so. FUN FACT
tumblr is apparently rolling out a beta for a new post editor that essentially makes it so there are no longer post “types” (text post, audio post, photo post, etc.), and instead all types of content are better integrated into a single post. pretty neat, right?
…until you read the fine print.
The maximum number of total content blocks allowed in a single post is 250.
i emailed support and asked whether each paragraph counts as a content block. i received this reply:
SO. each paragraph counts as a content block, and i’m only allowed 250 content blocks in one post. the solution provided was to reformat my fics by using shift+enter after every paragraph instead of simply enter. which is already unnecessarily annoying in of itself, but then you come to the second hurdle:
The maximum character length of a single text block is 4096 characters.
so–what?? besides spending my time writing thousands upon thousands of words, i’m expected to copy-paste it and then reformat everything, counting every single one of those words to make sure they fit within the restrictions? or i’m supposed to chop my fics up into multiple parts, even when i don’t want to? how exactly are writers supposed to write on this platform?? as you all know, my style tends to run pretty dialogue-heavy, so i start new paragraphs (and, thus, content blocks!!!) pretty damn often. i did a quick check, and let it snow, at almost 19k, is 550 paragraphs. with this new system, i would be forced to upload it in three (3!!!!!) posts! even my shortest chapter of ego, at 8.8k, is 350 paragraphs, and i’d have to split it in two.
this is honestly a formatting nightmare as a writer, and this is a decision that is liable to drive content creators away from the site and change fandom culture as a whole.
please. if you enjoy reading content on this site and want to continue enjoying content on this site, please don’t let tumblr make things harder for writers! since the tumblr team is supposedly eager to hear what everyone thinks, it would really help if you could message support and share your concern about the issue–maybe we can stop this disaster before it starts.
I know a lot of writeblrs will be affected by the post editor, so if you have the option to participate in the Beta, please reach out to the support team and give your feedback!
If you click on the question mark besides the [BETA] and the “Let us know” it’ll take you straight to the feedback form.
It’s really easy!
They’re actively looking for feedback and opinions, so if enough of us talk about how it’s not working, maybe we can get them to change it!
THeyre actually going to ever listen to us instead of forcing us to find a way to xkit our way around something? *cynical*
I definitely understand your cynicism, but I feel like flooding them with our feedback might have a better chance than complaining about it in our posts!
XKit is amazing and is an absolute godsend, but not everyone uses it. People are going to be limited by the new updates regardless of whatever fix XKit can provide and this hurts the creators on the platform.
The staff won’t know that it’s a problem if we only complain about it on our blogs. But maybe, just maybe, they’ll realize that it’s a problem if a ton of people give them feedback using the official form saying that it’s not working for them.
I don’t know about you, but I’d rather take the small chance over a 0 chance.
I’ve reported a couple things I didn’t like about the Beta and I did get some sort of personalized-ish response from the staff.
I don’t know if they’re listening, but it’s a lot harder to ignore people screaming in your ear compared to people complaining about it under their breaths.
If any part of this beta upsets you, don’t get complacent.
Send your feedback to Tumblr through the Help Center. Tell them why you’re unhappy. It’s not too late.
Here’s hoping! @support
I don’t have the Beta options but I am signal boosting this like heck.
I have also gone into the Help section and sent a Feedback comment on how this limit will be a problem for me and many others.
Please please please use the feedback form! I know it is ‘work’ but if they really do make these changes permanent there is no chance I will keep posting my writing on here.
If you are shy or do not know what to say, I have copied you the text that I put in the feedback form. Please feel free to copy it or adapt it to your needs!
German Version:
Auch wenn der neue Post-Editor gut aussieht, finde ich die Limits (nur 250 Blocks per Post und ca. 4000 Zeichen pro Block) nicht nutzerfreundlich. Ich nutze Tumblr primär um meine Geschichten und Schreibereien zu teilen und diese Bedingung würden nicht nur mich, sondern auch viele andere, darin einschränken. Den Ansatz finde ich ok, aber wenn es tatsächlich umgesetzt werden soll, sollten diese Beschränkungen aufgehoben werden, um eine weitere Nutzung der Plattform zu ermöglichen.
English Version (roughly translated):
Although the new post editor looks nice, the implemented limits (only 250 blocks and roughly 4000 characters per block) are not user friendly. I use tumblr primarily to share my writings and these limits would not only hinder myself but many others in doing that. The starting idea is fine, however these limits would need to be lifted, should the editor go permanent, in order to enable a continued use of this platform.