LJ etiquette
Jun. 23rd, 2004 01:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kukla_tkoOk. No one I know has posted a list of "LJ rules of Etiquette."
And I am NOT going to put a cut in it. You may want to scroll down if this is of no interest to you.
I am going to post my opinion on the matter of LJ etiquette, and I hope that I can start a fiery discussion in my comments field.
1. It's your journal. Your thoughts. Your choices. Your opinions.
Face it, folks. You're getting free entertainment from reading someone else's journal. No one is getting paid or published based upon their LJ or the number of readers that they have. For those who have a paid account, they are actually paying for the privilege of posting their thoughts. So, if you don't like what someone posts... too too tootie too bad. Suck it up and live with it. If you read enough journals, GUESS WHAT? You're going to run into a post that reads like total crap to you. Realize it, deal with it, and go away-- or post something about it in the Snark communities. Everyone should feel free to post their thoughts, dreams, rants, whatever.
2. It's your name.
If someone posts something personal about you, and names you by your real name or your LJ handle, then it is reasonable to defend yourself in their comments field. I think it would be more than reasonable to ask the poster to place the post under a privacy lock, if you are uncomfortable with what they have said. I think that if I posted someone else's secrets without their permission, they have every right to post in my comments field that they would prefer that I edit, remove, or lock the post. If I posted something that hurts someone's feelings, then they have every right to post comments in response.
But remember, rule # 1.
If I post that a friend of mine really pissed me off at the coffeehouse, and vent my frustrations in my journal and also name that person... I think I can reasonably expect to have that person post in my journal with a rebuttal. If I post that a friend is stinky all the time and needs to bathe... well... maybe I did so to give you the CLUE.
Then again, I think that it is in very poor taste to name someone specifically and then rant about them in a non-locked post. I am not saying that I have never or will never do this, but I do think that it is tacky. Make up a name, or get their permission to use their name, ok?
3. It's a cut. It goes like this: < lj-cut > but without the spaces.
To cut or not to cut. Well. Many people have posted many theories about the cuts. Many of them make good arguments. From a long-time reader and new LJ user, here's my take on it. I don't mind the cuts. Really. I don't feel like I am working too hard at my fun to make one click on a link. I don't find it jarring, or irritating. Some people cut very effectively and cleverly. Some specifics:
Poetry or songs: For the love of all that is Gay and Holy, please stick it behind a cut. Especially if you post poetry all the damn time. I don't care if you are brilliant, published or just whiny. I don't care whether the poem is yours or not (but if not, please try to indicate whose verse you ganked.)
Length: Ok. This one is a judgment call. If it takes up more than a screen's worth, I consider cutting it. But I don't worry about it. I cut when I think that I am running off on a tangent, or if I think that my story is probably not interesting to people who don't know me in "Real life."
Images: Please stick it behind a cut. This goes for Memes, quiz results, and photos of your pet hamster before and after you shaved him and stuck little pictures of Elvis all over him. Readers might want to see these things. I suspect that most of them DON'T. I usually don't. So, throw it behind a cut. Thanks.
Oh. And identify your cuts, please. Tell me whether there's a poem, a picture, or a really long story back there.
Comments:
Oh, boy. I suspect that I am a tacky boor on this one. I comment when I feel a need to comment. I comment and go on and on (and on and on.) When I suspect that I am getting TOO long winded, I usually decide to just make a journal entry about it, and post a comment indicating that I have done so.
I think that if you read someone's journal, regardless of whether they are on your friends list, you ought to post something to let them know that you noticed them. Ok, maybe not EVERY journal you ever read, but someone that you read more than once, should get a note. Even if it is just a little ego stroke: "Hey, found your journal via "somethingorother" community. I like your ideas."
Or, if you find their stuff to be inflammatory, strike up a conversation. "You seem to have a strong opinion about economics. What do you think about ..."
Deliberately starting a "flame War?" Well, if you need the attention so badly, go ahead. Just be prepared for a hoarde of other people to join in and spank you soundly.
