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wyntir_knightFor those who didn't see it over on ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
news, a new policy has been instituted regarding Basic accounts here (March 12th), here (March 13), and here (FAQ #38). And, as usual, many members are freaking out over it (I have the feeling that if LJ suddenly started giving away free puppies and sunshine to all users, people would freak out). Anyway, as I said, some folks are grievously offended by the fact that LJ will no longer allow Basic accounts to be created.
One of the reactions seems to be to have a general strike on March 21st (here and here. They would like people to stop posting - no locked, no private, no posts period from midnight GMT to midnight GMT. It's a good idea in theory, but unfortunately, LJ's revenue isn't based on posts. Now I know that the idea behind this strike is to show LJ just how pissed off some people are about this decision and not to hurt the company, but here's the thing: LJ isn't going to notice and LJ isn't going to care.
Personally, I find it rather interesting that people are getting so freaked over this. LJ is a business, just like any other and I can't fault them for wanting to make money. Basic accounts don't make money. It really is that simple. And not posting for one whole day is not going to make any difference to them simply because it won't effect them at all. They won't see it, won't feel it, and won't even know it happened. LJs revenue isn't based on how many times you post or even if you see the ads on the Plus accounts.
The only way that LJ is going to even notice is if the people with paid accounts drop them and go elsewhere, an even then, they've got the money brought in by advertisers on the Plus accounts.
Honestly, I don't see what the big deal is over preventing any new Basic accounts. You all have your accounts already, and really, there's nowhere else to go (and LJ knows it). Now, if they decided to convert all the Basic accounts to Plus accounts, then there would be a serious problem. But as it is, I honestly think that people are flailing in the dark.
Now, I will admit that I am often naive about such things and often am missing the picture behind the picture. So I would really appreciate it if someone could explain to me what the big deal is. I would love to listen and revise my opinion. Because right now, I just don't get it.
(And if this comes across as hostile or bitchy, I do apologize. My cold is preventing me from breathing so I'm a little oxygen deprived right now)
Edit: Edited to fix some faulty wording on my part. I called the accounts Free and Subscribed. It's been pointed out that both the Basic and the Plus accounts are free to the user, and that LJ is not getting rid of all Free accounts, just the Basic ones that generate no revenue.
news, a new policy has been instituted regarding Basic accounts here (March 12th), here (March 13), and here (FAQ #38). And, as usual, many members are freaking out over it (I have the feeling that if LJ suddenly started giving away free puppies and sunshine to all users, people would freak out). Anyway, as I said, some folks are grievously offended by the fact that LJ will no longer allow Basic accounts to be created.One of the reactions seems to be to have a general strike on March 21st (here and here. They would like people to stop posting - no locked, no private, no posts period from midnight GMT to midnight GMT. It's a good idea in theory, but unfortunately, LJ's revenue isn't based on posts. Now I know that the idea behind this strike is to show LJ just how pissed off some people are about this decision and not to hurt the company, but here's the thing: LJ isn't going to notice and LJ isn't going to care.
Personally, I find it rather interesting that people are getting so freaked over this. LJ is a business, just like any other and I can't fault them for wanting to make money. Basic accounts don't make money. It really is that simple. And not posting for one whole day is not going to make any difference to them simply because it won't effect them at all. They won't see it, won't feel it, and won't even know it happened. LJs revenue isn't based on how many times you post or even if you see the ads on the Plus accounts.
The only way that LJ is going to even notice is if the people with paid accounts drop them and go elsewhere, an even then, they've got the money brought in by advertisers on the Plus accounts.
Honestly, I don't see what the big deal is over preventing any new Basic accounts. You all have your accounts already, and really, there's nowhere else to go (and LJ knows it). Now, if they decided to convert all the Basic accounts to Plus accounts, then there would be a serious problem. But as it is, I honestly think that people are flailing in the dark.
Now, I will admit that I am often naive about such things and often am missing the picture behind the picture. So I would really appreciate it if someone could explain to me what the big deal is. I would love to listen and revise my opinion. Because right now, I just don't get it.
(And if this comes across as hostile or bitchy, I do apologize. My cold is preventing me from breathing so I'm a little oxygen deprived right now)
Edit: Edited to fix some faulty wording on my part. I called the accounts Free and Subscribed. It's been pointed out that both the Basic and the Plus accounts are free to the user, and that LJ is not getting rid of all Free accounts, just the Basic ones that generate no revenue.
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no subject
Date: 18 Mar 2008 12:42 (UTC)Another thing that might be pissing off the masses, those who RPG in LJ will no longer just create new character journals when the inspiration strikes.
This all doesn't bother me though. *heh*
no subject
Date: 18 Mar 2008 14:17 (UTC)no subject
Date: 19 Mar 2008 10:46 (UTC)Prolly because I don't post a lot of things that merit censorship? ^^
no subject
Date: 18 Mar 2008 13:33 (UTC)Or something like that...
I think the reason behind the strike thingy on Friday is to make LJ/SUP/6apart/whoever realise that it's the content that keeps people here... and it'll apparently do something to the statistics.
