Relationships

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

There are always going to be people who don't like each other. It doesn't matter how big or small the group or where you happen to be - heck, people don't even have to actively *do* anything in order for folks to take a dislike to one another.

I understand that - I think on one level or another, we all do.

The point is that we behave as close to being adults as we can manage*g* and move on to the things we *do* like.

That said - I'm throwing the question out there. . . especially considering how close to the end of this season we are. . . you've been here for *7 months* interacting and getting to know these folks, who are the people that you are going to walk away from this experience being HAPPY that you had the chance to meet???

I know my personal list is rather long. How about yours?

Comments

[kathrynrose.livejournal.com]

Lots of folks.

I hate naming names, because if I don't name someone ... etc.

::group hug::

[worldofcharlie.livejournal.com]

*haven't met anyone from Idol in RL yet*..

Well, it's a bit more complicated with me - being I'm a multiple - being online is really my only link to the outside world. I really don't get to interact with others in public (there's one RL friend of Carrie's that I've met RL).

But when drama becomes really counterproductive, it's best to bloody disengage...that's just my opinion.

[desert-rose.livejournal.com]

With my friends in the U.S etc, I consider talking on the phone to be real life. so say I have taken our friendship from online to rl!

[bretzysdude.livejournal.com]

Even though I just started getting into the green room this season, I plan to be a contestant for next season, and I'll feel blessed to know a bunch of you.

Then again, maybe I would just feel better reading entries than writing entries... lot less pressure to deal with, right?

[worldofcharlie.livejournal.com]

*heh heh*...

Not sure if either myself or Carrie will join next season...time management issues

[masterofmusings.livejournal.com]

I'm not going to name names. You can never name names in a situation such as this without missing someone who should not be missed.

The LJ Idol experience for me has had its ups and downs. While the downs were, for me, rather significant, the ups were even more so. Not the least of the benefits I got out of this was the making of some terrific new friends. These are people who either added me as friends, or took the time to write honestly about my writing, or, more often than not, both. It was humbling being told by a complete stranger that my writing has some merit. It was rewarding to have people take the time to point out weaknesses or areas of potential improvement in my writing. It was constructive to have people pointing out when I missed the mark. And it was fun and often helpful to go back and forth with people with whom I disagreed. Often, even where there is disagreement, there is still gain if both sides arewilling to at least listen to, and acknowledge, the other side, even though agreement may not be possible.

These are real people, not just numbers, not just names, but people with voices, with personalities, with lives.

Also in my list of positives are the people who made my thought processes come to a screeching halt. There were a few entries in LJ idol which did that to me in epic proportions. These people wrote pieces which really made me think, which really increased a hundredfold my admiration toward these people, and which afirmed my view that there must be some good in humanity.

I could name names, but I won't.It just wouldn't be fair. Except for one name, kittytech. I learned a lot by competing against her. Some of those lessons may have been difficult, but on the whole, the lessons she taught me helped me to become a better person, and hopefuly, a better, less-unworthy, boyfriend to her. Thanks, Caroline, for all that you've taught me, both in LJ Idol and outside of it.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

"Often, even where there is disagreement, there is still gain if both sides arewilling to at least listen to, and acknowledge, the other side, even though agreement may not be possible.

These are real people, not just numbers, not just names, but people with voices, with personalities, with lives."

Both of these being *extremely* good points that I think often get lost along the way.

[angstzeit.livejournal.com]

I'm happy that I had a chance to meet pretty much everyone here. I think the way I react to every person is telling about myself. Often the people I have a bad reaction to are more instructive--it usually shows things I'm less willing to face in myself.

I hope the people who made a big impact on me during the contest know who they are. I've met some fine, interesting folks. I know I've been rather quiet in recent months (with a notable recent exception :P ), but I've been reading all along.

[worldofcharlie.livejournal.com]

*nods* and claps

[ewok-626.livejournal.com]

Wow... so many to name!

Lady Oz, Sircaliban, Spydielives, Gnomeangel, Chite, WorldofCharlie, and so many more!

*passes around homemade cookies and cherry crisp with ice cream*

[worldofcharlie.livejournal.com]

*tips hat and bows*

Thanks for the lovely mention..

I didn't mention that I have met many wonderful folks from Idol that I wouldn't have met otherwise...

[baxaphobia.livejournal.com]

I won't name names because there are too many to mention. I've said many times that Idol has helped me to broaden my friends' list which was something I was looking for. Some relationships worked out, some didn't. That is the nature of life both here and in RL. I'm leaning toward not entering next season but that remains to be seen. I will spend the summer having a good time. seeing old friends and meeting new ones, some of whom I've met in therealljidol.

[libra-dragon.livejournal.com]

Pretty much everyone I have encountered while playing this season. I got to read some really good entries and met some really talent folks who inturn were just really good and nice people.

