has worn me out via outrage and comment reading and posting. It is 1 a.m. and I am off to bed. Don't forget to flag all the right-wing journals for me while I sleep.
LJ implemented two levels of content filtering. One is "adult concepts" which falls into the category of not appropriate for kids under 14. The other is "explicit adult content" which is graphic and explicit (depicting nudity, sexuality, or violence) that is appropriate only for adults and is not suitable for anyone under the age of 18. This label does not imply that the content is considered obscene, just that it is not appropriate for minors. The first adult concept category is something the journal owner can use if they choose, no guidelines for it, and not something LJ staff will force on any post.
The second category - the journal owner may choose to use it by "flagging" there post (you will now see the little flag in the menu strip at the top of each post), but there is more. That little flag can be used by *anyone viewing your journal if they find the post's contents to be offensive*. One flag from a reader puts your post in a queue, more flags puts it in the review by LJ Abuse Team and they decide if the post should be flagged or not. A flagged post get an LJ Cut warning of "explicit adult content" - a lovely image to put forth on one's journal if you're discussing say - oh the Wiccan Great Rite which is a religious part of a ritual.
There are a number of catches. LJ claims this will "protect the children!!" from adult content. How you ask? Well, if a post is flagged a user who does not have their birth year in their profile will have to click a box that says they are over the age of 14 or 18 to read the post. There is no verification process for their ages and we all know kids never lie to see stuff they want to read. *cough*
However - these same delicate children can post all the "explicit adult" content in their journals as they choose, and adults can read it - bwah? - but not other minors. It is a corporation deciding what my kids should read based on vague phrasing of "explicit adult". They have not defined what they think is "explicit" except to say it not defined *the same as the obscenity laws*.
Since *anyone* can flag another's post it leaves the door wide open for vendetta flagging, troll flagging, flagging because someone disagrees with your opinions, or your religion, or your race, or your sexuality. It will allow the right-wing nutjobs who caused Strikethrough '07 even more power, but without massive reports to LJ Abuse and much simpler by clicking a flag.
It is beyond stupid in theory and practice. I can understand the option to label your own journal - though frankly it seems people do that now with an LJ Cut. But allowing others to flag you is ridiculous!
Their "safeguards" against flag abuse is that you can only flag 5 times in a 24 hour period and your journal must be at least month old to flag someone. This is no safeguard - it just means people have to wait a month to be an asshole and that is only if they are new to LJ.
If someone flags a lot of content that LJ feels should not be flagged do you know what the "punishment" is for the abusive flagger? Their flags don't count. Um ..... whoa ... so what?
No explanation of a concrete appeal process. No assurance that a journal that gets flagged (if more than half of your posts are flagged the entire journal gets flagged) won't be used later as a sweep to engage in Strikethrough again.
It is a false set-up to placate advertisers and people "worried about the kiddies on the intarwebz!!11!11!!" Really - if you are so worried about what your kid reads then pay attention to your kid's activities.
And grrrr .... and more gggrrr .... I could go on, but that is it in a nutshell. I am SO sorry I renewed my paid membership to a bunch of lame ass censors.
This happened shorty before the new owners took over. As long as the advertisers are in charge of what is "offensive" new ownership likely won't change a thing. But maybe some things will improve. Time will tell.
Comments
http://community.livejournal.com/lj_biz/243697.html?thread=15212529#t15212529
I feel like I read all the comments, though I did not. I posted a couple of other "no substance" comments to a couple of other entries, too.
The second category - the journal owner may choose to use it by "flagging" there post (you will now see the little flag in the menu strip at the top of each post), but there is more. That little flag can be used by *anyone viewing your journal if they find the post's contents to be offensive*. One flag from a reader puts your post in a queue, more flags puts it in the review by LJ Abuse Team and they decide if the post should be flagged or not. A flagged post get an LJ Cut warning of "explicit adult content" - a lovely image to put forth on one's journal if you're discussing say - oh the Wiccan Great Rite which is a religious part of a ritual.
There are a number of catches. LJ claims this will "protect the children!!" from adult content. How you ask? Well, if a post is flagged a user who does not have their birth year in their profile will have to click a box that says they are over the age of 14 or 18 to read the post. There is no verification process for their ages and we all know kids never lie to see stuff they want to read. *cough*
However - these same delicate children can post all the "explicit adult" content in their journals as they choose, and adults can read it - bwah? - but not other minors. It is a corporation deciding what my kids should read based on vague phrasing of "explicit adult". They have not defined what they think is "explicit" except to say it not defined *the same as the obscenity laws*.
Since *anyone* can flag another's post it leaves the door wide open for vendetta flagging, troll flagging, flagging because someone disagrees with your opinions, or your religion, or your race, or your sexuality. It will allow the right-wing nutjobs who caused Strikethrough '07 even more power, but without massive reports to LJ Abuse and much simpler by clicking a flag.
It is beyond stupid in theory and practice. I can understand the option to label your own journal - though frankly it seems people do that now with an LJ Cut. But allowing others to flag you is ridiculous!
Their "safeguards" against flag abuse is that you can only flag 5 times in a 24 hour period and your journal must be at least month old to flag someone. This is no safeguard - it just means people have to wait a month to be an asshole and that is only if they are new to LJ.
If someone flags a lot of content that LJ feels should not be flagged do you know what the "punishment" is for the abusive flagger? Their flags don't count. Um ..... whoa ... so what?
No explanation of a concrete appeal process. No assurance that a journal that gets flagged (if more than half of your posts are flagged the entire journal gets flagged) won't be used later as a sweep to engage in Strikethrough again.
It is a false set-up to placate advertisers and people "worried about the kiddies on the intarwebz!!11!11!!" Really - if you are so worried about what your kid reads then pay attention to your kid's activities.
And grrrr .... and more gggrrr .... I could go on, but that is it in a nutshell. I am SO sorry I renewed my paid membership to a bunch of lame ass censors.
grrr
but, i guess i should find out about the new owners too