Some thoughts about LJ and IJ

[louiselux]

It's not really a shock that a director of a large corporation is opinionated and hardheaded. Still, it's pretty depressing when they're also arrogant and insulting and really somewhat scary. Now I want to particpate in the content strike simply because I find him offensive. Anton Nosik, director of the blogging side of SUP, speaks about the planned strike.

The theme of Insane Journal makes me cringe. Also, the site design and motifs are ugly beyond the telling. I do not want to move there. Also, wouldn't it just evenutally have all the same problems and dramas as livejournal, except with less choice? I don't really know anything about the infrastructure of IJ, but the theme and the look of it suggests to me that it's not ready to cope with a mass migration. But! Something needs to be done.

Anyway, scribblemoose is far more upbeat and positive about this than I am. *hearts scribblemoose*

Comments

[scribblemoose]

Never let the buggers grind you down. *hugs*

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

That is good advice!

[avierra.livejournal.com]

Wow, after reading that interview, I feel very special. It's nice to know that the person whose salary you pay holds you in such contempt. Perhaps it is a different business climate in Russia? I don't know, really, I am just asking. I can't imagine an otherwise serious businessman speaking that way publically about his customers unless he was not used to facing a situation where his words would be made public and readily available. The arrogance is kind of shocking, really.

As far as IJ, I can't figure out how to use it or change it, so I hear you.

[2metaldog.livejournal.com]

After reading that interview, I'm going along with the no-post protest. Nothing says we value our client base like being treated with the same sense of distaste/disgust as when stepping bare-foot in warm dog dodo. I believe my icon is rather appropriate to my feelings.

I have an account at IJ and so far, it's been pretty good there (although I don't post much). They had a fair sized influx when strikethrough happened and seemed to handle it okay. Things are still rather small there in comparison to comms and groups that you find here on LJ. I'm sure that will change if/when more people make the jump to other blogging sites.

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

I was wondering myself if differences in business culture meant that he simply had no time for customer protests. He uses really emotive words such as blackmail, whereas we might see the same activity as organised consumer pressure to provide a good service.

Oh, IJ. I really hate using it.

[i-am-zan.livejournal.com]

have linked to your links on my lj to spread the word. (hope you don't mind!)

You are pretty awesome..thank you for sharing!

[theemdash]

I think the planning of the strike is ill-timed because lj hasn't been given much time to react. It's not like the WGA Strike where everything had been set in place to strike if a favorable answer wasn't received. I agree that this strike seems to be more attention-getting of the organizers than a tool that was well-thought out and necessary to enact.

Still, I understand the intent behind the strike and the impact that could be made. However, if they really want to make an impact, it's not just content you have to not post, you have to convince people to not visit lj at all during that 24-hour period. Because you have to prevent the ads from being viewed at all.

*sighs* I like what I have at lj and I have no intention of leaving. Am I annoyed that basic accounts are gone? Absolutely. Will I deal with it? Pretty much. Does lj need to know we're not happy? Sure. But they're a business and from the comments of Mr. Nosik I doubt they'll care.

[scribblemoose]

Thanks for spreading the word.:)

[metal-dog5.livejournal.com]

Because you have to prevent the ads from being viewed at all.

But that only works if it's all the free users of LJ that don't visit &/ or post. And then there's the issue of which is greater for that day - the loss of revenue from adverts or the increase in profit because overall server usage is considerably down.

[theemdash]

And thus why I don't think this strike will make much impact. Banning together for a common goal is wonderful, but the business eyes seem to see only dollar signs.

If someone can manage what Mr. Nosik thinks we can't, namely convincing advertisers to pull their ads, that would make an impact.

[thewriter0.livejournal.com]

I'm posting about this in all my journals, and even the comm that I run. I feel like I just got trolled, except it was by a Corporate Master and not just some brat with too much free time. Does Mister Nosik forget that without the users, there would be no LJ?

I don't like being told that I have to toe the line and keep my mouth shut, or that any form of protest or call for change is just "whining" or attention-whoring.

