New Sign-up Process
From looking at the database, it seems a few hundred of you have already discovered what I'm about to say here .... maybe I should've written this post before uploading the new code. :-)

Anyway, creating a new account now requires either paying or getting an invitation code from an existing user which are given out for a number of different reasons.

You can go read the three pages above to understand our motivations more. We considered a lot of people's input in designing this new system but it's possible we overlooked something.

Before replying here, make sure you read everything linked above. That said, however, we appreciate your input. It's not our goal to make LiveJournal a private club but we do want to prevent a lot of the abuse.

There's a happy balance somewhere, we're just trying to find it.

(Post a new comment)

	halkeye 2001-09-02 06:35 pm UTC (link)
	this includes people trying to make communities right? and is there a list of how many points you have? before things are generated? and thirdly, wouldn't limiting accounts get people angry and attack again? (Reply to this)(Thread)(Expand)

(no subject) - bradfitz, 2001-09-02 06:41 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - halkeye, 2001-09-02 06:44 pm UTC (Expand)

(Deleted post)

(no subject) - halkeye, 2001-09-02 06:51 pm UTC (Expand)

(Reply from suspended user)

(no subject) - chrissmari, 2001-09-02 08:01 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - krzy, 2001-09-02 06:51 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - dottey, 2001-09-02 06:55 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - bradfitz, 2001-09-02 06:57 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - dottey, 2001-09-02 06:59 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - bradfitz, 2001-09-02 06:59 pm UTC (Expand)

	lroberson 2001-09-02 06:39 pm UTC (link)
	I wish that people like me were given invitation codes. As it stands, I won't be recieving any at all whatsoever for a very long time, and that is a damned bummer. :( Could you maybe set up a creditor thing, Brad, like you do with paid users when there are outages, to give people who read the news journal one free invitation code? (Reply to this)(Thread)(Expand)

(no subject) - lroberson, 2001-09-02 06:43 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - ceruleanlobster, 2001-09-15 03:56 pm UTC (Expand)

miss_tish 2001-09-02 06:44 pm UTC (link)

Good for you... and good for LJ! Even if someone CAN'T get an invitation code... you're not exactly charging an arm and a leg for membership. You're doing what's necessary to keep a very good and very popular site up and running. It can't be easy either. I applaud you guys. Thanks for doing such a great job! *** Give the gift of Live Journal! Buy someone you know (or even better, a random user) a 2 month membership! *** (Reply to this)(Thread)(Expand)

(no subject) - kshandra, 2001-09-02 10:02 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - miss_tish, 2001-09-03 05:03 am UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - thwack, 2001-09-04 09:56 am UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - miss_tish, 2001-09-04 03:11 pm UTC (Expand)

clarification and question... newscane 2001-09-02 06:46 pm UTC (link)

It says that you get one code a week after creating an account. If you currently have a free account, will you receive that one code as well? I agree with the idea of stemming growth, especially the anti-abuse measure. But I wonder if there aren't enough ways for the average user to spread the word to friends? I understand that contributors, paid accounts, and support volunteers can earn extra codes. But what about the average user who can't pay right now, has been using it for a few months, and wants to tell their friends about LJ? The last I heard, only about three percent are paying users, and I'm sure there aren't that many people earning codes through the other ways. And one code per person could still theoretically allow for a doubling of the user base, but I doubt everyone will be using their code to invite somone. I just wonder if the "good word" about LJ could start to work against it. (Reply to this)(Thread)(Expand)

Re: clarification and question... - evan, 2001-09-02 06:48 pm UTC (Expand)

Re: clarification and question... - adamsniche, 2001-09-02 10:09 pm UTC (Expand)

Re: clarification and question... - bradfitz, 2001-09-02 06:49 pm UTC (Expand)

	chrisg 2001-09-02 06:47 pm UTC (link)
	I think that's a neat feature. And I agree with them. Sure, it might piss some people off, but they'd likely get pissed off about something else anyway. Overall, it should make things better around here, for the reasons outlined on those pages. It shouldn't be terribly difficult for a person to get an invitation code if they need one and can't/won't pay. (Reply to this)

	i_sparafucile 2001-09-02 06:49 pm UTC (link)
	* For every month you pay for, you will receive 1 code. Okay, this is good, makes sense, etc. etc. So if we've already paid, then do we get codes already, or does it wait for the next pay period? I've paid for a year, and I'd hope to get a code before i get to pay for another year... --Sparky (Reply to this)(Thread)(Expand)

(no subject) - bradfitz, 2001-09-02 07:00 pm UTC (Expand)

Re: - i_sparafucile, 2001-09-02 07:06 pm UTC (Expand)

Is this a bug or is it the way it's supposed to work? - jelaluddin, 2001-09-02 08:43 pm UTC (Expand)

	dottey 2001-09-02 06:50 pm UTC (link)
	This is lame. Just let me join! If you're totally new to the site and just want to sign-up with paying, we understand your frustration. However, very few people just stumble upon the site... nearly everybody that signs up does so because a friend referred them. Found on http://www.livejournal.com/create.bml - shouldn't that be "without paying"? (Reply to this)(Thread)(Expand)

(no subject) - bradfitz, 2001-09-02 06:53 pm UTC (Expand)

YAY brad! 00goddess 2001-09-02 06:50 pm UTC (link)

I think that this is an excellent solution! It is a happy medium. I especially like the fact that it assures that people coming in will be aware of what LJ is about, why it exists, who is involved, what the community means. I am very, very, very pleased and impressed with this. thanks, Brad! While I'm here, I have a question: will permanent accounts ever be available again? 00goddess (Reply to this)(Thread)(Expand)

