Kathryn A. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
kerravonsen) wrote2009-04-25 07:42 pm
kerravonsen) wrote2009-04-25 07:42 pm
Entry tags:
Why Dreamwidth?
(I meant to post this last night or this morning, but I didn't manage to)
There have been a few people on my flist wondering what all the fuss is about Dreamwidth; isn't it just another GreatestJournal or InsaneJournal? Another LJ clone run by someone in their spare time, something that won't last? Something always lagging behind LJ in features?
Well, no.
Let me tell you why...
Openness
1. Open communication.
The people behind Dreamwidth have been very open in what is going on, what they are doing, what they are intending to do, what they are intending not to do, and the reasons why. Sure, it's in closed beta and there is a lot going on, but I have no reason to believe that they will suddenly change their clarity of communication when the site is opened up for all comers.
2. Open source.
Sure, LJ code is open source too, but parts of it aren't. What is even better, though, is that it looks like the Dreamwidth people are encouraging contributions by others, and have an attitude of mentoring newbies,unlike some Open Source projects which are very elitist and unwelcoming.
Also, the site documentation is under a Creative Commons licence, which means that Dreamwidth clones will have good documentation too.
3. Open to all.
See their Diversity Statement. Yes, they are fan-friendly, but they aren't fan-only. Also, their site code tries very hard to be Accessible.
I know some people have complained that the invite-code system means that they aren't open, that they're elitist, but, heck, it's still in closed beta. When things get to full launch, invite codes will be more freely available. And it isn't "only the cool kids get closed-beta invite codes, either". Unless you think being picked in the OpenID users random lottery makes me a cool kid.
And after open beta, if it so happens that you don't know anybody on Dreamwidth with invite codes, you can buy a one-month paid account for a measly $3 and let it revert to a free account.
(See below for more about invite codes)
4. Open to suggestions.
Well, at least they're soliciting suggestions as well as bug reports.
Business Plan
Okay, why should I care about their business plan? Well, because it indicates what their plans are for their users, and also whether they're likely to be around in the long term.
(For fuller information, see their Business FAQ)
1. No ads. Ever.
This isn't a hollow promise that they'll renege on when they feel like it. This article, penned by one of the people involved, explains convincingly why putting ads on a social media site is about as sensible as trying to make a fire burn faster by feeding it wet rags as fuel. The article also convinced me that LJ isn't going to stick around. Sure, it's still here now, but I think its long-term prospects are dim.
2. Invite codes
There are two reasons why invite codes are a Good Thing.
(i) to control the growth of the site; it means that they can make sure that their growth doesn't outstrip their resources, by making sure that the number of free users can be supported by the fees of the paid users.
(ii) to keep out spammers.
(See above as to why invite codes aren't elitist)
3. Disposition of profits.
They don't expect there to be profits in the first year, and they don't expect the profits to be massive. Even so, when there are profits, this is how they will be dispersed:
* 1/3 directed to benefit the community as determined by the owners
* 1/3 directed to benefit the community as determined by members of the community
* 1/3 distributed to the owners as profit.
4. No hostile takeovers.
They have set up in the rules of the business, that if one of the owners decides to sell out, (a) they must sell to the other owner(s) first, (b) if they do sell to a third party, the remaining owners can decide whether or not to allow the new party voting rights or not. So even if shares are sold to an Evil Corporation, they won't be able to call the tune.
Features
I put features last because the other two are actually more important to me. However, Dreamwidth already has nifty features that LiveJournal doesn't have, and there will be more nifty features in future.
1.Split the "friends" concept into "subscribe" and "access".
This means that one has more control, not less, over how one deals with other journals. Subscribing means that the journal appears on one's "reading page"; granting access means that that person can read your locked posts. One can subscribe to a journal without granting access, one can grant access without subscribing, or one can do both. Doing both is the same as "friending" on LJ.
2. Good support of OpenID
If all one wants to do is make comments on other people's journals, rather than making a journal of one's own, one can just use one's LJ identity to make an OpenID account, and one can read posts and post comments. And Dreamwidth users can grant access to OpenID accounts, add them to their different "friends" filters; so really, one doesn't have to join Dreamwidth in order to participate.
3. Import of other journals
If one does want to migrate to Dreamwidth, one can import one's LJ, with all the icons, entries and comments.
4. Crossposting from Dreamwidth itself
If one wants to use Dreamwidth and keep up one's LJ too, Dreamwidth makes it easy. When posting to Dreamwidth, one can elect to cross-post to another journal (such as one's LiveJournal). It's just LiveJournal-based sites for now, but I think they plan to add other styles of journal in future.
