Changes

One Tumblr-specific meme is for a user to post a picture of an arrow pointing up or down with a caption along the lines of "Your soulmate," "Your future," or "What you'll dream about tonight." When this appears on another Tumblr user's dashboard, it will (usually) be pointing at a picture randomly displayed in a third user's post; if the resulting combination is amusing or apt, it can be screencapped and shared. <ref>A few examples of 'arrow' posts [http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/arrow should show up here]</ref>

One Tumblr-specific meme is for a user to post a picture of an arrow pointing up or down with a caption along the lines of "Your soulmate," "Your future," or "What you'll dream about tonight." When this appears on another Tumblr user's dashboard, it will (usually) be pointing at a picture randomly displayed in a third user's post; if the resulting combination is amusing or apt, it can be screencapped and shared. <ref>A few examples of 'arrow' posts [http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/arrow should show up here]</ref>

"Liking" on Tumblr can be confusing. A fan in 2014 wrote: "It is a weird thing about tumblr that it keeps telling you that someone “liked your post” when in fact they don’t like your post, they like something else that someone said in response to it, and that thing may be the complete opposite of what you posted." <ref>{{source| url = http://plaidadder.tumblr.com/post/101144967284/the-chris-carter-effect-or-how-the-x-files | title = The Chris Carter Effect, Or, How The X-Files Changed How I Watch Television| archiveurl =http://www.webcitation.org/6YyipPEov| archivedate =2015-06-02}}, October 27, 2014</ref>

"Liking" on Tumblr can be confusing. A fan in 2014 wrote: "It is a weird thing about tumblr that it keeps telling you that someone “liked your post” when in fact they don’t like your post, they like something else that someone said in response to it, and that thing may be the complete opposite of what you posted." <ref>{{source| url = http://plaidadder.tumblr.com/post/101144967284/the-chris-carter-effect-or-how-the-x-files | title = The Chris Carter Effect, Or, How The X-Files Changed How I Watch Television| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200728235322/https://plaidadder.tumblr.com/post/101144967284/the-chris-carter-effect-or-how-the-x-files| archivedate = 2020-07-28}}, October 27, 2014</ref>

===Challenges===

===Challenges===

====Stripping the Source====

====Stripping the Source====

A major violation of tumblr etiquette is reblogging posts while stripping the source:

A major violation of tumblr etiquette is reblogging posts while stripping the source:

{{Quotation|"The single biggest piece of etiquette would be not to strip out your sources. Reblogs with the automatic links back to the Tumblr where you found it are cool, stripping out those links is uncool. If you're posting something cool you found on Pixiv or DA or whatever, link back to the original source.  [[Trigger]] [[warnings]], cuts for graphic content, putting in text descriptions for images (since Tumblr doesn't make it easy for you to put in alt text properly)...etiquette there varies depending on the circles you run in. Some people are strict about putting in the descriptions to the point where it almost gets ridiculous, some don't give a fuck. Some warn and cut things, some will just throw all sorts of porn gifs and guro and all sorts of NWS shit right out there." <ref>comment in a {{source| url = http://fail-fandomanon.livejournal.com/29566.html?thread=131926654#t131926654 | title = [[fail-fandomanon]] post about Tumblr etiquette, dated March 4, 2012| archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/6Yyj1aLPq | archivedate = 2015-06-02 }}</ref>}}

{{Quotation|"The single biggest piece of etiquette would be not to strip out your sources. Reblogs with the automatic links back to the Tumblr where you found it are cool, stripping out those links is uncool. If you're posting something cool you found on Pixiv or DA or whatever, link back to the original source.  [[Trigger]] [[warnings]], cuts for graphic content, putting in text descriptions for images (since Tumblr doesn't make it easy for you to put in alt text properly)...etiquette there varies depending on the circles you run in. Some people are strict about putting in the descriptions to the point where it almost gets ridiculous, some don't give a fuck. Some warn and cut things, some will just throw all sorts of porn gifs and guro and all sorts of NWS shit right out there." <ref>comment in a {{source| url = http://fail-fandomanon.livejournal.com/29566.html?thread=131926654#t131926654 | title = [[fail-fandomanon]] post about Tumblr etiquette, dated March 4, 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200728212414/https://fail-fandomanon.livejournal.com/29566.html?thread=131926654| archivedate = 2020-07-28}}</ref>}}

====Reblog Don't Repost====

====Reblog Don't Repost====

'''"read more" posts'''. This is where the main text of the post is folded so that in order to read the user must affirmatively click. It is a popular tool on Livejournal-style blogging platforms to spare your followers from having to spend too much time loading images or scrolling past content that doesn't interest them. In the tumblr world, the tool itself can be used in the same way; however, ''"read more" posts'' are considered by many to be a type of private conversation that readers should neither reblog nor comment on:

'''"read more" posts'''. This is where the main text of the post is folded so that in order to read the user must affirmatively click. It is a popular tool on Livejournal-style blogging platforms to spare your followers from having to spend too much time loading images or scrolling past content that doesn't interest them. In the tumblr world, the tool itself can be used in the same way; however, ''"read more" posts'' are considered by many to be a type of private conversation that readers should neither reblog nor comment on:

