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sister_luckI feel a rant coming on and I also feel worried and protective about my little playground on the internet.
There's a news post up about the re-introduction of Basic Accounts. Only it's not about the re-introduction of basic accounts, though that is the spin they're trying to give it announcing how generous they are to bring back the basic accounts and apologizing about the way they did away with them in the first place. That's very nice.
But bringing back basic accounts seems to be connected to the introduction of more ads on livejournal. There are different proposals as to how this could be done and it seems that this would affect existing basic accounts, too.
My position on ads is that I don't want them on my blog, but I understand that they are a way of generating money. I know that with a basic account I'm considered a freeloader by some and yes, I'm getting something for nothing, but I spend quite some time on other friendslists that are sponsored, so I do see some ads around here. I'm happy with the features of my basic account and don't want to have ads on my journal, so that's why I haven't upgraded to a sponsored account. I haven't got a paid account, because a) I don't have a credit card and b) I don't need the features on it.
So, what options do these proposals give me? I'll inflict ads on others and/or on myself depending on which proposal is implemented (and I believe they're serious about introducing these changes before the end of August). I don't want to leave my corner of the internet and I doubt there's any other place where ads wouldn't become an issue in the long run. Looks like I have to start shelling out money for an ad-free blog or convince myself that ads aren't such a bad thing after all, because after all, who clicks on them anyway? Though I would definitely want some way of controlling what is advertised on my blog, because no way do I want "Hot Russian Girls Who Want to Marry You" next to my posts.
That ended slightly unranty?
As you can see, I've got trouble forming an opinion.
What do you think?
There's a news post up about the re-introduction of Basic Accounts. Only it's not about the re-introduction of basic accounts, though that is the spin they're trying to give it announcing how generous they are to bring back the basic accounts and apologizing about the way they did away with them in the first place. That's very nice.
But bringing back basic accounts seems to be connected to the introduction of more ads on livejournal. There are different proposals as to how this could be done and it seems that this would affect existing basic accounts, too.
My position on ads is that I don't want them on my blog, but I understand that they are a way of generating money. I know that with a basic account I'm considered a freeloader by some and yes, I'm getting something for nothing, but I spend quite some time on other friendslists that are sponsored, so I do see some ads around here. I'm happy with the features of my basic account and don't want to have ads on my journal, so that's why I haven't upgraded to a sponsored account. I haven't got a paid account, because a) I don't have a credit card and b) I don't need the features on it.
So, what options do these proposals give me? I'll inflict ads on others and/or on myself depending on which proposal is implemented (and I believe they're serious about introducing these changes before the end of August). I don't want to leave my corner of the internet and I doubt there's any other place where ads wouldn't become an issue in the long run. Looks like I have to start shelling out money for an ad-free blog or convince myself that ads aren't such a bad thing after all, because after all, who clicks on them anyway? Though I would definitely want some way of controlling what is advertised on my blog, because no way do I want "Hot Russian Girls Who Want to Marry You" next to my posts.
That ended slightly unranty?
As you can see, I've got trouble forming an opinion.
What do you think?
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no subject
Date: 2008-07-17 04:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-17 04:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-17 04:31 pm (UTC)Yes, but where am I exactly except unhappy about more ads and unhappy about how this is being sold as the re-introduction of basic accounts.
Are you planning to get a paid account?
no subject
Date: 2008-07-17 04:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-17 04:35 pm (UTC)Yeah, I'm beginning to understand that it's a choice between ads and paying and that's just the way it is and the days of ad-free free stuff are long over.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-17 04:40 pm (UTC)It feels like being forced into paying and I don't like that. Well, we'll see how this develops. There's no need to make a decision right now, so I've got some more time to really think about this.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-17 04:42 pm (UTC)I guess I'm going to live in denial until August and then forget about the whole thing when in India. I'll see what happens when I come back.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-17 04:56 pm (UTC)Having said that, as long as the content is similar to Google or Yahoo webpages then I don't have a problem with it. I tend to ignore the ads anyway.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-17 05:14 pm (UTC)I'm with you. I can live with the google text ads as it's very easy to mentally block them out. I don't really notice them anymore. The sponsored accounts though do have google ads with pictures, and while I don't mind an ad for some roleplaying game I object to a "Find your Colombian Beauty Today"-ad (real example from a sponsored livejournal) next to my posts. I can live with seeing it somewhere else but having it next to my own texts might give the impression that I've personally approved it.
no subject
Date: 2008-07-17 06:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-18 05:36 pm (UTC)I'm mostly using Opera these days, but I know about Adblock etc.
It's more a question of principle and potentially it means that questionable ads are visible to people who are not using any adblockers and who stumble across my tiny corner of the internet. That would make me want to write a disclaimer or something.