The move from email lists to LJ was at least somewhat sensible: for ease of use, for networking and communicating, it just worked better.
The other shifts were like this, too. Things like rec.arts.sf.written were so great when they first started. Then with mailing lists, it was like shifting from a large, open free-booze carnival to a party in the large backyard of someone you liked and respected, in that you had a much better chance of developing relationships with others, and there were ways of dealing with complete bozos.
Yahoo gave even more control; so, again, it wasn't so much a decision that first generation lists were bad as that Yahoo didn't have some of the issues of those lists. (I co-moderate a parenting list that moved from first-generation to something else to Yahoo over the years, and is still getting 100 posts a day.)
IOW, it's not a matter of trying to figure out; the shift is obvious when it's happening. (Though the obviousness of LJ wasn't that clear to me for quite a while!)
Also, it just really pisses me off that a greater social construct, which I've happily participated in and critiqued, is essentially demanding that I behave like them or find myself on the outside.
As in, you feel you need to state some sort of sky-is-falling-LJ-how-COULD-you post? Or you're annoyed by the prospect of fandom moving off of LJ because THIS is where you are?
There are times I feel like an outsider in fandom because I'm fond of my husband, I have a good, secure job that I like, and am not (usually) subject to depression... OK, tongue just a *little* in cheek, but...
The move from email lists to LJ was at least somewhat sensible: for ease of use, for networking and communicating, it just worked better.
The other shifts were like this, too.
Oh, yes, I didn't mean to imply that wasn't the case--I know enough older fen that I know at least a little about the general evolution of fandom.
I think I meant something like: the other shifts of forums (in general) seem to be based on ease of use, and a growing consensus over that, resulting in said shift. (I mean, mailing lists and Yahoo groups still exist--I use a couple of both to keep track of specialized groups, both in fandom and RL. They're just not as encompassing as something like LJ, right?)
Whereas this possible shift *away* from LJ would be based on dissatisfaction with the company hosting the forum itself; in a sense, it would be the first fandom shift (that I'm aware of) based on a value judgment that I don't necessarily share. I understand the fear that even genficcers like us might wind up randomly offending the TOS, if LJ doesn't get its act together. But overall I'm not too worried, for myself.
As in, you feel you need to state some sort of sky-is-falling-LJ-how-COULD-you post? Or you're annoyed by the prospect of fandom moving off of LJ because THIS is where you are?
LOL. Possibly more the second one, though I'm aware of how self-centered (and self-pitying) that is.
And re: your comment about being an outsider in fandom--lol, yes, me too. Except I guess I'm less of an outsider, being single and all. ;-)
The other shifts were like this, too. Things like rec.arts.sf.written were so great when they first started. Then with mailing lists, it was like shifting from a large, open free-booze carnival to a party in the large backyard of someone you liked and respected, in that you had a much better chance of developing relationships with others, and there were ways of dealing with complete bozos.
Yahoo gave even more control; so, again, it wasn't so much a decision that first generation lists were bad as that Yahoo didn't have some of the issues of those lists. (I co-moderate a parenting list that moved from first-generation to something else to Yahoo over the years, and is still getting 100 posts a day.)
IOW, it's not a matter of trying to figure out; the shift is obvious when it's happening. (Though the obviousness of LJ wasn't that clear to me for quite a while!)
Also, it just really pisses me off that a greater social construct, which I've happily participated in and critiqued, is essentially demanding that I behave like them or find myself on the outside.
As in, you feel you need to state some sort of sky-is-falling-LJ-how-COULD-you post? Or you're annoyed by the prospect of fandom moving off of LJ because THIS is where you are?
There are times I feel like an outsider in fandom because I'm fond of my husband, I have a good, secure job that I like, and am not (usually) subject to depression... OK, tongue just a *little* in cheek, but...
- Helen
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The other shifts were like this, too.
Oh, yes, I didn't mean to imply that wasn't the case--I know enough older fen that I know at least a little about the general evolution of fandom.
I think I meant something like: the other shifts of forums (in general) seem to be based on ease of use, and a growing consensus over that, resulting in said shift. (I mean, mailing lists and Yahoo groups still exist--I use a couple of both to keep track of specialized groups, both in fandom and RL. They're just not as encompassing as something like LJ, right?)
Whereas this possible shift *away* from LJ would be based on dissatisfaction with the company hosting the forum itself; in a sense, it would be the first fandom shift (that I'm aware of) based on a value judgment that I don't necessarily share. I understand the fear that even genficcers like us might wind up randomly offending the TOS, if LJ doesn't get its act together. But overall I'm not too worried, for myself.
As in, you feel you need to state some sort of sky-is-falling-LJ-how-COULD-you post? Or you're annoyed by the prospect of fandom moving off of LJ because THIS is where you are?
LOL. Possibly more the second one, though I'm aware of how self-centered (and self-pitying) that is.
And re: your comment about being an outsider in fandom--lol, yes, me too. Except I guess I'm less of an outsider, being single and all. ;-)
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