Don't feed the journal (unless you ask first)

[firiel44]

In the wake of the Facebook privacy controversy, I have to say that LJ's RSS/Atom/FOAF thing has been bothering me more as I think about it. It's definitely nice to be able to get things like officialgaiman and bunnycomic on my f-list. But these are put out by people who expect tons of readers and want it that way. Flattering as it is when one or two people friend me, if

Comments

[alto2]

You asked for it--I make no claim as to being any sort of talent with the icon-making, and this is my first all-text attempt. I can change colors, etc if you prefer (and I am wondering if perhaps it should have a tiny black border). I did the first one, and then wasn't sure if I'd really given the right words emphasis, so I made the second. Feel free to choose one, both, or neither :)

[firiel44]

Ooh, thanks! I like the second better, though I was really thinking of an even font for all of it. I really don't know if a border would make it better or not. I'm also no good at colors for things like this. I probably won't ever use it as my default, so no worries about it clashing with my main page. In short, re-do or not as you see fit.

The FAQ link above has feed info, though it's fairly non-technical, just enough to weird me out. Of course my vast understanding of RSS amounts to "If I click the orange button, it goes into my Firefox bar," so I could be wrong about any or all of this. I still haven't quite wrapped my brain around the how of podcasts either, though it would probably help if I bothered to download iTunes and just started tinkering. That's usually how I amaze people with my vast technical knowledge. ;)

[alto2]

I'm not sure how to do something with a consistent font unless it's all going to be small (I've seen the ones that manage to justify the text using different sizes and have no idea how to do that unless it really is a whole lot of tinkering). Unless that's what you mean? Like I say, never done a text icon before, so unless there are specific things you'd like changed about that one, I probably won't redo it. If there are, though, just let me know and I'll play a bit :)

Re: LJ, I think I'm a bit more creeped out by the new notifications that I apparently need to familiarise myself with--I had no idea that it included one that tells you when a friend uploads a new icon. I don't know why (it's not like my life secrets are in my icons, after all) but I really felt uncomfortable when I found out someone was notified when I uploaded one. ::shiver::

[firiel44]

Huh, I never noticed that there's always some slight variation in font, even in this one. Strange, that. Except for martoufmarty's infamous This Icon icons, but I dare not question the ways of such a master of the craft.

Notifications: Seriously? That's weird and extremely stalkery. Tagging a post to keep up with comments kind of makes sense, but some of it really is too much. Why aren't LJ people rebelling like Facebook did? It seems we are less informed about these things. I shouldn't have to hunt down what's happening with my info to be able to have a say in it.

[alto2]

Just to be really spammy (and then I'm going to sleep!), I got to playing with these a bit more after seeing the icon you used earlier. As always, do what you will (or won't) with them :)

[firiel44]

Woohoo, choices! I like them all. If I start a work journal I'll definitely need one of these. ;)

[alto2]

Hee! I did like the last three much better than the first two. And a work journal? Just for job-related things? (I don't think I know anyone with a work journal...)

[padawanpooh]

Thanks for giving us a heads-up on this, Firiel. It looks like for now all we can do is f-lock. GRR!!!

[firiel44]

Obnoxious, isn't it? Somehow they can't see the difference between not giving a false sense of security and outright enabling scary people. They seem more interested in features to people looking for stuff than for those of us creating the content, and think if they say "non-stalkery" in the announcement that it makes it so. If we all have to lock everything, that removes a lot of the networking element, which more than halfway defeats the purpose of LJ.

[alto2]

If we all have to lock everything, that removes a lot of the networking element, which more than halfway defeats the purpose of LJ.

Hear, hear! I think that's what upsets me the most about it. How many cool people would I never encounter if I lock everything? And the person who's been the "I don't work for LJ but you're all being ridiculous" in that thread just does. not. get. it. at all. Bah!