elisi | Have you seen 'The Truman Show'?

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Have you seen 'The Truman Show'?

"Hi honey. Look at this. It's a 'Chef's-Mate'. Dicer, slicer and peeler in one. Never needs sharpening. Dishwasher safe."

You know the whole 'strike-thru' thing was beginning to bore me. Yes they handled it badly, but child porn is a serious issue, and they've tried to address the problems. It's not ideal, but we are talking about very delicate, complicated stuff here.

But... then I saw this. (Diet Pepsi MAX has created some special stuff just for LJ in the hopes that you'll want to try their new drink that has zero calories, ginseng and extra caffeine. The HELL? My response here)

I mean I knew they'd sold out, but this is just... *boggles* Actually, you know what it is? It's a Trojan horse. And the really galling thing is that they're showing it off saying 'Oh look at the cute horsey!' We all know what's inside. Why is there no mood for 'insulted'? (Yes I know I can write it in the little box beside the mood, it just occurred to me that it should come as standard...)

I have children to get up (as in - force to get dressed), so I'll end with another quote from 'The Truman Show'. If you have never seen this film, then get it - *today*! It is brilliant on multiple levels, and right now? It provides some kickass references. (Yes we bought the script!)

INTERVIEWER: And since the show runs 24 hours a day with no commercial breaks the staggering profits are all generated from product placement.
CHRISTOF: Yes, everything you see on the show is for sale - from the actor's wardrobe, food products, to the very homes they live in--
INTERVIEWER: All products carefully chosen and tested by you for quality and aesthetic value.
CHRISTOF: There's nothing on the show I don't use myself.
INTERVIEWER: And it's all available in the 'Truman Show' catalogue. Operators are standing by.

ETA: And here we were, thinking that their April 1st post was a joke...

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I am so sick of LJ/6A's blatant crap and I wish we'd just up and move already. The end.

The thing is, I *love* my LJ. LOVE it. I have a GJ and an IJ, but have never actually seriously considered moving... but if this continues... I might actually consider it. Damn. Damn. Damn.

I love my LJ too. It feels like home you know? But when LJ had their latest permanent account sale and were asked if they were going to have a problem with fictional writing and art they flat-out said NO. That the thing they were concerned with was real life Lolita comms and the like. What do you know, a few weeks later they start banning for fictional work. That lie to get money does not make me feel comfortable giving them my financial support any longer. It's not okay. Topped with the ignorant and doublespeaky way they handled the fallout just makes me want to groan.

It just feels like it's going to be a continual slide into suckness and along the way we're going to have to deal with so much wank, and people getting upset with others on their flists, and head desking while trying to figure out where we each draw our moral lines. And just NO. It's so depressing to deal with that crap in a place where I just wanna get my happy on.

So yeah. I hope we collectively leave soon before every new week is another big moan. And if we can leave before my paid time expires that would be especially pleasing because I cannot deal with the thought of having less than ten icons./shallow ;)

Ugh. I should never comment this late at night when my brain is mush.

What do you know, a few weeks later they start banning for fictional work.
I've not been following that part all that closely, but - as I said elsewhere - it *is* a hugely difficult area. I mean how would you classify underage RPS? Many blurry lines. Not saying that they're handling the issue well, mind you, but I can see where they're coming from and understand that they're walking a very, very fine line.

But this last thing is in a different league altogether - a blatant and overt advertising ploy that they had no reason what-so-ever to do, except for the money. Damn.

And if we can leave before my paid time expires that would be especially pleasing because I cannot deal with the thought of having less than ten icons./shallow
Oh god, I know *exactly* how you feel - I don't know if I'll ever be able to let my icons go... *clings to teh pretty* (And I know we can have tons on IJ, but it's not the same.)

I sincerely hope there'll be a lot of grovelling, although I have no idea how they can explain such a huge lapse in common sense and decency.

I mean how would you classify underage RPS?

For me, that was not the issue. I think LJ has every right to ban anything they want. The thing that I had a problem with is LJ staff telling SEVERAL users who asked if fictional work (including both art and fiction) was going to classified as obscene when they put up their new - as of then - TOS guidelines. These questions were asked in reference to the users buying permanent accounts and they didn't want to hand over their money until they knew for sure where LJ was going to stand on the issue. LJ FLAT OUT TOLD THEM THAT ANY FICTIONAL WORKS WOULD BE FINE. I saw the comments for myself. I saw them lie for money. In my book, lying to a customer's face (erm, you know what I mean) is a hell of a lot worse than whoring themselves out to corporate sponsors.