[emungere.livejournal.com]

I feel like I just got trolled

Ha! Yes, his whole post does rather smack of butthurt, you're right. Also, your icon, it is awesome.

[emungere.livejournal.com]

*gnashes teeth* Scribblit maybe? I keep hearing it's almost ready. Plz not IJ. The ugliness causes me nearly physical pain. Woe.

Mr Anton makes sad spatula sadder.

[mendax.livejournal.com]

Wow. That's a really offensive response. I'm in for not touching LJ for a day.

[cicer.livejournal.com]

The level of arrogance, contempt, and condescension in that interview are absolutely astounding. My jaw just dropped while I was reading it. I am just stunned. Did that man not expect his words to become public, or did he just not think his attitude would infuriate LJ users? One would think that whoever took control of LJ would have learned from the 6A fiasco that treating LJ users badly would only end in disaster. I am appalled by the whole thing. I will definitely be boycotting LJ on Friday.

The worst thing about this is that I feel like we're all kind of trapped here. There really aren't any good alternative journaling sites. I have a backup at IJ, but I most assuredly would not want to make that my primary journaling site. Also, I'm afraid that switching journaling sites completely would cause me to lose contact with some of the people I've been following here. Still, something must be done. I don't think any of us can tolerate this much longer.

[viridian5.livejournal.com]

Even furiosity's more even-handed translation here (http://furiosity.livejournal.com/472399.html) and exhortations to remember that Russia has a different culture didn't soothe me because he still sounds like an arrogant tool who hates his customers. Protest does not equal blackmail.

But GJ, where I started a mirror account after Strikethrough, is already dying, which makes me cautious. The theme of Insane Journal makes me cringe, and the site design and motifs are ugly beyond the telling, but IJ also randomly deleted my custom color codes twice. I chose the S2 theme I found least offensive just so the page wouldn't be blank color with text and use the account for responding to people who've gone to IJ. I'm not going to IJ unless forced to. I hope a better kind of journal comes out.

[wk-recomend.livejournal.com]

I feel exactly how you feel. T_T I love my lj, I love that the people I like are all in one place. I like the interface and that I can do a wide variety of things on lj, fic, rp, etc. The communities and challenges I'm apart of are all here, and I'm involved in enough that if they leave, they won't be going to the same place.

Catch 22.

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

IJ is unreasonably ugly and I hate the 'insane' theme, but you can customize the color and default settings so you don't see too much of the ugly-- I can dig up my links on that if you decide to mirror over there.

I kind of hope something better comes along, though.

[thewriter0.livejournal.com]

Indeed it does. I feel sad that every change in the leadership of LJ has only made it worse.

Why, thank you! Ah, Hakkai.

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks, that would be very helpful.

I did see someone suggest that Squeaky, who must be the site owner, would be willing to listen if people emailed their views on the theme.

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

Lolspat!

I would be thrilled to go to Scribblit. I never hear anything about it though - have you got special insider knowledge?

[emungere.livejournal.com]

No, but I joined scribblit's LJ comm and I've been sort of vaguely watching their progress. They're in the final stages of beta testing and I think they plan to open it up to free accounts soonish. People who donated (or maybe bought permanent accounts?) are already using it, as well as the beta testers. There was another one too...yaoijounal maybe? And then there was that other one that I actually got an account at and, um, now have completely forgotten the name of. Oh, my mind.

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

Aha you icon!!! They look like fabulous spooky people. Joo should write a story about them.

Oh, I hope scribblit comes soon. This shenanigans is just too stressful.

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

Squeaky seems to be very responsive; better, so far, than either the LJ or JournalFen admins. Though I can't believe a ton of people haven't already emailed, it might be worth a try.

This is a custom layout community. (http://asylums.insanejournal.com/nameless_layout/) I had a beautiful free layout from there until some kind anon bought me a paid account.

And here's (http://lady-ganesh.insanejournal.com/353.html?thread=3169) how to make things better overall.