Articulation:
(Sigh.) Ok, folks. I am going to show my age for a moment. Does anyone type in American English anymore? Does anyone know how to use a spell-check? Hey, people, there's a spell check option here. Learn it, use it, become its special cuddle-friend. (And learn the use of an apostrophe, goddamnit! If you are saying "It is" you get to put it in. If you are saying that something belongs to it, leave the little guy out of "its". Otherwise, use of an apostrope and an "S" indicates a possessive. "I bought some CD's." What did you buy that belonged to the CDs?)
I am going to just swallow the rest of my issues on the use of grammar (or the lack thereof) since I am guilty of a multitude of sins in that department. And I don't mind the occasional "WTF" or "OMG" or other quick abbreviations. But if I get two or three sentences into your post, and have only come across one "real" word... I am not going to read any more of that post. "OMGWTF?!? w00t! I <3 my bf...u no, he's so kewl" Bleah. Piss off. I get it, it comes from IM and other chat venues and the whole "text messaging" system where you have to get the maximum amount of meaning in the minimum amount of space. Let me introduce you to your Live Journal. Look at all the rooooom. All the pretty, pretty space. Twirl around in it. Call out and hear the echo. Now write out your words, Okay? Thanks.
Bottom line? Right now we have a community where we aren't really bound by a lot of "official rules" or enforcement. Which means that not only are you free to speak your mind, but also free to reap the benefits of doing so, whether it is to gain supporters, or be made fun of, or to gain enemies. Go forth, and make mighty posts. Speak your mind, speak your truth, speak your poetry. Talk about your strange french-fry and flying dreams. Bitch about your job/boss/coworkers. Air your grievances about your friends (although I would recommend doing so by using a "nickname" for them.) Share your political views, even if you do so badly. It is your right. Feel free to completely ignore my suggestions.
Speak loud, speak often. Here's where freedom of speech really gets to run wild.
And if freedom bothers you... go somewhere else. Read the news. Cruise Ebay. It's a big internet. Whee!
And I am NOT going to put a cut in it. You may want to scroll down if this is of no interest to you.
I am going to post my opinion on the matter of LJ etiquette, and I hope that I can start a fiery discussion in my comments field.
1. It's your journal. Your thoughts. Your choices. Your opinions.
Face it, folks. You're getting free entertainment from reading someone else's journal. No one is getting paid or published based upon their LJ or the number of readers that they have. For those who have a paid account, they are actually paying for the privilege of posting their thoughts. So, if you don't like what someone posts... too too tootie too bad. Suck it up and live with it. If you read enough journals, GUESS WHAT? You're going to run into a post that reads like total crap to you. Realize it, deal with it, and go away-- or post something about it in the Snark communities. Everyone should feel free to post their thoughts, dreams, rants, whatever.
2. It's your name.
If someone posts something personal about you, and names you by your real name or your LJ handle, then it is reasonable to defend yourself in their comments field. I think it would be more than reasonable to ask the poster to place the post under a privacy lock, if you are uncomfortable with what they have said. I think that if I posted someone else's secrets without their permission, they have every right to post in my comments field that they would prefer that I edit, remove, or lock the post. If I posted something that hurts someone's feelings, then they have every right to post comments in response.
But remember, rule # 1.
If I post that a friend of mine really pissed me off at the coffeehouse, and vent my frustrations in my journal and also name that person... I think I can reasonably expect to have that person post in my journal with a rebuttal. If I post that a friend is stinky all the time and needs to bathe... well... maybe I did so to give you the CLUE.
Then again, I think that it is in very poor taste to name someone specifically and then rant about them in a non-locked post. I am not saying that I have never or will never do this, but I do think that it is tacky. Make up a name, or get their permission to use their name, ok?
3. It's a cut. It goes like this: < lj-cut > but without the spaces.
To cut or not to cut. Well. Many people have posted many theories about the cuts. Many of them make good arguments. From a long-time reader and new LJ user, here's my take on it. I don't mind the cuts. Really. I don't feel like I am working too hard at my fun to make one click on a link. I don't find it jarring, or irritating. Some people cut very effectively and cleverly. Some specifics:
Poetry or songs: For the love of all that is Gay and Holy, please stick it behind a cut. Especially if you post poetry all the damn time. I don't care if you are brilliant, published or just whiny. I don't care whether the poem is yours or not (but if not, please try to indicate whose verse you ganked.)
