So here’s what’s been going on (art, Tumblr, New Year Planning)
I’m fully aware I basically fell off the face of this blog, let me explain:
Life got busy, I had to focus on getting it together and basically swore off the daily challenges for this year, and came back when it looks like Tumblr is going to self-immolate.
My take on it is that while it doesn’t look like it’ll affect me or this blog. (not a lot of my stuff has gotten flagged, if any) Tumblr is depending way too much on a broken system to fix a problem they’ve been aware of for a while.
P*rn bots have been running rampant for over a year, but despite users reporting and blocking them Tumblr didn’t seem to think it was important until it got taken off the app store. Until it affected them. And even when they took action, all it did was affect, not only n*s*f*w users who were being responsible and making sure their work didn’t reach minors or people who didn’t want to see it, but perfectly innocent users who got flagged for... some reason? The logic isn’t clear.
This has been a problem ever since Tumblr implemented their shoddy filtering system, and they’d have to have their heads pretty deep in the sand to be unaware of this. What makes this worse is that now there doesn’t seem to be a way to get flagging reversed, and it looks like a lot of blogs and posts may be deleted on December 17th. To rub salt and lemons in the wound, the p*rn bots have adapted by adding #sfw to their stuff, basically making Tumblrs efforts meaningless. This is just the peak of infuriating BS that staff has pulled ever since it got bought by Yahoo/Verizon, a downward spiral of bad decisions that started with ads that you can’t dismiss (even if they’re triggering/extremely inappropriate, I’m looking at you weird toxic romance comics) and ending with introducing a system that only really affects the userbase.
I’m under no allusions that this will kill Tumblr. Honestly, I hope that even if this cripples Tumblr the staff will learn enough to rebuild and maybe put some brains and effort into running this site. However, actions speak louder than words, and I fully intend to participate in the log-out protest on December 17th. If you’re interested, here’s how it works:
Completely log out of tumblr on the 17th, for 24 hours. From 12am Monday to 12am Tuesday. Don’t delete your account, don’t delete the app, just log off and don’t log on. Go onto other social media, raise a bit of a stink. The idea is not a mass-exodus, just a sit-down protest. You aren’t using Tumblr, you’re just holding on to your accounts while you complain on other sites about what a crummy job they’re doing. Then log back on and assess the damage.
Hopefully this will send a message. Maybe not. I’m already collating the alternate info for people I follow just in case they get lost in the implementation of the new system.
On that note, in case Tumblr does a massive hiccup and I lose this blog(or for people seeking brighter horizons)
I’ve been a lot more active on Instagram lately, so my account is yossdillo on there
I have a twitter I sort of use, that I may start using more in the future, it’s @ starlightpen
I don’t have a pillowfort or anything at this time, I’m looking at other options.
I do have a personal website, though: starlightpen.com.
(It looks like a business-y portfolio site because it is, however I’m looking at changing it later this week to be a general hub for my work, so keep the link saved because if something in my social network changes you can bet it’ll be there.)
Now on to the art announcements!
One of the things keeping me from posting was prep for a couple of actual offical art shows. Exciting stuff, and a way for me to vent my abstsract artist leanings. This has left me with images of quite a few paintings I’m proud of, and I’ll post these later in the week. Outside of that, there isn’t really a lot. I swore off the daily challenges and I’m mostly taking life one day at a time while I get ready for Christmas and try to reorganize myself. After the art show post, I’ll post when I can but I can’t make any promises. I can only thank people for their patience and assure them that no, I’m not dead.
