ext_158580 ([identity profile] twigged.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] crack_van2013-11-29 08:51 pm
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Important Announcement

After 10 years and nearly 25,000 recs, it is with mixed feelings that I announce [livejournal.com profile] 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, [livejournal.com profile] stopawhile and [livejournal.com profile] arsenicjade. I could not have asked for better partners and friends.

(Anonymous) 2013-12-04 08:29 am (UTC)(link)
Holy shit. I'm stunned but I guess I shouldn't be surprised, things have changed so much in the past few years.
Thank you for all the work you put into this community. I found so many new fandoms here.

[identity profile] raynewton.livejournal.com 2013-12-04 11:35 am (UTC)(link)
So sorry. Of course I respect your decision. Just wanted to say crack van was a great source of comfort duing my illness. Thank you for all you've done. You'll be missed

[identity profile] shiredancer.livejournal.com 2013-12-05 04:19 am (UTC)(link)
Oh no! How very sad -- as has been said here many times, it's truly the end of an era. Thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my heart for being the best damn comm on LJ, for the immeasurable amount of joy you have sponsored here, for... everything. I drove the van only once and what a blast that was! The mods were so very kind and helpful.

I'm a bit awestruck to read over all of these comments and realize how many names I know and recognize and love -- due in no small part to the connections made here. Wishing you all the best, ladies, and thank you for ten marvelous years!

[identity profile] mistakency.livejournal.com 2013-12-05 04:42 am (UTC)(link)
I love this place dearly and am so sorry to see it go! Thank you for all the work you've put into it over the years.

[identity profile] red-xera.livejournal.com 2013-12-06 07:35 am (UTC)(link)
It's an end of an era. Crack_Van has been my go-to resource for fic for 10 years. I've discovered so many wonderful authors, artists and fandoms because of this community. I...I feel a bit heartsick.

[identity profile] lightbird777.livejournal.com 2013-12-07 01:06 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you for all the hard work you've put into the comm for so long.

[identity profile] cathalin.livejournal.com 2013-12-07 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
Crack Van has been one of my absolute best sources of recs when I encounter a possible new fandom, and has inspired me to read things in fandoms I don't even know. Truly, what you built and maintained is an amazing, amazing resource, and I appreciate it so, so much. Literally just yesterday I did a search on this comm for fic in a new fandom I was suddenly wanting to read in.

Good luck to you in all future endeavors, and thanks again to everyone who made this place so great. <3
ext_471285: (Xaviker)

[identity profile] flywoman.livejournal.com 2013-12-07 03:56 am (UTC)(link)
I tried to comment earlier, but LJ was having a meltdown. Thanks so much for all the work that you put into this rec community! I've had fun taking my turn at the wheel, discovering new fics and authors in my favorite fandoms, and even breaking into new fandoms thanks to the amazing recs on this site.

Also, I hate the new platforms like Tumblr and wish that we weren't seeing this mass exodus from LJ :(.
dryadinthegrove: (Onhoing)

[personal profile] dryadinthegrove 2013-12-08 02:41 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you thank you thank you!

Without crack van I would never have become completely and utterly obsessed with Kpop. Not the fic, no, but actual kpop itself. And I am so, so fucking grateful.

{{{crack van}}}

May your next endeavour, public or private, be as wonderful.

(Anonymous) 2013-12-08 09:16 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you for keeping this website going as long as you have! It's been very much appreciated, xxxx

[identity profile] entropy-house.livejournal.com 2013-12-08 03:48 pm (UTC)(link)
A friend mentioned that a fic of mine had been recced here today- but the link she gave me was to a dreamwidth crack van, a journal that had never been updated.

Do you know about this journal?
Image (http://crack-van.dreamwidth.org/profile)crack_van (http://crack-van.dreamwidth.org/)

It just occurs to me that IF that comm is yours you should be able to import the posts/comments from this journal to the DW one, as a back up copy in case LJ implodes.

And if it's NOT yours, you could maybe create a DW with a similar name (Crack Van DW?) and import. LJ makes me nervous these days. It would be so very sad if all the fanlove was lost.
Edited 2013-12-08 15:54 (UTC)

[identity profile] likeflashlights.livejournal.com 2013-12-09 06:32 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you for all the effort that you've undoubtedly put into the Van over the years. I'm relatively new to this side of fandom, but somehow, I just thought that the Crack Van would always be there. I am sad.

