(no subject)

[arethinn]

I was really surprised not to see anyone on my flist remark on this, because it contains people who are in a constant low-to-moderate level of annoyance with LJ. But here it is: LiveJournal axed "Basic" accounts. That is, it's pay or ads only now, apparently. (Presumably if you already had one you get to keep it, but you can't create a new one that way, nor switch to it.)

See also the LJ Herald post.

Comments

[lunylucy.livejournal.com]

I linked to it. I'm pretty annoyed but it doesn't really affect me directly as of right now so I didn't elaborate.

[arethinn]

Me neither right now, but in May I was going to have to decide whether to keep paying, or revert to Basic and do something with all my Scrapbook photos (like move them to my other Scrapbook). I was cautiously impressed with the new policy thing they posted the other day, but then they go and do stuff like this. Without, you know, announcing it in advance or anything. I suppose it's naive to think that any free service can afford to be free forever, given increasing user loads, etc. But they just keep handling things so rudely.

[lunylucy.livejournal.com]

Oh, you can actually keep basic if you've made your account before March of this year or something like that. You just can't create a new one.

[arethinn]

Yes, that's what I said: If you already had one you could keep it, but couldn't make a new one or convert to it.

[arethinn]

I do too, two in fact, but it's just really annoying handling of it.

[twopiearr.livejournal.com]

i think it's just the LJ equivalent of outrage overload, at this point...

[elven-ranger.livejournal.com]

heh. Oh well. sounds part of the current capitalist climate.

[silussa.livejournal.com]

I will take the opportunity to point out I have had for a while an essentially parallel "deadjournal" account, which has a VERY low traffic load.

Sorry to say, I stopped actually trusting LJ a while ago.

[arethinn]

You're the only person on my flist that went to deadjournal. I abandoned my deadjournal and stopped caring about greatestjournal, which pretty much tanked under the stress anyway -- I don't know if they've pulled the final plug yet or not.

Most who left went to insanejournal (which has been buying servers, finally doing code updates, and generally getting their act together) and most of those were fandom people anyway. I have an active insanejournal that I read those people with, as well as a moribund one under the name starlightforest, because with like 2 exceptions, all the people I read as starlightforest are still here.

[silussa.livejournal.com]

I suspect at some point a LOT of lj-clones will crank up and people scatter for specific communities with various orientations.

I'm rather hoping not, though, as there is something to be said for the large "public square"....but LJ seems determined to force the issue at some point.

[arcanetrivia]

I suspect at some point a LOT of lj-clones will crank up and people scatter for specific communities with various orientations.

I think they already did go up and down last summer. The exodus wasn't that big compared to the whole userbase, and fandom has historically been disproportiontely represented/concerned, so it looks bigger from certain vantage points than others. But I think insanejournal has captured most of the market share who cares enough to go anywhere rather than stay put.

[jillypooh.livejournal.com]

I just don't like the way LJ gets so sneaky when they do these sorts of things. Why not just come right out and say they're doing it. It's why I like Squeaky, he tells you what he's up to.

Oh well I'll just keep on using my Basic Account until they take that away too. Then I don't know what I'll do. Probably pout.

[arcanetrivia]

I don't think they can, or would even if the law permits them to.

[helen99.livejournal.com]

Oh I hate teh adz under any circumstances. Them Russkie Capitalists are at it again. Crap. Make a paid acct and let people know - it'll get paid for, I guarantee. Rialian said he needed more icons and someone came forth - I'm sure that among your friends is a Rich Benefactor (TM). Not to feer.

[arethinn]

Um, both my accounts are paid. Money isn't the issue. I am in fact sometimes the Rich Benefactor™ for other people. It's that before I was debating "do I want to pay, or do I want to lapse to Basic?" (I guess my account # is low enough that's still the question) but now it's more "do I want to pay, or skedaddle entirely because OMG I am up to here with the shit handling and empathise with those who don't have this choice?"

I'm amused that brad is of the opinion that this was Teh Dumb Idea and would have advised against it if they'd asked, or did advise against it and they ignored it, or something.

I suppose it's a sovereign's privilege to ignore advice, but really, ought you to so quickly ignore the advice of the guy who was king two reigns ago?