Slashdot

Still unsure of whether I'll stick it out at Multiply long term, but the likely option if I don't is simply stopping journaling, and I like journaling, which means Multiply may win by default.

I've been occasionally stopping by Slashdot (I'll probably cross post this at /.) since I stopped there, and I miss the contributions from the JE circle there I like. One other downside of moving is that you post stuff knowing certain people will get a kick out of it, and I have less of that feeling here given my circle is still fairly small and doesn't truly overlap with those still fighting through the latest changes at the dot. Multiply supports a "groups" concept, and a large number of people at Slashdot are also at "Circular Refuge", but you have to choose between posting to your own journal and posting to the group, and I'm not entirely sure that works for me.

Positive aspects of Multiply so far are:

1. While crude, the UI generally doesn't get in the way (and what the hell's going on with the nested boxes at Slashdot? I seriously cannot make head or tail of what's supposed to be a reply to what unless it's either very obvious from the content of the comment, or I open a potential "parent" in a new window. When I left this was a "new" feature in a context where I was already finding it hard to follow threads given every other non-trivial comment had to be opened in a new window, but having left and gone back... urgh!)
2. A nested comments mode, as God intended. Though it's not the default, causing much anguish amongst seasoned users.
3. Rich-text editor for JEs that can switch to HTML source editing mode for clearing up problems. Unfortunately I do hit problems quite often. Also just one mode, equivalent to Slashdot's "Plain Old Text" for replies.
4. Images, videos, cool!
5. Tags instead of topics
6. Reading your friends' JEs all mixed together in chronological order is encouraged, not a hidden link restricted to five-at-a-time known only to a secretive elite. (This is not a comment reflecting an inferiority complex BTW, I was in that secretive elite...)

Downsides:

1. If you thought Slashdot's "fans/foes/friends/freaks" crap was over-complex, you haven't seen Multiply. I'd really like to go back to having my JEs accessible to all logged in users except those I explicitly ban. I don't even know what half this "Contacts/Distant Network/Close Network/Ethernet Network/FOX Network" crap means. Apparently some people are allowed to find out my birthday, but I don't know why or who exactly.
2. I'm having the same networking (TCP/IP, not social) problem with Multiply I did with Wikipedia, notably any submissions I make from my home network don't make it. Weirdly, the text generally does (though there may be a size aspect to it) but it appears to "time out", the tags are lost, and the access is restricted to "You" (ie me.) I can get around it by getting Chloe to access the JE via the T-Mobile EDGE/UMA network and make the changes, but that's a PITA.
3. I don't have much of a network. I can spam the Circular Refuge group, but I really would prefer to limit my JEs to people who are explicitly interested in them. Plus I'd like my JEs associated with my journal.
4. UI may not get in the way, but boy is it ugly. And while I can customize my own site, I can't customize the look and feel of my Inbox.

Once upon a time I'd have missed the Slashdot front page. Not an issue, interestingly enough.

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