I am glad I decided to take the leap this season and try this puppy out. I feel blessed to have played, interacted and made friends who some amazing people.

[eqfe.livejournal.com]

you still have the coolest icons.

[kithan.livejournal.com]

Gary would probably tell you that I hate you all. But that is not true. Mostly. ;-)

I think everyone's brought something different to this community and it has definitely been a learning experience.

I'm not sure if I prefer spectator, contestant or tech support, actually.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

That's true - you've been in all three capacities!!!

(and you do hates them all!!! But then you just enjoy going around hating people!*g*)

[johnmill79.livejournal.com]

I've heard tell I've been missed around these parts? Well of course I've been reading, but just not responding as much.

Hmmm, who am I glad to have met here. Well I already knew imafarmgirl, in fact I think she followed me into the contest. Her friend baxaphobia is also cool.

Many of the others I've added to my list I like as well: spydielives, tdarling, and the wonderful assistant kithan. That's to say nothing of the folks who apparently enjoyed my writing so much as the show went on that they decided to add me to their lists as well. I especially had the pleasure of meeting other blind folks this way.

It was, overall, a wonderful experience. I congratulate those of you in the top 4, and I'm still here pulling for you!

EDIT: Oh, but how can I forget desert_rose71! Yeah, I love all of ya!

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

"wonderful assistant kithan" - there's more than one kithan?*G*

[eqfe.livejournal.com]

Its been a great pleasure and honor to stalk the fringes of this contest for so many months. I made more friends and less enemies than I usually do in this length of time in real life, which probably means that this is more accepting group than most. I won't list the friends I made, because we all know that I'll mispell them.
I guess I owe Francesca a warm thankyou for introducing me to y'all.

Well, I never knew when to shut my mouth anyway.

[spydielives.livejournal.com]

I started watching in Season Two (sooo long ago). There were some neat people here who caught my attention, but I was nervous about adding people and tended to wait to be added first.

I played Season Three on a lark and met some amazingly fabulous people [*waves*] when I discovered that half the fun of LJI is the Green Room. Believe it or not, I was incredibly shy at first, but some of the regulars soon pulled me in.

I joined Season Four for a number of reasons, the biggest of which was to repeat the best parts of S3 - finding some fantastic writers to read on a regular basis and get to know some great people. Oh, and perhaps improve my relationships with myself and others along the way.

Contrary to popular opinion, there isn't anyone in this game that I truly dislike. Really. Actions and words -- absolutely. There are times when I think this person or that lets themselves down, sells other people short, or somehow sets my hackles up. For all that I try hard not to judge people, lately I have struggled with judging their interactions or guessing intentions. I really, REALLY need to stop that.

But, Gary asked for the list of people I am happy to have met through LJI(S4). I really do want to list some of you by name that I feel a special connection to, and if I forget anyone it isn't intentional (it really isn't - you know I have swiss cheese for brains).

chite, xo_kizzy_xo, kittenboo, ewok_626, sircaliban, worldofcharlie, desert_rose71, mme_furiosa, puppetmaker40, baxaphobia, gypsy_moon, and well... here. (http://www.livejournal.com/tools/friendlist.bml?user=therealljidol)

(from previous seasons: especially popfiend, gnomeangel, kithan, tryslora, welfy and imafarmgirl, plus so many others)

Re: Well, I never knew when to shut my mouth anyway.

[kittenboo.livejournal.com]

that's really sweet, thank you. I am absolutely glad to have met you as well :)

[tru2myart.livejournal.com]

Well this will be one thread where I'm not taking the high road, I'm naming names. 1:) Because I'm enraged and it's better to vent positive than rage negative and 2:) because I want those people who I've come to care about here to know it.

Now I'm just going to go with those I've met this season for now. I may do another one for those I met in seasons past in my own journal.

Let's start with:

tulip_in_yellow, I just adore this girl. We are finally, finally, FINALLY starting to bond and I'm really looking forward to getting to know her better. I can see her becoming a part of my inner circle.

imafarmgirl and baxaphobia, I'm putting the two of them together because I met them both at the same time and because I feel that they're sisters. I feel like I'm gradually being welcomed into their fold and I'm really grateful. I can definitely see the two of them becoming family. Gary told me that I reminded him a lot of imafarmgirl last season and as I get to know her I can see why. I enjoy the two of them immensely.

n_decisive, this is another woman who I can see becoming family. She and I have had very similar experiences in life and I can imagine the two of us supporting each other and being there for one another no matter what comes. She's a wonderful lady and I like her very much. And...I owe her an email *makes a note*.

rm, I really like rm, I really and truly do. She's honest, she's open, she's a damn fine writer and she's one hell of a woman. She's strong, she's capable and I have a great deal of respect for her.

