The Great 2012 Migration?

[tinpra]

If you haven't seen the new lj_releases notice, the new Friends Page (aka Feed) is in beta testing now. Even for someone currently using a white background/dark text layout, I find it annoying. (It also makes me realize that I'm un-fond of FB's infinite scrolling, but since I don't use it nearly as much as LJ, it's only sorta mattered before.) If you haven't seen the new page, I warn you everything is big and bright. And this with my screen brightness set fairly low.

Anywho, mayhap you'll feel differently than other people. I feel like every time LJ releases something all everyone does is complain (oh, btw, they brought back the blinkin' scissors, but fixed the you-can-only-collapse-from-the-top thing with lj-cuts) which makes me have want to stop and ponder whether we're all just have a herd mentality knee jerk reaction. But people have been raising very good points about accessibility for those of us with sensitive sight, who are headache prone (raises hand), etc. Plus, there's that pesky thing where they won't let you opt out of anything. I remember talking to a girl, a couple of years ago, who dj'ed on the weekends. She was married to MySpace even though it seemed like a no man's land of social activity. I asked her why not jump to Facebook, home of all things hep and happening. Her reasoning? MySpace was ideal for artists wanting to customize and control the look of their pages. Facebook was a bland, stark white that she couldn't customize.

It seems like LJ is trying to be that person.

Anywho...

EDIT: According to a recent Daily Dot article, LJ is declining: http://www.dailydot.com/culture/livejournal-decline-timeline/. I was going to post that to the lj-releases site, but I've been blocked from commenting further. I'm going to chalk it up to some unknown-by-me commenting limit and not become paranoid about them wanting to limit the voice of desention.

Comments

[erinm-4600.livejournal.com]

I don't like ANY of it. At all.

[tinpra.livejournal.com]

It's a mess, certainly. And a huge freaking step to make w/o an opt out or a warning of any sort. Even FB learned from user outcry and gave notice for months and months and months before switching to timeline. LJ does crap, we complain, they fix or don't fix....and then they do crap again. Their learning curve is mighty steep.

[erinm-4600.livejournal.com]

I really believe they don't care. What the five want is what everyone gets, because they're in charge.

And we stay.. and complain and grumble... I loved that article, BTW. Thank you for the link. :)

[tinpra.livejournal.com]

More than welcome. I really wanted to post it to lj_releases. But now I can't. *twitches*

I am giving serious looksies to my Dreamwidth account. Are you giving any thoughts to a move? I know moony's already left and I've heard of other folks doing the same.

[erinm-4600.livejournal.com]

I got a DW account long ago, but I don't like the attitude over there. I did get an InsaneJournal, for RP purposes, but that game died, so the journal is just sitting.

A lot of folks left after the last round of crap. This f-list change is going to lose a lot more, I'm sure. LJ can't grasp that the reason people moved on to other sites because LJ pretty much ran them out. As for me moving.. I'm so entrenched at LJ that I can't really fathom going elsewhere. I am one of those people who LJ says doesn't exist, as I actually do EVERYTHING at LJ.

Seriously. 13 RP LJs. I'm actually logged in as the RP character more than myself. And I only log in as me, anymore, when doing landcomm stuff.

LJ needs to grasp the concept of opt-out/opt-in. Make that ugly layout the default for new LJs, FINE. But don't force us into it. I'm about to get on Facebook just to tell LJ how much I don't use Facebook for LJ.

[tinpra.livejournal.com]

I got a DW account long ago, but I don't like the attitude over there.
Oh? What's it like? I posted my first DW post today complaining about the atrocious pink layout (fixed!). And now I'm lamenting that I don't know anyone there and having to start over. But I think you and I agree that we like fandom best when it's low stress and low ego, so if that's DW...

I know what you mean about being thoroughly entrenched in LJ. I'm not in it as deeply as you are, but if I jump ship I'm jumping into the ocean. I don't see me joining the forums at FF.net, I use FB strictly for friends and family, I'm leery of joining AO3 (and do they have a community, per se?) and...y'know...DW. So new. So weirdly similar to LJ but not. In all honesty, though, I don't read my own page, I read the f-list page. It's the one thing I wish they'd get their stinky mitts off of.

[erinm-4600.livejournal.com]

The vibe I got over there was that they were the table of the popular kids and I should be thankful to be let in to play. But, that's -me-

If it works for you, go for it. <3

I know nothing of AO3, and I haven't even been to my ff.net pages in years. I still get random notifications that folks are reading the old stuff, though. LOL I don't even know the last time I read fanfic. *facepalm*

[tinpra.livejournal.com]

Well never let it said that you aren't a busy lady, lady.

I don't know if DW will work for me or not. It's not like joining FF.net where you post what you post and hope ppl will read (and review). (Which, ff.net has gotten better and worst since you last posted. IDK if you want to bop over there to see if it's worth posting again.) It's more like being the new kid at a new school in a new town the next town over where you kinda know everyone...but not. :-/ Oh the awkward. But I guess I'll give it a shot. Eventually. LJ hasn't whacked us yet.

I was able to finally post the Daily Dot article.

[erinm-4600.livejournal.com]

WOOT!

CAUSE A RUCKUS! I've got your back. <3

[jaguarx13.livejournal.com]

You did notice that the LJ release page says right at the top, that you will be able to customize the look and feel of the feed, yes?

[tinpra.livejournal.com]

I did see that...when was that Thurs? Weds? My days are even more screw this week than usual, which is saying a lot. When I first posted this, however, that wasn't on the table. And it sounds like, from the follow up post, that even more bad blood went down and was part of what prompted the general response. Which is a first, isn't it? It seems like they usually don't really respond to user concerns, they just do or don't do. Anywho, I'm glad for the non-changes. But I do wonder what they mean by customization. Will I still have my happy Autumnal theme on my f-list page, where I really want it, or will I just have color options. I guess we'll see.