As for me, I've got a friend whose birthday is on the 21st... I'm certainly not not posting and missing wishing her a happy birthday!
no subject
Date: 18 Mar 2008 14:21 (UTC)The problem is though, that unless everyone is doing it, LJ won't notice and it'll just be a minor blip in their statistics. I would be very surprised if this effects anything at all. Strikes only work when the entirely of the "workforce" agrees to it and when the strike causes "management" to feel pain because of it.
And thanks for pointing me in
Edit: What is this "most popular" site he's talking about? Is it that you can't search for those terms any more? Unfortunately, he's disabled comments so I can't ask him.
no subject
Date: 18 Mar 2008 14:38 (UTC)Everyone on my flist seems to be posting about the strike (okay, maybe that's not quite true, it just feels like it!) and it's in loads of communities... I really think they're trying for a :J-wide strike...
no subject
Date: 18 Mar 2008 15:33 (UTC)Back when I was in school the school tried to block all groups on the BBS that dealt with pornography. Among their banned topics was the word "breast". The school got their asses handed to them when people could no longer access the Breast Cancer support groups. See, Trent has one of the largest Feminist communities in Canada, and when they discovered that the Breast Cancer support groups had been banned but the Prostate Cancer sites hadn't been. Trust me, that went over like a lead balloon with the Militant Femi-Nazis.
no subject
Date: 18 Mar 2008 17:03 (UTC)no subject
Date: 18 Mar 2008 17:09 (UTC)no subject
Date: 18 Mar 2008 17:21 (UTC)Turns out that apparently the interests disappeared/were removed on 3/15. Personally, I never noticed they were gone but I don't check the popular interests list. If I'm looking for a particular interest, I search for it with the search box. And near as I can tell, my personal interests list didn't have any terms removed from it, so color me less than irate.
no subject
Date: 18 Mar 2008 16:41 (UTC)no subject
Date: 18 Mar 2008 17:00 (UTC)I'll go make an edit on the post.
no subject
Date: 19 Mar 2008 10:49 (UTC)no subject
Date: 18 Mar 2008 21:38 (UTC)no subject
Date: 18 Mar 2008 22:03 (UTC)As for taking offense, I'm afraid that I'm not seeing it. Management stated that they made the account creation process easier. That doesn't in any way imply or infer that they think we're too stupid to choose between three options. I don't see where people are getting the "LJ thinks we're stupid" from the statements issued by management.
Mind you, I *can* see getting a little peeved at them for not just coming out and stating the obvious: "Basic accounds don't get us any money so they've been removed as an option for new users."
no subject
Date: 18 Mar 2008 22:26 (UTC)I wasn't really disturbed about a), but when I read the b) (statement) I felt that such a phony explanation was insulting. If you do something, wrong or right, stand up to it.
On other issues I'll not waste any words or time, but I will say that I'm ready to support the strike. I understand why people are upset, and while I'm not really as outraged as they, I'll be here (or not, to be precise).
In addition, I do not give a damn about 'it will not do a thing' attitude. We are all responsible for our actions and its consequences - what will be 'their' reaction to my action does not matter in the least when it comes to making this kind of decision.
If your feelings are not 'hurt' by the whole thing, just forget about it...*shrugs*
no subject
Date: 18 Mar 2008 23:50 (UTC)no subject
Date: 19 Mar 2008 01:20 (UTC)The first statement made by a member of the LJ team on the issue (to my knowledge) is here (http://news.livejournal.com/106731.html?thread=68484587#t68484587). It sounds somewhat condescending to me. (also note that the first perosn to respond to him,
People object to the spin. They should have just stated the obvious. But they didn't, they tried to spin it to a "for your own good" type approach.
no subject
Date: 19 Mar 2008 11:36 (UTC)I do agree that, given the previous attitudes that the Users have shown, Management should have just come out and listed all the changes instead of pointing people toward the FAQ (with no link). I can see getting miffed at the spin, but to tell the truth, I'm not reading anything condescending or insulting in jasonhellen's tone and I'm not seeing why people are screaming bloody murder over it.
no subject
Date: 21 Mar 2008 21:11 (UTC)Ironically most of the people protesting are paid users...so excuse me for asking, but why is any of this a problem?
no subject
Date: 21 Mar 2008 21:22 (UTC)I have the distinct feeling that, while some people are genuinely concerned, most of the "really loud voices" are from folks who are just jumping on the band wagon because bitching is cool. *shrug* Maybe I'm just too old and jaded to be impressed anymore.
no subject
Date: 21 Mar 2008 21:27 (UTC)One of my friends who thinks it's incredibly stupid has been accused of homophobia - and she's a gay rights activist!
I'll confess that most of my posts today have been idiotic rubbish, but I'm about to write a "normal" post, detailing my day, with some final thoughts on the strike thrown in for good measure.
no subject
Date: 22 Mar 2008 01:21 (UTC)Admitedly, I haven't posted anything today, but that's only because a third post on being sick with a cold strikes me as rather redundant.