chite, is a recent addition to my friends list but one that I am very glad to have. Her writing is amazing, she never ceased to impress me all season. As I read her journal and get to know her on a personal level I'm finding that the person behind the Idol is equally amazing and I'm looking forward to reading more.

mme_furiosa, another recent addition to my friends list and one that I'm very glad to have. I was so sad to see her go from Idol and so very glad when she gave me the opportunity to get to know her on a personal level. Like chite I'm finding that the woman behind the writer is amazing and I can't wait to find out more. AND she has a cat that looks just like my Tippy!

fidgety, this is a very deep woman and one that I have a LOT of respect for. I've been through hell and back in my lifetime yet her entries make me realize that I've been through nothing in comparison. And it's not that she does that on purpose! It's just that such is the nature of her life, her strength, her determination. She moves me, that's the best way to put it, she really moves me.

ewok_626, who doesn't love the Wok right? She's adorable and funny and I just wish she'd post more so I could get to know her even better. Or email me or something girl!!

jennielynn1127, Jennie is an absolute sweetie and I'm enjoying getting to know her. I'm not sure how old she is but whenever she posts I always "feel" little sister if that makes sense. She probably doesn't know this but I send her positive energy a lot. I don't know why, I just always feel like I want to protect her. She's probably going to kill me for saying that because she's a very strong person but like I said, little sister. :smiles: I love her Tweets updates and I read her a lot more often than I bet she thinks...I need to comment to her more.

xo_kizzy_xo. She and I have JUST friended each other so we're just getting started but from what I can see so far I'm really going to love her. I admired her writing in Idol and I can't wait to see what comes next.

There are a lot of people here not on my friends list whose writings I enjoy but I'll save that for another entry. I'll just add that, for the MOST part, I enjoyed everyone this season and I hope you'll be back next season.

[baxaphobia.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for your kind words. It's funny how sometimes, even over the net, you feel that connection. It happened strongly with a couple of people and with some people it took time for me to let them into my life. Some intimidated me with their words and their presence in Idol. It amazes me when someone almost feels like family when there has been no physical meeting. It's an amazing feeling.

[tulip-in-yellow.livejournal.com]

Because they make me laugh, think, cry, grow, and learn. Because they're great at being an asshole. Because they write like a dream and I love to read it. Because they chime in and say the funniest things. Because they give the gift of friendship beyond what I would've imagined from a contest of this sort. And because I just generally think they rock for my own sentimental reasons:

kathrynrose
baxaphobia
tru2myart
imafarmgirl
angstzeit
creature_girl08
xo_kizzy_xo
desert_rose71
dabhug
shay_writes
eqfe
browneyedgirl65
And Gary, even if I get shit for it, he still rocks.


I've met a few handfuls of other great people, but those in the list, I've bonded with the most I think. And if I haven't bonded with them much yet, it's only because we're new to one another but I'm definitely curious :)

[eqfe.livejournal.com]

damn damn damn I hate you. I was just outside doing my gardening and thinking to myself, moron (I usually call myself moron) That little turd tulip is going to name names as will others and your going to feel like a idiot. Get you ass inside now and fix it.

[marjory.livejournal.com]

I'm gonna start crying, but I have met some great ppl via this competition, even if I'm never around long enough in the actual competition to be nice and grinny at you all!

Season 5, plz!

[iballs2entrails.livejournal.com]

Basically I'm happy to have had the chance to meet everyone I added to my friends list.

[kittenboo.livejournal.com]

There are many people I am glad to have met. People I have become friends with, people I look forward to talking to, people I look forward to reading what they write. But also so many others who I never really made a personal connection with, but who wrote something that stuck with me, or made me see things a little differently, or helped me when I really needed it, or left me a comment that made me feel really good.

And I am grateful for all of those people

[shay-writes.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[imafarmgirl.livejournal.com]

I started to make a list, but it was getting to long to fit in a comment.


I kept waiting for the topic that was done last season where people got to write why others should win and why they liked them. I wanted to write that.

I've friended loads of people as a result of therealljidol not just because I wanted them to vote for me and would then unfriend them, but because they were awesome people with such varied views on life, and so much life experience. They were from all different directions and each has contributed something to my life, and to this community.

There are a few whose paths I wish not to cross again, but it is often this way in life. While drama has often been a common thread, I think it has brought some of us closer together, and it has brought out the truth in all of us.

I appreciated most the people who wrote from their hearts, shared of themselves, and tried to keep a positive attitude.

Most of all I want to thank clauderainsrm and our pepsi drinking cheetoh crunching tech support for putting in all their efforts to make this community possible. As much as I hear people bitch about them, I think we need to realize how much work goes into this.

Best to all of you, spectators included, and good luck to the final four, please don't die at your keyboards.

