DearDiary1
Dear Diary.Net Admin Diary

Spam Returns, again
Sun May 17 2009

New user signups are disabled again, this time indefinitely.

Sorry, DearDiary just doesn't get anywhere near close enough to pay even for a cup of tea per month so I'm really not interested in fighting the constant battles against idiots who believe the website owes them something. Especially those who believe they can use websites to spread their marketing for their noxious products.

Current users can of course continue to use the service but there will be no new users.

DearDiary is sorely in need of upgrades to bring it up to scratch with current systems (Facebook, Blogger etc) and people's usage expectations. It's been on the cards for over 5 years now and realistically, it is never going to happen. I am one programmer and I have a mortgage to pay with a real day job. Which means I don't get time to put the effort in to produce a 'from the ground up' total rebuild that is necessary to have web 2.0 screens and fancy growing entry boxes like Facebook does when you type or paste entries.

If you've recently paid for a Plus account and feel you've been let down, please contact me privately and I will arrange a refund.

32 Comments

From:
Cpthereturn (Legacy)
On:
Sun May 17 2009
Sorry you feel like that, and no I don't feel let down at all..
From:
Cpthereturn (Legacy)
On:
Sun May 17 2009
Oh I know it wasn't aimed at me! I appreciate the work you put in here and know it must be difficult.
From:
PredatorEd (Legacy)
On:
Sun May 17 2009
Everything has a shelf life, Steve.

Perhaps it's just time to let it go?
From:
Dreamerbooks2003 (Legacy)
On:
Sun May 17 2009
This wonderful, untouchable forum, which you provide, is so much more than facebook and the others... This is my home ...
Bless you for your time and effort. I, for one, am not one drop disappointed!!
From:
Yetzirah (Legacy)
On:
Sun May 17 2009
It's hard to keep up the the juggernauts.
But this place has some things that they don't.

History.
From:
Zerraweth (Legacy)
On:
Sun May 17 2009
I like DD the way it is!
From:
Saucygirl (Legacy)
On:
Sun May 17 2009
I love my DD....just the way it is.

Maybe you don't hear it enough, but I sincerely appreciate your effort, and I love this site.
From:
Eliezer (Legacy)
On:
Sun May 17 2009
What does this mean for the Friends system?

Since you can't create accounts, does this mean that Friends diaries and such can't have any new access - only existing users can view them?

BTW - the one small upgrade for which I've been pleading about for years is a simple Javascript insertion on the diary page generation script, which would fire based on an onBeforeUnLoad event, to allow you cancel an accidental navigation, refresh, etc.

He's an example here:

http://www.siafoo.net/article/67

Surely this can't be done without too much fuss, right? I can't tell you how many entries I've lost for lack of it.
From:
Supertrooper (Legacy)
On:
Sun May 17 2009
Thanks for a wonderful home on the net Steve ..dear Diary is my Alma Mater and I hope you can keep it going for a long ,long time ..
Thanks for all you do here and all the best to you and the family . Hope you are all ok and still enjoying Oz .
I dont blame you for blocking new users in view of all the spammers lately .
Big hugs
Linda xxxxx
From:
JonothanMA (Legacy)
On:
Sun May 17 2009
DD is my new hobby, I love it immensley. We all appreciate the fact that you've made this place exist. Thankyou so much!
From:
SOLOSAIR (Legacy)
On:
Sun May 17 2009
Sorry you feel so disappointed. We love you and we love DD. Most of the people here are good, not bad, and understand that you have a full-time job and don't have the time. Don't let the trolls get you down. All the best Steve. xx
From:
DowntownMom (Legacy)
On:
Sun May 17 2009
I've been writing here for almost 10 years. I come here when I am feeling anxious and emotional and need a release. That is what Dear Diary means to me...this place is where I find comfort and friends who will listen and understand me and maybe throw some advice at me. It has NEVER let me down. Steve, I'll even pay more...! You have many loyal people here...I wish I could help you out. If you ever decide to close the site down, please let me know so I can copy and paste my 10 years of entries...give me a months notice at least! LOL! We love ya and support anything you decide. And most of all, appreciate all you have done :-)
*HUGS*
From:
Calichef (Legacy)
On:
Sun May 17 2009
Thank you, Steve. I've appreciated having had somewhere to dump my hopes, fears and neuroses for these last seven years.
From:
Jamisinc (Legacy)
On:
Sun May 17 2009
Thanks for all you have done and do for DD. It is my web-home and has been for about 10 years. I felt really sad and sick after reading the first post. Now I feel much better. Through DD I have made friends and peeped into so many lives: lives that are sooo different from mine. DD is my family's scrapbook,,,it holds so many of our memories.
Thanks again,
Jami
From:
Salamander (Legacy)
On:
Sun May 17 2009
I totally understand whatever decision(s) you ultimately have to make for the site. The only thing I'd ever request from you is a way to dump my diary into some sort of text version, or some agreement with another site (your choice) that permits immigration of data from this site. I've been here long enough to know the muffin wars you've been up against, and I (along with the other old timers) appreciate the blood and sweat already poured into this place.
From:
Richardsworld (Legacy)
On:
Sun May 17 2009
I love DD and think it's great just like it is! You have created a wonderful place that I would be lost without. I actually tried to upgrade to a plus account but I don't have a paypal card, I just have a Visa debit card. I would happily upgrade if I can figure it out. I for one think DD is perfect the way it is. DD certainly does not have a shelf life but PreditorEd does lol. Thanks for all you do for us. Richard
From:
Jade (Legacy)
On:
Mon May 18 2009
I just want to tell you I'm glad to hear you are not closing down. I have tried other sites, and while they may do lots of nifty things DD doesn't, they do not have the community feel that DD has always had.

