Next Steps

[news]

Hello again.

I want to update you on the status of correcting the issues that occurred earlier this week:

First, all journals and communities that were suspended that did not clearly violate community policies have been restored. Over the weekend and into the next couple of weeks we will be doing the following:

1. 
   We will contact each user whose journal

Comments

[fragiletender]

Oh well, isn't that interesting

[fragiletender]

Fair enough, I completely understand but I do think you need to officially reassure the Russians, they're clearly feeling pretty vulnerable.

[mme_n_b]

That's because SixApart already sold us down the river once this year.

[imaria]

...not to be contrary, but that kind of logic has led to some of the more recent problems.

Perhaps LJ might be interested in becoming a mite more public in general? Secrecy carries very little online, and silence instead is taken as deliberate misguidance as events have shown.

[burr86]

It's not good practice to say "This is how other people managed to harm us" until that method is no longer a way of harming us. :P

[imaria]

While I certainly agree that discretion regarding the precise tactics would be wise, publicly sharing the information even presented in this thread would be a good idea. Since users are discovering this new restriction on their own, with no warning (there hasn't even been any posting about the DDOS save for the status journal, which is exceedingly vague), they are making up their own reasons... and given that paranoia is high, it's just not the best time.

A single paragraph of "This is happening, you can't type these letters, we know, we're working on it" could do wonders for the whole communication issue.

[burr86]

We can't. I'm pushing the boundaries of what I can say publically even by replying here; there's no way I can make the same sort of announcement in any more high-profile a place. I know people are going hysterical over this, and I know it sucks, but I really cannot do much more than what I've already done. I understand what you're saying and I agree fully, but we literally cannot have more transparency or more public announcements than what I've said so far.

[imaria]

I have communicated with you many times in the past, and have found you to be very responsible. If you say this is as much as can be said, I will trust your judgement.

Having said that, though, if an issue affects your userbase, not issuing ANY communication is... well, offensive. The implication is that we won't notice. As time passes, good will is eaten. Whoever has made the decision to keep this silent... I would politely request that they consider this very carefully. If there is somehow NO way this can be communicated, so be it. But I admit that it stretches credibility to believe that making the userbase aware that "errors regarding a specific string of characters will be resolved shortly, as well as any service outages that are being experienced" cannot be said

[burr86]

I know, and I know it sucks quite a shitload -- I'm thinking of all the possible things we can do to make this situation better. I don't have a solution right now, but I'm trying to figure out if there's anything more we can do. It's frustrating to see people get upset and not being able to reassure them, but what I've said in this comment thread is about as much as I can do right now. (And, I admit: part of it is simply that I cannot make these sorts of announcements on my own, and I need to consult with other people who aren't working at the moment. So I'll talk with people tomorrow and see what we can do.)

[imaria]

I assumed that there was also an authority issue; perhaps in the future, someone with the authority to go ahead with announcements as such might be good to have a little more available. There are certainly limitations as to how much you can get with that, but I have a feeling that a bit more focus on communication with users might be worth focusing on in the near future.

In the very least, thank you for as much as you've given. This is much better than dead silence, and I only worry about those who don't know this thread is buried in an unrelated newspost.

[joannakuang]

I'm glad I was able to see this thread in the least.

Thank you both for this.

[slyfoot]

Oh, great.

Now I am ambivalent whether the links I've made to your reply is harmful or helpful. I want it on record that I was trying to minimize hysteria in doing so.

[ex_juan_gan]

I guess this means that you prefer not to recognize a big problem that will grow bigger in the future unless addressed properly. Of course it is not the goal of Livejournal to provide freedom of speech in Russia; but I guess if you openly talk about the problems, enough volunteer efforts can be gathered to help solve the problem - the problem in which Livejournal is not at fault at all. You are under attack. Please don't be silent, don't be afraid; ask for help. There are millions of users that need your service; I bet there will be hundreds, if not thousands, of thouse who would be eager to help. You cannot surrender to the Kremlin threat, can you?

[mme_n_b]

It's not a threat to them, it's a business partner.

[qfemale]

Thank you for explaining!

[plaguedred]

I was thinking that it might be Amazing Coincidence, because if you keep throwing enough random letter combinations around maybe some will cause some sort of problem. The other posters mentioning censorship of the name in other areas did make it seem fishy.

Thanks for explaining. :D *hefts torch, goes back to other angry mob*