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We've got some exciting updates this week, so sit tight and we'll get started. Of course, news would not be complete without a special gift from Frank. It appears that he neglected to celebrate birthdays this month. So, in the spirit of better late than never, please rip a zippy yippee if you were born in August, and Frank'll send you a ginger

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users: do read if you get a chance <3 PART 2.

[aescapes]

while i don't ultimately blame the US LJ Staff for what's going on, i'm still really disappointed. i hate Facebook due to its complete disregard for privacy despite the fact that i'm obliged to have one for school purposes. Twitter can be pretty invasive and irritating, as well, in certain situations. i really abhor the idea of LJ adjusting their business model to connect with and mirror those networks in any way (which means an increase of disregard for the userbase's wants and needs in the interest of expansion/globalization/monetary gain). furthermore, as a paid user on multiple accounts, i'm unhappy to learn that these are the sorts of developments my money is being used to implement, and without soliciting my opinion or consent beforehand, to boot.

it's disheartening to feel so jaded about the current state of affairs, at this point. i've been very attached to LJ for several years, mainly because the nature of its use and features are so unique and, up until the past two or three years, it retained a focus on user privacy. i feel more secure here than i ever would at FB/Twitter. it won't be the same once it starts homogenizing with these other social networks. i understand that adjustments take time, but i really do wish the LJ Staff would step in soon to give us a reason to keep the faith. communication is key in business and personal relationships, and it's severely lacking here. :\

while wikipedia is not an official representative of LJ (and is not actually "official" source material in any way), you can still get the gist of what has gone on behind the scenes here. LJ Staff are free of course to correct any of this in response, but for now, while they're being so silent on the matter, this is the only research material i'm privy to. i felt the urge to share it with you all, since i sympathize with the general consensus of discontent and would really like some upfront answers.

Re: users: do read if you get a chance <3 PART 2.

[ext_246126]

Anton Nossik, an advisor to SUP, has not reacted favourably to criticism by site users. In an interview given in March 2008, he accused LiveJournal users of "trying to scare and blackmail us, threatening to destroy our business," and stated that a large class of users have as their only purpose bringing harm to LiveJournal and its founders; "their goal is to criticize, destablilize and ruin our reputation." In the interview, he predicted that his likely reaction to such pressure would be to retaliate against the users rather than bowing to their pressure.

Hot damn.
Our Russian overlords can suck it.

Re: users: do read if you get a chance <3 PART 2.

[aescapes]

that section right there is a huge part of why i wanted to share all of this with everyone on the post; chances are, the flaming/cursing/threats to leave aren't going to get us anywhere and may even do more damage. :\

Re: users: do read if you get a chance &lt;3 PART 2.

[ext_246126]

The funny thing is, this dude is talking like he had anything to do with founding LJ. That's not their fucking throne to sit on. If anything, we the users have more to do with the foundation of LJ than they do... we're the ones who ran the support forums, made the layouts, mood themes, and bought paid and permanent accounts to help Brad-co keep this place growing and thriving. If anyone has the right to bitch about destabilizing and ruining LJ's reputation, it's us.

Re: users: do read if you get a chance &lt;3 PART 2.

[aescapes]

i agree; as i was saying to another user, aren't paid members, at the very least, concerned shareholders as well? our stock may be much smaller on an individual level, but together our demands are a very clear majority, especially in this case.

i'm starting to wonder if business ~over there~ in general is just conducted in a much less tactful, p.c., "user-friendly" manner. idk.

Re: users: do read if you get a chance &lt;3 PART 2.

[ext_246126]

I'm sure we would've been considered as such back before ad rotations hit the site. Now, though... we're not contributors. We're just a target market.

Re: users: do read if you get a chance &lt;3 PART 2.

[singersdd]

Yes, things are very, very different in Russia (my minister has spent lots of time in Russia/Eastern Europe). There's not even a WORD for "service", as in customer service, in Russian. The idea of giving friendly kind service and taking a customer's needs into consideration is completely foreign in Russia. More's the pity.

I think the only thing that will convince the owners of LJ that they have royally screwed up in the eyes of the vast majority of their customers is a loss of revenue. When we don't renew our accounts (mine is up in December), that might help to convince them that we're not kidding.

After 50-some years as a Communist country, Russia is still learning that people want to keep some things private. Their government invaded their privacy for how many years? The idea that we might not want to share everything is another thing that must be foreign (literally) in Russia. They just have no clue.

I'd forgotten that the ownership of LJ is Russian now. That goes a long way to explaining the tactics that they've used.

Re: users: do read if you get a chance <3 PART 2.

[epilady]

IN SOVIET RUSSIA, LIVEJOURNAL BLOGS YOU

Re: users: do read if you get a chance <3 PART 2.

[aescapes]

so disturbing that this is true @_@;

Re: users: do read if you get a chance &lt;3 PART 2.

[epilady]

In our house tonight, we're having a Livejournal Wake. Playing songs and shedding some tears for a recently departed dear friend.

I think we should all give the LJ some love. The Lj is dead. Long live the LJ.

*klink*

Re: users: do read if you get a chance &lt;3 PART 2.

[ext_246126]

Speaking of playing songs for LJ...

http://news.livejournal.com/50307.html

Precious, precious memories... *weeps*

Re: users: do read if you get a chance &lt;3 PART 2.

[aescapes]

lol, at least you can keep a light attitude about it. ^^

Re: users: do read if you get a chance &lt;3 PART 2.

[epilady]

Sorry, I can't. I'm actually weeping right now. Not kidding.

I loved what LJ was. It meant a lot to me.

:(

LOOK RUSSIAN OVERLORDS, YOU MADE A GIRL CRY.

Re: users: do read if you get a chance &lt;3 PART 2.

[aescapes]

aw, well in that case, hugs. i'm feeling it, too. :\ this on top of so many other stressful RL things going on has made this one severely depressing weekend, and it's only friday night. -_-;

Re: users: do read if you get a chance &lt;3 PART 2.

[delux_vivens]

OMG WE MET THRU LJ.

*staggers around drunk on white sangria*

Re: users: do read if you get a chance &amp;lt;3 PART 2.

[epilady]

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I AM SAYING.

*CRIES MORE*