SixApart are fucking assholes.

[interpol15]

Oh COME ON SUP!


In a COMMENT in news (titles "100th Day), jasonshellen, VP of Product Develpoment, announced that as of March 12, 2008, any new users would ONLY have the options of a plus or paid account.

That's right, no more basic accounts. All those who had a basic account before have been grandfathered in, but the fact that there is no mention of the change in the actual news post, and that most of us have been forced to find out via rumors and word of mouth is really pissing a lot of us off.

The biggest problem here is that this was in a comment on the news entry, and not as an entry itself.

The main reason for the end of basic accounts is having two options of plus or paid for new users is a lot less confusing then the three of basic, plus, and paid.

WOW. It's nice to know that SUP sees the average lj user as a TOTAL FUCKING IDIOT. Cause the original three options were so confusing.

As said by brad, plus accounts were okay because they were optional. The majority of revenue is brought in by these ads and paid users like me, but the majority of content is done by basic users. While they don't pay or show ads, they are what keeps LJ running, keeps our communities filled, write our fiction, and make this a living breathing international community.

I'm angry at the fact that SUP tiptoed around announcing its decision, barely acknowledged its advisory board, didn't even see what people on LJ even though of the idea (cause, you know, we're only the whole fucking reason why they even exist), and are serving us bullshit spin about streamlining instead of just announcing the true reason.

The problem is that SUP CAN NOT treat its user base as on a need to now basis only. We are part of a community that can only be efficient and at its best when those at the top are truthful to their customers. LiveJournal is what it is today because those in charge include us into their changes and goals. Events such as strikethrough '07 showed us the chaos and confusion when SUP makes changes without announcing them first, and the massive anger and frustration that we, the customer, react with when only faced with rumors. For SUP to deliberately choose not to formally announce such a major change is a gross oversight.

Comments

[cheshirepuss.livejournal.com]

This makes me pissed off. Not that I care much about accounts being created after today, but I am nervous that they will come after me next. I have a basic account and I really don't want them to stick shitty ads all over it.

[interpol15.livejournal.com]

They've been saying that all basic accounts made before March 12th are okay. I really hope that they don't change that, cause then what happens if a paid account expires? I hope that changing all the basic accounts from prior would be too much work though for them to consider it.

But I know a lot of people have numerous accounts (personal, fics, graphics, etc), and now all of those are going to be plus if they realize they need one now.

[faded-memories.livejournal.com]

Events such as strikethrough '07 showed us the chaos and confusion when SUP makes changes without announcing them first

Strikethrough and Boldout (or whatever they were called) weren't done by SUP. SUP is the Russian company that bought out LJ from Six Apart (if I'm not mistaken).

However, it seems as though they've taken a page out of 6A's book with regard to how they treat the users, because if it wasn't for someone bringing up the phasing out of Basic accounts, that Jason guy wouldn't have even bothered to comment to the news post at all.

I'm very happy to no longer be a paid member, and this service will never get my money again.

[interpol15.livejournal.com]

Yes, SUP is the Russian mother company, but many of the people that were in the leadership and advisory chairs with SixApart are still with SUP, since they didn't move the company from San Francisco, instead just changing the CEO's and a few things.

God is this pissing me off so much.

[faded-memories.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks for clearing that up. I never could keep it straight.

Yeah, I'm not too impressed with the situation either.

[interpol15.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've been pretty confused too. They're really doing a great job of alienating their userbase.

[faded-memories.livejournal.com]

It's like they think that if they keep screwing us over, we'll eventually learn to like it. This is not badfic, LJ! If it was, I'd have a pony.

[interpol15.livejournal.com]

Haha. If this is badfic, then where's my Stockholm Syndrome?

[faded-memories.livejournal.com]

Exactly! Shouldn't I be feeling warm and fuzzy right about now?

The drugs, they have not kicked in yet.

[interpol15.livejournal.com]

They should be taking a few cues from fandom. The ones with the good drugs.

We'll all totally shut up if they did that.

[faded-memories.livejournal.com]

I'm sure that if they tried to take cues from fandom, they'd find a way to get that wrong, too.

It would be "Mary Sues for all!" or "Whut iz beta?"

[interpol15.livejournal.com]

Or sex as a cure-all.

Cause screwing us in the ass totally makes everything better .

[faded-memories.livejournal.com]

They'd so forget lube or something.

Oh, the mpreg that will surely result. With horrible, graphic descriptions like that one SPN fic I read that time.

[interpol15.livejournal.com]

They would! And they'd make us sleep in the wet spot.

I think I know what fic you're talking about. Gah.

[faded-memories.livejournal.com]

I think I'm happy that you think you recognize the story. Because that means there's only one. Right? Right?

Oh please, let it be true.

[interpol15.livejournal.com]

Only one mpreg? In the SPN fandom.

I'm really, really sorry to crush your hopes.

[faded-memories.livejournal.com]

No, I know there's lots of that out there. I meant this particular one, with the assbabies and the horrible description.

*had nightmares for a week*

[interpol15.livejournal.com]

Ah. As far as I can tell, yes. Most end with c-sections or magically changing genitals for the birth.

Thank god.

[kriona.livejournal.com]

So angry at LiveJournal right now! I remember how Brad treated us as human beings when he was at the helm. A company takes his place and bam, look what happens.

[interpol15.livejournal.com]

God do I miss Brad. And Danga.