Despite the fact that I think LJ has the best (and most prettiestestestest!) system around, I would be gone in a heartbeat if I wouldn't lose so many wonderful friends I have made here. I'm not hoping that this settles down. I don't have any good feelings towards LJ/6A after seeing their money-hungry (ooh! so dramatic! ;D) ways. I hope that

fandom_flies develops a website that kicks LJ's arse and that we all leave for a place that isn't run by ass-monkeys.

Oh! Haha! You're loving me right now, aren't ya? *g* I just get so upset when I think about it. Anyway, enough of my panties being in a twist. I hope you're having a fantastic day and maybe a little sunshine too!

<333

Hey, I understand exactly what you mean. But LJ was always about friends for me - so it's like settling in a nice cosy neighbour hood, and then the new landlords want to build a casino in our backyard. And I think I'm gonna give them a good fight... There is an icon somewhere with the text 'We build LJ, you just bought it.'

There is an icon somewhere with the text 'We build LJ, you just bought it.'

EXACTLY!!

Oh man, Elisi, you have got to go watch this Spike vid right now - http://dualbunny.livejournal.com/108171.html

It's the best BtVS vid I've seen in AGES!! :)

Waaaaaaaay ahead of you! Downloaded it this morning and watched twice in a row! *g* And yes, truly brilliant. :)

EXACTLY!!
Must ask around for it...

I am really not impressed by product placement and the invitation to spam our flist with adverts like that. As for the free dollar to give virtual gifts with - it made me wonder if they've had a huge slump in revenue from that source. I know I saw a lot of people saying they wouldn't give any more back during Strikethrough, just as they said they wouldn't renew paid accounts. Perhaps it's starting to hurt?

I must admit I've decided not to give flowers and suchlike in that way any more. I have a paid account which doesn't expire for a fair while, but I'm not at all sure I want 6A to have anymore of my money, especially for gimmicks.

Perhaps we should create a button saying "No thanks to product placement" which we can post to make sure we don't get any of these things?

I know I saw a lot of people saying they wouldn't give any more back during Strikethrough, just as they said they wouldn't renew paid accounts. Perhaps it's starting to hurt?
Could be. Hopefully they'll realise that this strategy has only made things worse.

My paid account doesn't expire until May (I think), but I don't know if I can survive without my icons (seriously, they were a major reason I got a LJ in the first place... I am oh so shallow. *hangs head in shame* And no, having up to 300 on IJ is *not* the same).

Perhaps we should create a button saying "No thanks to product placement" which we can post to make sure we don't get any of these things?
But we shouldn't *have* to! *grumbles*

The leaving is inevitable, I fear, because its clear LJ/6A is going to have more and more "opportunities" which are merely excuses to give users who've paid for no ads a chance to look at ads. The exodus will probably be gradual, but I think a lot of long-time users will eventually move.

Of course, that could make LJ/6A happy, because they'll end up with new people who don't know what it was like and the system is way easier to use than MySpace, so why not be here instead of there? And that may just be their intent. Not a plot against fandom, but to turn this into a competitor for Murdoch's service.

The exodus will probably be gradual, but I think a lot of long-time users will eventually move.
I never, ever thought about leaving before (not even when the strikethru thing went down), but this thing has made me get round to prettifying my IJ and thinking about actually using it. I don't think I'll ever be able to leave LJ - because it really is my home - but I might start using both accounts side by side.

they'll end up with new people who don't know what it was like and the system is way easier to use than MySpace, so why not be here instead of there?
Which is another reason for staying, to be honest. They wanna build a casion in my back-yard, I'm not gonna give them the satisfaction of just up and leaving, so they can carry on.

I made a much more expletive filled post about this, but I refused to name the product in question because I am NOT going to give them the satisfaction of getting their name out there on my journal. The fact that I've seen post after post naming the product in question makes me livid! And I agree with you; this is shoving advertising down paid accounts users' throats even if they never get the damned v-gifts.

