(no subject)

[av8rmike]

Since chasethestars wants some actual content and not just notes ;), and since I fall into her second category of friends (the actively informed ones), I feel compelled to weigh in on the current situation.

I first saw the story here in no_lj_ads about Anton Nossik, the "Chief Blogger" of SUP (our Russian overlords) being interviewed for a Russian Internet site. The original is in Russian, but there are translations here and here. In it, he's dismissive of the concerns of these striking users, labels them "idiots" and the tactics "blackmail", and confirms the removal of new Basic accounts was done because they were not profitable.

Linked to in the_lj_herald is a statement in Nossik's own journal, in which he claims he was misrepresented as the head of SUP. He denies making the claims attributed to him, calls himself a "Social Media Evangelist", and basically tries to absolve himself of any responsibility of speaking for SUP. He also refuses to list what his actual capacities are in someplace appropriate and visible, such as his userinfo page; instead, he tells people to seek out that information on the Internet in general, then criticized it as being out of date.

Here's the thing that gets me, though (as if that weren't enough). Anyone who has been in a sufficiently large organization should know that there is supposed to be one avenue of communication. It might be a dumb example, but in my fraternity days, we were always told never to claim to speak for the house. If a reporter wanted some kind of opinion, always say "no comment" and refer them to the chapter president. That prevents one guy from making the entire organization from looking bad. Nossik can't have it both ways; he can't grant interviews to reporters, trash the users and the site's founder, then claim he's not empowered to speak for the organization and say "it's just my opinion". As one of Russia's "most visible bloggers", a SUP employee, and a longtime LJ user, he has to know that reporters are going to ask his opinions and that they will be representing the company. Either he is the company spokesperson, or he shouldn't grant the interviews.

Comments

[chasethestars.livejournal.com]

Since chasethestars wants some actual content and not just notes ;)

I never said that. Nor did I say I didn't want content. I like notes just as much as I like "actual content"! :)
Come to think of it, I really like seeing other peoples' "notes to self". Maybe I'm just that nosy.

[av8rmike.livejournal.com]

I know. I poke at people sometimes. *points to icon I know you like*
Your "100 random facts" posts are interesting. I know I couldn't come up with that many odd facts about myself.

[chasethestars.livejournal.com]

Originally, I was going to comment that it's really easy to come up with a hundred things. Then I realized I'm stuck and can't think of any more, well, any more truly random ones. My counting method isn't all that accurate either, since technically any entry I write contains one or more things about me. But I'd consider that cheating.

....

Actually, here's something. I totally did not think just now and clicked the "restart Firefox" button after an upgrade, while in the middle of writing this comment. Thought I'd have to rewrite it all, but either FF or some extension I have restored my open tabs along with this comment!
Anyway, 100 isn't really that much. You should take a stab at it, make it a routine like pushing the button *g*

[demonlord-lover.livejournal.com]

I am unsure about the whole thing. On one hand, I could care less about ads or no ads. I ignore them as easily as I do other slimy things I dislike. I certainly don't click them, so no revenue is coming from me.

On the other hand, his attitude is really ... stinky. Like you said, he can't have it both ways. If he's not a spokesman, then he has no business talking to anyone about policy. The others at SUP need to step up and get him to shut up before he pisses off too many people.

I could just imagine the problems a comm of hackers could present. The thing I'd heard about the supposed changes that REALLY bugged me was the desire to get rid of yaoi and other fandom related things. LJ is basically a ff haven, and to get rid of yaoi is a bit like a condemnation of homosexuality. What would come after that? Atheist groups being disbanded like it was on MySpace?