Livejournaling in times of war
Jan. 6th, 2023 19:11![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
strannik01Cross-posted from Livejournal
After setting the goal of using Livejournal more during 2022, I ended up using this blog even less. Part of it is just that I've been busier (more on that, hopefully, later) - but the war played a part in it, too.
Well, not a war per se, but how the Russian federal government responded to it. Back during the Euromaidan protests and the ensuing annexation of Crimea and the civil war with Russian-backed separatists, I never felt like I had to hold back on anything I wrote. But this was a different era in Livejournal history. Back then, its servers were still in United States, and thus not subject to Russian law.
Since the war started, Rosskomnadzor, Russian federal communications regulator, has been blocking anti-war posts, and not just from Russian-based bloggers, but from Russian-language bloggers abroad. Sure, those were Russian-language posts, but I couldn't take a chance they wouldn't come for English-language ones eventually. It's why I've taken to crossposting all my war-related posts to Dreamwidth (for those who don't know, I have the same user name there as I do over here).
I don't like feeling like I have to second-guess my posts.
Now, in fairness, I have, to a certain extent, been privileged. Russian-based bloggers, especially opposition bloggers, especially bloggers who wrote about LGBT-related issues, have been dealing with that for years now. It's why many of them left LJ years ago.
Another thing that rubs me the wrong way is that LJ posts from bloggers who criticize Russia from the right - nationalists who feel like Russia hasn't been harsh enough - have mostly been allowed to remain up. Some especially harsh words against specific government officials appears to be the red line, but they've been able to get away with a lot.
I've been on Livejournal since 2005. Two Thousand Freaking Five. I don't intend to stop now. But I admit that the thought of being banned, after all this time, or worse, having my LJ account purged, scares me.
Doesn't scare me enough to stop, mind you. As I've also commented, a blood of strong-willed, stubborn Russian women flows through my veins. But now, more than ever, it's in spite of what's happening with the platform rather than because of it.
Who knows - maybe it will survive to see a better Russia.
After setting the goal of using Livejournal more during 2022, I ended up using this blog even less. Part of it is just that I've been busier (more on that, hopefully, later) - but the war played a part in it, too.
Well, not a war per se, but how the Russian federal government responded to it. Back during the Euromaidan protests and the ensuing annexation of Crimea and the civil war with Russian-backed separatists, I never felt like I had to hold back on anything I wrote. But this was a different era in Livejournal history. Back then, its servers were still in United States, and thus not subject to Russian law.
Since the war started, Rosskomnadzor, Russian federal communications regulator, has been blocking anti-war posts, and not just from Russian-based bloggers, but from Russian-language bloggers abroad. Sure, those were Russian-language posts, but I couldn't take a chance they wouldn't come for English-language ones eventually. It's why I've taken to crossposting all my war-related posts to Dreamwidth (for those who don't know, I have the same user name there as I do over here).
I don't like feeling like I have to second-guess my posts.
Now, in fairness, I have, to a certain extent, been privileged. Russian-based bloggers, especially opposition bloggers, especially bloggers who wrote about LGBT-related issues, have been dealing with that for years now. It's why many of them left LJ years ago.
Another thing that rubs me the wrong way is that LJ posts from bloggers who criticize Russia from the right - nationalists who feel like Russia hasn't been harsh enough - have mostly been allowed to remain up. Some especially harsh words against specific government officials appears to be the red line, but they've been able to get away with a lot.
I've been on Livejournal since 2005. Two Thousand Freaking Five. I don't intend to stop now. But I admit that the thought of being banned, after all this time, or worse, having my LJ account purged, scares me.
Doesn't scare me enough to stop, mind you. As I've also commented, a blood of strong-willed, stubborn Russian women flows through my veins. But now, more than ever, it's in spite of what's happening with the platform rather than because of it.
Who knows - maybe it will survive to see a better Russia.
no subject
Date: January 7th, 2023 03:05 (UTC)And may that first day of joy be far sooner than you fear.