LJ Strikeout '07: Support Freedom of Expression!

[ladybrighid3333_archive]

Ok...so sorry if you've all seen this all over your friends list, but compiling two different "action plans". I'm sorry, but i'm screening comments and logging IPs. >>; you will have to wait till your comment shows up.



roaring's compiled a listing of some of the facts,which link to more facts, etc., of what's going on, mostly in relation to the fandom people getting hit by this.
Click the banner above to see that.

this was taken from rosesatmidnight for the same program on a more personal standpoiont, though I edited it for my own words at the end. For the original go take action!
1. Change the end greeting to your username
2 You can tweak the last paragraph so it's yours.
3. Spread it to your friends list by posting it to your own journal or linking here.
4. Also feel free to comment here with the textbox at the bottom of this entry.

Change your user name, personalize your comments in the last paragraph, and email this to privacy@livejournal.com and post it to your journal or profile.

Dear LJ:

I was quite appalled to hear about your mass-deletion of communities and journals with what you deemed as 'triggering' interests. Some of us have survived Rape. Some of us have survived abuse. And some of us wish to speak up and help others. How can we do that if you're taking away what we use to help those in need?

Have you even researched this "Warriors For Innocence"? Now what about the countless others who will not benefit from this deletion? What about the countless molesters who will now be driven further underground?

What about the countless members who have survived abuse, who have survived rape, and are now, finally, proud to stand up and say that they have... only for LJ to tell them that they can't?

Now what will we do? Now what source will we have to share our stories and our knowledge with others, now that your once-valuable source has been so ruthlessly and thoughtlessly taken away?

You were once one of the voices that helped make us strong as a united front.

And now your silence in the fight deafens me. Your silence speaks volumes, as much now as it will ever speak. Your silence is like a slap in the face to those of us who have survived the rape, survived the abuse, and are now, or will soon, learn to stand again, learn to live again, learn to function again.

As the friend of several people who have survived abuse and rape, I, personally, hope that you never experience it. And if that does happen, I hope that this very same silence never crosses your path.

Respectfully,
ladybrighid3333

Edit: Or if you feel uncomfortable sending it. Fill in, Copy and paste the text in the text box below into a comment here.

<b>Name/Alias:</b> <b>Journal name:</b> <b>Location(optional):</b> <b>Comment(optional):</b>

Comments

[dewdropinn.livejournal.com]

Name/Alias: Aly
Journal name: dewdropinn
Location(optional): Nova Scotia, Canada
Comment(optional): This is so ri-fucking-diculous. It's the PARENTS' responsibility to monitor what their children view on the internet. If it's a family computer, put the computer in the living room or somewhere where you can easily see the type of material they're looking at. Hell, even get a Net Nanny! It's not LJ's responsibility to babysit your kids.

You wouldn't let your kids watch shows like South Park (not dissing the show, folks. I love it. But I'm also 21.) or play violent video games. Why should this be any different?

[d-marx.livejournal.com]

Freedom of Expression, hopefully there aren't new laws trying to put a chain on blogs everywhere. I'd hate to see censorship online like this and have major groups becoming victims to big wig bullies.

[alive49.livejournal.com]

Name/Alias:April
Journal name: alive49
Location(optional):Illinois

[lucifercircle.livejournal.com]

I've posted a modified and added to version of you letter in response to one of the posts on the Warriors for Innocence site. It will probably not get through the moderators, they really don't like people who disagree with them.

This is excellent work, good job.

[aliasagent.livejournal.com]

Name/Alias: Emelie
Journal name: aliasagent
Location(optional):
Comment(optional):

[forwardish]

Name/Alias: Tali
Journal name: spygurl121
Location(optional): Chicago
Comment(optional): In no way shape or form do I support real life sexual crimes. I have a younger brother and I am very over protective of him, I do worry about such things, because he too is online a lot. However, my family has educated him about the dangers of online predators. That is our responsibility as his family.

It is not LJ's responsibility to delete and target FICTIONAL writers and their stories. In fact, it's a direct violation of our rights. I understand that in our country, the USofA, there is a paranoia of legal action. However, our basic rights should trump that.

