Returned from the beyond or something

[orangerful]

Wow - prior to my last post/link to my website, the last time I had posted to Dreamwidth was May 2021? I can't believe it. I used to live here.

I definitely got caught up in the other social media out there. It's hard to deny the quick photo posts and tiktok videos make for easy engagement, especially when you find a niche group - mine was board game nerds. It's such a small, tight knit group on those sites that it was easy to slip in and become part of the conversation. And, of course, Discord and the real time chat. Twitter was fun...now it's just a hot mess that I peek in on.

And I have been spending a lot of time either playing board games online or on the table. I have a premium account on Board Game Arena and I average about 100 games a month, playing them asynchronously and in real time (I'm playing a real-time game of Castles of Burgundy right now, typing in between turns).

But why did I leave? I think I know why which was...guilt. I was having a hard time keeping up with posts on here. My job has become more time consuming - I was a branch manager at a small library in May 2021 and about two months later, I became the branch manager of the big library I used to work in before that promotion in 2019. And my inbox kept filling up with all of your entries and I could not find the time to read them and then I felt posting knowing that I had not read your entries, but here I was posting my own, asking you to read and respond even though I had not made that time for you.

Anyway, am I back? Maybe? I'm going to make an effort to at least post links here to my other sites and posts. But apologies in advance if I go quiet again. If you're wondering what game I'm playing or book I'm reading, I'm orangerful all over the internet haha. I'm even having fun on TikTok!

I hope you are all well and that 2023 is off to a decent start! I feel like January was a false start so let's just move forward into February!

Comments

[hamsterwoman]

It was good to see a post from you, and good to hear what you've been up to! :)

[sidleypkhermit]

Congrats on the career advancement! It's nice to hear from you again.

[silverusagi]

Good to see you again!

I say post even if you don't have time to read! I just like seeing what people are up to.

[rogueslayer452]

Hello there! :D Welcome back.

And hey, you don't have to apologize for not being around especially when real life stresses are a major factor. Life happens, and shit can get overwhelming, even more so when it comes to keeping up with things online. It's understandable the need for a break, even an unintentional one, and it's fine to find something else online that is an alternative distraction.

I recently made the transfer from LJ to here last year, so I'm on DW permanently, trying to reconnect with people on have been on here the entire time from LJ and making newer friends along the way.

I'm hoping to hear more from you in the near future, and if you do disappear shortly due to whatever (busy, overwhelmed, etc), that's totally okay. We'll still be here. :)

[colls]

I'm glad to hear you are having time for what sounds like such a fun hobby! In the midst of increased work, that is. And congrats on the promotion and the move to a larger library.
I'm sorry to feel you felt guilty. I don't get post notices in my inbox, but imagine that would nag at me if I did. I see a lot of DW users fade in and out and I don't think anyone thinks anything of it other than... you know... life gets busy sometimes. *shrugs

I do see you on WP sometimes, which I'm HORRID at keeping up with that side project of mine. Talk about feeling guilty! LOL

[desdemonaspace]

Welcome back! If you decide to stay, I'll happily read you. I hear what you're saying about Twitter. (I deleted mine.)

Sounds like your work is going well. You're the third librarian I know. My hat's off to librarians.

[geeklover80]

Congrats on the promotion!

Stacey

[yourlibrarian]

I know what you mean re: feeling the obligation. I think it's more acute on DW because it's a smaller circle of people and the comment culture makes things more personal than on other large sites.

But as said above, people's presence does wax and wane depending on what else is going on in their lives. I've seen people who were around for a decade suddenly disappear and there's no telling if they'll ever come back, whereas some people have dropped in and out all along. There's no wrong way to do things.

[jerusha]

I'm glad you're doing well!

[domluver]

Welcome back! No need to worry about keeping up, life happens don't let it overwhelm you!

Glad things are going so well with you :)

[matsushima]

Welcome back! I don't think there's any shame in posting if/when you haven't had time to read and respond to everyone else's posts. This is your space, first.

[facethestrange]

I think the most important thing is to do what feels right for you, and which site it is on or what exactly you do or don't do on it is secondary. :)

I hadn't been on DW for a decade (with maybe 4 tries to come back every few years, which never stuck), but I wasn't anywhere else on social media during that time either, because every time I tried I found it too fast, too overwhelming, and impossible to connect with anyone. Now I've been back on DW since the beginning of the year, we'll see if it sticks this time (I kinda hope so because it's still the only place I've actually talked to people on the internet after one-fandom forums stopped being a thing in the mid-2000s.) I find it really awesome that you found a board games community on social media to be a part of and have conversations with! :)

[a_phoenixdragon]

I have totally been there. And yeah, other SM is easier to engage in without having to...invest? And if posts pile up, you do feel rather guilty not being caught up and it just keeps you away. That being said...welcome back for however long you are here! We did truly miss you. :D

*Big Hugs!*

BTW...congrats on the promotions. :D

[dancingdragon3]

Hi, I'm so glad you see you and hear what you've been up to! Congrats on the job! I am so jealous of all the gaming you're doing.

I'm newly back after almost a year, and I completely hear you on your anxieties of not commenting on posts. I swear, it used to make me feel so guilty. I was paranoid everyone would unfriend me if I didn't keep up with them.

But I'm just glad to know you're out there. I'd love to see your posts even if you don't have time to comment on mine. I just miss the LJ family, ya know? Hope you have a nice week :-)