I responded to the first user who mentioned this and I hope this answers some questions:

http://news.livejournal.com/106731.html?thread=68484587#t68484587

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I understand that simplifying the sign-up flow is a good thing and you absolutely don't want to confuse new users so early on and force them to abandon the sign-up.

Yes, I agree with that.

So why isn't Basic still available? Let people "downgrade" to it later.

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I'll be interested in hearing if they give you any assurances that the advisory board will actually be consulted on future decisions, or whether it's going to be completely toothless from the start.

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Forget it. RusFed is a monarchy, so is everything it touches.

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Damn, I'm glad I created a shell account for Sophia a while back, she might want it someday. I should try to get it switched to a Perm while I still have contacts there...

Or just give her her own LJ server! My house is full of them right now.

$$God bless the almighty dollar$$

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I'm not sure how almighty it is lately.

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Every time I start wondering if quitting really was a good idea, something happens to make me stop wondering.

I need to stop thinking that; the fallout is starting to get ridiculous.

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I don't blame you for going 'see you guys later'. Things are getting a tad silly; apparently 'think before acting' is only something ADHD-minds like myself have to really obey these days. Everyone else faffs around at their personal whimsy! Blah.

*FTPs tea*

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Your user number is low enough, and it is grandfathered in. I guess those become "valuable" now ... for those who care enough to stay. People had to read through several hours of comments and waffling to find it out, but you can just go to no_lj_ads.

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It was a joke. I was joking about my permanent account switching to plus, not my basic account. I know the grandfathering policies as stated.

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I was always wondering why you would ever agree to be roped into this inevitable trainwreck. At least you're being pretty honest about it.

Good stuff.

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I'll give them a shot. It's worth a try, ya know? All I have to do is give my opinion. If they constantly ignore me, then I leave and save some typing. But I'd like to think that if they went through all the effort to create an advisory board (and they did!), then they actually want something out of it.

I remain optimistic.

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Thank you for this, Brad. It's good to know someone's standing against this craziness... I hope you manage to talk them out of it.

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Ha! Ha! Ha!
Brad says:

***In any case, SUP apparently sees no value in freeloaders not looking at ads, not paying, and oh wait... producing most the content for other members to read, other members who are looking at ads and paying for their accounts.***

Alas! SUP doesn't seem to see any value in ANY kind of users. Content? What are you talking about? What's content? Who needs content? SUP need their money. And they are very much likely to misunderstand the connection between users, content and money.

A lot of people in cyrillic LJ are afraid that the end of it will come soon.

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What I'd like to know is why we had to find this out through a comment on the news post and not an announcement?

*sigh*

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Yeah, that too.

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heaven forbid they run livejournal the way they want. all they did was pay millions of dollars for it.

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They are.

And they also wanted me on their advisory board! :-)

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Thank you for speaking out on this.

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I don't like dropping in on anyone's journal that doesn't know me, but I just wanted to say that I, for one, really appreciate your honesty on the matter, and your willingness to express your opinions where anyone can read them. I won't get into a rant about the basic account thing, as I think the latest news post has enough flames to destroy the world already, but I just wanted to say your honesty is appreciated, that's all. ♥

(FWIW, this paragraph is more directed to Advisory Board Brad. :) I also just wanted to say, too, I totally understand the business (monetary) reasons for the decision, but I think everyone just wishes The Powers That Be would be more open about the decisions, rather than hiding them away from the news community. Honestly, I think the fallout would be a lot less. You'd still get people crying 'unfair' left right and centre, but I think all people really want is to be informed, and that would cut down on a lot of the animosity that's gathering momentum. :( I know you're trying, and I hope your influence on the board is listened to, because I do think honesty about this stuff would go a long, long way. I figured LJ would have learned that one by now, but here's hoping...)

I apologise totally if this comment was unwelcome, and if you want to screen or delete it, please feel free. It was meant to be a 'thanks' and then I got tangent-y.

But still, for the honesty, really - thank you. It's nice we're getting it from someone. :)

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Thanks for trying, Brad.

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+1

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This is all really disappointing. The only reason I haven't left yet is that I bought a permanent account last year, before I was aware of teh drama, so now I feel really bad to just throw all that money away. If things keep heading where they're heading, though, soon it's gonna seem ok to just cut my losses and get out.

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Agreed. I just bought my permanent account recently as well.

They are idiots, making up lame excuses like "three options are too confusing". And the claims that they "can't make money" are specious. It's obvious that the paid accounts should be priced to cover the rest (and of course, they get the ad revenue on top of that).

I was Facebooking a lot the last few months, and had just recently come back to LJ, and now I am just disgusted. I hate stupidity and arrogant business school bozos, and this is clearly the kind of decision-making that comes from that type. Sigh. I guess I am going to end up relegated to my blog, but it's professional and I have no anonymity, so cannot post anything risque, artistic, or political. *sniff*

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Ah, 2004 was the end of a golden age.

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oh hay, fancy seeing you here

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I'm not sure why they don't have basic ads - everyone says it is because you get more money through advertising but I had a basic account and still saw ads everywhere. I don't think that counts as total free-loading, you know?

Well - I guess we'll just wait and see

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How does one get a permi account? Unless it was/is staff shit only. And of course, you got the Early Adopter status as well, never upgrading until forced though, no ads for me.

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It's explained here?

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Interesting to see "Early adopter" still exists though. Hmm. Guessing they forgot about us. Crap, I probably shouldn't even say anything!

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It's sad that 'early adopter' ceases to mean anything anymore, especially when it was people like us who brought the site popularity.

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What the hell, they seriously ignored you? SUP, I am amazed. And may take business elsewhere.

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In any case, SUP apparently sees no value in freeloaders not looking at ads, not paying, and oh wait... producing most the content for other members to read, other members who are looking at ads and paying for their accounts.

Yes, that. I'm glad someone remembers.

Thanks for the transparency, meanwhile; I appreciate it.

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This would not even have been so bad if there had been some warning.

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I'm most impressed that they did it under cover of night, with no mention in today's news post.

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You know, they are from Russia. We're lucky Brad hasn't suddenly turned lumpy from some radioactive poisoning or ended up with an ice pick in his head.

...so far.

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I agree with you on the value of free accounts (like mine). We generate content that makes the entire site more attractive.

But "welcome to the NEW AND IMPROVED SERVICE ECONOMY". Many companies made promises based on assumptions that are no longer true. I have shelves of abandoned hardware and software because the mfgrs failed to deliver things that worked as advertised. I have "lifetime warranties" that are no longer honored because the company found ways to say "it's an obsolete/abandoned/end-of-life product". I have CDs from NetZero, bluelight.com and others promising "totally free internet service" (at least netzero still offers free access albeit for only a few hours a month). Google knows the "value of free". It's sad that the collapse of many huge online systems (GEnie, Delphi, AOL) is never seen as a cautionary tale of DO NOT PISS OFF YOUR CUSTOMERS!

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Thank you for keeping us informed about your views on this, it's appreciated.

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Some advisory board. They won't even listen to you, what makes us think they'll listen to us?

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At least your honest about your opinion.

I do hope it never gets so bad, that you ever leave.

It wouldn't be the same.

It'd be like Myspace without Tom.

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It'd be like Myspace without Tom.

You're saying that like that's a BAD thing.

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