This is on Livejournal's shoulders, not the WFI. If an apology is not given, if sanctions are not made, I will no longer be using livejournal's services. As a paying customer, I am outraged.

[setos-puppy.livejournal.com]

Name/Alias: Mina
Journal name: setos_puppy
Location(optional): Ottawa
Comment(optional): This needs to be stopped

[anakin415.livejournal.com]

Name/Alias: Roxanne
Journal name:anakin415/rhiannon_rhodes/amethyst_orchid
Location(optional):chicago
Comment(optional):http://anakin415.livejournal.com/134244.html

[contessa-maggie.livejournal.com]

Name/Alias:Anna
Journal name:contessa_maggie
Location(optional):Chicago
Comment(optional):I'm appalled by this action. You've targeted many people innocent of any wrongdoing, while putting on notice the true predators who will just go underground and find other ways to survive and thrive. I urge you in the strongest possible terms to rethink this misguided and oppressive policy.

[jungryog.livejournal.com]

Name/Alias: Astrid
Journal name: jungryog
Location(optional): Chile
Comment(optional):

[tablyn24.livejournal.com]

Name/Alias: Tabetha
Journal name: Tablyn24
Location(optional): Ohio

[dusktodawn.livejournal.com]

Name/Alias: Dusk
Journal name: soronuume
Location(optional): USA
Comment(optional):

Not going to renew my paid account, and depending on the response to this, may even move to GJ. I think you acted rashly on this, without explanation, and by your continued silence, almost...almost proved your guilt.

[helplessxangel.livejournal.com]

Name/Alias: Razor
Journal name: helplessxangel
Location(optional): Pennsylvania, USA
Comment(optional): Don't we have to deal with enough discrimination in the real world?

[stellar-dust.livejournal.com]

Name/Alias: katycat
Journal name: stellar_dust
Location(optional): Virginia
Comment(optional):

[tsukihime-san.livejournal.com]

Name/Alias: Julia GD
Journal name: tsukihime_san
Location(optional): California, US
Comment(optional):
So much for the freedom of speech.
How people can trust LJ now if it feels comfortable deleting journal and communities "just because"...

"Cleaning" of this sort is outrageous and ridiculous at the same time. It will not save kids from the harmful influence of the internet - because if they are looking for this kind of information they'll find it. It is up to parents and teachers to educate them in right and wrong. I have a 10 year old son and what he sees or does not see on internet is my responsibility - not some strange group that tramples on other people's work and interests without even taking time to understand and consider.

[notgointohappen.livejournal.com]

I'm only observer, not really active in anywhere, so I don't think they can get on me from any terms (then one does Newer know...)but I DO think this thing sucks! Whattahell is matter of them?! It's all FICTIONS for cryin' out loud....

[kissface.livejournal.com]

Name/Alias: Bonnie
Journal name: kissface

[swashbuckler332.livejournal.com]

Name/Alias: Joshua
Journal name: swashbuckler332
Location(optional): Fresh Meadows, NY
Comment(optional): As I've said elsewhere, each journal and community is different and ought to be treated separately. A mass deletion (especially one without any warning) is abusive of the trust that the users have placed in this service. This is particularly alarming considering that the source of the complaint, "Warriors for Innocence," seem to have a distinctly fascist agenda; their website installs spyware on your computer. More people have been victimized by this move than anybody has been protected. Right your wrongs, LJ, or you're losing my business.

[cresselia.livejournal.com]

Name/Alias: Usagi
Journal name: flyingpinkbunny
Location(optional): Texas
Comment(optional): It is completely unfair what you are doing here. I do not condone pedophilia/child abuse/anything along those lines, but banning people for listing things like "rape" as an interest? Have you even read these peoples' journals? How can you accuse somebody of being a rapist just for having a word listed in their interests; it could have entirely different connotations! And banning the accounts of FICTIONAL CHARACTERS, when most of the time it is WRITTEN IN THEIR USERINFO that it's merely a journal for roleplaying purposes? Man, you guys have no lives, do you. :| I do believe that predators on the internet should be dealt with, but this is not the right way to go about it. Leave the pedo-nuking to places like http://www.perverted-justice.com/; they could always use more volunteers like the people in this "Warriors for Innocence" organization.

