Krissy ([info]ljkrissy) wrote in [info]news,
@ 2006-06-02 11:48:00
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June news
We're back -- did you miss us?  Do you like the new userpic [info]veroz made for us all?  Here's what we've been working on since our last post.

Better Styles Management
Keep an eye on the Styles management pages for an overhaul that will be launching very soon. There are also big changes in the works on our style systems, which are currently called S1 and S2.  We're working on making S2 your best choice by bringing in some of S1's functionality to it.  The goal is to have one style system that's powerful, flexible and easy to use.  We encourage you to switch to S2 now!

More New Stuff
While we're always working on big new features for you, we wanted to point out a couple of smaller tweaks and improvements.  There are some changes to the Edit Profile page which resulted in the new pages called Viewing Options (where you can turn on the Navigation Strip) and Comment Settings.  The engineers have pushed some fixes including the ability to change back to Plain Text from the Rich Text editor.  There are other bugs they are still working on, but if you are experiencing issues please contact Support.

You've also probably noticed the new "Did You Know?" reminders that show up after you log in and after you post.  These reminders are there to let you know about features you haven't used as well as new additions to the site.  Visit the Did You Know? page to view all the reminders.

Sponsored+ Account Level
Since the launch of the new Sponsored+ account level back in April, we've enjoyed hearing all of your thoughts and opinions on it.  A couple hundred thousand of you have already made the switch, and we really appreciate it.  Your choice to move to the Sponsored+ level is a big support to the site and will enable us to make improvements to the new level and to the site as a whole.  Stay tuned this summer as we start to roll out the feature improvements that have been enabled by your support of the site. 

If you're interested in getting more features for free, switch to Sponsored+ now.

Gathering Data
We have recently re-implemented HitBox, a site-wide data-gathering service that will help us dig deeper into how users and visitors use LiveJournal.  The data we collect will help us prioritize our improvements to the site, among other things.   A few folks were very concerned about privacy with the Hitbox service, and thanks to their feedback we were able to make some changes to how we'll use the service.  Most sites on the web do keep track of which pages you visit, and we're trying to be even more respectful of your privacy.  You won't actually see a change to your experience using LJ.

If you'd like to know more about HitBox, please read all about it in this post to [info]lj_biz. 

Staff Welcomes
Join us in welcoming [info]poignantly and [info]hachi to the Engineering team, [info]kimmi8 as our Product Manager, [info]joydtaylor to our Sales team and [info]chasethestars to the Design team! 

Summertime
Congratulations to all the graduates of 2006!  We wish all our users a safe, happy and productive summer.  Stay tuned to [info]news, [info]tipoftheday and [info]lj_spotlight (and [info]frankthecomic for a laugh!) as we'll be bringing you tips on how to make the most of your LJ experience all summer long.

(Read 1774 comments) - (Post a new comment)


[info]shamanix
2006-06-03 09:51 pm UTC (link)
I'd really like to know where these numbers come from. The Abuse Team certainly didn't receive 1500 e-mails. So, unless 1500+ e-mails were sent directly to SixApart, while totally bypassing the Abuse Team, I'm afraid I'm going to have to disagree with that assessment.

As for more appropriate ways to complain, let's face it, the people who caused this to snowball weren't interested in a "more appropriate way"; they wanted this to be a very public issue.

Lastly, given that you're one of the people who feels slighted by the Abuse Team, as evidenced by your postings to [info]abuse_lj_abuse, I'm afraid I can't put much stock in your opinion here.

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[info]realcdaae
2006-06-03 10:23 pm UTC (link)
No, that was the approximate number of emails sent through ProMom.org, which went to either contact@sixapart.com or feedback@livejournal.com (according to the ProMom.org admin). Those were the emails sent after the LJ abuse team sent out the stock "mass emails will not influence our decisions" reply.

