I just posted this (very wordy) comment to the journal of someone on my flist who is weighing the pros and cons of going through with the strike:
There is a very real danger of fandom users provoking a serious backlash among our fellow users as well as SUP - and any future entity that might wind up owning LJ - by continually exhibiting an intractable attitude in the face of apologies and offerings of respectful treatment. Personally, I'm finding embarrassing the many responses of "Oh, you're sorry, are you? Well, I'll believe it when I see/don't see [insert unreasonable demand here], you lying assholes!"
If we are going to demand fair treatment and respect, we are going to have to act deserving of it. One way to do that is to let go of grudges when a genuine gesture is made by SUP. Yes, there was no "promise" that they "wouldn't screw up again." Please. Be reasonable. What sane businessperson would ever make such a claim? From their perspective, their fannish user base is made up of more than a few wild-eyed, judgmental flakes who are more interested in pointing and screaming, "See? SEE? They're out to get us!!!11" than in actually working things out like adults.
The loss of basic accounts is a blow, but mature, reasonable adults know that it was a business decision that SUP was utterly free to make. Most of us were upset primarily about the fact that it was slipped under the radar and implemented immediately, not because we thought SUP had no right to make the decision at all. If we are basing our response to their apology on the fact that they haven't promised to restore basic accounts, we are risking our own credibility with both SUP and our fellow users.
SUP has committed itself to a process of involving us, their users, in their policy decisions by giving us a mechanism to provide feedback on potential changes before they are implemented. Do we have proof that this isn't just lip service? Do we know for certain that they won't let us talk and talk and do whatever they want anyway? Of course not.
Do they deserve a chance to demonstrate their trustworthiness to honor this process without constant snarky, distrustful comments and attitude? In my opinion, yes.
And to me, that means dropping the idea of the one-day strike, a gesture that I only supported because it represented a way for users to express their displeasure. But it had serious flaws even when I was supporting it and was always destined to be more symbolic than practically effective. What legitimate reason does anyone really have to go through with this now, except to make the statement that fandom - just as so many people have accused us - will never be satisfied, no matter what anyone does for us?
no subject
There is a very real danger of fandom users provoking a serious backlash among our fellow users as well as SUP - and any future entity that might wind up owning LJ - by continually exhibiting an intractable attitude in the face of apologies and offerings of respectful treatment. Personally, I'm finding embarrassing the many responses of "Oh, you're sorry, are you? Well, I'll believe it when I see/don't see [insert unreasonable demand here], you lying assholes!"
If we are going to demand fair treatment and respect, we are going to have to act deserving of it. One way to do that is to let go of grudges when a genuine gesture is made by SUP. Yes, there was no "promise" that they "wouldn't screw up again." Please. Be reasonable. What sane businessperson would ever make such a claim? From their perspective, their fannish user base is made up of more than a few wild-eyed, judgmental flakes who are more interested in pointing and screaming, "See? SEE? They're out to get us!!!11" than in actually working things out like adults.
The loss of basic accounts is a blow, but mature, reasonable adults know that it was a business decision that SUP was utterly free to make. Most of us were upset primarily about the fact that it was slipped under the radar and implemented immediately, not because we thought SUP had no right to make the decision at all. If we are basing our response to their apology on the fact that they haven't promised to restore basic accounts, we are risking our own credibility with both SUP and our fellow users.
SUP has committed itself to a process of involving us, their users, in their policy decisions by giving us a mechanism to provide feedback on potential changes before they are implemented. Do we have proof that this isn't just lip service? Do we know for certain that they won't let us talk and talk and do whatever they want anyway? Of course not.
Do they deserve a chance to demonstrate their trustworthiness to honor this process without constant snarky, distrustful comments and attitude? In my opinion, yes.
And to me, that means dropping the idea of the one-day strike, a gesture that I only supported because it represented a way for users to express their displeasure. But it had serious flaws even when I was supporting it and was always destined to be more symbolic than practically effective. What legitimate reason does anyone really have to go through with this now, except to make the statement that fandom - just as so many people have accused us - will never be satisfied, no matter what anyone does for us?