Quick update Re: LJ business

[kennahijja]

More clarifications on fanart and a warning policy from LJ on lj_biz.

While I think it's an improvement, I still have serious problems with 'no word on fic' and 'you can always self-censor, if you're worried'. Biggest problem are the on-going smears of 'child pornography' against fan artists (and, by extension, writers) despite paying lip service to seeing a difference.

My response is here.

On the last aspect, imaginarycircus, who's in communication with a member of LJ on this issue, has a petition here, which I'd urge those of you who agree to sign.

Also, they keep going after pornish_pixies fanartists, which is driving me up the bloody wall! :(

Comments

[dbassassin.livejournal.com]

I agree wholeheartedly with what you've said in your response.

The constant equation by LJ/6A of explicit (and not illegal) fanart with child pornography has had me tearing my hair out through this entire debacle. On-line friends--people I consider intelligent, thoughtful adults--are buying this carefully-constructed political spin as if it were gospel. I don't even bother arguing this with people anymore. There are still a tremendous number of people who assert (quite assertively, sometimes ;D) that the art that got ponderosa and elaboration TOS'd (art they admit they've never seen, btw) was child pron. They will not accept any argument to the contrary.

I am so tired of this whole thing. And now people are saying "okay, problem solved" as if LJ's recent bizarro statements have resolved all the problems. *sigh*

[kennahijja.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's incredibly frustrating. Of course I'm prepared to argue this point until the cows come home (though I've thankfully haven't encountered too many people who are totally blind to the issue, even if they don't entirely agree).

And considering what's going on with Cluegirl and VikingCarrot, problems are evidently not resolved :(. It *is* a bit noteworthy that it's been only slash that has been targetted so far... I'm no conspiracy theorist, but I do notice.

[dbassassin.livejournal.com]

It *is* a bit noteworthy that it's been only slash that has been targetted so far...

Well, I do think LJ is telling the truth when they say that they're only responding to complaints. When you think about the logistics of patrolling something as large as LJ, there's no way they could be pro-actively going after people who are (or they think are) in breach of the TOS.

But it's obvious someone is targeting HP fandom; I think all the press around Strikethrough--especially the press about the PP TOS-ing--was a magnet for the fundies, who've been very up front for the last year about wanting to get the "perverts" off of social networking sites. Just look at what's been going on over at MySpace.

HP is a big fandom that's based on a product that everyone knows about (unlike the anime and manga fandoms, whose art you could argue are much more TOS-able just on the styistic conventions of the artwork).

And the targeting of HP fandom isn't going to change until fen (especially community maintainers) get their heads around the idea that we cannot allow just anyone with an over 18 age statement into these comms. Times are changing and we have to adjust one way or another if we want fandom to continue in a form close to its current one.

[jaelle-n-gilla.livejournal.com]

Very good comment. I wish they'd had a little more sense to start with and not just as hindsight...

[kennahijja.livejournal.com]

Word! But I keep wishing for a lot of things in vain in this whole debacle :(.