LJ is trying to merge with/sell to the company known as Six Apart. However, to make their product more appealing to their buyers they have begun to "clean up" LJ by deleting posts and accounts that would squick their buyers. Most of it is fandom stuff pertaining to underage sex. Several folks are in an uproar because so many posts, posters, and communities are being deleted ("What about our right to free expression?" they cry.). It's sudden, and in some cases invasive and unfair, but the majority of the folks are getting nixed for a reason.
Friendslock entries are still cause for suspension.
And a lot of the uproar has to do with the fact everything's so arbitrary. The two fanartists that were suspended at the start of this thing weren't suspended for any particular violation of the TOS (i.e.: it wasn't child pornography), but because their artwork lacked "artistic merit" according to the Miller Test (What is obscene?). LJ refuses to enumerate exactly what constitutes "artistic merit," so no one knows what's driving their decisions and it all seems totally random and draconian. Add to that that the permenant suspensions (eg.: bannings) are taking place without any warning at all, contrary to stated LJ policy. So everyone's pissed.
This is why I advocate posting fic at sites specifically geared for it (FFN/AFFN). I feel dirty and stupid for having purchased a permenant account after Strikethrough.
As a sidenote, LJ is refusing to refund personal accounts.
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Why can't these people just friends lock these entries?
No one tell them about my journal then...I don't exactally have a PG life. PG-13 maybe.
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And a lot of the uproar has to do with the fact everything's so arbitrary. The two fanartists that were suspended at the start of this thing weren't suspended for any particular violation of the TOS (i.e.: it wasn't child pornography), but because their artwork lacked "artistic merit" according to the Miller Test (What is obscene?). LJ refuses to enumerate exactly what constitutes "artistic merit," so no one knows what's driving their decisions and it all seems totally random and draconian. Add to that that the permenant suspensions (eg.: bannings) are taking place without any warning at all, contrary to stated LJ policy. So everyone's pissed.
This is why I advocate posting fic at sites specifically geared for it (FFN/AFFN). I feel dirty and stupid for having purchased a permenant account after Strikethrough.
As a sidenote, LJ is refusing to refund personal accounts.
Reply
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