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Unpaid Kindness + Concerns (Updated!)
5 months ago
No lemon-
So, we lost Neer awhile back.
On the one hand, we lost an influential and important figure in furry history.
On the other hand, the new administration pushed forward basic site functionality updates in a year that he couldn't get done in 2 decades. Hot damn.
On the mysterious third hand, the new administration... also kind of monetized and glamorized his death while ostracizing some users?
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They had a massive donation drive to cover the funeral, unpaid medical things, etc. But, uh, who had oversight on the useage of that cash? I didn't see receipts.
They also made a one time event for celebration of life. I attended briefly, but more on that in a moment.
For all that supposed solemnity, they repeatedly advertised a permanent "once in a lifetime" profile badge for anyone who paid out or who attended a Twitch stream. That feels kind of disingenuous. "Shell out or show up for your shiny based on a dude's tragic death!"
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Ethics of drama profiteering aside, let's talk about ethics of the badge distribution itself.
They called for people to upload their personal information to a Google sheet; ya know, the company that likes harvesting and selling user info? Then they had poor little interns scan the stream's chat log for whichever username you entered. Huh? You didn't say anything or you watched the event as a guest? "Tough shit. No badge showing your commitment to Neer's memory for you!"
Kind of a double slap in the face for us folks who actually met and talked to Neer. FA, I'm sorry I have reservations about Google, viewed the event as a guest, had to leave early to work as a volunteer, and am too poor to casually toss money at every cause, I guess? Seems I didn't love him or FA enough. :P
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Anyways, it sets poor precedent. It shows the administration is 100% willing to use death and drama to drum up donations and Twitch exposure. They're also moving towards FOMO marketing with badges like that and partnering with toxic companies.
Neer is probably rolling in his grave, because keeping FA casual and as distant from modern marketing as possible were some of his key intents; not saying he was any good at it, but he at least tried.
Bonus: The new core site owner is asking for birthday presents for their kid via a Journal post, when they know hundreds of people now Watch their Journal for site-related news. Ho hum.
On the one hand, we lost an influential and important figure in furry history.
On the other hand, the new administration pushed forward basic site functionality updates in a year that he couldn't get done in 2 decades. Hot damn.
On the mysterious third hand, the new administration... also kind of monetized and glamorized his death while ostracizing some users?
-
They had a massive donation drive to cover the funeral, unpaid medical things, etc. But, uh, who had oversight on the useage of that cash? I didn't see receipts.
They also made a one time event for celebration of life. I attended briefly, but more on that in a moment.
For all that supposed solemnity, they repeatedly advertised a permanent "once in a lifetime" profile badge for anyone who paid out or who attended a Twitch stream. That feels kind of disingenuous. "Shell out or show up for your shiny based on a dude's tragic death!"
-
Ethics of drama profiteering aside, let's talk about ethics of the badge distribution itself.
They called for people to upload their personal information to a Google sheet; ya know, the company that likes harvesting and selling user info? Then they had poor little interns scan the stream's chat log for whichever username you entered. Huh? You didn't say anything or you watched the event as a guest? "Tough shit. No badge showing your commitment to Neer's memory for you!"
Kind of a double slap in the face for us folks who actually met and talked to Neer. FA, I'm sorry I have reservations about Google, viewed the event as a guest, had to leave early to work as a volunteer, and am too poor to casually toss money at every cause, I guess? Seems I didn't love him or FA enough. :P
-
Anyways, it sets poor precedent. It shows the administration is 100% willing to use death and drama to drum up donations and Twitch exposure. They're also moving towards FOMO marketing with badges like that and partnering with toxic companies.
Neer is probably rolling in his grave, because keeping FA casual and as distant from modern marketing as possible were some of his key intents; not saying he was any good at it, but he at least tried.
Bonus: The new core site owner is asking for birthday presents for their kid via a Journal post, when they know hundreds of people now Watch their Journal for site-related news. Ho hum.
Yep, makes sense.