Important Announcement

[twigged.livejournal.com]

After 10 years and nearly 25,000 recs, it is with mixed feelings that I announce crack_van's permanent closure in January 2014.

I know that this community has different meaning and purpose for many of our members, but I have always tried to stay true to its original purpose, of providing an easy introduction to new fandoms. This has become increasingly challenging with the migration of fandom to other platforms: many of the largest and most active new fandoms have limited visibility on LJ, and a good number of even our longest running fandoms have empty or near empty sign up sheets month after month.

This has not been an easy decision; over the past couple of years I've considered revamping the community in various ways, moving to another platform, etc., but ultimately I think any such change would only result in more fragmentation.

I want to thank everyone who has participated in any way over the past decade, especially those who have recced again and again, and pimped this community to others in their fandoms. There are too many of you to try to name individually, but your dedication has not gone unnoticed by anyone who frequents this community.

I would also like to thank my co-mods, past and present, stopawhile and arsenicjade. I could not have asked for better partners and friends.

Comments

[entrenous88.livejournal.com]

Oh my gosh, truly the end of an era! Thank you to the mods especially, and to all the reccers and writers of fandom overviews, for your work in making this community so special. I'm sure I'll continue to check here for recs in the future (check *back* for past recs that I'm sure will still guide me to good things, I mean).

[freaky-nea.livejournal.com]

So sad to hear this. This community was my #1 source whenever I fell for new fandoms. Thanks for all the awesome recs! </3

[crimsonkitty88.livejournal.com]

So sad but also so so grateful for all you've done. Thank you, crack_van

[tehomet.livejournal.com]

Thank you to all who worked so hard over the years to rec so much awesome to so many.

[laceymcbain.livejournal.com]

Sad news, but you've all done a great job over the years. Crack_van has always been one of my go-to places for learning about new fandoms and getting recs for fandoms I like. I've been happy to be a reccer, and over-joyed when someone thought my writing was good enough to be recced here. Thank you for creating this, nurturing it, and letting its legacy stand.

[(Anonymous)]

First of all a big thank you to you and your co-mods for really great 10 years.
Through all these years crack-van has been and still is my favourite livejournal community.
It was a great source for getting an introduction to unknown fandoms, getting to know new authors and finding more good stories.
Thanks to all of you people who recced I spent hours and hours reading and had a really great time.
I am glad that the archive of our community will not be deleted but I am really sad that it won't be continued.

wicky

[anactoria.livejournal.com]

I'll be sad to see this place go. Not just for the recs, but for the opportunities it gave to share the fannish love. Thanks for everything, crack_van. ♥

[polly-b.livejournal.com]

Thank you for being a wonderful resource, and thank you for providing me with the very great thrill of having had a fic or two recced here. Getting a rec on Crack Van always felt to me like ...a warm hug and a pat on the back and a "hey, you did good!" Truly, this site is irreplaceable. Thank you, most sincerely.

[songfire3.livejournal.com]

This is sad news!

But I'm grateful for your dedication and passion - you've created a wonderful community, and I thank you for that!

I will miss my go-to place for well written fic for many fandoms...

[hyperfocused.livejournal.com]

I just tonight learned that Crack_Van was closing/had closed, and came here to read the news and farewell letters. I held it (mostly) together until I saw your icon. I've been bawling ever since.

[mizface.livejournal.com]

Thank you so very much for all the work over the past 10 years. I've found some amazing fic and authors and vids and fandoms I never would have otherwise.

[ceria-taliesin.livejournal.com]

Thank you for everything over the years. I've found a lot of wonderful stories thru this community.

[btvshond.livejournal.com]

Thank you for all your dedication. It has been a wonderful run.

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

Thank you for all your hard work, and all the joy you have brought to fandom! Crack Van was a constant source of positive energy for fandom and getting recc'd was always good for a smile. We will miss the comm!

[ahavah]

Oh no! I only just recently discovered this great comm. I'm so sad.

[marici.livejournal.com]

Thank you for an amazing resource. This was a fandom jewel.

[esteefee]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for so many years of excellence and hard work. <3 <3 <3 You guys are the bee's knees.

[pattrose.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your fantastic service through the years. I've found so many stories here and will continue to go back off and on. Your hard work didn't go unnoticed. (((((HUGS)))))

[konzatsu.livejournal.com]

ten years and this is still the first place i go for fic when i find a new fandom, or when i randomly feel the urge to read fic from an old fandom, even if i have to go use the wayback machine to find the fic itself. many many many thanks to the mods and anyone who has ever posted or even commented here. i'm glad to hear it won't be going away completely. <3

[topaz-eyes.livejournal.com]

So sad to hear this. crack_van is and will always be a great resource for all sorts of fandoms. (I even had a couple turns driving the van, a few years back--one of my most favorite fandom activities ever.) A huge thank you to you and the other mods, and all the drivers past and present, for maintaining the comm!

[unperfectwolf.livejournal.com]

SO SAD OMG :( :( :(

[delurker.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much to everyone involved for their hard work; crack_van will always have a place in my heart as an amazing recs community.

[rhi]

I'll miss it but thank you so much for the lovely ten years and all the fandoms I hadn't known I wanted to read!

[pronker]

Thanks very much for your passion! Best wishes to you; you're a great set of mods. I am sad to see this venue for reccing go. Ten years is a fantastic run.

[crowgirl13.livejournal.com]

Oh wow. As others have mentioned, I'm saddened to hear this news. I have found so many great story, new fandoms and excellent friends because of this comm. Thank you - and thank you to your co-mods - so very much for your dedication and hard work over the past decade.

[captanddeastar.livejournal.com]

The Crack Van was my guide when I first got into fandom, and introduced me to so many great fandoms and great authors that I've been following for years now! Thank you for all your hard work maintaining it - it was (and will continue to be) a treasure.