Your attitude is showing exactly the problem that caused it to snowball - LJ abuse's dismissive response (which as you said, Doug Bryan apologized for, and as you can see from the thread, there was no need for any prompting from anyone for people to express their dissatisfaction with what he actually said).

Your final comment merely strengthens the view that the LJ abuse team members cannot tolerate people disagreeing with them.

I said in a previous comment, "There seems to be the suggestion that people who have disagreed with the abuse team, or questioned them too much, in the past aren't worth listening to. I have no idea what [info]hardvice's particular disputes with the abuse team have been, but plenty of people have perfectly legitimate problems with the way things are run, whichever side they happen to take on this particular issue. While I've no doubt that there have been people 'fanning the flames' (groups who have got together to report icons would seem a prime example), I hope that any user who's had disputes with LJ abuse isn't simply being lumped in with them."

So, if we ask the abuse team to clarify things or answer questions, if we expect LiveJournal's volunteers to treat us with any respect (or as human beings), our opinions are worthless.

This is precisely why a number of people think the team should be made up of more professionals and fewer volunteers. One who sees someone disagreeing with them or asking questions as someone who feels "slighted" is not cut out for work that has, or should have, some element of customer service involved with it. I have always been polite when I've written to LJ abuse. I don't think it's asking too much for them to be polite back.

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[info]yellowest_finch
2006-06-03 10:52 pm UTC (link)
Of course it's too much for them to be polite back! They can't even draft a response, let alone be polite. Duh.

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[info]robhu
2006-06-06 11:16 pm UTC (link)
here here!

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[info]beyondinsanity
2006-06-03 10:59 pm UTC (link)
"agree with us or else you aren't worth our time"
that about sum up what your last line meant?

I find it very,very unprofessional that the abuse team members are making such comments to livejournal users.
Then again,what did i really expect?

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]shamanix
2006-06-03 11:06 pm UTC (link)
Actually, what it meant is that from my personal perspective, [info]realcdaae is getting involved in the breastfeeding situation because of her personal ulterior motives.

It's comments like yours that severely deter anyone on the Abuse Team from actually commenting in public about much of anything. As soon as we do, someone twists our words, or jumps on us for being "unprofessional" or basically assumes that we're all a bunch of complete jerks who get off on suspending people and power tripping and all that other BS.

Hostility breeds hostility. I tried to present another side, fully disclaimed that I wasn't speaking on behalf of anyone. Unfortunately, as expected, I've been jumped on because "abuse team members are making such comments to livejournal users".

I'll not be responding to any further comments on this thread.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]chilifinger
2006-06-03 11:22 pm UTC (link)
"Actually, what it meant is that from my personal perspective, [info]realcdaae is getting involved in the breastfeeding situation because of her personal ulterior motives."

A-FUCKING-MEN!

i mean, does she seriously think that no one sees though her bullshit? she doesn't care about the zomgbreastfeedingicon issue-she cares about trying to discredit lj abuse at every turn because she is butthurt that at her own stupid situation which she refuses to take personal responsibility for.

holy run-on sentence!

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[info]realcdaae
2006-06-03 11:27 pm UTC (link)
And knowing me so well, you would of course have a clue what you're talking about, sockpuppet.

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[info]chilifinger
2006-06-03 11:50 pm UTC (link)
knowing you so well? you post your crap all over the internet on a daily basis.

are you seriously going to deny that you only got involved with this icon drama because it's an lja issue or are you all of a sudden a huge advocate for breatfeeding discrimination?

it's one thing to bring light to something you disagree with, but when you start shoving down people's throat it makes them gag. you seem to have gone overboard and it's sad/creepy/frightening.

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[info]realcdaae
2006-06-04 12:03 am UTC (link)
Most of my posts are friends-locked, and many of those are filtered. I don't know why people have trouble understanding what 75% friends only means, but apparently a few of you do.