{{Quotation|Yeah but the argument here is that Read Mores are akin to talking to your friends in a public space and a stranger bursts in and is a jackass. Privating a post would mean literally no one else sees it. You COULD argue that you could move it to a PM, but a lot of the time it’s more convenient to leave it out for any of your friends to respond to, especially for more than one friend to respond to, so you can get different views on your problem. It’s kind of 50/50.  <ref> {{source| url = http://kiss-my-aspergers.tumblr.com/post/41305178918/public-vs-private-on-tumblr | title = ..., 'public' vs 'private' on tumblr | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/6YtN9srDJ | archivedate = 2015-05-29 }} </ref>}}

{{Quotation|Yeah but the argument here is that Read Mores are akin to talking to your friends in a public space and a stranger bursts in and is a jackass. Privating a post would mean literally no one else sees it. You COULD argue that you could move it to a PM, but a lot of the time it’s more convenient to leave it out for any of your friends to respond to, especially for more than one friend to respond to, so you can get different views on your problem. It’s kind of 50/50.  <ref> {{source| url = http://kiss-my-aspergers.tumblr.com/post/41305178918/public-vs-private-on-tumblr | title = ..., 'public' vs 'private' on tumblr | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200728214252/https://kiss-my-aspergers.tumblr.com/post/41305178918/public-vs-private-on-tumblr | archivedate = 2020-07-28 }} </ref>}}

Some of the above content types (e.g. selfies and read mores) contain potentially sensitive information that on other social media sites could have been [[friendslocked]]. The act of reblogging preserves and make more visible content that, at least in the eyes of the OP, was obscure enough to be secure. Thus, some practices on Tumblr, although seemingly antithetical to the spirit of the site, are attempts to overcome its limitations. Because of this, some feel that Tumblr's design violates the "tools not rules" principles of design - that if the operation of the tool requires end users to adopt complex rules, then the design must be changed to fit that reality.

Some of the above content types (e.g. selfies and read mores) contain potentially sensitive information that on other social media sites could have been [[friendslocked]]. The act of reblogging preserves and make more visible content that, at least in the eyes of the OP, was obscure enough to be secure. Thus, some practices on Tumblr, although seemingly antithetical to the spirit of the site, are attempts to overcome its limitations. Because of this, some feel that Tumblr's design violates the "tools not rules" principles of design - that if the operation of the tool requires end users to adopt complex rules, then the design must be changed to fit that reality.

Like reblogging, [[tagging]] posts is a central feature of the tumblr platform. Tumblr uses 'free form' tagging which allows users to create their own custom [[hashtag]]s. Tags serve many purposes. Tags allow blog owners to label their posts to locate them later and to allow others to do the same. Tags can also be used to offer additional commentary to a post (whether an original post or a [[reblog]]). And finally tags assist other readers in finding - or excluding- content from appearing on their dashboards.

Like reblogging, [[tagging]] posts is a central feature of the tumblr platform. Tumblr uses 'free form' tagging which allows users to create their own custom [[hashtag]]s. Tags serve many purposes. Tags allow blog owners to label their posts to locate them later and to allow others to do the same. Tags can also be used to offer additional commentary to a post (whether an original post or a [[reblog]]). And finally tags assist other readers in finding - or excluding- content from appearing on their dashboards.

Because fans rely heavily on tags to find content, some people annoyed when two or more series share the same tag, for example the American TV series and [[Kdrama]] [[Lie To Me]], or the [[Avatar: The Last Airbender|animated TV series]] and the [[Avatar (2009 Film)|movie]] Avatar. <ref>{{source| url = http://plazmah.tumblr.com/post/9648185709/when-i-search-avatar-i-want-the-movie-with-the | title = this chick is bananas - When I search Avatar I want the movie with the blue people not the stupid fucking animated show. | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/6YyhvFVxI | archivedate = 2015-06-02 }}(Accessed Sept. 1, 2011)</ref>

Because fans rely heavily on tags to find content, some people annoyed when two or more series share the same tag, for example the American TV series and [[Kdrama]] [[Lie To Me]], or the [[Avatar: The Last Airbender|animated TV series]] and the [[Avatar (2009 Film)|movie]] Avatar. <ref>{{source| url = http://plazmah.tumblr.com/post/9648185709/when-i-search-avatar-i-want-the-movie-with-the | title = this chick is bananas - When I search Avatar I want the movie with the blue people not the stupid fucking animated show. | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200728214414/https://plazmah.tumblr.com/post/9648185709/when-i-search-avatar-i-want-the-movie-with-the | archivedate = 2020-07-28 }}(Accessed Sept. 1, 2011)</ref>

To many fans, tumblr tags are a way of expressing additional commentary. Because the tags are stripped when a post in reblog, it is a place where people can express themselves freely without worrying about exposure to a wider audience. But on occasion, a reblogger will find the tag commentary enticing and will include the tags in the body of her reblog.

To many fans, tumblr tags are a way of expressing additional commentary. Because the tags are stripped when a post in reblog, it is a place where people can express themselves freely without worrying about exposure to a wider audience. But on occasion, a reblogger will find the tag commentary enticing and will include the tags in the body of her reblog.

