Beginning of the end

[kangeiko]

LJ have a response for us.

Some other things they said in the comments.

OK, that settles it. I, for one, do not want to be associated with a site that views pro-anorexia communities as something that fits within LJ's grand vision (despite them being in violation of the ToS, btw!), but deems two 17 yo boys having sex as 'obscene' and 'illegal'. Then denies homophobia by saying, "oh, but some of our best friends are gay!" Of course they are, LJ.

I don't know if I'm moving to GJ or IJ. Ideally, I'd like to get involved in the beta testing of Scribblit, the proposed fandom-driven journal. Either way, this is the straw, etc.

(xposted to all 3 journals.)

Comments

[elspethsheir.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the link to aura218's post. It bothers me so much that I fear the post may be deleted before I get a chance to read it all, and while there was a time a fear like that would strike me as paranoid, now it doesn't, in this environment.

If you do land up over at GJ, I'm there as elspethsheir as well.

[kangeiko]

I've set up an LJ RSS feed for the GL journal re: leaving, fandomtossed, if you're interested. fandom_flies is covering the moving plans, but fandomtossed is covering everything about the debacle.

It bothers me so much that I fear the post may be deleted before I get a chance to read it all, and while there was a time a fear like that would strike me as paranoid, now it doesn't, in this environment.

Precisely. I don't want to be in a place where I'm forever backing everything up - not because of server crashes, but because the admins might take it upon themselves to delete it.

[queenspanky.livejournal.com]

Uh, I don't think they ever specifically referred to it being about gay/lesbian stuff, I'm pretty sure they are only talking about things that depict people under 18 (which, as they are based in California, they should be doing, since that is the law that applies to them and as they host our files, they are liable). And anorexia isn't against the law, even though it is more life threatening than drawings of underage couples (though not of photos of underage couples for obvious abuse reasons).

Not that I'm defending LJ, I think they were stupid to do this, but I can understand some of their points. HOWEVER, I vastly disagree with how they have gone about it. No warnings, and they target fandom and not shota? That 's so wrong. I don't get it. And I think enough people are making that case that they will back down. Hopefully.

[kangeiko]

I'm not saying that pro-ana communities are illegal. I'm saying that they're in violation of lj's ToS, which they are. They are specifically aimed at helping people harm themselves - which is the reason I can't start a pro-suicide group.

The drawings they banned were also not illegal. In fact, LJ admits this. They'd just rather ban them as potentially not fitting their view of their ToS.

The reason they're not banning anything heterosexual is because no one has complained to them. They ADMIT that no one will complain to them. They ADMIT that this means that only gay and lesbian art in the grey areas they identified will end up being banned. This is a prime example of functional homophobia and discrimination - nothing in the ToS, but everything in the execution of it.

What do you think they'd say if I reported a rape fantasy group? Do you honestly think they'd do anything? Plenty of people have complained, but have been given the 'not our problem' line of bullshit.

I can understand some of their points.

You know what the problem of LJ making good points is? They, and their staff, have called us all paedophiles. It makes it hard to listen to anything else when the blood is pounding in your ears.

I'm not interested in listening to any more explanations - especially when they're still refusing to give us a straight rule about whether or not fanfic featuring underage characters is allowed.... even if the relationship is fucking CANON. (So all you Buffy/Angel shippers beware, apparently.)

I've had enough.

[kangeiko]

Also - I was initially pissed off about their treatment of this. Now I'm pissed off about THEM, the PEOPLE, the lack of listening, the treatment, the derogatory remarks from the staff, the lack of clarification over anything important, everything. If a company fucks me over this badly TWICE in the space of THREE MONTHS, you bet your arse I'm leaving. Just how bad do you think it's going to get here? You think Warriors for Innocence are going to stop at fanart?

*breathes*

This thing is making me fucking sick. Sorry love, but I don't want to talk about it any more. I've made up my mind.

[kangeiko]

Oh, and also? These communities are ok. Because sexually explicit illustrations are the devil's work, but beating children until theyare unconscious is sanctioned by the fucking Bible. Yeah. I really wanna stay here.

[queenspanky.livejournal.com]

I wasn't trying to convince you to stay, hon, you do what you gotta do. I guess because I'm out of the fanart/HP stuff that icked this whole thing off I feel more removed from it, since none of my stuff has minors in it at all. I agree they are totally hypocritical and I really want them to remove those sites. But I don't think LJ are homophobic, I think users are and LJ are bound by law (the contract we sign) to follow up on complaints and if they find underage stuff, to get rid of it. Although I do think they should give some damn warning first and not wait until after we've done the new paid accounts, the bastards. Humph.

I'm sitting on the fence at the mo, but may leap at any time.

[kangeiko]

Come with us to the new fandom-created pastures. They'll be green.

I'm posting to all 3 journals for a while, until we know what's happeing with Scribblit and fandom_flies.

On an unrelated note, I can't stop throwing up. I haven't been at work for three days. I am not impressed with my body. There is nothing wrong, but it won't keep anything down.

*looks pitiful*

[queenspanky.livejournal.com]

Oh, honeybee. That's not good. Are you free on Sunday to meet up?