LJ Advisory Board: can you help with community access?

[rm]

Do you run an LJ community that has been or could be directly affected by unclear TOS on freedom of speech issues (think: political, religious, abuse survivors, creative, academic, fannish, queer, kink, poly, adult lifestyle)?

Do you run an LJ community that has been or could be affected by sloppy attempts on LJ/SUPs part to massage LJ's image (think: mental health/illness, abuse survivors, fannish, queer, kink, poly, adult lifestyle)?

Do you run an LJ community whose users have accessibility issues with the site (those with vision impairments, etc.)?

Do you run a community on any topic whatsoever whose users would be interested in discussion the LJ Advisory Board elections?

If so, I'd like the opportunity to hear the concerns of your users and talk a bit about where I stand on those issues. I promise to make only a single post to talk about the election (unless invited to do otherwise) and my candidacy and not spam the community or its users in any way.

If you'd be willing to let me post in those communities please let me know here or email me at racheline @ gmail dot com. If you're not a community maintainer, but have ties to a community maintainer and want to broach this issue with them, I'd appreciate it.

Comments

[darkadaptedeye.livejournal.com]

For awhile, I was helping to maintain a veterans community.

Sometime around when LJ cracked down on fandom, they also quietly wiped out most military schools, as well as some journals of members currently involved in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

I've been a little baffled why even in the midst of the the fandom issues, LJ would leave "Starfleet Academy" and "Hogwarts", and "Miskatonic University" (which are great for fan communities to embrace), yet actual training like "Infantry School" and "Airborne School" (both of which actually exist) are now gone and unable to be re-added. Personally, I met close friends at both of those places, learned more than a few valuable lessons, and probably still carry a little scar tissue from my times there.

Additionally, when some of the soldier's journals disappeared, it's impossible to tell the reason. Did the government demand they be pulled for security/censorship issues? Did someone flag them because they disagreed with the political issues? Or were these journals actually deleted by the members for their own privacy? (In at least one case, I'd really like to know if that person is alive or dead.) If LJ is going to wipe out a journal, it would be nice to at least have a vague inclination as to why.

Since then, many members of that community have simply taken to blogging elsewhere.

Thanks,
-Christopher-Ian

[rm.livejournal.com]

Holy shit. I never, ever knew about this. That is so beyond fucked up I don't even know what to say (right now). Well this is certainly getting highlighted in a post soon.

Thank you for the information. I'm really pretty heartbroken by it, and I don't have anything resembling the personal connection to the issue you do.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Feel free to post in Idol.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Oh, can I do that? I thought only you and Kithan could make posts to the community?

Awesome....

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

oh, sorry. Yeah, we can only make posts. But if you wanted to talk in the Green Room... and then I'll continue to direct people there.


If you want I can make the Green Room post a specific "LJ issues" one either this weekend or Monday. Whichever works better for you.

[rm.livejournal.com]

That would be awesome because I'm looking for feedback on stuff as much as I'm looking for support -- I already learned some very interesting and distressing stuff about veterans and LJ today. Monday would be great.

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

...Um. Wow.
Didn't know that, either.
Thank you for posting, and - this is horrible. I'm sorry.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

You got it.

[rm.livejournal.com]

I presume you are referring to a discussion in ljunited that I did not witness.

I strongly believe each community within LJ has the right to establish its own standards for topics and style of discourse, while also supporting the right of users to form the broadest array of communities.

The beauty of LJ is that is provides a platform for users to create communities tailored to their needs. I support LJ/SUP not curtailing the use of that platform; that does not mean I think all communities should be obligated to allow posts they find off-topic or inappropriate to their concerns.

That is why I am asking permission before campaigning on any LJ community.

As to the specific incident in question, I did not found that community, nor am I a maintainer of it. I support its vision for LJ and I'm happy to have their endorsement.

My campaign is my campaign. insomnia's community is his community. We're online friends and colleagues, but we do not and cannot control each other's actions in how we conduct ourselves online.

Finally, I was getting a blessed bit of sleep when whatever occurred and occurred, so my details on it are fairly limited, but I do not view it as an LJ policy issue.

[docjeff.livejournal.com]

I don't think I could possibly support someone who blocks or encourages the blocking of open discourse as you are doing (or having done for you). Very poor form...

[rm.livejournal.com]

I similarly have no plans to directly engage with any candidates in their own journals. It would, in my opinion, be disruptive of their virtual living room. My journal is my space, and people are welcome to speak out for or against my candidacy in whatever forums will have them, but I am not morally obligated for my space to be one of them, especially after providing courteous explanations and reiterations of my positions.

Ban/Block

[nebris.livejournal.com]

With Jameth and his crew, it's a necessity. They spam and troll and generally act like fucktards. yesterday, one of them accused me of 'being a known pedophile'. He's the same shithead who did that whole evil Craigslist thing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_privacy#Jason_Fortuny_and_Craigslist).

If you don't shut them up, they'll bury you in dogshit.

~M~

[amandathegreat.livejournal.com]

Jameth has given full permission for you to campaign/comment/etc. in any of his communities:

arch150crew
ballard
blackoutclub
dramacrats
fag_police
foodpics
internet_club
internetcourt
ljcon
ljjockstrap
lolzpics
lulzchat
nonuglyfats
nouglies
quasidanworship
read_this_post
seattlebegging
snarkandboobs
theblackbaby
udub
vadges_n_fags

For further questions/comments please contact Jameth's PR Managers, auntiesiannan and adameros, or jameth himself.

Re: Ban/Block

[palmer-kun.livejournal.com]

"If you don't shut them up"

Free Speech - But Only If You Say What We Want To Hear.

Gotta love it!

Re: Ban/Block

[nebris.livejournal.com]

There is a difference between free speech and making noise to drown out everyone else.

~M~

Re: Ban/Block

[nebris.livejournal.com]

It is not free speech to spam my journal.

It is not free speech to make libelous statements in my journal.

It is not free speech to post off topic harassment in my communities.

It is verbal terrorism.

~M~

Re: Ban/Block

[nebris.livejournal.com]

It is not free speech to spam my journal.

It is not free speech to make libelous statements in my journal.

It is not free speech to post off topic harassment in my communities.

It is verbal terrorism.

~M~

Re: Ban/Block

[nebris.livejournal.com]

More bullshit.

~M~

Re: Ban/Block

[palmer-kun.livejournal.com]

No actually, there isn't. That's the point of the "free" in free speech. Freedom. It includes freedom to be a noisy jackass.

But thanks for playing. Your "I Support Taliban-Style Government" bumper stickers are in the mail.

[nebris.livejournal.com]

I advise you to either screen comments or go to Friends Only comments. This shit is only going to get worse.

~M~

Re: Ban/Block

[nebris.livejournal.com]

"I Support Taliban-Style Government" is a strawman. This journal is not your space. My journal is not your space. What gives you the right to come here and take a verbal dump?

~M~

Re: Ban/Block

[nebris.livejournal.com]

It is not free speech to spam my journal.

It is not free speech to make libelous statements in my journal.

It is not free speech to post off topic harassment in my communities.

Address those issues, smartass!

~M~

Re: Ban/Block

[nebris.livejournal.com]

And fuck yer lulz!

~M~

Re: Ban/Block

[elionwyr.livejournal.com]

I agree, nebris.

I'm sorry to see so many people proving your initial statement to be true.

Re: Ban/Block

[nebris.livejournal.com]

Do your own fucking homework.

~M~