[identity profile] seraphim-12.livejournal.com 2013-12-11 12:45 am (UTC)(link)
wow. It must have been really hard to come to that decision. I don't know if I could do it considering how much love I can see in this place. Thank you for keeping up with it all these years. Its been a staple for me to check the recs of new and old fandoms and what I see recced here tend to be the cream of the crop. Im going to enjoy the heck out of the new fandoms in this last month, much love!

[identity profile] vvatima.livejournal.com 2013-12-11 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Very sad to see this community go - thank you so much for maintaining it for so long. Geez I remember back in the day when livejournal was a new place for fandom, and I was worried about the scattering of communities.... now there are so many sites where people can go to.

[identity profile] lembeau.livejournal.com 2013-12-12 05:25 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much for your hard work and dedication to this community. If it weren't for everyone involved I would've missed out on so many great works. So thank you and I wish the best to you all.

[identity profile] mrs-dalliard.livejournal.com 2013-12-14 12:14 am (UTC)(link)
:-( very sad.
but thank you for this wonderful site, where i've discovered countless new fandoms and fics.
pronker: barnabas and angelique vibing (obifairy)

[personal profile] pronker 2013-12-14 01:33 am (UTC)(link)
*pats shoulder* I know, I know! So many treasures in this trove, and lots of excellent writing.

[identity profile] viggofest.livejournal.com 2013-12-15 04:30 pm (UTC)(link)
You've introduced me to new fandoms and new writers, all the while feeding the fixes I need for my current fandoms. THANK YOU for all of your work and best of luck wherever life takes you!
ext_2551: gray flowers on a wallpaper (Default)

[identity profile] walkawayslowly.livejournal.com 2013-12-15 05:12 pm (UTC)(link)
You'll be missed! Thanks for all you've done for fandom over the last decade.

[identity profile] inmyriadbits.livejournal.com 2013-12-16 12:47 am (UTC)(link)
Oh no, talk about the end of an era!

Thank you all for such wonderful work over the years -- this journal is and will continue to be my first-stop shopping for recs for years. ♥

[identity profile] lise5094.livejournal.com 2013-12-16 02:29 am (UTC)(link)
I am so sorry you are closing this down. It has been in the top 5 of my most visited sites for years. I have used it to explore new fandoms and catch up in old fandoms. There is so much here i haven't yet explored that I'm sure it will remain on my most visited list for a long while, even after it closes.

Thank you so much for what you have done for us all over the past decade. I'm sure it's been a labor of love, but a labor nonetheless.

[identity profile] rensong.livejournal.com 2013-12-17 10:28 pm (UTC)(link)
I will hate to see you go, but thank you so much for everything you and your fellow amazing mods and, of course, all of the fantastic fic reccers have done and shared over the years! [livejournal.com profile] crack_van has been one of my most favorite fic resources these last 10 years!

Thanks again for everything!
ext_48196: (Fairy)

[identity profile] d-violetta.livejournal.com 2013-12-18 09:14 pm (UTC)(link)
I want to add to the thanks, I have found some wonderful fandoms from the community.

I understand as more people leave to find other ways to share fiction it is harder to keep up. I am die hard LJ user so I am glad I will still have the last 10 years of rec to go through and probably discover lots of new fiction.

I wish you all the best with whatever you move onto next and hope December is good to you.
wendelah1: Scully reading From Outer Space (From Outer Space)

[personal profile] wendelah1 2013-12-21 02:21 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much for running this community so faithfully for the past ten years. Since I found LiveJournal in 2005, I have used it to find fanfiction worth reading. After I stopped lurking and made my own journal, I've enjoyed driving the fan for several different fandoms. This is one of my favorite places, and one of the first resources I recommend to people who are new to my fandoms. You will be missed.

[identity profile] ulkis.livejournal.com 2013-12-22 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
don't blame you guys for closing at all. Thank you for all the years of recs, you guys have helped me find so many of my favorite fics.

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