Kudos to you for doing something that isn't all about making money.
From:
Kaliko88 (Legacy)
On:
Mon May 18 2009
Well, I'm staying. Facebook and Myspace have interesting gizmos but most of the time they're annoying. Actually, it's time I showed that appreciation. Next paycheck I'm upgrading.

>^..^<
From:
JanuaryGirl (Legacy)
On:
Mon May 18 2009
Funnily enough? I update my diary from my Sidekick (a TMobile cell phone) quite often. It works really well on that screen. I'm glad you've no plans to go away. I have NO idea how to back up my entries and would miss the community so very much. Glossy facebook isn't for me, and I use my MySpace page for hardly anything at all. DearDiary is for me, and I like it plenty the way it is. Simple and not trying to be more then an online blog site. Exactly what I was looking for when I started my blogging quest. Thanks very much for keeping on!!
From:
CelticStorm (Legacy)
On:
Mon May 18 2009
whooo hoooo!! glad to hear it.. i love this place too much =o)

all the very best,
Mina
From:
Honey (Legacy)
On:
Mon May 18 2009
Steve, you have been great at all the things you have done for DD. DD has been my home for 7 yrs or more and I love it here. I am glad it is not closing down. Thank you for everything.

Honey
From:
Rayne (Legacy)
On:
Mon May 18 2009
i started a diary here in 2000.

...being able to keep a journal and connect with online support and the prayers...kept me holding on a few years ago when i was in a really dark place in my life. wonderful people use your site, and in ways you may never know, you have touched so many folks lives.

thank you for all you have given to others through keeping this site running.
From:
BakeACake2 (Legacy)
On:
Mon May 18 2009
I like it here a lot. I probably gave you some trouble with my upgrade, but now it is all fixed. Anyway, I have never felt more at home than here. I really like everyone here and I'm glad you are still keeping it and that's it...I just like it a lot!!!
From:
InStitches (Legacy)
On:
Tue May 19 2009
I'm so glad you are not giving up on this site. I've looked at a few of those other sites and quite frankly I have yet to find one that doesn't completely irritate me.

I'm spoiled. I like having one page per entry and the ability to decorate, but most of all I have felt safe here. It is like living in a small town instead of the big city. I've made friends and seldom feel the need to lock my door. These are rare qualities in cyberspace and appreciated more than you may know.

Thank you. :)
From:
Franny (Legacy)
On:
Wed May 20 2009
i've been here since 1999, have tried other sites, and i've ALWAYS come back to dear diary. it is easy to use, has wonderful backgrounds and i feel comfortable here. no matter how much i tried to find another "home" for franny, nothing is a better home than Dear Diary.
From:
BakeACake2 (Legacy)
On:
Fri May 22 2009
Steve, I'm having a problem with the space on my DD page. It stops scrolling down so I can't see what I am writing. Is there something I can do to fix it? Sorry.
From:
SavedByThree (Legacy)
On:
Tue May 26 2009
Am so happy to hear you are not shutting down. I would be lost without my DD.

I don't ever plan on going to those "other" places. I haven't yet and see no reason why I should.

Thank you for all you have given others and myself with DD!
From:
Salted (Legacy)
On:
Sun May 31 2009
O.K. Myspace is just a pain as far as I'm concerned and full of a lot of people full of themsleves. Also I have made many wonderful friends here who have supported me thru good and bad ! I understand that you may have to let it go sometime.....you must make a living...your family comes first ! as far as making it more facebook or myspace like ..BULL..it's great like it is!!!!!! (((HUGS FOR DOING IT!))))
From:
Beaster (Legacy)
On:
Tue Jun 02 2009
I love you Dear Diary.net
I have been using this site (gratis) for around eight years now... I think... you'd know. SO much of my heart is invested in it... but the debt is all to you for the service you have provided. Gracias.
From:
Strawberrymusic (Legacy)
On:
Tue Jun 16 2009
I <3 DD. This is the only place where I feel like my thoughts can be shared anonomously. Facebook, blogger, myspace etc is all fun an games but DD is where my HEART is!
From:
BakeACake2 (Legacy)
On:
Sun Sep 06 2009
Still having a problem writing on my page, can't see past a certain point on my page! I can only write a paragraph. Can you fix it? What do I do?
From:
Mamallama (Legacy)
On:
Mon Sep 14 2009
Hi Steve!
I love DD. I'm so glad we're not closing down.
Whew!
I'm having a problem tho. My page stops scrolling down when I type and I can't see what I'm typing. Any ideas how I can fix this.
Thanks!
Keep up the good work!
Hugs, Tiggs

DearDiary1 Dear Diary.Net Admin Diary

Spam Returns, againSun May 17 2009

DearDiary1
Dear Diary.Net Admin Diary

Spam Returns, again
Sun May 17 2009