Some thoughts on the fannish kerfluffle...

[dwgm]

I have been watching the fannish kerfluffle, and joined right in, establishing a Greatest Journal and an Insane Journal in case all my PotC fannish peeps abandon LJ, but I have to say I think it's going to be the same thing, wherever we go, when it comes to work that skirts the edges of legality. We who work in public schools are all too aware of how very ready parents are to sue for anything that they consider has harmed their little prince or princess. Even if someone starts their own fannish site that permits anything and everything, there's a legal risk to them, personally. Kids are smart, and they're computer savvy, and they can find their way around safeguards, if they're determined to do so. And parents can sue individuals, not just big companies, or school districts.

We're all still feeling our way here. It wasn't very many years ago that the internet was all a new thing. I know LJ has been heavyhanded in dealing with this latest fandom issue, and even insulting, and surely there is no excuse for that in a business environment. But on the other hand, the timing of the posting of the two pieces of fanart in question could have been better, what with the fifth Harry Potter movie and the last book just coming out and quite literally attracting the eye of the world.

Comments

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

They're not concerned with whether reported abuses are truly harmful (pro-anorexia comms, for instance, appear to be safe from TOS-ing even though they promote self-harm)--just that their response looks good to their sponsors.

Oh, yes. It all boils down to money, as most everything does. Making a profit, and not getting sued: two sides of the same coin.

the company's priorities have changed since Brad was bought out by Six Apart

I remember everyone saying that would happen when the buy-out occurred, and sure enough.

I just don't want fandom to get so fragmented that we can't find the good stuff, you know?