(no subject)

[case]

The new commenting system on LJ sucks, I think we can all agree (and all the other prospective design changes seem to be speeding it down the path of no return). Knowing LJ, it's probably not going to change no matter how much anybody complains, and as this comm is heavily based on user comments, it's probably time to consider moving. Dreamwidth is the closest to LJ's old format and has a large fandom base, and seems the best alternative for now.

So -

[Poll #1804842]

Other thoughts?

(As a note, I'm completely willing to either stay or move. Updating the comm is easy enough for me either way.)

ETA - It's not only about subject lines. Others have written up potential problems better than I could:
http://lj-releases.livejournal.com/71858.html?thread=7005874#t7005874
http://lj-releases.livejournal.com/71858.html?thread=6261682#t6261682
ETA 4 - http://lj-releases.livejournal.com/71858.html?thread=7952050#t7952050

ETA 2 - For those worried about possibly needing to make DW accounts to comment, if a move happens: you don't need one! OpenID will let you comment as an LJ user (in the same way Facebook users can comment on LJ).

ETA 3 - For those worried about missing updates: I can crosspost to LJ to let you know a post is up, I don't mind that (it's like a minute of extra work, no problem) - if the DW move happens though, the comments would be over there.

ETA 5 - Apparently, this is what we're getting next year.

Comments

[leafing.livejournal.com]

Well now I just feel silly. I kind of like the new comment system.

[loracarol.livejournal.com]

I do like some of the differences, like the link/picture/video capability, and the "new comment" thing, but for me, the benefits are highly outweighed by the plznothnx nature of it.

[8bitcat.livejournal.com]

Isn't that one of those "invite code or pay us" sites?

I don't see how it would make any sense to move from a site where accounts are created freely with little to no hassle (like LJ), in favor of one of these, simply over comment aesthetic and minor complaints in general.

[fawned.livejournal.com]

Anyone can register at DW for free right now.

[miss-zedem.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm in the 'wait and see' camp. Obviously it's your comm, and you should do as you see fit, but if you go to DW I won't be following, however sad I am to see you go.

[snowlight.livejournal.com]

My issue with dreamwidth is that all the layouts were so ugly the last time I checked.

[wldcatsprstr-14.livejournal.com]

I just got DreamWidth and thought the same thing until I found a really pretty CSS layout. There are tons. My journal pretty much looks exactly like my LJ.

[dethtoll.livejournal.com]

If they bring back subject headers, I see no reason to leave. But it looks like they're trying to turn everything into Facebook. The huge everything, simplified look, and general "wtf is this?" feel.

[(Anonymous)]

i won't follow. this new system is pretty simple. people will learn how soon enough.

[(Anonymous)]

Learn how to what? People aren't complaining that they don't understand how to use the new style, it's that the new style is both ugly as a shit and a complete step backward in usability. Why would anyone want to use a site where they can't even go to a certain part of a thread?

But lol you're just igrick or one of his cronies, so why am I even pointing this shit out to you?

[piratesswoop.livejournal.com]

People who don't see the problem need to go back and look at the last F!S post and see how ridiculous navigating those huge wank threads is. There's no "thread" link anymore, and in order to click on a specific thread, you no longer have the object to right-click the (no subject) or ... line, you have to expand...and all that does is expand that comment in the thread, the prior comments are collapsed above it and you then have to expand the rest of the comments below it to read further. It's a navigation HEADACHE.

[nyxelestia.livejournal.com]

Seconded BIG TIME.

At least half of fandom is based in comments. If it were just the way things looked, I wouldn't have liked it but I would've put up with it. But now it's nearly impossible to navigate it, at least not without inducing a massive headache in the process. D:

I mean, I like some of the new features (i.e. the way to pic usericons - I only have one but just to make full use of that feature I might get 5 more), but they definitely aren't worth sacrificing the links and subject lines for.

[celestinenox]

I love DW, and am a fan of any person or community moving there.

[nyxelestia.livejournal.com]

I'd say for a while, do a mirror - post on LJ with comments disabled, and then import the post to DW (with, obviously, comments enabled). I know I'm being incredibly naiive but I'm hoping that if nothing else, the slew of people migrating from LJ to DW will convince them to revert back to the original format, so I'm willing to hold out a bit and spread my fingers across two pies while waiting to see what happens.

[shampayn.livejournal.com]

the only thing i could find even relatively annoying about the new comment thing is the thing that loads all your userpics when you want to pick one to use. i don't have a struggle with it because my internet's very fast, but people with slower connections probably don't wanna load all 43925 of their icons just to pick one. we already have keywords, why do we need the load the pics too? but that's my only thing. it looks fine and the functions aren't so different and livejournal is probably the best site for f!secrets so i'd like to have it stay ^^

[rtydmartel.livejournal.com]

Reading comments is almost physically painful and gives me a slight headache. Everything is too bright, I can't skim (no subject lines really messed up the collapsed threads), everything is too large, too bright, and I must be lucking out on the server distribution lottery, because everyone at lj_releases and news has experienced severe lagging.