*Is used for long-winded discussions, but poorly suited for it --> posts and reblogs branch out into threads and don't come together, so information is lost all over. <ref>comment in [http://jae.dreamwidth.org/1358517.html Tumblr. Please explain its advantages to me?] dated Aug. 29th, 2013; [http://archive.is/aTHtR  reference link].</ref>}}

*Is used for long-winded discussions, but poorly suited for it --> posts and reblogs branch out into threads and don't come together, so information is lost all over. <ref>comment in [http://jae.dreamwidth.org/1358517.html Tumblr. Please explain its advantages to me?] dated Aug. 29th, 2013; [http://archive.is/aTHtR  reference link].</ref>}}

{{Quotation2| I find that with tumblr it's easier to randomly spot things that might interest me, because people are more likely to reblog a gif than to make an actual post recommending something, and I'm probably more likely to check something out if I'm just intrigued by a gif than if somebody oversells it in a big explanatory post. But at the same time, if I don't jump on it and look into something right away, it's really hard to ever find it again because tumblr is hard to look back through and fandoms have such a short half-life on there. Plus the ease of reblogging often means there's such a glut of posts about the shiny new thing that I never, ever want to look at that thing again, even if it might be totally relevant to my interests. <Ref> {{source| url = http://www.pornokitsch.com/2013/11/remix-and-transformation-an-introduction-to-fanfiction-by-renay.html | title = Remix and Transformation: An introduction to fanfiction by Renay - Pornokitsch, comment by Baco, November 27, 2013| archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/6X9bUmABI | archivedate = 2015-03-19 }} </ref>}}

{{Quotation2| I find that with tumblr it's easier to randomly spot things that might interest me, because people are more likely to reblog a gif than to make an actual post recommending something, and I'm probably more likely to check something out if I'm just intrigued by a gif than if somebody oversells it in a big explanatory post. But at the same time, if I don't jump on it and look into something right away, it's really hard to ever find it again because tumblr is hard to look back through and fandoms have such a short half-life on there. Plus the ease of reblogging often means there's such a glut of posts about the shiny new thing that I never, ever want to look at that thing again, even if it might be totally relevant to my interests. <Ref> {{source| url = http://www.pornokitsch.com/2013/11/remix-and-transformation-an-introduction-to-fanfiction-by-renay.html | title = Remix and Transformation: An introduction to fanfiction by Renay - Pornokitsch, comment by Baco, November 27, 2013| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210119160236/https://www.pornokitsch.com/2013/11/remix-and-transformation-an-introduction-to-fanfiction-by-renay.html| archivedate = 2021-01-19}} </ref>}}

{{Quotation|I'm not sure if I find things easier because I find tumblr complicated and confusing sometimes and also a terrible archive, but I do think it's provided a way to open people's interests up, as it's easier to find someone who loves the sane minor character you do because they're the only one posting in the character's tag. I think I got lucky in my corner -- I fell in with the gen and het folks first, and then expanded my bubble out to find fans who were closer to my particular brand of reading. But I do remember how sometimes it could get really dude-heavy, and that several times we did a few ficathons to offset it. Slash is still huge, but the new ways of engaging give us more ways to see women in their media (tumblr gifs!). It's not so much than slash has gone away (what's that tag I keep seeing on tumblr, slash is the sound of white dudes fucking...?) but that we actually SEE more women, actually SEE them, in gifs and vids and art that's rebloggable and spreadable and findable in a way MLs and journal posts weren't.  <Ref> {{source| url = http://www.pornokitsch.com/2013/11/remix-and-transformation-an-introduction-to-fanfiction-by-renay.html | title = Remix and Transformation: An introduction to fanfiction by Renay - Pornokitsch, comment by Renay, November 27, 2013| archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/6X9bUmABI | archivedate = 2015-03-19 }} </ref>}}

{{Quotation|I'm not sure if I find things easier because I find tumblr complicated and confusing sometimes and also a terrible archive, but I do think it's provided a way to open people's interests up, as it's easier to find someone who loves the sane minor character you do because they're the only one posting in the character's tag. I think I got lucky in my corner -- I fell in with the gen and het folks first, and then expanded my bubble out to find fans who were closer to my particular brand of reading. But I do remember how sometimes it could get really dude-heavy, and that several times we did a few ficathons to offset it. Slash is still huge, but the new ways of engaging give us more ways to see women in their media (tumblr gifs!). It's not so much than slash has gone away (what's that tag I keep seeing on tumblr, slash is the sound of white dudes fucking...?) but that we actually SEE more women, actually SEE them, in gifs and vids and art that's rebloggable and spreadable and findable in a way MLs and journal posts weren't.  <Ref> {{source| url = http://www.pornokitsch.com/2013/11/remix-and-transformation-an-introduction-to-fanfiction-by-renay.html | title = Remix and Transformation: An introduction to fanfiction by Renay - Pornokitsch, comment by Renay, November 27, 2013| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210119160236/https://www.pornokitsch.com/2013/11/remix-and-transformation-an-introduction-to-fanfiction-by-renay.html| archivedate = 2021-01-19}} </ref>}}

===2014===

===2014===

I’d hate to call tumblr a popularity contest. That is not a goal for the many well respected voices sharing talent and insight and passion. But the format of tumblr, with content flowing pass us all the time, makes it so much harder to be heard. Charismatic (+ derisive) voices always have relatively more impact in social forums, and the structure of tumblr exaggerates this via reblogging and by adding a point system via notes. When is it worth the work of sharing a moderate opinion (the lack of which has been lamented by [[emmagrant01]] and many others) if no-one is going to see it? Original content takes effort, and that effort has little chance to be appreciate, particularly not on par with the material reappearing on our respective dashes. Is it a community when no one notices whether you showed up?