I'm a feminist, breastfeeding and treating breasts as "inappropriate" is a feminist issue. If you read my LJ might have already seen me talk about it. The way LJA handled the whole thing also reflects the way they handle so many other things. I haven't denied that I think LJA needs a massive shake-up, as you say I've been vocal about it. If I wanted to be working sneakily for the downfall of LJ abuse I'd be using a sockpuppet, like you. I also wouldn't engage in a debate that I know would put me higher up on LJA's "shitlist", as someone else called it, if I didn't actually agree with what I'm arguing for.

Sorry if you find it creepy and frightening to keep on asking questions when they deserve answers. I think you'll find that no one forces you to read my "crap all over the internet", on a daily basis or otherwise.

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[info]dietymaster
2006-06-04 02:32 am UTC (link)
She's a feminist.

Expect her to take offense at female discrimination (aimed at females, I mean)

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[info]lindsay_aerin
2006-06-04 01:42 am UTC (link)
Perhaps this one person only cares about discrediting LJ Abuse...but many more, including myself, care very much about breastfeeding.

I have always been a lactivist and I always will be --reagardless of what LJ Abuse does. My involvement in this issue, and the involvement of others, is not ONLY to discredit LJ Abuse...and how dare you imply that it is.

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[info]chilifinger
2006-06-04 01:52 am UTC (link)
Wow, contradict yourself much?

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[info]lindsay_aerin
2006-06-04 01:53 am UTC (link)
How so?

I've been an advocate for breastfeeding for a long time. I only had one dealing with LJ Abuse before this, and it wasn't anything I'd go apeshit over, just slightly annoying.

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[info]chilifinger
2006-06-04 01:58 am UTC (link)
I'm speaking only about you previous comment to me. Fisrt you said that this one person may only care about discrediting LJ and then you said that the involvement of others has nothing to so with it and how dare I imply it does.

My implication had to do with one specific person, so yes, I dare.

And good for you and your convictions, but I don't know you from Adam and quite frankly, I don't really have an opinion either way about these icon issues.

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[info]lindsay_aerin
2006-06-04 02:03 am UTC (link)
I must have misread. I thought you were trying to imply that people are only up in arms over this issue becuase it is an LJ Abuse issue...and that's not the case for the vast majority. I didn't know you were just saying this ONE user is like that. It's possible she/he doesn't care about breastfeeding, but many people do and it IS an important issue.

In any case, I care more about breastfeeding than I do about LJ Abuse. Yea, it would be nice if LJ Abuse had a better system and/or were more professional, but my panties are more in a wad over the idea that any image of a baby nursing could be deemed "inappropriate" for public viewing.

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[info]chilifinger
2006-06-04 02:09 am UTC (link)
It is a very passionate issue indeed! Good luck to you all.

Oh, and if anyone wants to show LJ some examples of icons they SHOULD be dealing with, feel free to direct them to the community [info]sick_fetish. Wow.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - [info]lindsay_aerin, 2006-06-04 02:10 am UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]chilifinger, 2006-06-04 02:13 am UTC (Expand)

[info]beyondinsanity
2006-06-03 11:27 pm UTC (link)
If it's comments like mine that deter the abuse team from making comments in public, then i'm grateful.
If members from the abuse team (members, not just you specifically) would respond with more professionalism to public comments by users,instead of with hostility, then more users would be less hostile to the abuse team members.

In this thread alone two members,at least, of the abuse team have been hostile towards users.
You were the less of the two, granted, but i still think it's unprofessional.

I wasn't trying to mix your words, it seemed to me that you were saying that if someone feels "slighted by the abuse team" you wouldn't put "stock in what they say" meaning ANYONE who has a problem with lj abuse obviously isn't worth listening to.That seemed very unprofessional to me.

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[info]realcdaae
2006-06-03 11:32 pm UTC (link)
As you do not know me, your personal perspective about my "ulterior motives" is certainly not worth putting much stock in. I think your personal perspective may possibly be motivated by the fact that information you posted about the abuse team policies is shown to be inaccurate by my case. I have assumed that you believe the information to be accurate and that it is indeed the policy, and have hardly suggested that I blame you for it not being followed.

