. Do you think your sense of humor is similar? Do you want to get to know them better? Let them know!
* WRITE IN YOUR OWN JOURNAL FIRST. Even if you don't have much to say, having one public entry or two for people to read and get to know you will really help with making friends. If you don't have any entries in your journal at all, people may assume you are a robot or someone untrustworthy. Even though this can be a fun place just to comment around, it is first a foremost a blog site.
GETTING INVOLVED - WHAT THE LJ COMMUNITIES HAVE TO OFFER
Just having links to communities provided to you may not be helpful in finding a place for you to fit in. Here are some good examples of Arashi communities on livejournal and what they have to offer you as a fan.
Note: I will not link to fansubs, scans, uploads, or personal icon communities. Some wish to remain private, and you may have to search a bit harder for them.
a_ra_shi - arashi_on: It's likely that you already know about these two communities, as they are the main source for Arashi information on livejournal. However, that is the only purpose they serve. Think of them as a gateway to several other communities where you can find media, graphics, and fandom fun! If you want to know about the latest Arashi news, ask a question to all of fandom, or promote your own community - these are the best places to go. BUT REMEMBER TO READ THE RULES BEFORE POSTING. Every community has them, and often on their profile page!
arashirabu - FANFICTION COMMUNITY. From general fiction, to slash fiction with pairings, most Arashi fanfiction can be found in this community. Other communities for fanfiction or pairing specific posts are: ohmiya, kotobayori, jent_fanfics, shoneenclub, sakumoto, aibajun, sei_shoku. FANFICTION SHOULD NOT BE POSTED IN MAIN COMMUNITIES. You'll probably get yelled at if you try it.
Other communities can be found in the profiles of the ones listed, by searching livejournal interests, or in the tags of the main livejournal communities.
Comments on this entry are disabled - this is only meant to be a short guide for getting started. I really don't have enough time to answer individual questions. If it's really important to you, I wouldn't mind being sent a PM. Otherwise, take the time to read through livejournal's faqs or explore on your own - often that can be rewarding. ♥
GOOD LUCK! And once again, WELCOME TO FANDOM! :D :D