I’d hate to call tumblr a popularity contest. That is not a goal for the many well respected voices sharing talent and insight and passion. But the format of tumblr, with content flowing pass us all the time, makes it so much harder to be heard. Charismatic (+ derisive) voices always have relatively more impact in social forums, and the structure of tumblr exaggerates this via reblogging and by adding a point system via notes. When is it worth the work of sharing a moderate opinion (the lack of which has been lamented by [[emmagrant01]] and many others) if no-one is going to see it? Original content takes effort, and that effort has little chance to be appreciate, particularly not on par with the material reappearing on our respective dashes. Is it a community when no one notices whether you showed up?

One problem with the cafeteria analogue is that most of “the noise” is actually quite lovely and thought provoking, but it comes to us in a rush to be absorbed quickly rather than picked up and explored and responded to. As a place to consume (rather than contribute) tumblr is very satisfying. And at worst, we can approximate our positions and ideas with reblogs and continue on as consumers of the work of others, both professional/big scale media and amateur. <ref> from {{source|url = http://fffinnagain.tumblr.com/post/97403474373/limits-on-tumblr-fandom-communities |title = Limits on tumblr Fandom Communities |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/6SpPzOskH }}  by fffinnagain, September 13, 2014  </ref>}}

One problem with the cafeteria analogue is that most of “the noise” is actually quite lovely and thought provoking, but it comes to us in a rush to be absorbed quickly rather than picked up and explored and responded to. As a place to consume (rather than contribute) tumblr is very satisfying. And at worst, we can approximate our positions and ideas with reblogs and continue on as consumers of the work of others, both professional/big scale media and amateur. <ref> from {{source|url = http://fffinnagain.tumblr.com/post/97403474373/limits-on-tumblr-fandom-communities |title = Limits on tumblr Fandom Communities |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200728230420/https://fffinnagain.tumblr.com/post/97403474373/limits-on-tumblr-fandom-communities |archivedate = 2020-07-28 }}  by fffinnagain, September 13, 2014  </ref>}}

{{Quotation2| .... gone are the days of [Livejournal's] "super sekrit screencap" communities, and fans not getting the latest new because of being locked out of a comm. <ref>{{source| url = http://fail-fandomanon.dreamwidth.org/108454.html?thread=545195174#cmt54519 | title = fail_fandomanon FFA DW Post #90 - Re: The "mean girls" of fandom dated Oct 21, 2014|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20141029145339/http://fail-fandomanon.dreamwidth.org/108454.html?thread=545195174 |archivedate= 2014-10-29 }} </ref>}}

{{Quotation2| .... gone are the days of [Livejournal's] "super sekrit screencap" communities, and fans not getting the latest new because of being locked out of a comm. <ref>{{source| url = http://fail-fandomanon.dreamwidth.org/108454.html?thread=545195174#cmt54519 | title = fail_fandomanon FFA DW Post #90 - Re: The "mean girls" of fandom dated Oct 21, 2014|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20141029145339/http://fail-fandomanon.dreamwidth.org/108454.html?thread=545195174 |archivedate= 2014-10-29 }} </ref>}}

But! It's like I said. Probably I'm just old!  <ref> {{cite web|url = http://www.metafilter.com/147962/Its-a-Fanmade-World |title = It's a Fanmade World |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20150318133628/http://www.metafilter.com/147962/Its-a-Fanmade-World |archivedate = 2015-03-18 }}, comment at MetaFilter by Narrative Priorities, March 2015 </ref>}}

But! It's like I said. Probably I'm just old!  <ref> {{cite web|url = http://www.metafilter.com/147962/Its-a-Fanmade-World |title = It's a Fanmade World |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20150318133628/http://www.metafilter.com/147962/Its-a-Fanmade-World |archivedate = 2015-03-18 }}, comment at MetaFilter by Narrative Priorities, March 2015 </ref>}}

{{Quotation| I think the general mindset and culture of Tumblr is effecting what people choose to write about in fic, and how they approach the characters and relationships, and gradually I'm not being able to find anything to read that hasn't been influenced by it. I think fandom really was better on a different platform, but not just for the usual reasons of Tumblr being useless for communication, I think the way it's organized somehow shapes the culture that's arisen, or encourages it. <ref> {{source|url = http://fail-fandomanon.dreamwidth.org/131867.html?thread=686760731#cmt686760731 |title = fail_fandomanon |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/6XdrSShu7 }}, April 2015 </ref>}}

{{Quotation| I think the general mindset and culture of Tumblr is effecting what people choose to write about in fic, and how they approach the characters and relationships, and gradually I'm not being able to find anything to read that hasn't been influenced by it. I think fandom really was better on a different platform, but not just for the usual reasons of Tumblr being useless for communication, I think the way it's organized somehow shapes the culture that's arisen, or encourages it. <ref> {{source|url = http://fail-fandomanon.dreamwidth.org/131867.html?thread=686760731#cmt686760731 |title = fail_fandomanon |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211207164436/https://fail-fandomanon.dreamwidth.org/131867.html?thread=686760731 |archivedate = 2021-12-07 }}, April 2015 </ref>}}

