When journalspace went down back on December 18th, I didn’t think much of it. Of course, I was peeved just as I always was when we experienced downtime, but it never occurred to me until a few days had passed that it might not return at all. I’d just gotten off a late phone call with Scott and happened to load the JS page. What I found was devastating. I immediately called Scott back to tell him the news. I’m still in a bit of shock and denial that it’s just plain gone: I haven’t really felt the effects of it yet.
I used to always see the news reports of people losing their homes in a fire or those whose neighborhoods were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and I felt so sorry for them. Now all of us former JSers share the same misfortune of understanding just how absolutely gutting it is to realize that your home is just…gone.
When I started my journal at JS, it was because a real-world friend of mine was already a member there (saellys). After I’d been there a year or so (with next-to-no activity, save for the occasional comment from Simon), saellys deleted but I was too lazy to delete mine, and so it gathered dust for months at a time. I’m not sure what brought me back, really, but I came back with a vengeance. I found the true heart of journalspace: the community. It wasn’t just me and my tiny little blog and a ton of strangers who didn’t give a flying fuck what everyone else on the site was up to; it was a living, breathing village of caring individuals. I made so many friends there, some of whom I became very close to, one in particular whom I’m more in love with than I ever imagined I could be (that’s the guy I mentioned earlier, to be clear. No, not Simon).
I grew up on journalspace. I signed up around 11:30 pm on Monday, December 27th, 2004, while I was doing laundry at my parents’ house. I made my first post about 2 hours later before I left for my own home. I was 19 years old and completely green to the world. Journalspace was officially declared null-and-void on the evening of Tuesday, December 30, 2008. When I lost my “home”, I’d been through more pain, heartbreak, growth, and happiness than I could have imagined on that cold Monday evening when I began my foray into the online world. I left journalspace a struggling, but self-assured 23-year-old…a world away from the struggling, self-conscious teen I entered it as.
I’m still having a bit of a hard time dealing with the idea that journalspace is no more. I initially thought that I was waiting to begin experiencing the grief, but now I realize that I’m just beginning the stages. Right now I’m beginning to go through the acceptance aspect. Journalspace was a massive part of my life. There were times that I don’t know if I’d have gotten through without it and the support I received through that medium. There will always and forever be a special place in my heart for that silly little website and I’ll miss it dearly. I can blog anywhere, but it will never be home. I don’t see how it could be.
While I didn’t meet a person there like you did, I do know what you’re saying and I feel the same way. It really sucks. I hope that somehow I can find a place that was close to what JS was. So far, all I can do here is go to the sites of people from JS that I find.
I know I wasn’t at journalspace nearly as long as you, but I think you’re dead on about the community aspect. Hell, look how much of a dash there is to get in contact with former members. It’s like a shipwreck and everybody in on a raft yelling for other people. If anything, take comfort in knowing that change can bring real good times as well, even though you’ll never forget your first, true home.
Got any pictures of that “self-conscious teen” you were describing?
*unzips pants*
That’s two comments from me, both of which I pulled it out. It’s officially a spree now.
Never mind the pictures of the “self-conscious teen”, show us the pictures of the uber-hot mom.
Yacks: Yep, I know what you mean. I don’t think we’ll ever find a place like JS unless we JSers just take over a place.
Scottrick: True, I’ve just never been good with change that I didn’t get to choose. And you’ve already seen pictures of that self-conscious teen, so there!
P
Davey: I don’t have any more pictures of her. (How sad is that?) But you leave my momma alone, anyway!
It is sad about journalspace, but it is such a testament to the community there the way we’ve all organized and reached out to find each other again. Very cool, that.
This isn’t such a bad place, Captain – although I am flitting back and forth between this place, livespace and blogspot. Each has its drawbacks. I will stick with whichever fits my particular style as it evolved at JS.
I agree with Paul, Captain. Now that I have found many of my favorites, I’m feeling better about the crash…although, it was a bit quick and sharp. Nevertheless, I’m finding some features in my new “home” much more powerful than JS and I’m bent on taking a positive approach. In short, I’m glad I haven’t lost all of you guys forever.
Jen has it right, we are regrouping and rebuilding, you need to get over onto blogspot which is fast turning into a JS away from JS.
Thing is, that community spirit you’re talking about is still very much alive and kicking, it’s strange and it’s new and it hurts right now but we haven’t lost each other.
Now where the hell was my mention in your JS tribute huh huh? ;0)
You know I’m the main reason anybody ever went there, it’s all about ME! :O)
Nicely put mando. You’ve nailed it on the community front.
I’ve been feeling really down lately and I put it down to losing all my stuff on jspace. It sucks.
Dear Mando, I think it’ll take time but there is something sound in seeing many familiar faces like yours popping up. It’ll take a little while but I’m optimistic. xSB xx
Why does this blog seem to have dandruff?
Dry scalp?
urgh its all over my keyboard!
1/2 a teaspoon of olive oil massaged into the skin might help.
Hey Captain, while I was only a Jspacer for a bit over a year I too miss the community feel. I’m afraid we have been scattered to the winds, and while we will form little communities around key people I doubt it will ever be the same.
Seriously glum face.
Hey there Manda, good to see I’ve found you. Blogger just isn’t the same as JS (which was my home for five and a half years). I feel kind of like a lost little puppy.
I think I’m going to burst into tears.
Happy New Year…things will work out…
I think we might be able to get this community working again – i have found all but a few favourites and i think once xmas is over they will come back from hols and rebuild too. The only thing i don’t like about wordpress is how badly it organises updated blogs