Well we really screwed this one up…

[news]

For reasons we are still trying to figure out what was supposed to be a well planned attempt to clean up a few journals that were violating LiveJournal's policies that protect minors turned into a total mess. I can only say I’m sorry, explain what we did wrong and what we are doing to correct these problems and explain what we were trying to do but

Comments

[jedilora]

You still haven't responded to the statement (by YOU) on CNET. In case you've forgotten-

"It was based on what community we want to build and what we think is appropriate within that community and what's not."

In addition, this is the first statement on LJ, but it's not the first statement. Explain.

[rhapsodisiac]

Seconded.

[janetmweiss]

Thirdeded.

[komichi]

Fourthed.

[je_regret_riens]

Fifth'd

[barakb25]

When I say "community we want to build" I just meant a community that did not welcome pedophiles.

As for why it took long to respond the only answer I have is that we were trying to get the facts and figure out what went wrong. As a number of us are traveling this took longer than it should.

[rhapsodisiac]

Ah. Suicidally vague, then.

[jedilora]

That doesn't answer my question. You found time to say these things to others BEFORE US.

EXPLAIN, SIR.

[unperfectwolf]

And lets not wait 48 hours again?

[joannakuang]

thank you~

♥

[rhapsody]

You could have, at least, made a small comment on the news page to tell us you were aware of the problem and be sure to address it to everyone as soon as you were ready. The silence from your end to us all the time has been a major problem. You were ready to give some facts to others but not us.

[amokk]

LJ from its inception was about allowing freedom of speech, even from the "evil" people in the world, as long as they were not actually using LJ to commit crimes. A pedophile with an LJ who admits what they are but does nothing is not illegal in any way.

This action has done much to damage the community LJ had built up before Six Apart bought it. Right now I can't think of anything 6A can do to regain my trust after this mess, to be honest.

WfI posts "it's time to value protecting the children over freedom of speech" and if LJ is in support of that sentiment, then I can't in good conscience support LJ.

[embitca]

ditto.

[lily_liedtome]

Exactly. Overturning free speech (even if that speech is not exactly your cup of tea) sets a very dangerous precedent. No speech except that which solicits or directly encourages crime should be subject to censorship.

[ars_longa]

Agreed. All this talking about censorship in the name of protecting (insert a group that in view of lovers of censorship needs protection) horribly reminds me of USSR. And that's not empty words - I lived there. Then it also was censorship in the name of protecting blah-blah-blah and not encouraging blah-blah-blah. I'm sick to my stomach to see it being employed here in USofA.

[publius513]

I agree wholeheartedly with your sentiment, but I do have to point out something that is missing from the discussion thus far. We aren't talking about government censorship here, so things are a bit more complicated than just "FIRST AMENDMENT!" Freedom of speech isn't actually the right that is most important here. Freedom of association is:

Livejournal is owned by a company, which is within its rights to set whatever rules it sees fit regarding the use of their property (as long as they don't discriminate, obviously) We as users are entitled to agree to work within those rules, or are equally free to take our blogging elsewhere. The thing I've always enjoyed about LJ is that they are reasonably liberal with their rules, because it's in their best interests to be.

Moral of the story: I wouldn't worry too much about continued censorship of content. If they pull crap like this too often, LJ's competitors are going to start getting a lot more business. And 6A certainly won't want that.