{{Quotation2| Tumblr culture has a LOT of serious problems and I'm pretty sure it's self-destructing--but we can't talk, [[LJ]] self-destructed too, and we tore each other apart bloody before we did it. I loved LJ fandom like my own family, but I remember a lot of the same culture of ruling fear and mass [[bullying]] that goes on on tumblr from there too--that goes back at least to the 80s and [['zine]] culture, where you even had to be "sponsored" by someone at a con to be taken seriously. We started [[Social Justice|SJ]] on LJ, not tumblr--I remember early iterations going back to around 2002-03, it got serious in around 2007, and became impossible to ignore in 2009. So it had been steadily building up until tumblr got started, and many initially went to tumblr to get AWAY from the constant guiltmongering and finger-pointing. If you recall, [[DREAMWIDTH]] was originally considered the "[[special snowflake]]" haven! My old [[flist]] on LJ was all, "Oh, we'll never move to [[Dreamwidth]], all they care about is talking about disability and alternate sexualities there." Then they all did...or went to tumblr, or focused on their offline lives. My point is, the culture's always had issues, it's always been in flux, it's always cannibalized one community after another because it's never been stable, fandom always aspires to goodness while the means we attempt to reach this end is mostly bullying each other [[Snacky's Law|like the mean girls in high school]], and we always claim the moral high ground while doing this--hell, the [[Godawful Fanfic]] archive in 1998 claimed it was helping the authors it mocked behind their backs with "useful [[crit]]." Everything people are whining about with tumblr is nothing new, but an evolution of the culture we already had, that was already poisoning itself but we were too young and naive and happy to find our tribe to see it. <ref> {{source|url = http://fail-fandomanon.dreamwidth.org/131867.html?thread=686760731#cmt686760731 |title = fail_fandomanon |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/6XdrSShu7 }}, April 2015 </ref>}}

{{Quotation2| Tumblr culture has a LOT of serious problems and I'm pretty sure it's self-destructing--but we can't talk, [[LJ]] self-destructed too, and we tore each other apart bloody before we did it. I loved LJ fandom like my own family, but I remember a lot of the same culture of ruling fear and mass [[bullying]] that goes on on tumblr from there too--that goes back at least to the 80s and [['zine]] culture, where you even had to be "sponsored" by someone at a con to be taken seriously. We started [[Social Justice|SJ]] on LJ, not tumblr--I remember early iterations going back to around 2002-03, it got serious in around 2007, and became impossible to ignore in 2009. So it had been steadily building up until tumblr got started, and many initially went to tumblr to get AWAY from the constant guiltmongering and finger-pointing. If you recall, [[DREAMWIDTH]] was originally considered the "[[special snowflake]]" haven! My old [[flist]] on LJ was all, "Oh, we'll never move to [[Dreamwidth]], all they care about is talking about disability and alternate sexualities there." Then they all did...or went to tumblr, or focused on their offline lives. My point is, the culture's always had issues, it's always been in flux, it's always cannibalized one community after another because it's never been stable, fandom always aspires to goodness while the means we attempt to reach this end is mostly bullying each other [[Snacky's Law|like the mean girls in high school]], and we always claim the moral high ground while doing this--hell, the [[Godawful Fanfic]] archive in 1998 claimed it was helping the authors it mocked behind their backs with "useful [[crit]]." Everything people are whining about with tumblr is nothing new, but an evolution of the culture we already had, that was already poisoning itself but we were too young and naive and happy to find our tribe to see it. <ref> {{source|url = http://fail-fandomanon.dreamwidth.org/131867.html?thread=686760731#cmt686760731 |title = fail_fandomanon |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211207164436/https://fail-fandomanon.dreamwidth.org/131867.html?thread=686760731 |archivedate = 2021-12-07 }}, April 2015 </ref>}}

{{Quotation| I also am fascinated by Tumblr culture and how it’s changing fandom and online interactions.  Tumblr has its pros and cons but I love how it allows for rapid creation. For example somebody will make a [[Gifset|GIF set]] and then a bunch of people will write  ficlets and create fanart about it. Or someone will have a meta or a thought, and then a lot of people will respond with images or art or other things. I love this easy multimedia collaboration and the fact that you can end up with all of these different ways to get all of these conversation branches that go interesting places about the same thing. <ref> [[A Birds-Eye View of Fandom -- Destination Toast]] </ref>}}

{{Quotation| I also am fascinated by Tumblr culture and how it’s changing fandom and online interactions.  Tumblr has its pros and cons but I love how it allows for rapid creation. For example somebody will make a [[Gifset|GIF set]] and then a bunch of people will write  ficlets and create fanart about it. Or someone will have a meta or a thought, and then a lot of people will respond with images or art or other things. I love this easy multimedia collaboration and the fact that you can end up with all of these different ways to get all of these conversation branches that go interesting places about the same thing. <ref> [[A Birds-Eye View of Fandom -- Destination Toast]] </ref>}}

You may say "Well, use another platform", but the point is that the new platform where many fandoms have moved lacks, by design, a feature provided by all fandom platforms before it provided. Each of the previous platforms valued extended, branching conversations. Tumblr prevents them. I used to make new friends by entering into existing conversations. I can't do that now, unless the initiators of the conversation follow me back. I can't easily tell one of my friends "Look, there's an interesting conversation about X going on", because following just one conversation between two or three people isn't practical given Tumblr's insistence that I individually follow each person, and its inability to say "I want to see what Jane and Joan say about X" instead of "I want to see everything Jane and Joan posted during the period they were also talking about X".

