meganbmoore (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
meganbmoore) wrote2008-03-17 06:29 pm
meganbmoore) wrote2008-03-17 06:29 pm
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teh LJ kerfluffles, they kill...
Soooo...the latest LJ kerfluffle, removing basic accounts for new users is apparently resulting in a 1 day strike. For those not familiar with this: LJ no longer gives the option of basic accounts to new users, only plus, paid, and permanent accounts. Existing users who have basic accounts aren't affected.
Apparently, there will be a 24 hour strike(details in link) to protest this and try to get them back.
Now, my personal, honest opinion?
1. New users can still have free accounts, even if they have to put up with ads.
2. Yes, it was very stupid of LJ not to consult with their advisory board about it.
3. LJ is a business. They have to pay the bills. Basic accounts use up resources but provide no profit.
4. Most people with paid and permanent accounts signed up with a basic account, and, as far as I know, most users eventually upgrade to a plus, paid, or permanent account. A basic account provides a good trial period.
In short: I think it was handled badly, but not necessarily a wrong thing for them to do. I have no real intentions of taking part in the strike, but if I find out enough on the f-list have strong feelings on it an do, I might just post around it out of respect for them. No idea really, though.
Personally, I'm surprised that this is getting more attention than LJ banning certain interests from "popular interest" serachers(though that's since been resolved.)
Again, details in links, but, basically, the following terms(among others) were no longer showing up in 'popular interests" searches: Sex, Boys, Guys, Girls, Fanfiction, Yaoi, Hardcore, Porn, Bondage, Faeries, Pain, Depression, and Bisexuality
Now, I can understand not wanting "sex" "porn" "bondage" and maybe "hardcore" to show up as your big interests. But...
Bisexuality? That's what some people ARE. Depression? That's a clinical condition. Yaoi? Love it, hate it, don't care about it at all, there's nothing inherently wrong, evil or warping about it, and it's a very legitimate interest. Yes, a person clicking "yaoi" could stumble across explicit art of two guys having sex, or whatever, but a person clicking "pirates of the caribbean" could should as easily stumble across explicit fanart of Will and Elizabeth(or your pairing of choice) having sex. Boys, girls, guys and fanfiction? Utterly mystified. Faeries? I will be far more generous than I should and assume they're worried it's deliberately being used as homophobic slang, but really, I think most people with that interest are thinking of stereotyped little winged magic people.
Anyway, just odd to me that more people are upset that new users automatically go to plus accounts than the interests not showing up in "popular interest" searches.
ETA: Also, they removed "yaoi" from the popular interests, but not "slash." I find that to be the best part of the whole thing.
Apparently, there will be a 24 hour strike(details in link) to protest this and try to get them back.
Now, my personal, honest opinion?
1. New users can still have free accounts, even if they have to put up with ads.
2. Yes, it was very stupid of LJ not to consult with their advisory board about it.
3. LJ is a business. They have to pay the bills. Basic accounts use up resources but provide no profit.
4. Most people with paid and permanent accounts signed up with a basic account, and, as far as I know, most users eventually upgrade to a plus, paid, or permanent account. A basic account provides a good trial period.
In short: I think it was handled badly, but not necessarily a wrong thing for them to do. I have no real intentions of taking part in the strike, but if I find out enough on the f-list have strong feelings on it an do, I might just post around it out of respect for them. No idea really, though.
Personally, I'm surprised that this is getting more attention than LJ banning certain interests from "popular interest" serachers(though that's since been resolved.)
Again, details in links, but, basically, the following terms(among others) were no longer showing up in 'popular interests" searches: Sex, Boys, Guys, Girls, Fanfiction, Yaoi, Hardcore, Porn, Bondage, Faeries, Pain, Depression, and Bisexuality
Now, I can understand not wanting "sex" "porn" "bondage" and maybe "hardcore" to show up as your big interests. But...
Bisexuality? That's what some people ARE. Depression? That's a clinical condition. Yaoi? Love it, hate it, don't care about it at all, there's nothing inherently wrong, evil or warping about it, and it's a very legitimate interest. Yes, a person clicking "yaoi" could stumble across explicit art of two guys having sex, or whatever, but a person clicking "pirates of the caribbean" could should as easily stumble across explicit fanart of Will and Elizabeth(or your pairing of choice) having sex. Boys, girls, guys and fanfiction? Utterly mystified. Faeries? I will be far more generous than I should and assume they're worried it's deliberately being used as homophobic slang, but really, I think most people with that interest are thinking of stereotyped little winged magic people.
Anyway, just odd to me that more people are upset that new users automatically go to plus accounts than the interests not showing up in "popular interest" searches.
ETA: Also, they removed "yaoi" from the popular interests, but not "slash." I find that to be the best part of the whole thing.