I made a much more expletive filled post about this
I saw that! Actually I saw it *before* I saw the

news post, so I was wondering what had happened... And I have no problem naming the product. Let's call it negative advertising.

this is shoving advertising down paid accounts users' throats even if they never get the damned v-gifts.
It is quite frankly unbelievable. Re-read their April Fool post (linked in this post) and just marvel. I think the zombie idea is beginning to look good! With the strike-thru thing I can understand how they're trying to walk a fine line in a massive grey area. But this? *shakes head*

Oh, bother! It probably show my underlying shallowness, but I have to say that annoys me much more than the bold-through thing.

Now if they gone for coffee instead... though I suppose it's difficult to "brand" coffee!

Oh, bother! It probably show my underlying shallowness, but I have to say that annoys me much more than the bold-through thing.
Well then we can be shallow together. Child porn is a deeply serious issue, and they're trying to walk a fine line. But this is blatant and unecessary. I think I threw up in my mouth a little when I read the post...

Now if they gone for coffee instead... though I suppose it's difficult to "brand" coffee!
Tasters Choice! If your friend is feeling sleepy why not send her a little virtual ASH? *g*

BTW, meant to say that I think your comment was excellent! Very well said, and how perfect was that icon?

Aw, thanks. And the icon is made of win! (It's by

scarah2 if you feel like snagging. And I have FanLib to thank for finding it! Heh.)

That's just... icky. ::boggles with you::

Also? Just what the world needs: another diet soft drink with extra caffeine. Yeah.

I'm pretty attached to LJ, but this finally has me considering leaving. ::sighs::

That's just... icky.
My exact feelings. They've not replied yet, I wonder what they'll say.

Also? Just what the world needs: another diet soft drink with extra caffeine. Yeah.
Indeed.

I'm pretty attached to LJ, but this finally has me considering leaving. ::sighs::
I doubt I'll ever leave leave, but I might use my IJ as well. Bleurgh. Stupid money.

it just occurred to me that it should come as standard

Hee! I think you're right. And I feel rather prescient now for bringing up the issue of virtual gifts a few weeks ago.

Must have missed that post (holiday!), but I know a lot of people feel they're kinda pointless. The only one I've ever sent was a tree, where the money goes towards planting more, which I think is nice.

My comment is on page 18 - I made it when I saw yours here, but lost it whilst ar work!

Went and read it - actually I've been skimming lots of the comment pages. It's v. interesting to see what people have to say.

You know, since I'd already decided to let my paid account expire, revert to Basic with no ads, and move the pretties to IJ (where I bought a permanent account plus extra iconspace, so I can have 500 icons when I get around to that) ... I've just not bothered to care to pay attention to the whole product placement thing. I'll get around to reading the news post more carefully and following some of the thread, of course, but their insistence on waving their child porn straw man in the faces of many many people asking about a *completely different issue* has pissed me off so intensely that I wouldn't want to give more money to a place with any staff that shows such disdain and disrespect for their paying customers.

Bah humbug.

Though I won't *leave* LJ, because of the friends who'll still be here ... my *money* will be leaving. Unless and until things change for the better. But I won't hold my breath.

Bah humbug.
Heh. Saw your post (since it's taken me forever to get round to answering this comment), and am actually considering getting a permanent IJ account also - they're so relatively cheap that it seems a much better deal than a paid account. And I'm not going to pay for two... (I love my LJ. I can't imagine reverting back to basic. *sobs*)

And I think I need one of those 'we built this place, you just bought it' icons.

Eeek! I'd completely missed that. It's going from bad to worse, isn't it?

As I said, I can put up with all the pr0n stuff - it's their necks on the line after all. But this? I *still* can work out what they were thinking. ::shakes head::

Oh and I'm sort-of working on a little meta re. Prof Yana, and how you *can* see The Master in his personality. OK, so not evil or insane, but there are pointers. All I need is some time - but I'm going to concentrate on my S:SP review first. :)

Actually I mentioned this once before, but, I tend to think that professor Yana is who the Master would have been, if he hadn't been made to see in that twirly vortex eye thingie as a child.

I feel it makes him rather tragic, that he could have been a good man, if the Timelords hadn't driven him insane.

professor Yana is who the Master would have been, if he hadn't been made to see in that twirly vortex eye thingie as a child.
I must have missed that comment/post, but yes, that makes a lot of sense. (I think there's more to it than that, though, but then I *am* obsessed...)

I feel it makes him rather tragic, that he could have been a good man, if the Timelords hadn't driven him insane.
*nods*

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Have you seen 'The Truman Show'?

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