On 21 August 2003, AOL opened a facility called "AOL Journals". Over the following months and years, several hundreds if not thousands of AOL subscribers around the world opened a blog and started writing in it. What about? Their daily lives, their personal opinions, their creations - anything. Soon, people discovered each other's blogs and started leaving comments. It quickly developed into a community, one that was eventually called J-land. Journals-land. The majority were based in the USA, but quite a few others in the United Kingdom as well - myself among the latter. Over the following five years, the community spirit blossomed, with all its attending highs and lows. The rows, the drama - the support, the laughter. Sharing each other's highs and lows as well. And accompanying several of our community members on their final days, hopefully making them more bearable.
I joined the community proper at Easter 2006, with the death of Pamela Hilger (his1desire). I'd like to think I was among friends during the following 2½ years, and still am. It was a cruel blow when AOL closed down their journals service. I wouldn't like to dwell on that - I'd rather, with Donna, stick with the positive. Saturday 21 August 2010 would have been the 7th anniversary of J-land. On October 8th, it will be 6 years since I started blogging (as a diary). Things have changed since we moved to Blogger, Facebook, Twitter and whatever - many J-landers no longer keep a blog, or are socially active on the Internet. But here is to what we had.With thanks to Donna (and all the other tag artists) for many of the tags.
I for one am thankful for AOL as it opened up a new world for me. I enjoyed it and am still enjoying blogging on blogger too. I am thankful for those I've met along the way and love being able to journal everyday. I really no longer keep a hand written journal but do post every day. Thanks for sharing the tribute.
ReplyDeleteI joined J-Land Jan 1 2005... now I'm on blogger and facebook... Thanks to J-land for all the wonderful friends I have made... Love you all! :)
ReplyDeletethough my blog and journals ended up being a big failure in my life, i was able to get to know you and so many others that i value TODAY as forever friends. I loved the early days in J Land.....and will always hold those early memories close to my heart and i am so thankful i was able to get to know such WONDERFUL, caring people. What would we all have ever done without you, Guido? Thanks for keeping me somewhat in the loop with your FB and this blog.
ReplyDeleteLike MA, I also am grateful to AOL for opening up the blogging world to me. Without the like of your dear self I would have stopped blogging many times as you know I am not all that good at the blogging business even after ...is it nearly 5 years !! can't be I am sure, I'm still as daft as I was when we started. Thanks again for the friendship you have shown to me and many many others Guido.we
ReplyDeleteLove Sybil
Started April 14, 2005 in J-Land and still at it here. It's almost as if J-Land were high school and we all graduated and went out into the world.
ReplyDeleteThanks to AOL journals I met someone who has become a very close and special friend so J Land became rather special to me. We have both migrated to Blogger as well as Facebook but somehow neither seem as good as J Land
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary everyone. It has been wonderful meeting so many nice people and I hope the fun continues for many years to come.
ReplyDeleteI literally stumbled on journals when at AOL nd it was Jeannette that got others to call around..lol I haven't been active of late but still peek in from time to time(can't stay away:)
ReplyDeleteSeptember 2006 when I started.
Perhaps we should have a blogathon on Saturday, or has there been a graphic made so we can pass through the blogs like we used to for Hallowwen..Thanksgiving..Christmas etc
Yasmin
xx
I miss J Land too but will always be grateful for the friendships developed there and that continue via FB...
ReplyDeletejland never dies.sometimes it fades a bit.but its still there.thanks for all the help you gave me guido,and all the positive comments.tc mort
ReplyDeleteSome great times we had.. and you're right it wasn't always roses... but damn we had fun and I am so glad I've made so many friends who have stood by me thru thick and thin. ♥u
ReplyDeleteVery nice entry, Guido!
ReplyDeletethanks,Guido, you always remember so beautifully.I think those of us who started blogging in J-land are a special breed, and I'm grateful I had the opportunity to be a part of that, and grateful that so many are still around from those days:)
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