Length: Ok. This one is a judgment call. If it takes up more than a screen's worth, I consider cutting it. But I don't worry about it. I cut when I think that I am running off on a tangent, or if I think that my story is probably not interesting to people who don't know me in "Real life."
Images: Please stick it behind a cut. This goes for Memes, quiz results, and photos of your pet hamster before and after you shaved him and stuck little pictures of Elvis all over him. Readers might want to see these things. I suspect that most of them DON'T. I usually don't. So, throw it behind a cut. Thanks.
Oh. And identify your cuts, please. Tell me whether there's a poem, a picture, or a really long story back there.
Comments:
Oh, boy. I suspect that I am a tacky boor on this one. I comment when I feel a need to comment. I comment and go on and on (and on and on.) When I suspect that I am getting TOO long winded, I usually decide to just make a journal entry about it, and post a comment indicating that I have done so.
I think that if you read someone's journal, regardless of whether they are on your friends list, you ought to post something to let them know that you noticed them. Ok, maybe not EVERY journal you ever read, but someone that you read more than once, should get a note. Even if it is just a little ego stroke: "Hey, found your journal via "somethingorother" community. I like your ideas."
Or, if you find their stuff to be inflammatory, strike up a conversation. "You seem to have a strong opinion about economics. What do you think about ..."
Deliberately starting a "flame War?" Well, if you need the attention so badly, go ahead. Just be prepared for a hoarde of other people to join in and spank you soundly.
Articulation:
(Sigh.) Ok, folks. I am going to show my age for a moment. Does anyone type in American English anymore? Does anyone know how to use a spell-check? Hey, people, there's a spell check option here. Learn it, use it, become its special cuddle-friend. (And learn the use of an apostrophe, goddamnit! If you are saying "It is" you get to put it in. If you are saying that something belongs to it, leave the little guy out of "its". Otherwise, use of an apostrope and an "S" indicates a possessive. "I bought some CD's." What did you buy that belonged to the CDs?)
I am going to just swallow the rest of my issues on the use of grammar (or the lack thereof) since I am guilty of a multitude of sins in that department. And I don't mind the occasional "WTF" or "OMG" or other quick abbreviations. But if I get two or three sentences into your post, and have only come across one "real" word... I am not going to read any more of that post. "OMGWTF?!? w00t! I <3 my bf...u no, he's so kewl" Bleah. Piss off. I get it, it comes from IM and other chat venues and the whole "text messaging" system where you have to get the maximum amount of meaning in the minimum amount of space. Let me introduce you to your Live Journal. Look at all the rooooom. All the pretty, pretty space. Twirl around in it. Call out and hear the echo. Now write out your words, Okay? Thanks.
Bottom line? Right now we have a community where we aren't really bound by a lot of "official rules" or enforcement. Which means that not only are you free to speak your mind, but also free to reap the benefits of doing so, whether it is to gain supporters, or be made fun of, or to gain enemies. Go forth, and make mighty posts. Speak your mind, speak your truth, speak your poetry. Talk about your strange french-fry and flying dreams. Bitch about your job/boss/coworkers. Air your grievances about your friends (although I would recommend doing so by using a "nickname" for them.) Share your political views, even if you do so badly. It is your right. Feel free to completely ignore my suggestions.
Speak loud, speak often. Here's where freedom of speech really gets to run wild.
And if freedom bothers you... go somewhere else. Read the news. Cruise Ebay. It's a big internet. Whee!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-06-23 11:59 am (UTC)w00t. i <3 u. u r so kewl. hee hee.
Snerk
Date: 2004-06-23 12:19 pm (UTC)Awww.
Thanks. :)
You're one of my Gonzos. (Old friends who've just met.)
no subject
Date: 2004-06-23 04:07 pm (UTC)I know, it happened to me when I tried to warn