El pueblo unido jamás será vencido

[adapted from a post by lvs2read with permission]

So, I don't know how much everyone's been following the latest brouhaha here in LJ-land, but here's some links for those who might be interested:

First, LJ decides to eliminate Basic Accounts without telling current users so in the latest news post:
http://news.livejournal.com/106731.html?thread=68451051

Then, someone discovers that LJ is filtering their 'popular interests' list:
http://stewardess.livejournal.com/287615.html?format=light
http://stewardess.livejournal.com/287615.html?format=light

Then, someone else calls for a one-day strike of LJ:
http://stewardess.livejournal.com/288147.html?thread=5877907#t5877907
http://beckyzoole.livejournal.com/394838.html
http://beckyzoole.livejournal.com/395310.html
http://beckyzoole.livejournal.com/395125.html


ruric also posted a good analysis of why erasing Basic Accounts makes little sense, even with the (disdainful) arguments put forward by Anton Nosik (who works for SUP though I'm unclear under what title).

I've been, generally speaking, failing to get truly upset at LJ for the way they've been wanking us around (and I don't deny they have, I think they've been making awful and EXTREMELY problematic choices), though I can't really explain why. I've also been VERY uncomfortable with the automatic anti-Russian backlash there was when SUP's takeover was announced, which means I am STILL uncomfortable with any comment I see suggesting 'I told you' because the original statement was based in unjustified xenophobia and so to validate it like that is just plain problematic.

Anyway. The decision to take away Basic Accounts, however, is really bothering me. I hold three accounts at LJ and all three are paid accounts - though one of them I haven't paid myself in a while now (the other two is because I'm weak when it comes to icons and RPing) - but the basic accounts are really important to me. I want to have the possibility of free use of LJ, even if I don't use that opportunity. It's a matter of principle, absolutely, I want anyone who wants to blog on LJ to have that possibility and not have to be burdened by ads if they don't want to, and can't afford a paid account. I want my financial contribution to LJ to be my decision, not something I was forced into.

In terms of business, I think it says a lot about your ethics and the quality of your service when you offer viable free service (basic accounts might not have many add-ons and options but they work as well as any other accounts and you're not excluded from participating in anything), and your users choose to pay anyway. It's sign of a good, healthy business, and maybe more importantly - it's the right thing to do.


Re: the strike, you can expect not to hear anything from me on LJ on Friday GMT.


EDIT: Brad, the creator of LJ, posts about the decision to get rid of Basic Accounts, and makes a very good point about content and networking and community as the base of LJ's health.

"The paid users, while minimal, paid enough to keep the site running, and brought in enough revenue to keep growing the site, and paid our salaries. The free users, while not paying, were extremely valuable because they produced the content that the paying users were there to consume. You know, the whole network effect thing?"

"Privately, I think: he's doing it wrong."

The awesome, talented shadesofbrixton just got her first nonfiction essay published at an online publication. I don't rec her as often as I wish I could, because people - she's brilliant, and truly one of the most amazing author I've ever read. I want to go on at length about everything that I love about her style and her voice, but it's a million things and I feel like I wouldn't really do her justice. So I'll just say I wish I had her talent for narration and finding the exact right words to describe everyday experiences, even painful ones, while still making the reader laugh.

That said - don't trust me. Go and read her instead, and see for yourself. You won't regret it.

My V Card: A Love Story.

Random BDH love

[I believe this was at Serenity Cubed in London-Heathrow in September 2006 - just copied it from the imdb boards where someone posted it]

Fan: "You're such a good looking cast and I was wondering if there was any actual romance between anyone?"
Jewel: "That's a good question."
Morena: "It is a good question."
Jewel [nods at Morena]: "We've never been asked that."
Morena [looks at Jewel]: "Should we tell them?"
Jewel [looks out into the crowd]: "Morena and I had a fling."
[Crowd laughs and cheers]
Jewel [keeps the same 'serious' voice]: "It was just a fling, yeah, it didn't really... yeah..."
Morena: "Well, because, you know... Ron's so sexy, I had to go for Ron."
Jewel [nods]: "That's true. And Sean and Summer, I think, were sleeping together for the first few weeks, which was not surprising."
Morena: "And, Alan and Nathan."
Jewel: "Yeah, yeah."
Morena [looks back at the audience]: "And the real answer to that question would be no."