5. Improved Style System
Their rewrite of the LJ S2 core style has moved the "features" part of styles into the core. This means that all styles will have all features, and that one can choose a journal style based solely on its appearance, rather than what features it has. Also, their core style will be able to be customised with pure CSS: one won't have to learn the style system in order to make a custom look for one's journal.
I have a Dreamwidth account, and I am intending to cross-post to both LJ and Dreamwidth, definitely in the short term, and probably the long term unless my entire flist migrates to Dreamwidth or LJ goes down, whichever comes first. Since my LJ account is a permanent account, it's not like I have to do anything more to keep it running.
There have been a few people on my flist wondering what all the fuss is about Dreamwidth; isn't it just another GreatestJournal or InsaneJournal? Another LJ clone run by someone in their spare time, something that won't last? Something always lagging behind LJ in features?
Well, no.
Let me tell you why...
Openness
1. Open communication.
The people behind Dreamwidth have been very open in what is going on, what they are doing, what they are intending to do, what they are intending not to do, and the reasons why. Sure, it's in closed beta and there is a lot going on, but I have no reason to believe that they will suddenly change their clarity of communication when the site is opened up for all comers.
2. Open source.
Sure, LJ code is open source too, but parts of it aren't. What is even better, though, is that it looks like the Dreamwidth people are encouraging contributions by others, and have an attitude of mentoring newbies,unlike some Open Source projects which are very elitist and unwelcoming.
Also, the site documentation is under a Creative Commons licence, which means that Dreamwidth clones will have good documentation too.
3. Open to all.
See their Diversity Statement. Yes, they are fan-friendly, but they aren't fan-only. Also, their site code tries very hard to be Accessible.
I know some people have complained that the invite-code system means that they aren't open, that they're elitist, but, heck, it's still in closed beta. When things get to full launch, invite codes will be more freely available. And it isn't "only the cool kids get closed-beta invite codes, either". Unless you think being picked in the OpenID users random lottery makes me a cool kid.
And after open beta, if it so happens that you don't know anybody on Dreamwidth with invite codes, you can buy a one-month paid account for a measly $3 and let it revert to a free account.
(See below for more about invite codes)
4. Open to suggestions.
Well, at least they're soliciting suggestions as well as bug reports.
Business Plan
Okay, why should I care about their business plan? Well, because it indicates what their plans are for their users, and also whether they're likely to be around in the long term.
(For fuller information, see their Business FAQ)
1. No ads. Ever.
This isn't a hollow promise that they'll renege on when they feel like it. This article, penned by one of the people involved, explains convincingly why putting ads on a social media site is about as sensible as trying to make a fire burn faster by feeding it wet rags as fuel. The article also convinced me that LJ isn't going to stick around. Sure, it's still here now, but I think its long-term prospects are dim.
2. Invite codes
There are two reasons why invite codes are a Good Thing.
(i) to control the growth of the site; it means that they can make sure that their growth doesn't outstrip their resources, by making sure that the number of free users can be supported by the fees of the paid users.
(ii) to keep out spammers.
(See above as to why invite codes aren't elitist)
3. Disposition of profits.
They don't expect there to be profits in the first year, and they don't expect the profits to be massive. Even so, when there are profits, this is how they will be dispersed:
* 1/3 directed to benefit the community as determined by the owners
* 1/3 directed to benefit the community as determined by members of the community
* 1/3 distributed to the owners as profit.
4. No hostile takeovers.
They have set up in the rules of the business, that if one of the owners decides to sell out, (a) they must sell to the other owner(s) first, (b) if they do sell to a third party, the remaining owners can decide whether or not to allow the new party voting rights or not. So even if shares are sold to an Evil Corporation, they won't be able to call the tune.
Features
I put features last because the other two are actually more important to me. However, Dreamwidth already has nifty features that LiveJournal doesn't have, and there will be more nifty features in future.
1.Split the "friends" concept into "subscribe" and "access".
This means that one has more control, not less, over how one deals with other journals. Subscribing means that the journal appears on one's "reading page"; granting access means that that person can read your locked posts. One can subscribe to a journal without granting access, one can grant access without subscribing, or one can do both. Doing both is the same as "friending" on LJ.
2. Good support of OpenID
If all one wants to do is make comments on other people's journals, rather than making a journal of one's own, one can just use one's LJ identity to make an OpenID account, and one can read posts and post comments. And Dreamwidth users can grant access to OpenID accounts, add them to their different "friends" filters; so really, one doesn't have to join Dreamwidth in order to participate.
