nice to meet you

[matsushima]

Is there an interesting story behind your username? matsushima is just what I called my favorite beverage as a kid (raspberry ginger ale) and, weirdly, the title of a weird song by a Japanese alternative rock band, which I didn't know about until I was in my teens. I've had a few different usernames here; I never really settled into one like my original LiveJournal account (meepalicious).

Location and language(s): I'm currently in the D.C. suburbs. I was born and raised in New England (Vermont and Massachusetts), and I lived in Tokyo for several years. I'm planning/hoping to move back to Japan after the pandemic.

I speak English (fluently) and Japanese (conversational/so-so). I post in English.

Age range (e.g 20s, 30s, etc.): early 30s

Hot button/deal breaker issues that will likely lead to unfriending: Why don't I tell you about me? I'm a disabled genderqueer lesbian. I voted for Warren in the primary, because Castro had already dropped out by the time primaries rolled around in my state. I recently finished writing a paper called "Fan Fiction as Children's Literature (Or Not): A New Perspective on Fandom's Purity Culture Problem." I think you can safely make your assumptions from there.

Do you have an "About Me" post new friends can read to get a sense of who you are, the people you talk about regularly, etc.?: I don't, but this is a good idea.

Is your profile up-to-date or at all useful? Yes? I don't think you'll learn anything there that you won't from this survey, though.

List a few things you think it's important new friends know about you right away:

• I'm converting to Judaism.
• I left/lost my job right before the pandemic due to disability. Before that, I was an elementary school librarian for several years in Tokyo and then for a year in Boston.
• I'm a full time graduate in a MFA Writing for Children & Young Adults program.
• I have a cat named Turtle.

You mostly write about: I write about my daily life: living with my chosen family, my cat, grad school. I'll share if I got a poetry/short story sale or rejection. Sometimes I write about books I'm reading, but I keep the more in-depth analysis/reviews/critiques on my book journal most of the time. I sometimes navel gaze a little bit, but, eh, it's a diary, what do you expect? I try to keep that stuff under a cut.
If I am feeling melancholy and self-indulgent, I'm usually writing about ex-expat nostalgia, family stuff, and disability grief. 

You never or very rarely write about: I don't really "do" fandom any more, but I recently went on a really long tangent about His Dark Materials. I don't post fanfic. I sometimes post about fandom as an idea, but I don't get involved in debates or zines or big bangs.

Is your journal mostly public, locked, or a mix of public and locked? 100% of all updates are locked.

Do you use filters for certain types of posts (e.g. fandom-related posts, or posts about sex, or mental health issues, etc.)? I don't.

Your posting frequency (e.g. daily, every few days, weekly, etc.):  varies wildly, tbh. Sometimes I'll post every day, or even multiple times in a day, for a couple of weeks, and sometimes there will only be a few new posts a month. I used to be more consistent, but the pandemic lockdown has screwed with my sense of time.

Does your journal frequently include any of the following: memes, linkspams, gifs, photos, videos, etc? No, basically never. I might post a photo occasionally, but I'm more likely to link to a tweet or IG post than embed anything.

What do you enjoy most about journaling?
I've been on LJ/Dw for more than half my life; I'm 31 and I signed up for LJ when I was 13. Writing in my diary helps keep me grounded and knowing other people are reading keeps me accountable. 

How often do you read your friends list (e.g. daily, every other day, once a week, etc.)? I generally read my flist every day or multiple times a week, but I'm not great at commenting.

You really enjoy reading about: your daily life, what's on your mind, thoughts that are too complex for Twitter but not coherent enough for Medium or Substack.

You have very little interest in reading about: fandom wank. If you're running an exchange or got a delightful gift or finished your epic or read a fic you loved, I want to hear all about it! I just don't have the energy to keep up with pro-/anti- fan discourse these days.

Your thoughts on journals that regularly include any of the following: memes, linkspams, gifs, photos, videos, etc? I mean, you do you? I hope anything that's really large goes behind a cut.

When it comes to comments on your posts, what matters more -- quality or quantity? I don't expect comments. It's nice when someone leaves a comment, but it's not a big deal.

Do you unfriend people who don't comment much, even if you know they are reading you regularly? Nope.

What is your approach when it comes to commenting on other journals? I comment sometimes, when I feel like I have something to add, but I'm not a frequent commenter. I think this is why it would be good to be Twitter mutuals (transpacifique) for more casual and frequent comments.

When you friend someone, but things don't really click, do you unfriend them without warning, or do you send them a note first? How do you prefer to be unfriended in similar circumstances? It's nice to get a note. I'd rather not be ghosted or think you've died. I haven't really had to unfriend anyone in a long time, so I guess I'd send a PM?

AND LASTLY

Friending memes often ask people to list their favourite TV shows, movies, books, etc., but more often than not, those aren't things people actually write about in their journal. Do you have any favourite TV shows, movies, books, etc., that you DO often write about -- not necessarily in a fandom sort of way, just in general? Yes, lots! I frequently write about what I'm reading for school, either here or in my book journal. I read a lot of children's literature (both personally and professionally). Lately I'm getting back into His Dark Materials, but not in a fannish way. 

Any final thoughts you'd like to share with potential new friends? The other thing I write about fairly often is crochet.

Comments

[the_siobhan]

You sound like an interesting person! I hope you don't mind if I add you to my circle.

You had me at "genderqueer lesbian"

[ng_moonmoth]

Also genderqueer; nonbinary and omnidemisexual. Adding you now.

[frenzy]

Oh man, so im also genderqueer, and im also pumped about reading the second book of Dust. I think we'd have a bunch in common, so I am adding you!

[bladespark]

'"Fan Fiction as Children's Literature (Or Not): A New Perspective on Fandom's Purity Culture Problem." I think you can safely make your assumptions from there.'

I suspect I can assume we'd get along pretty well! Feel free to drop over, say hi, and add me. I might follow you on twitter too, always fun to have new twitter friends.

[ranawinter]

Adding you if thats ok!

[miscellanium]

i know this post is a couple years old, but i hope you don't mind if i add you. that paper title sounds pretty great and i love seeing what other writers are doing.