You may say "Well, use another platform", but the point is that the new platform where many fandoms have moved lacks, by design, a feature provided by all fandom platforms before it provided. Each of the previous platforms valued extended, branching conversations. Tumblr prevents them. I used to make new friends by entering into existing conversations. I can't do that now, unless the initiators of the conversation follow me back. I can't easily tell one of my friends "Look, there's an interesting conversation about X going on", because following just one conversation between two or three people isn't practical given Tumblr's insistence that I individually follow each person, and its inability to say "I want to see what Jane and Joan say about X" instead of "I want to see everything Jane and Joan posted during the period they were also talking about X".

Somebody in this thread thinks I should just go play bridge like the olds (WTF? My parents are in their 80s, and even they haven't played bridge since the 1960s. My dad's a poker shark, thanks.) but I think I have, with luck, another 20-30 years of fandom, and I'd like to be able to continue to make new friends and to be educated and delighted by other people's conversations.  <ref> anonymous comment at {{source| url = http://fail-fandomanon.dreamwidth.org/174341.html?thread=946477573#cmt946477573 | title = fail_fandomanon | FFA DW Post # 344 - Zero Hour |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/6e7B9g4Jy |archivedate= 2015-12-28 }}, December 26, 2015 </ref>  

Somebody in this thread thinks I should just go play bridge like the olds (WTF? My parents are in their 80s, and even they haven't played bridge since the 1960s. My dad's a poker shark, thanks.) but I think I have, with luck, another 20-30 years of fandom, and I'd like to be able to continue to make new friends and to be educated and delighted by other people's conversations.  <ref> anonymous comment at {{source| url = http://fail-fandomanon.dreamwidth.org/174341.html?thread=946477573#cmt946477573 | title = fail_fandomanon | FFA DW Post # 344 - Zero Hour |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200730060334/https://fail-fandomanon.dreamwidth.org/174341.html?thread=946477573 |archivedate= 2020-07-30 }}, December 26, 2015 </ref>  

{{Quotation| This has a lot of great points! And it’s a lot of the frustration I have felt on Tumblr. There aren’t conversations in reblogs, for instance, not really. Depending on the fandom, certain power users dictate a lot of the content – what is relevant, important, interesting, funny – simply by virtue of following certain people and reblogging certain posts. There’s no malicious intent behind it, of course, but the cliqueish nature of Tumblr closes conversations many times, and creates a sense of power imbalance between power users/”Big Name Fans”. I think this imbalance is possibly much greater than on other sites I’ve used, to be honest.  

{{Quotation| This has a lot of great points! And it’s a lot of the frustration I have felt on Tumblr. There aren’t conversations in reblogs, for instance, not really. Depending on the fandom, certain power users dictate a lot of the content – what is relevant, important, interesting, funny – simply by virtue of following certain people and reblogging certain posts. There’s no malicious intent behind it, of course, but the cliqueish nature of Tumblr closes conversations many times, and creates a sense of power imbalance between power users/”Big Name Fans”. I think this imbalance is possibly much greater than on other sites I’ve used, to be honest.  

Another thing about Tumblr: visuals are always privileged over text. You could write a beautiful fic or meta and post it, but it will never ever get the same amount of reblogs as a picture or [[Gifset|.gif set]]. Never. Even if you put in the same amount of work – sometimes more – as someone who has posted a gif set. The only way text posts usually get many reblogs is if they are sort. A whole paragraph is often too long.  

Another thing about Tumblr: visuals are always privileged over text. You could write a beautiful fic or meta and post it, but it will never ever get the same amount of reblogs as a picture or [[Gifset|.gif set]]. Never. Even if you put in the same amount of work – sometimes more – as someone who has posted a gif set. The only way text posts usually get many reblogs is if they are sort. A whole paragraph is often too long.  

Tumblr is a micro-blogging service, which means it was never meant for sustained anything. Ideally a post should be short, simple, and to the point. Hence another reason text posts and conversations wouldn’t take off here, but pictures and visuals thrive. But it also further subordinates the value of text, and the value of conversation via text.

Tumblr is a micro-blogging service, which means it was never meant for sustained anything. Ideally a post should be short, simple, and to the point. Hence another reason text posts and conversations wouldn’t take off here, but pictures and visuals thrive. But it also further subordinates the value of text, and the value of conversation via text.

On the other hand, you have to work harder to form actual relationships with other users. I think this is a good thing. In order to learn about people and have more substantive conversations, you have to move beyond placidly reblogging and following whoever is popular, and into writing asks, sending messages, exchanging emails and what-have-you. When you have to proactive I find that kind of relationship more valuable simply because 95 % of the people who follow you and vice versa won’t be interacting on that level.  <ref> reply by [[mresundance]] to the fail_fandomanon comment: {{source| url = http://mresundance.tumblr.com/post/136055016412/why-im-still-posting-to-livejournal-and | title =  Why I'm Still Posting to Livejournal and Dreamwidth | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/6e7AiaJnO | archivedate = 2015-12-28 }}, December 27, 2015 </ref>}}}}

On the other hand, you have to work harder to form actual relationships with other users. I think this is a good thing. In order to learn about people and have more substantive conversations, you have to move beyond placidly reblogging and following whoever is popular, and into writing asks, sending messages, exchanging emails and what-have-you. When you have to proactive I find that kind of relationship more valuable simply because 95 % of the people who follow you and vice versa won’t be interacting on that level.  <ref> reply by [[mresundance]] to the fail_fandomanon comment: {{source| url = http://mresundance.tumblr.com/post/136055016412/why-im-still-posting-to-livejournal-and | title =  Why I'm Still Posting to Livejournal and Dreamwidth | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20200729103556/https://mresundance.tumblr.com/post/136055016412/why-im-still-posting-to-livejournal-and | archivedate =2020-07-29 }}, December 27, 2015 </ref>}}}}

{{Quotation| ...yeah I think it’s been tamer on tumblr because of the viral nature of it and also it gets so much more judgey because it’s an opt out system instead of an opt in.