I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that there will be a switch back, or even better, a compromise to mix the old style and the new and take the best aspects of both to combine it in one awesome super functional and fast style. Which, uh, might not happen. ._. /cynicism

So I vote waiting until Saturday to see what happens. I would like to see a move, but waiting a few days will let us know livejournal's stance on the user backlash, and who knows? They might actually realize how many users they've angered and do something? Hopefully?

[roguebelle.livejournal.com]

Reading comments is almost physically painful and gives me a slight headache.

I'm glad it's not just me. I was worrying I was being hypersensitive and/or just plain cranky.

[damnated.livejournal.com]

Voted yes to the move as I greatly dislike this new comment system and the upcoming overhaul.

[diorama23.livejournal.com]

DW or LJ, do not care. It's all the same to me.

[bondlesseye.livejournal.com]

I voted "wait and see", but I'd also suggest getting people to turn out en mass contacting LJ's feedback people and explaining the problems this is causing.
http://www.livejournal.com/contact/?dept=feedback


If they don't either change it back or provide options (such as the old-functionality S2 style that was promised) soon- maybe a little later than Saturday because I'm sure a good chunk of staff will be off for the holidays, then move to another service and crosspost.

[nanakibh.livejournal.com]

Thanks for providing that link. I sent my thoughts about the changes. I really hope they'll listen.

[(Anonymous)]

Please please let's move to DW if this doesn't change, the new layout/comment system is impossible to navigate for longer threads. Just post a link on LJ when you update on DW so that people who only read their LJ flist can see it, and we're all set.

[cyanne]

I voted for move to DW now. I don't think it's going to get any better, and it's likely to get even worse. Navigating from my phone is almost impossible now and I gave up on choosing the icon I wanted.

[arantia]

I just popped over to dreamwidth myself - looks like they're letting you an account without an invite code for this week only! Can't help but wonder if they're hopping on the back of the stuff that's going on over here, but... I thought it would be good to know :D

[wldcatsprstr-14.livejournal.com]

It's ridiculously smart of them.

In their 'News' post, they have a note about the 'no-code' sign-ups right about a note about how LJ is having problems and how they're glad LJ is keeping them in the loop about what's going on. IDK if that was intentional but I laughed.

[hieis-girl1.livejournal.com]

I really don't see anything wrong with the new commenting system....unless you use the HTML tags a lot, which if you do, you should have everything memorized by now....

[bondlesseye.livejournal.com]

I have the basic HTML tags memorized, but not some of the more complicated ones- and even with basic HTML tags, the lack of preview can be a problem if you're using lots of them in the same post. All it takes to completely bork a post or comment is one tag that you accidentally left open.

[inboots.livejournal.com]

i love dw, but could it even handle the high traffic of a comm like this one?

during the last DOS attack when lj was down for around 2 days and everyone moved there for a bit, scans_daily got incredibly slow.

[(Anonymous)]

They said they were bringing up a new web server today to handle the influx of new users who are importing from their LJ accounts; I'm sure if a big portion of fandom permanently moved there, they'd do everything to handle it. After all, it would mean more money for them.

[got_swagger]

I'm all for going to Dreamwidth, to be honest.

[(Anonymous)]

It only changed, what, yesterday? Talking about a move this quickly seems a little...knee-jerky, doesn't it? Doesn't seem like the subject line thing is intentional. Maybe give them a week or so to sort out the kinks? Personally I like certain things about it, like new comments being marked.

[(Anonymous)]

The subject line thing is intentional, apparently the guy LJ hired for the redesign thought it "looked ugly" so he got rid of it. And apparently in his journal, he's making fun of the English-speaking users for complaining about the changes.

[snowtroublehere.livejournal.com]

i'm cool with most of the changes aside from two:

1) fucking subject lines are gone what the actual fuck is this

2) why is there no "thread" or "parent thread" option what stupid assbiting inbred came up with this crap omg

no offence to any inbreds reading this i am sure you are nice people i am just LE FRUSTRATED

[wldcatsprstr-14.livejournal.com]

LMAO this comment paired with that icon is comedy gold. Thanks for making me laugh in the wake of all this fuckery.

[unicornherds.livejournal.com]

I kind of hate Dreamwidth, but I'm beginning to hate Livejournal more. I say move.

[tabaqui]

There is a workaround for this! I'll put the link below. Be warned that this is a thread in a kink-meme, so not necessarily sfw.

This gives the user back the subject line, etc., so it's possible the comm could be switched to this style/setting without moving.

http://xmen-firstkink.livejournal.com/7083.html?thread=10810795#t10810795

I hate the thought of leaving lj, and am not doing it personally, but i *do* have a DW account just in case.
*sigh*

[(Anonymous)]

But why bother with all this extra work when we can just move to DW and absolutely nothing will be lost?

[stuffy34.livejournal.com]

Can't really say all that much about the new commenting page since I'm still bitter about the LJ staff ending the monthly header contest. Don't have a DW account but if FS happens to move there, I'll follow so I can continue to read the secrets and post comments every now and then.