fandomsecrets | (no subject)

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Unfortunately, at least one person has been triggered and is seeking professional help due to the lack of comment title. More than a few have complained about getting migraines (bad enough to require medication) from the new layout. Also, the new layout is not compatible with mobile browsers (lack of javascript support) and not compatible with screen readers (necessary for blind LJ users).

In addition, users on fairly modern computers have reported that their screens freeze due to loading comments, or freeze while expanding all comments. This is not taking into account problems users have with older machines that simply cannot load the new layout system. Or users on slow/dial-up internet connections that time out/drop when changing user icons for comments (because the new system makes the user load all their user icons. You can imagine the nightmare that is for rp journals and users with many icons).

What else? Right, I have misgivings on whether LJ will rollback this change. The LJ twitter has been silent about this issue. Some Russian users think the 90+ pages of backlash against the changes (not just regarding the comment subject title remove) are just spam.

igrick, one of the developers for this new layout (but not a member of the LJ staff, thinks users should just "get used to it" when talking about the changes.

There are problems using regular browsers too; LJ's support board is full of problems regarding posting comments using non-mobile browsers (ie problems posting with Firefox under a Windows OS).

My personal problems with the new commenting system include inability to edit comments under Rich-Text Editor (not an option anymore) and inability to preview comments prior to posting. But those are minor problems compared to being triggered badly enough to seek professional help, or having migraines which require medication, or having my computer frozen or my internet line disconnected.

It looks like more of these of changes are coming: here are prototypes for the new design of the ENTIRE SITE, in Russian. I weep for those already suffering migraines. I imagine their problems will be worse once the new layout is rolled out for the entire site.

Unfortunately, at least one person has been triggered and is seeking professional help due to the lack of comment title.

You mean the people who moan and bitch about needing trigger warnings everytime someone blows their nose might end up actually getting the help they so clearly need instead of whining demanding all the rest of us walk on eggshells, or they fuck off and leaving us alone, under this new lj structure? That is really more of a feature than a bug. I support this change and endorse it wholeheartedly.

Dear troll,

You have no idea what triggers are, or how even people who receive/have received help may be triggered. Yeah, I, too, roll my eyes at people who moan and bitch about needing trigger warnings for things like tying their shoes. However, I don't scoff at people who ACTUALLY NEED warnings.

Do you have suggestions for a workaround for the lack of trigger warnings on comment headings? That'd be more helpful than just saying "people who need trigger warnings need to fuck off and leave the rest of us alone."

NAYRT

I do know about triggers. I have them myself, and I have been triggered before. I know what it feels like. Yet I still think people who are triggered by strings of words need to be in therapy. If you are that fucking broken that you will cease to function due to printed words of all things, you should not be online. You need to get off the internet and get some goddamn help to manage your triggers instead of demanding the world warn you for everything. It's not and never will be anyone else's responsibility to babysit you.

I've been thinking a lot about this comment, and I see where you are coming from. I agree that people who have triggers should be getting help. However, I don't think that someone should GTFO of a comm that consistantly used trigger warnings in comment subjects. Cuz the whole point of using trigger warnings is to let people know the content of the comments, thereby making that comm "safe" for those individuals. For comms that did not require trigger warnings, then yeah, that individual should not be there.

Since the exact changes to comment headings were not announced, and the comment subject display is not consistant for each layout style, even IF people did warn for triggers they might not have known that their warnings were going to be displayed differently. Now that people know how the new subject headings are displayed, it will help. But I can see how people might have been upset because they didn't know the warning system of their "safe" comm was changing and became triggered as a result.

tl;dr:
I agree people with triggers should be seeking help. I agree that people with triggers who visit places without requirements for trigger warnings should have know better.

I do not agree that people who have triggers who visit comms that require trigger warnings should GTFO and not be there in the first place, because they didn't know that a sudden, unannounced change in the trigger warning system would make trigger warnings not work as they were intended.

Seconding this. If you're triggered that easily, get the fuck off the internet and get the help you fucking need. I'm not paid nearly enough to be a therapist or a goddamn babysitter.