{{Quotation| ...yeah I think it’s been tamer on tumblr because of the viral nature of it and also it gets so much more judgey because it’s an opt out system instead of an opt in.

{{Quotation2|Except that blogs aren’t personal, if by “personal” you mean “private,” unless you’re on a system that lets you set them to private – so that nobody, or nobody you don’t specifically allow, can access them – and you choose to actually set your blog private.  LiveJournal and its offspring allow this, for example.  So far as I can tell, having only been here for a few months, Tumblr doesn’t.

{{Quotation2|Except that blogs aren’t personal, if by “personal” you mean “private,” unless you’re on a system that lets you set them to private – so that nobody, or nobody you don’t specifically allow, can access them – and you choose to actually set your blog private.  LiveJournal and its offspring allow this, for example.  So far as I can tell, having only been here for a few months, Tumblr doesn’t.

Anything you post in the open on the internet is public.  Other people can read it.  Other people can link to it.  Other people can comment on it.  If you want to write something that’s private, that only you can access, that nobody else can jump in and comment on – that is, if you want to just talk to yourself and nobody else – then your best bet is that locked bedroom and a paper diary.  Anyone who thinks Tumblr is like a paper diary is delusional.  Anyone who gets upset when some stranger comments on something they posted on the internet, in public, is ridiculously ignorant/naive, or is deliberately drama-queening. <ref> {{source| url = http://angelapenrose.tumblr.com/post/137225968318/coffee-iv-i-think-one-of-the-biggest-problems | title = angelapenrose.tumblr| archiveurl =http://www.webcitation.org/6emEB9sz4| archivedate =2016-01-24}} </ref>}}}}  

Anything you post in the open on the internet is public.  Other people can read it.  Other people can link to it.  Other people can comment on it.  If you want to write something that’s private, that only you can access, that nobody else can jump in and comment on – that is, if you want to just talk to yourself and nobody else – then your best bet is that locked bedroom and a paper diary.  Anyone who thinks Tumblr is like a paper diary is delusional.  Anyone who gets upset when some stranger comments on something they posted on the internet, in public, is ridiculously ignorant/naive, or is deliberately drama-queening. <ref> {{source| url = http://angelapenrose.tumblr.com/post/137225968318/coffee-iv-i-think-one-of-the-biggest-problems | title = angelapenrose.tumblr| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200728225237/https://angelapenrose.tumblr.com/post/137225968318/coffee-iv-i-think-one-of-the-biggest-problems| archivedate = 2020-07-28}} </ref>}}}}  

{{Quotation|So remember [[The Good Old Days|the old days]], when we used to write about other people's posts in our own spaces rather than just reblogging everything, maybe with commentary, maybe with a few thoughts hidden in the tags? I miss those days, so here I am, being the change I want to see.  

{{Quotation|So remember [[The Good Old Days|the old days]], when we used to write about other people's posts in our own spaces rather than just reblogging everything, maybe with commentary, maybe with a few thoughts hidden in the tags? I miss those days, so here I am, being the change I want to see.  

==Resources/Meta/Further Reading==

==Resources/Meta/Further Reading==

*{{source|url = http://arduinna.dreamwidth.org/43449.html |title = Tumblr tutorial |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/6SpQ30Iih }} by [[Arduinna]] (24 May 2012)

*{{source|url = http://arduinna.dreamwidth.org/43449.html |title = Tumblr tutorial |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200728213214/https://arduinna.dreamwidth.org/43449.html |archivedate = 2020-07-28 }} by [[Arduinna]] (24 May 2012)

*{{source| url = http://www.dailydot.com/fandom/tumblr-anti-fandom-your-fave-problematic/ | title = The rise of the anti-fandom fandom | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20160312002709/http://www.dailydot.com/fandom/tumblr-anti-fandom-your-fave-problematic/ | archivedate = 2016-03-12 }} by [[Aja]] Romano at [[The Daily Dot]] (May 2013)

*{{source| url = http://www.dailydot.com/fandom/tumblr-anti-fandom-your-fave-problematic/ | title = The rise of the anti-fandom fandom | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20160312002709/http://www.dailydot.com/fandom/tumblr-anti-fandom-your-fave-problematic/ | archivedate = 2016-03-12 }} by [[Aja]] Romano at [[The Daily Dot]] (May 2013)

*[[Slashcast]] episode #42, [http://slashcast.livejournal.com/34330.html Tumblr and the New Direction of Fandom] (August 2013)

*[[Slashcast]] episode #42, [http://slashcast.livejournal.com/34330.html Tumblr and the New Direction of Fandom] (August 2013)

* {{source|url = http://unwrapping.tumblr.com/post/93716151897/age-demographics-tumblr |title = Age ranges of tumblr (Dashboard and Web visitors) |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/6bRL2MzT1 }} by unwrapping (August 3, 2014)

* {{source|url = http://unwrapping.tumblr.com/post/93716151897/age-demographics-tumblr |title = Age ranges of tumblr (Dashboard and Web visitors) |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220426074554/https://unwrapping.tumblr.com/post/93716151897/age-demographics-tumblr |archivedate = 2022-04-26 }} by unwrapping (August 3, 2014)