[welfy.livejournal.com]

I'm happy to know srs_bidness.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

that's only because he's puts out.*g*

[unsold-capacity.livejournal.com]

Many that I respect and admire, several I miss/will miss reading, a few that I really like, a few more that I will keep on my friends list. Truthfully not that many overall -- my standards for interpersonal bonding, for ill or not, are strange and have become narrower as I grow older; I do not adjust easily from acquaintance to friend.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

"my standards for interpersonal bonding, for ill or not, are strange and have become narrower as I grow older"

Imagine how strange they will be when you're 21!*G*

(seriously though, I can understand that. Making that transition is often a weird process. Personally that gap between acquaintance and friend is about the same gap as "online friend" and "friend". Some people can manage to get there, but most don't. It doesn't mean that I don't like them, just that we don't really talk off line.

[eqfe.livejournal.com]

I edited this to fix the typos, get the links right etc. It seems I was embarassing my friends. There' something I don't do often right mme_furiosa
So now that I've had a chance to think about it, lets name names.

There's kathrynrose a woman I interact with as much on gardening communities as here.

imafarmgirl my friend and teacher. I learn something each day from her posts.

baxaphobia who never ceases to make me laugh as we comiserate about the older generation. And I know some of you don't believe that there is a generation older than us.

wrydwriter the nicest, most helpful, least weird woman I know.

fidgety I only understand about half of what you write, I don't know the musical groups or authors you allude to, but your soul is vibrant and beautiful.

ankita_1 Someone who "gets" me better than so many of my RL friends.


gonadsandstrife who never ceases to make me laugh or go Huh?

n_decisive who waited months to reveal that she knew what my silly ass name (EqFe) meant.

monkeysugarmama or as she's known in my house the tang lady, Funny how much we have in common sometimes given how little we interact.

rightnow whose sarcastic wit never ceases to make me smile.

Last and least tulip_in_yellow the poet I've come to love (not that way spanglo) and who I wish lived down the block. As we close in on water balloon season it would be fun to have a kindred spirit down the block. Not to mention, she could teach my son how to play those damn drums properly.

[kathrynrose.livejournal.com]

::hug::

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

Oh good lord, you expect me to name names?!?!? I can't!

In all my years online, this is the first time I'm so happy and proud to declare many people friends via this contest. I probably would've met any of them otherwise.

They've given me a lot of stuff to ponder.
They've made me laugh.
I've cried along with them.
Their talent still astounds me.

Most of all, the amount of support they've offered when my mother passed still brings tears to my eyes. More support than I'd ever imagined, and I'll be frank here, it's more support than I've received IRL.

What else can I say? I love you guys!

***GROUP HUGS***

[spydielives.livejournal.com]

*hugs back*

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Gosh I can't really say. I have made a lot of new friends here but a lot of people on my friends list were there before I joined for this season. I lurked last season. *grin*

I agree with Kizzy

*GROUP HUGS* (I almost wrote GROPE but caught myself. I need some more sleep *grin*)

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

You would probably get a few takers for that grope hug too.*g*

[chite.livejournal.com]

Oh gosh. I started to respond. And then I realized that I will be writing all night, and if I am going to write all night it had better be on one of my four entries.

I hope to get back to this, but if I don't, know this: I have developed real and true friendships with some of this season's contestants. I have LJ-friended more people than I ever thought possible. I cannot wait to meet more of you in person in the coming months--some trips have been planned and other kidnappings are in the works!

Like I said, I will try to make it back here. For now, I'm going to write one or two entries and think on a third :)

[creature-girl08.livejournal.com]

I was off getting my third guide dog as season 4 was starting. imafarmgirl was posting her entries and I loved them of course because she was already a friend.
It was through her writing that I got to know her so much better.

The first community vote only I decided I really needed to join this community. Then I discovered the green rooms and felt so shy and stuff that I didn't feel like I belonged at all because the people who were chatting were all contestents. I finally wrote Gary and asked if I could even post since all I was at the time was a lerker.

Yes, I was that insecure. LOL!

Through all this I was reading stuff from people that I could so relate to. And now a few of them are friends.

I rediscovered that I knew baxaphobia from before LJ. It was great adding her as a friend.

I kept being interested in a short list of people and now I am glad I got over being too shy and asked to friend
spydielives, porcelain72,
desert_rose71, and the ever wonderful tulip_in_yellow.

There are actually a few more people I would like to add to my friends list simply because I have come to like their writing even more as I read their stuff and when they comment I can relate or something. So hopefully when I get around to doing this they will say yes.

I feel really proud by the way for not messing up the spelling of anyones names. LOL!

Ok. I've gone on much more then is normal for me. LOL!

[spydielives.livejournal.com]

I am looking forward to meeting you in July. (And today, that says a great deal)