The haters are gonna hate…

I forget who said it, but I once heard someone state: “I don’t know what the key to success is, but the key to failure is trying to make everyone happy.”

Wise words that I live by every damn day. It’s impossible to make everyone happy, so just try your best and let the chip fall where they may.

I knew going into last weekend that no matter how good or how bad OD 2.0 performed, there was always going to be a few haters who would vent about it. That there would be at least one person who would be super bitter about the shutdown of 2014, and just stand on a soap box and whine, whine, whine about everything and anything. I could also tell by the  chatter I was seeing on various pages throughout facebook that this is probably something we’re just going to have to put up with for the next 30 days. No matter what happens, the haters are gonna hate.

Yes, it’s true OD 2.0 has some issues over the weekend. I posted an entry on Thursday night and left the site alone for the rest of the weekend, because only an idiot would assume everything was going to work perfectly. The site got flooded with way more users than expected and chaos ensued. So of course the haters had plenty of ammunition to work with and took their soapboxes to vent out their slander for the site and for Bruce. Now I’m not going to suggest that people cannot go to their own diaries and vent their feelings, far from it. Yet the venom and hostility I saw from some entries was pretty harsh and unwarranted. Even if your points are right, express them in a civil manner or people are going ignore what you had to say and just comment on your behavior. In other words, not a productive approach to the issue… especially if you have a valid point to make.

I just can’t help but laugh at the haters as they can’t seem to make up their mind. I’ll read entries that have people saying “This place sucks, I’m going back to prosebox!” And instead of going through with that threat, the person goes on to write a massive entry on OD about why the site sucks and then explains again in pain staking detail about why they’re not coming back.

Ugh, Seriously? 

I honestly believe that even if last weekend’s launch was perfect, the haters still would have found something to bitch about. But there is one thing I’ve observed that the haters are all constantly griping about: I’m not paying for this.

Ah yes, there’s that part. I’m guessing by that constant gripe that a good handful of these whiners never had to pay for their OD, ever. So this is where I think some of that  hostility is actually coming from: these users still want a free lunch but that item isn’t on OD’s menu anymore.  Sorry guys, if you want to play then you’re gonna have to pay to get in.

Now I know what some of you are thinking: But Peter, you’re a lifer. Doesn’t that make you the freeloader now?

That is a very interesting point, and I can assure you I’ve done a lot of thinking about that. I was very surprised and impressed when I found out that Bruce was going to honor all the subscriptions that were in place prior to OD’s previous shutdown. He didn’t have to do that, and I can tell you this gesture has made the people I’ve talked to want to spend more money on OD, not less. Prior to being a lifer, I was an OD+ member and paid for yearly subscriptions for at least a few years before going lifetime. I didn’t like the OD freeloaders of days past, so I have no intention of being one for OD 2.0 as my hypocrisy has its limits.

One thing I’ve considered doing if/when Bruce brings it back is buying gift memberships. If there is a friend that I really like that runs on hard times, I wouldn’t mind buying that person gift subscription to keep things going. Another thing I’ve considered doing is buying another diary, and using that one to post entries about the news, politics and movies while keeping the lifer account personal. So I’ve got some options moving forward as I have every intention of showing my support for OD by putting my money where my mouth is. I also hope that Bruce/DM will considering putting up a donation button on the front page so that anyone can make a direct donation to OD anytime he/she wants. It would be cool to donate an extra buck here or there whenever we want. I also think opening a shop with OD themed shirts, hoodies, mouse pads, and other merchandise wouldn’t hurt either. Do whatever it takes to keep the doors open, so that we never lose this site again.

Trust me, I can do this all day…

I’ll be the first to admit there’s more work that needs to be done *Cough* All Notes *Cough* but so far I’m happy with what I’ve seen and have experienced during my return to Open Diary thus far. I’ve been here since October, and last weekend was an unfortunate slip. Once you experience the OD I’ve been sharing with my friends for the last few months, you’ll want to hang out a lot longer as well… even for a small penance.

Look, if you’re not happy with OD 2.0, then that’s your opinion and you’re clearly entitled to express it. But what you’re not entitled to do is bitch and moan about it so much that you start to ruin this for everyone else who’s trying to have a good time. If you don’t like the parade, that’s fine… but that doesn’t mean we’re going to let you piss on it. So fair warning: if you’re hostile towards anyone on this site, do not be surprised when I return that hostility in kind. What I’m trying to say is don’t be an asshole, because then I’ll have to be an asshole too… and I am far better at being an asshole than anyone else around here. I’m like the Donnie Yen of assholes. So don’t even try or your ass is grass and I’m gonna smoke it.

Regards,

Peter