* {{source|url = http://fffinnagain.tumblr.com/post/97403474373/limits-on-tumblr-fandom-communities |title = Limits on tumblr Fandom Communities |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/6SpPzOskH }}  by fffinnagain (September 13, 2014)

* {{source|url = http://fffinnagain.tumblr.com/post/97403474373/limits-on-tumblr-fandom-communities |title = Limits on tumblr Fandom Communities |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200728230420/https://fffinnagain.tumblr.com/post/97403474373/limits-on-tumblr-fandom-communities |archivedate = 2020-07-28 }}  by fffinnagain (September 13, 2014)

*{{source| url = http://loquaciousquark.tumblr.com/post/59042413872/shit-no-one-tells-you-when-you-start-to-tumble | title = SHIT NO ONE TELLS YOU WHEN YOU START TO TUMBLE | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20141013044655/http://loquaciousquark.tumblr.com:80/post/59042413872/shit-no-one-tells-you-when-you-start-to-tumble | archivedate = 2014-10-13 }} (Oct 2014)

*{{source| url = http://loquaciousquark.tumblr.com/post/59042413872/shit-no-one-tells-you-when-you-start-to-tumble | title = SHIT NO ONE TELLS YOU WHEN YOU START TO TUMBLE | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20141013044655/http://loquaciousquark.tumblr.com:80/post/59042413872/shit-no-one-tells-you-when-you-start-to-tumble | archivedate = 2014-10-13 }} (Oct 2014)

* [[fail_fandomanon]]: {{source|url = http://fail-fandomanon.dreamwidth.org/118025.html?thread=603503625#cmt603503625 |title = Re: Dreamwidth user jae explains why Tumblr is rubbish (for them) |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/6VSiV3wOO }} (January 3, 2015)

* [[fail_fandomanon]]: {{source|url = http://fail-fandomanon.dreamwidth.org/118025.html?thread=603503625#cmt603503625 |title = Re: Dreamwidth user jae explains why Tumblr is rubbish (for them) |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200730050205/https://fail-fandomanon.dreamwidth.org/118025.html?thread=603503625 |archivedate = 2020-07-30 }} (January 3, 2015)

* [[fail_fandomanon]]: {{source|url = http://fail-fandomanon.dreamwidth.org/131867.html?thread=686760731#cmt686760731 |title = Re: Things you wouldn't admit unanon |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/6XdrSShu7 }} (April 2015)

* [[fail_fandomanon]]: {{source|url = http://fail-fandomanon.dreamwidth.org/131867.html?thread=686760731#cmt686760731 |title = Re: Things you wouldn't admit unanon |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211207164436/https://fail-fandomanon.dreamwidth.org/131867.html?thread=686760731 |archivedate = 2021-12-07 }} (April 2015)

* [[All this talk about unpopular writers reminds me of how tumblr fandom is really lonely.]] (August 2015)

* [[All this talk about unpopular writers reminds me of how tumblr fandom is really lonely.]] (August 2015)

* [[Wow such low-life's, unfollowing just because you're being honest in an ask.]] (September 2015)

* [[Wow such low-life's, unfollowing just because you're being honest in an ask.]] (September 2015)

* {{source| url = http://fail-fandomanon.dreamwidth.org/174341.html?thread=946477573#cmt946477573 | title = fail_fandomanon: FFA DW Post # 344 - Re: Do you ever feel horribly out of place in fandom?|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/6e7B9g4Jy |archivedate= 2015-12-28 }} (December 2015)

* {{source| url = http://fail-fandomanon.dreamwidth.org/174341.html?thread=946477573#cmt946477573 | title = fail_fandomanon: FFA DW Post # 344 - Re: Do you ever feel horribly out of place in fandom?| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200730060334/https://fail-fandomanon.dreamwidth.org/174341.html?thread=946477573| archivedate = 2020-07-30}} (December 2015)

* {{source| url = https://newrepublic.com/article/129002/secret-lives-tumblr-teens | title = The Secret Lives of Tumblr Teens | New Republic |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/6fxka4eBx |archivedate= 2016-03-12 }} at ''New Republic'' (February 2016)

* {{source| url = https://newrepublic.com/article/129002/secret-lives-tumblr-teens | title = The Secret Lives of Tumblr Teens | New Republic |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/6fxka4eBx |archivedate= 2016-03-12 }} at ''New Republic'' (February 2016)

*{{source| url = https://slate.com/technology/2018/03/why-did-fans-leave-livejournal-and-where-will-they-go-after-tumblr.html | title = Why Did Fans Flee LiveJournal, and Where Will They Go After Tumblr?  | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20180331075440/https://slate.com/technology/2018/03/why-did-fans-leave-livejournal-and-where-will-they-go-after-tumblr.html | archivedate = 2018-03-31 }} at ''Slate'' (March 2018)

*{{source| url = https://slate.com/technology/2018/03/why-did-fans-leave-livejournal-and-where-will-they-go-after-tumblr.html | title = Why Did Fans Flee LiveJournal, and Where Will They Go After Tumblr?  | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20180331075440/https://slate.com/technology/2018/03/why-did-fans-leave-livejournal-and-where-will-they-go-after-tumblr.html | archivedate = 2018-03-31 }} at ''Slate'' (March 2018)