3. Import of other journals
If one does want to migrate to Dreamwidth, one can import one's LJ, with all the icons, entries and comments.
4. Crossposting from Dreamwidth itself
If one wants to use Dreamwidth and keep up one's LJ too, Dreamwidth makes it easy. When posting to Dreamwidth, one can elect to cross-post to another journal (such as one's LiveJournal). It's just LiveJournal-based sites for now, but I think they plan to add other styles of journal in future.
5. Improved Style System
Their rewrite of the LJ S2 core style has moved the "features" part of styles into the core. This means that all styles will have all features, and that one can choose a journal style based solely on its appearance, rather than what features it has. Also, their core style will be able to be customised with pure CSS: one won't have to learn the style system in order to make a custom look for one's journal.
I have a Dreamwidth account, and I am intending to cross-post to both LJ and Dreamwidth, definitely in the short term, and probably the long term unless my entire flist migrates to Dreamwidth or LJ goes down, whichever comes first. Since my LJ account is a permanent account, it's not like I have to do anything more to keep it running.
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Because an invite is required, I do not have a Dreamwidth account, and cannot get one. So it is closed to me. Therefore, it is not accessible.
Basically, it undermines the whole purpose of the weblog. As they fragment off into multiple different places, I might as well be running a private server on my own machine, as I cannot see anyone and no one can see me.
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Eh?
But you did see this, you did reply here, and you did manage to reply there too.
Because an invite is required, I do not have a Dreamwidth account, and cannot get one. So it is closed to me. Therefore, it is not accessible.
Did you actually read my post? You CAN get a Dreamwidth account, just not yet.
Basically, it undermines the whole purpose of the weblog.
You are really cross and grumpy today!
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While over there, I attempted to create an account but it wasn't possible. I needed an invite code. I created an OpenID account but it did not result in getting an invite. I cannot post to Dreamwatch because although I don't have an account. Every time I clicked on create account it asked for an ID.
Nor did posting work. I spent several more minutes with rising grumpiness figuring out that Dreamwidth used a re-captcha for everything, and it was being blocked by the firewall, so I coluldn't see it.
Once I got past that hurdle, I was able to reply to you on Dreamwatch using the OpenID. Apparently, I'm ext_50193. But it is no better than an anonymous post. Therefore, if you had anonymous posts disabled, and many people do, I would not have been able to reply. I fiddled with the prefs but I couldn't change critical options to enable myself to read other peoples posts. If you'd set "adults only", I would also have been blocked.
So what is going to happen is: you will migrate to Dreamwatch and assuming you do cross-post (and maybe you won't) I will be able to read but not reply. Can you see my LJ account from your Reading page? It doesn't look like it. Therefore, I'm effectively de-friended by anyone who moves to Dreamwatch.
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Well of course. IT IS STILL IN CLOSED BETA. When it goes to open beta, you will still need an invite code, but I'm certain I will have invite codes to give to people.
I spent several more minutes with rising grumpiness figuring out that Dreamwidth used a re-captcha for everything, and it was being blocked by the firewall, so I coluldn't see it.
Well, is it Dreamwidth's fault that your firewall blocks reCAPTCHA? I've never heard of that problem before. And I haven't had to use reCAPTCHA when using my OpenID account, so I don't know what's going on there.
But it is no better than an anonymous post.
Not so. I have granted your OpenID account access to my locked posts, now. Not that I have posted any locked posts recently.
Have you confirmed an email address for your OpenID account? That might be the difference.
Can you see my LJ account from your Reading page?
They are planning on adding this feature.
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I know, me too.
do you know if DW currently has the same posting limits as LJ does?
They don't! Their posting limits are bigger! 8-)
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Nor can an OpenID account post.
The terms and conditions include some things that LJ got an enormous caning for:
* "By using this Service, you agree to this account structure, and to Dreamwidth's right to change, modify, or discontinue any type of account or the features available to it at any time"
* "By submitting Content to us for inclusion on the Website, you grant us a world-wide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, modify, adapt and publish the Content"
* "You agree that by using the service, you may be exposed to Content you find offensive or objectionable. If such Content is reported to us, it will be our sole discretion as to what action, if any, should be taken."
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Excuse me? Where do you get this mistaken information?
You can't get paid accounts yet.
Nor can an OpenID account post.
I never said it did. It can post comments, it can't post journal entries.
Why do you insist on misinterpreting everything I say? This is not like you.
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