The rules and the issues

Hi all,

As many of you know there was a small revision of the rules and they have been enforced more stringently than previously. As was referred to in the last blog we live in a constantly changing environment online and we'll do what we have to in order to keep the site, and its core values, online.

For many years we've tried to work with members on the rampant racism, abuse, and - more recently - doxxing issues. There comes a point where you can't keep asking and you have to push things through. I fully realise this is frustrating for members who've been used to getting away with more. Taking toys away is worse than never giving them at all. The thing is, keeping this platform rolling is more important than the "freedom of expression" to post endless racial hate or pornography on the site. We don't want the site relying on shady porn ads or redirecting to fake rape videos. That might be an acceptable compromise to you, but it isn't to us and as much as LL is a symbiotic relationship with our members it isn't a democracy and we take all the risks. Without you LL is nothing, without LL there's just nothing.

Many people are saying it's me caving (as if I'm the be all and end all here), or that I'm a delicate liberal who can't handle rude words so I enjoy some kind of Beta power trip modding LiveLeak. The temptation to believe this is understandable, it makes it an us v them scenario and it's easier to handle than taking any level of responsibility for your own actions.

We're in this together and yes we're going to fuck up while we try to get this right. We'll make bad calls, you will be annoyed, but we have to make changes. I've read every issue addressed to me about this that I can and whilst many are filled with inaccurate theories or simple name calling I still try to look at what's causing the frustration and how we can balance it with what we need, and want, to achieve. In short it will be a bumpy ride, we will lose some members, it will seem like the sky is falling because every change is amplified online (along with many emotions). You're not being ignored, but that doesn't mean you can always get what you want.

I thought I'd end (anticipating the avalanche of "bullshit" posts and thumbs down) by answering some of the recurring questions / accusations that have come up.

"I don't like fucking rules" - Me either.
"I want to say anything I like" - Me too.
"We shouldn't have rules" - We shouldn't need rules.
"You've caved in" - To what? You can still hold any opinion on here mate. Just voice it within the rules.
"Your mods have fucked up" - It does happen, just let me know instead of freaking out everywhere. I'll take a look.
"LiveLeak's changed" - Yep, I loved it 12 years ago when it was tiny and new but everything changes or it dies. It's not a master plan, it's evolution.
"I miss the old days" - We all do, but I kind of dig looking forward too.
"You don't give a fuck about your users" - Nothing will convince you otherwise but you couldn't be more wrong.
"You're a coward" - Two things, you have an anonymous username and secondly it's always easier to gamble with someone else's money.
"You're a dick" - Pretty much. But we all seem afflicted with that to some degree or another.

Have at it in the comments below if you want. I'll answer what I can.

H