Tumblr is FUCKED.
I created my Tumblr page in October of 2010. In the beginning it was just a bunch of random phone pics. It then became random pics with an ongoing story about my alter ego and his strange relationship with a woman who may or may not have been a girlfriend.
That ended in September 2012. I didn’t post for quite some time as I tried to figure out whether I still wanted to be here.
For some reason in March of 2013, I decided to do something different. I decided to really make my Tumblr page an extension of my photography website and really engage in promoting my images. The format changed and Tumblr became my go to platform for showcasing my most recent work.
Change is coming again. On December 17, 2018, Tumblr will officially commit digital suicide. By enforcing their dubious community standards they will essentially alienate their core audience and traffic will fade. Yes, there is some heinous stuff on Tumblr and something had to be done, but the approach taken shows what is typical nowadays in what amounts to corporate stupidity driven by bubbleheaded executives.
For example…let’s take a look at this bit of thoughtful guidance from their new content policy:

If you didn’t have a WTF moment from that, I have to question whether you are conscious.
“Written content such as erotica, nudity related to political or newsworthy speech, and nudity found in art, such as sculptures and illustrations…”
Political nudity? Newsworthy? ART??
So I’m thinking an “erotica” blog post that contains a drawing of two people having anal sex during an alt-right/Proud Boys parade is good if it’s framed, hung in an art gallery and mentioned in a press release, right?
Fuck. What a trainwreck.
All this is extremely subjective and yes, panders to those who will still, rightfully, accuse Tumblr of stifling free speech. They are trying to play both sides of the field, but you cannot be both open and authoritarian.
(You can talk about sex…explicitly…but for God’s sake don’t show a nipple. Unless someone is getting fed. Jebus…)

This will NOT work.
That “reinvention” thing worked so well for MySpace after they were bought out by a tone deaf corporate conglomerate didn’t it?
Meanwhile all the hate sites will remain unscathed, because, of course better to appeal to that extremist crowd when all else fails and hope they won’t commit acts of violence because of that “protected speech.”
Many others are smugly giving Tumblr kudos…those who maintain LGBT, lifestyle or other written blogs. They are celebrating the removal of “porn” while at the same time assuring themselves their creative outlet is safe.

Sorry folks. Read that again. Words matter…and while you may applaud now while you work on your next piece of creative fanfic “erotica,” gender fluid commentary/musings or anime/furry/gamer stuffs, know that they will be coming for you next. This is just the first wave. You are not welcome here. As Verizon tries to monetize this platform, you will see more ads, more censorship and less freedom. No matter what you read, those that oversee Tumblr don’t want to be defined by you and your associated groups. You are NOT their brand.
So laugh now….and think that you are to be part of that “community” that is being spoken about because this….

…is coming. For YOU.

So what now? Tumblr’s machine learning bots have tagged a bunch of my stuff, some justified under the new policy, others just downright confusing. Yes, I’ve posted nudes from my photography shoots but no explicit sexual activity and nothing illegal. I’ve filed reviews but the writing is on the wall. It’s time to walk away.

I’m transitioning to a blog off my website. My REAL website. Truth be told, nowadays doing this yourself is probably the better way to go and you don’t have to be too concerned with that whole “social media COMMUNITY” bullshit or how these platforms are slurping and selling the data of their “community” to the highest bidder behind the scenes.
When Verizon finally pulls the trigger and closes this place down, many will try to say “changing user social media patterns” or some other dishonest business-speak catchphrase to explain things. They will try to make it seem like December 17, 2018 wasn’t the true date that marked Tumblr’s end.
Others will remember. Expatriates of this site will remember surely, they (we) are leaving en masse starting today…even some of those who Tumblr is reportedly trying to keep and cater to.

Sorry Jeff, this “new” community you speak of will never happen. You don’t know your audience, you will not distinguish yourself among the other social media platforms out there (who have problems of their own because social media in general is kinda screwed nowadays too) and most importantly, you will not get support, encouragement or inspiration from (Jebus…) a plodding, Luddite creative deficient gasbag like Verizon.
It’s been fun but Tumblr is FUCKED.

I’m out.
- CN




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