I'm no Fey: ;)

[ex_uniquewo]

Plus, I'm lazy and it's pretty late here so I'm just gonna quote news, 'k?

"We've also added an opt-out setting for virtual gifts. Paid members can choose to disable receiving all virtual gifts, or just of sponsored v-gifts. That setting is also found on the Viewing Options page

Comments

[mskala]

I hope that "Did you know your ads are running on a site that hosts objectionable content?" routine won't become a common tactic among people who dislike ads on Livejournal. Actually, I hope it'll be solidly condemned and never repeated. It's exactly the same tactic that WFI was using against the fanfic people, it's extremely damaging to the community, and I'd like to think that we who dislike ads are better than WFI.

[matgb]

Bringing advertisers into a blogging website is by definition bringing outsiders, no?

++1 ;-)

(why do all the interesting real time discussions happen when I'm swamped at work? LAter to both of you...)

[mskala]

When I said "they" I meant advertisers and LJ.

Okay, in that case I agree. But because of that, because the results are out of the complainant's hands, people should think twice before choosing to become complainants.

I have no idea what motivated this letter.

Neither do I. Part of the problem is that it doesn't matter what motivated the letter; the effects are independent of that. Thus (although I know you weren't making this claim) there would be no truth in a claim someone could make that it's okay for good people to use this tactic even if it's bad when bad people use it. It doesn't matter for what reasons it's used, the effects are equally dangerous either way.

Bringing advertisers into a blogging website is by definition bringing outsiders, no?

I meant bringing them into internal disputes in particular, and I thought that was clear from the sentence immediately before the one you quoted, but I'm not fond of advertising in general either.

[ex_uniquewo]

because the results are out of the complainant's hands

As they should be, imo. When I filed my complaint at the BBB and clicked on the equivalent of a 'sent' button, my part was done. It was up to other people to decide whether it was valid or not and then it is up to LJ to decide what type of decision, if any, they should take as a result of it. I'm happy things work that way. I think that's how they should work.

people should think twice before choosing to become complainants.

That, I absolutely agree with.

I meant bringing them into internal disputes in particularThe problem here is that LJ's lack of communication or poor communication on this issue gave users little leverage. I think it was perfectly logical to seek help so to speak elsewhere. When productive dialog seems impossible, what should users do

[anildash]

Yeah, fwiw, it's frustrating to see from our side, too, because the message they get isn't "wow, some people on LJ are upset about policy" but rather "i guess To Catch A Predator was right... this is a den of depravity".

I don't know if I have a way to articulate that well to the people who are upset/frustrated enough to do that, though. :\

[ex_uniquewo]

Well, since LJ didn't seem very intent on listening to their users they chose another route. I can't blame them. I did too. I wouldn't have done it if I though there was another way.

[anildash]

well, for future reference, if you ever feel we're not listening, my home number, personal email, and IM are all in my profile. feel free to get in touch if I can help out. :)

For what it's worth, I don't think the route they chose helped their cause any. I hate to see people undermining their own ethics (filing complaints that have an ulterior motive other than the stated one) in pursuit of their goals. And it's the kind of thing that can make it *harder* to listen, if it seems like any tactics are acceptable.

At any rate, I'm happy to help, with the only caveat being that it's sometimes hard to find time on top of the day job to get to everything as quickly as I'd like.

[ex_uniquewo]

well, for future reference, if you ever feel we're not listening, my home number, personal email, and IM are all in my profile. feel free to get in touch if I can help out. :)

Thanks but no, thanks. First, as you often say you're not directly involved with LJ - correct me if I'm wrong, please. Secondly, I don't think privately contacting 6A employees should be how things work. LiveJournal has set ways for users to communicate with higher-ups. These should work. My feedback/support request has been unanswered for a week now. Also, speaking of privately contacting 6A employees, I sent an e-mail to Rachel three weeks ago because I was advised to do so by Carrie. I've never gotten any answer, even if it was to say that she couldn't answer me.

The BBB answered me the day after I filed my complaint. They had told me it could take up to 10 days. To quote something a user said recently: "Under promise and over deliver."

And it's the kind of thing that can make it *harder* to listen, if it seems like any tactics are acceptable.I've already

[bluepard]

Sorry for the late reply (I only just discovered the community) but what about instead sending the sponser a message saying that LJ's policies had recently alienated a great deal of its users and the backlash was carrying over to the sponser? There were many replies of "I'm boycotting Pepsi for this" that could have been useful.

After all, the consumer complaint hasn't been about LJ's content so much as its policies, enforcement, and poor service. Maybe this would allow people to voice their discontent without seeming to wag the finger at the users.

[ex_uniquewo]

*nods* If I had written to Pepsi, that's what I would have said.

[matgb]

I'm amazed it's taken this long to happen; it was one of the principle noted concerns when they introduced ads in the first place, corporate sponsors want clean sites to sponsor, so LJ would need to choose between different revenue streams.

The ads already impact freedom of speech, and were always going to.