Update on Release 88

[news]

Thank you for your continued feedback about our latest release.  Today, we have some small updates to share with you:

• A patch has been released that should address a few of the major bugs with expanding comments, as well as other Ajax features. This should help with some of the functionality issues some of you have been experiencing. 

• All users now

Comments

[astronewt]

From the information I've gotten in response to inquiries about this, it looks like comment titles will not be put back into the default non-customized style. Which I totally understand is not the answer anyone wants to hear, I'm sorry about that. I don't have any more information on it other than that right now, but I thought it was best to just state it now that we've got that info rather than leave it hanging out there.

Right now, a journal using an S2 style can use customized comment pages to get subject line use back, and then we'll be designing a new S2 commenting style that will mimic the display of the previous commenting pages. (I don't have exact details on how that's being done yet, or where that option/setting will live.) The new S2 commenting style that mimics the old should then not have the big problem the current S2 customized pages do, which is the 'squished' display for very long comment threads, where it's two words per line and so on.

[noabsolutes]

Is there a reason why, though? Can you tell us? I haven't made an exhaustive read of these posts (there are well over 10,000 angry comments) but I have seen literally hundreds of comments pointing out that people use them for everything from organizing inboxes to preventing PTSD flashbacks.

Given that it's obviously something a significant portion of your userbase wants, why is it gone for good from the default style?

[_lethe_]

igrick doesn't like it. And apparently he is god.

[loganberrybunny]

Explaining things isn't The Livejournal Way, though. A few years ago they blocked Interest searches for a bizarre range of phrases ranging from "genocide" to "hospice workers". I asked in one of these posts what was going on, and was told by a staffer (Marta, I think) that unfortunately they couldn't explain. I queried that and said that surely she meant wouldn't -- and she came back and emphasised "couldn't".

This block is still in place, incidentally, albeit in a lesser fashion. Try an Interest search for "young grapefruit" (yes, really) and you'll see this:

Error
Sorry, we're unable to help you find users matching the interests you've provided.

I can only assume that it's the combination of "young" and a word with the letter sequence "rape" that causes the block. But really...

[_iga]

There is russian "designer" tema who was hired by SUP to make new design.
See http://tema.livejournal.com/1042212.html and his site http://www.artlebedev.ru/everything/livejournal/prototype/ and wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemy_Lebedev

Apparently Hi merely dislike Subjects.

[rane_ab]

Thanks again for the info! :) Just one question, though: I understand there's a chance S2-styles will get overhauled to the new system (or at least lose their subject lines) in the future, as well - I assume that would mean the S2-style default page that will be developed will then lose its subject lines, in turn? Or am I looking at that the wrong way?

[estioe]

but WHY? I just don't understand the NEED to remove them. If there's people not using them, then they can just leave it BLANK. The idea that it's a bother doesn't make any sense.

[brickhousewench]

THIS. There needs to be a reason to remove functionality. Like if it breaks something else. Otherwise there's no valid reason to remove a useful feature. THAT IS ACTUALLY BEING USED BY PAYING CUSTOMERS.

[lady_noremon]

Frequently used!

[noirraven]

To quote _lethe_:

igrick doesn't like it. And apparently he is god.

This is the ONLY reason/excuse we've seen come from any LJ staffer and even more evidence of his jackassery can be found here.

[master_helsing]

How do you people run a business when a grand majority of your user-base tells you (not you personally) outright "NO, DO NOT DO THIS" and you do it anyway? Was over 9348 comments just not enough to say it clearly?

Have you heard of Qwikster?

Because this is about to become that. People will not go quiet about this. It will not die down. And we will certainly not (in igrick's rude and passive aggressive words) "get used to it".

Whole communities have been rendered useless and this "work-around" is un-helpful.

[bree]

It's obvious that they aren't interested in listening, because no matter what we say, they will not add them back.

I've heard that Dreamwidth is developing an import for communities. I'm sure once that is available the people that are staying because their favorite community is here, won't be here anymore.

Sucks to work at livejournal.

[lilyginny27]

Currently importing my entire journal to Dreamwidth.

Is it sad that I've gained almost three full months of free paid time here at Livejournal because of Russian DDoS attacks (still waiting for those 2 free weeks they announced this week). And yet, it's a Russian and his careless disregard for the people who are paying him to be here that makes me fully want to leave. Because if the communities go, I go, and if Dreamwidth gets that import working...

Yeah, sucks to work at livejournal.

[elisabeth]

For 11 years I've been here. I've weathered bad decisions. I've sighed sadly as LJ's been passed around more times than a cheap hooker. And in all that time I've stayed loyal, maintaining my paid account even through periods of intermittent posts. I've never wavered in my faith.

That ends with this clusterfuck: I've had it. I don't believe that LJ will get any more of my money until:
A) 88 gets rolled back, and
B) igrick gets sacked.

Since neither are likely to happen, I am also in the process of moving to Dreamwidth. I'll monitor my communities here until DW gets the migration tool working. My paid time expires in May, and there'll be no more after.

Good bye, LJ. Sucks to work for you.

[kellzilla]

Technically, igrick doesn't work for LJ, igrick works for the web design firm LJ is using for their (ugly ass) overhaul. But that does not excuse his behavior or LJ's lack of response over his behavior.

[heterochromiia]

Actually igrick is the head of LJ Russia.