[kakumei-tenjou.livejournal.com]

Name/Alias: Reafu/Kakumei
Journal name: kakumei_tenjou
Location(optional): Toronto , Canada
Comment(optional): I understand the need to follow rules and do what you can to make sure that users write what is legally acceptable , but to delete people's journals and communities with out so much as a warning or even an explaination as to what they/someone else did wrong that led to the deletion , that is just unfair and wrong.

[novalis-b.livejournal.com]

Name/Alias: Bejipan
Journal name: Diamante Mind
Location(optional): North Carolina
Comment(optional): Think more before you act!

[telrunya.livejournal.com]

Name/Alias: Noemi.
Journal name: telrunya
Location(optional): Mexico.

[revanlady.livejournal.com]

Name/Alias:Bakachan
Journal name:revanlady
Location(optional):Virginia
Comment(optional):I can understand the necessity of banning those who are truly a threat, but for most everyone else here, this is our personal journal. Words are just words. Fiction is just that. FICTION. The reason most people joined this site in the first place is for the freedom of expression. Unless you have actual proof that people are doing things that are illegal or against the terms of service they signed up for, I really don't think they should be deleted.

[anonymiss731.livejournal.com]

Name/Alias: Nony
Journal name: anonymiss731
Location(optional): N.Y.
Comment(optional): Innocent people are being silenced while real criminals are slipping by. Please keep up you're efforts but not at the expense of people that have done nothing wrong!

[gen-adrianfii.livejournal.com]

Name/Alias: Adrian K. Fii
Journal name: gen_adrianfii
Location(optional): Wilton, New Hampshire, USA
Comment(optional):
Dear LJ,
I have a lot to say on this, so bear with me. I know you think you're doing the right thing by doing this and in all honesty, you're not. And it's not for the reasons that most people are probably telling you. Freedom of Speech really doesn't hold on the internet on certain websites. Each website is a dictorship unto itself. ToS, that's what it's for.
No, you're not doing the right thing because your reasons are all wrong.
One, you're letting a militant Christian organization tell you how to run your own site. There is -nothing-, I repeat -nothing- they can do to you if you don't comply with their demands.
I mean, have you actually seen their website, have you actually heard their spouted rhetoric?
If you haven't, here's their website: http://www.warriorsforinnocence.org/ (http://www.warriorsforinnocence.org/)
These people believe that they're doing God's will but more than that, you're letting someone else run your website.
Two, these people aren't actually trying to do any good. Why do I say this? Because, if they were trying to do good, they wouldn't be going about it in this way. They're going after a large organization to make a lot of wave in the press so they get more publicity and thus, more money. If they actually wanted to help stop pedophilia on the internet, they'd do it in a chatroom, one pedo at a time.
But that's hard, that's expensive and the pay off isn't as great as going after a multimillion dollar coporation for the news, now is it?
Three, they're also not going after just pedophiles because if they were, they would have people dedicated to going through each and every journal, each and every community to try to find pedophiles. Again, this is hard and expensive so they just see something in an interest and think "Oh! They've got rape as an interest?! They're a pedophile!"
Personally, I don't like that logic train at all.
Fourth, they're going after all sexual deviants. It isn't just the "pedophiles". They're basically going after rape survivors, abuse survivors, homosexuals, bisexual, transvestites and fetishists.
And why, because it doens't fall into their belief of living in the way God wants them to.
And by that fact alone, you're helping to enable more abusers and rapists then stop them because now these people don't have an anonymous way to talk about it and finally overcome.
All that being said, I have one last question for you LJ. Who are you going to let effect your site's policies more?
The 13 some odd million people that pay your bills and wages on a monthly basis or a small group of not even 500 people that run off of Blogger... and don't even own a single LJ?