screw you strikebreaking scabs

[cluebyfour]

I'm not gonna pay for fake LJ!  I'm not renewing my account!

. . . oh, wait, I did that already.  Not renewing, I mean

Comments

[lord_empathos]

Very very VERY nicely put...

[elktooth_chain]

With something of a guilty conscience, I'm with you. I really really want to be in the "let's try to make a difference!" camp, but these things always seem like empty gestures to me. There are cases when strikes and boycotts have made a difference, but I think way too many people start these things as a way to make themselves feel like they're doing something about a situation that makes them angry, without stopping to look at the situation from the point of view of the institution they are trying to influence and asking whether their actions could possibly make any difference. I choose not to give my money to certain companies or to buy certain products because I personally don't want to give them my money. But I have no illusions that I am helping to stop animal exploitation by being vegan!

[cluebyfour]

There are cases when strikes and boycotts have made a difference

Absolutely, but they've almost always had a financial impact (like labor strikes).

But I have no illusions that I am helping to stop animal exploitation by being vegan!

But then, I would say it's far from an empty gesture, because you're withholding financial support from meat packers and so on based on your ethics. Assuming more people did this, it would have an effect. But a "content strike", particularly if you have a paid account, is akin to buying a dozen hamburger patties, sticking them in your freezer, and then not eating them for one day. What's the point? The butcher's already been paid.

[crankycoyote]

The only thing I'll say for the "strike" is that it's an effective technique for bringing *user* attention to the problems and make them think about taking their business elsewhere.

http://chipotle.livejournal.com/183056.html had some interesting analysis on where LJ is going with regards to Russian users.

Time to work out that API for cross-blog friend management, discovery and commenting.

[cluebyfour]

The only thing I'll say for the "strike" is that it's an effective technique for bringing *user* attention to the problems and make them think about taking their business elsewhere.

But . . . how do you bring attention to a problem by being silent about it?!

If anything, you should encourage everyone to post about it on one day!

[crankycoyote]

Yeah, good point. The strikers aren't doing a damn thing besides serving as a catalyst for discussion; it would be much better if they were involving themselves in the discussion instead.

It's such a dumb idea, but a number of intelligent people have been moved to say intelligent things in the process of denouncing it, and it seems to have gotten people thinking seriously about how to take their business elsewhere. So, maybe the strikers will achieve change despite their best efforts rather than because of them. And of course, it won't be their intended effect of getting SUP to listen to them, it'll be the evolution of an acceptable LJ replacement and people taking their business there.

[tcpip]

Whoa li'll horsey. The real value of livejournal is the community created content and the social networking that results. Advertising income simply wouldn't appear and nor would there be any paid accounts if that didn't exist.

If there is a sudden drop into the creation of that content LJ management will most certainly take notice; indeed they already did, calling those who participated in the strike as "blackmailing" management.

This is exactly the same reason why one-day gas or retail boycotts are ineffective: you're just delaying transactions you plan on making anyway.

This not necessarily true. 'Wild-cat' strikes can be extremely effective. Wanting to bring down the banks? Fine, get everyone to withdraw their money in cash on one day. Bank goes *boom*.

[cluebyfour]

If there is a sudden drop into the creation of that content LJ management will most certainly take notice;

Only if it's sustained. That's the problem with one-day boycotts, particularly of fungible commodities; all people are doing are delaying purchases, so little or nothing is lost.

Now if all these content strikers abandoned their journals, the effects may be more keenly felt.

calling those who participated in the strike as "blackmailing" management.

Interesting. Was this posted or quoted somewhere?

'Wild-cat' strikes can be extremely effective.

Yes, if they provide a sufficient financial impact. But let's not compare a bunch of people not posting in their journals for a day to coal miners or auto workers walking out unannounced.

[tcpip]

Interesting. Was this posted or quoted somewhere?

I believe it's found here:
http://darkrosetiger.livejournal.com/373663.html

And with the Russian-speakers confirming it here:
http://anton-nossik.livejournal.com/16069.html?thread=147653#t147653