I don’t normally engage in spreading more effluvia about internet fads than neccesary, but I’ll make an exception.

LiveJournal, one of the oldest blog hosting sites, recently was bought out by some Russian company. This is really irrelevant, except for the fact that this new company has enacted a new subscriber policy in which they have done away with the gratis[0] ad-free signup option.

Previously there were several levels of subscribership:

• Basic: Free w/no ads
• Plus: Free w/ads
• Paid: Paid w/no ads (recurring cost)
• Permanent: Paid w/no ads (one time, $$)
• Early Adopters (founders, people who’ve been around for a while, etc)

SUP (the Russian company)’s new policy
did away with the basic-level accounts, still leaving a “free” option, however it is (somewhat) hampered with advertisements).

Most of the people who are jumping on the boycott bandwagon (including, to a large degree the instigator) seem to confuse the difference between the “basic” account type being disabled and all free account types being disabled.

Unfortunately, they are in the wrong on this matter. You can still create a free account, you just have to deal with a few advertisements (or install an ad blocker – works well for me).

Having said all that, I don’t expect the basic accounts to return.

However, I envision a black market on basic (free, ad-free) LiveJournal accounts emerging, and my account will gladly be sold to the highest bidder.