Hostility does breed hostility. I have been polite when I've communicated with the abuse team. I have received a significant amount of rudeness in return. You should not complain that you are jumped on for being unprofessional when you actively admit to being biased against users because they've disagreed with LJ abuse.

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[info]lindsay_aerin
2006-06-04 01:39 am UTC (link)
I can't speak for [info]realcdaae but I can speak for myself.

My personal experiences with LJ Abuse were iffy at best; and when this happened, the actions of the abuse team actually shocked --and continue to shock -- me. Including yours.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Peace and Reason go Hand in Hand
[info]dietymaster
2006-06-04 02:30 am UTC (link)
So you will, instead of patiently hearing out what the opposition has to say despite heavy fire, ignore the problem completely?
Indifference breeds hostility, too.
In fact, indifference breeds a much less manageable form of hostility, whereas "hostility breeds hostility" has defensive connotations only, "indifference breeds hostility" has French Revolution connotations.
Unless you want this to turn into a much larger issue than it has already become, hear them out and reasonably explain to them how they are wrong or concede defeat, but don't be unreasonable about it.
If you do not offer a reply to this comment, then I fear you aren't doing your job as an Abuse Team memeber and are merely interested in the power your position entails. However, if you offer a reasonable reply that explains why you think the way you do on this issue instead of jumping to conclusions about possible malcontents, then you are indeed an honorable member of the LJ Abuse staff.
It's bigotries like this that make simple issues so difficult to resolve; one side disapproves of the other side, which immediately gets on its high horse.
They're exercising their First Amendment Right, the LEAST you could do is courteously reply.
"We all live on the same rock, can't we all just get along?" -I can't remember who said this, but I know it's a famous quote.
Swallow your pride and face the people with the REAL power!

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]misfratz
2006-06-04 09:41 am UTC (link)
Did you ever consider that her 'personal' objections to the behaviour of LJ abuse team might be justified? Obviously if you attack an individual for no reason, they're going to side with/show solidarity towards others who are treated badly. I don't see why you would have a problem with this, unless the intention is to be divisive and deliberately ignorant.

Knowing realcdaae far better than you do, I know that she is genuinely supportive of breastfeeding and good parenting in general (I am a parent myself and have previously breastfed my daughter, although I don't actually feel inclined to post pictures of this).

Perhaps if you did actually explain yourselves publicly and behave openly and honestly, you would be subject to less hostility...

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[info]davidkevin
2006-06-03 11:14 pm UTC (link)

> ...given that you're one of the people who feels slighted by the
> Abuse Team, as evidenced by your postings to
> [info]abuse_lj_abuse, I'm afraid I can't put much stock in your
> opinion here.


"Given that you belong to a group of people who believe they've undergone previous mistreatment by the Abuse Team, I refuse to believe your opinion about new mistreatment."

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[info]dietymaster
2006-06-04 02:43 am UTC (link)
I find this all mildly amusing, but I have to side with the LJ Users who are affronted on this issue.

LJ Abuse has not conducted itself in a manner befitting it's position, and either needs to stand down, or negotiate.

Or it could simply remove the delusion that this site is run democratically and that the User's voice matters because, from what I can see, none of the Abuse Team members have been able to stand more than two posts from people with legitimate and logical arguments (prove me wrong! I DARE you!). As a site based in America, the Vox Populus should matter more than it apparently does to the LJA, the people who it should matter the MOST to.

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[info]neitherday
2006-06-07 09:44 pm UTC (link)
While I do have serious issues with the way LJ-Abuse is run, I would like to point out that Brad himself has stated time and time again: "LiveJournal is not a democracy". If the delusion that LiveJournal is a democracy exists, it is not perpetuated by LiveJournal staff.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

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