Re: YAY brad! - bradfitz, 2001-09-02 06:54 pm UTC (Expand)

sorry, another question - 00goddess, 2001-09-02 06:59 pm UTC (Expand)

Re: sorry, another question - bradfitz, 2001-09-02 07:00 pm UTC (Expand)

Re: sorry, another question - 00goddess, 2001-09-02 07:04 pm UTC (Expand)

Re: YAY brad! - foobar, 2001-09-02 08:21 pm UTC (Expand)

Re: YAY brad! - bradfitz, 2001-09-02 08:22 pm UTC (Expand)

Re: YAY brad! - the_chuck, 2001-09-02 08:38 pm UTC (Expand)

Re: YAY brad! - foobar, 2001-09-02 09:19 pm UTC (Expand)

Re: yay brad! - the_chuck, 2001-09-02 09:37 pm UTC (Expand)

Re: yay brad! - foobar, 2001-09-02 10:18 pm UTC (Expand)

One thing I see way2tired 2001-09-02 07:00 pm UTC (link)

Not saying this is bad or good... just a thought from past experience. I know that I originally signed up because I wanted to post in someone's journal who had annonymous posting turned off. I didn't know at that point that I would actually keep a journal. Now I keep a journal, and I am a paid user (I even went from early adopter to paid, haha.. silly me) What I'm saying, I guess, is that my whole motivation for getting a journal in the first place was something that can't be done under the current settings. Doesn't really affect me today, but it would have kept me out if I'd come to the site today and seen that I had to pay or get invited (by the person who wouldn't allow anon posts in the first place). Why would I pay for something I wasn't sure I'd ever use again? I'm not being critical here, cause I sure as hell don't see a good solution. I understand wholeheartedly why these steps are being taken. I'm just wondering if anyone has thought of this scenario? (Reply to this)(Thread)(Expand)

Re: One thing I see - bradfitz, 2001-09-02 07:05 pm UTC (Expand)

Re: One thing I see - way2tired, 2001-09-02 08:42 pm UTC (Expand)

Re: One thing I see - jelaluddin, 2001-09-02 08:55 pm UTC (Expand)

Re: One thing I see - theroach, 2001-10-03 02:57 am UTC (Expand)

Re: One thing I see - mtsmth, 2001-09-03 05:23 pm UTC (Expand)

Re: One thing I see - newscane, 2001-09-02 07:10 pm UTC (Expand)

Re: One thing I see - thwack, 2001-09-04 10:40 am UTC (Expand)

Re: One thing I see - newscane, 2001-09-04 10:52 am UTC (Expand)

	yizhe 2001-09-02 07:02 pm UTC (link)
	Hmm.. any plans to delete those journal that havn't been active for the past 6 months. I think it will save a shitload of server space. (Reply to this)(Thread)(Expand)

(no subject) - bradfitz, 2001-09-02 07:04 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - i_sparafucile, 2001-09-02 07:33 pm UTC (Expand)

Umm.. - klaruz, 2001-09-02 09:30 pm UTC (Expand)

Re: Umm.. - bradfitz, 2001-09-02 09:38 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - fool_in_spirit, 2001-09-05 02:49 am UTC (Expand)

Tad Bit Confused... duchess_webb 2001-09-02 07:05 pm UTC (link)

Not like I need a lot of invitation codes or anything, but I looked upon the reasons of getting a code and I'm a wee bit confused over it... 1) For every month you pay for, you will receive 1 code. I paid a year's subscription, hence why I have "{For Payment #1611" on each of the ones I generated? What about the accounts I paid for others? Do they get the codes for that instead of me? Just curious. 2) If you have a permanent account, you will receive 5 codes every month, but keep in mind that those codes will expire if they go unclaimed. Granted, this says it only applies to the permanent accounts, but with the paid accounts, would those codes ever expired if they are left unclaimed? Sounds like I have to get back to working on the FAQ Help Team again. :P Actually, I doubt I will find 12 more people to join. I doubt I would even make 12 more communities for that matter. LOL (Reply to this)(Thread)(Expand)

Re: Tad Bit Confused... - bradfitz, 2001-09-02 07:18 pm UTC (Expand)

Re: Tad Bit Confused... - thelance, 2001-09-02 09:11 pm UTC (Expand)

Re: Tad Bit Confused... - duchess_webb, 2001-09-03 11:00 am UTC (Expand)

	jillw 2001-09-02 07:07 pm UTC (link)
	VERY good job, Brad. This is a fantastic idea. *love and bubbles to the person that thought it up* We love you Brad, oh yes we do, we don't love anyone, as much as you! (Reply to this)(Thread)(Expand)

(no subject) - evan, 2001-09-02 07:12 pm UTC (Expand)

Re: - jillw, 2001-09-02 07:24 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - evan, 2001-09-02 07:31 pm UTC (Expand)

Re: - jillw, 2001-09-02 07:37 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - halkeye, 2001-09-02 08:55 pm UTC (Expand)

Re: - jillw, 2001-09-02 09:20 pm UTC (Expand)

	.. whorlpool 2001-09-02 07:17 pm UTC (link)
	excellent idea i kinda wish you had thought of it six months ago, but... :) (Reply to this)

	stonebutterfly 2001-09-02 07:18 pm UTC (link)
	I think this is an excellent solution. It doesn't close out LiveJournal to new members, but it prevents abuse. We can still invite our friends to come and check it out, and we can give them codes so they don't show up and find they can't get in. I think it's an excellent solution, myself. (Reply to this)(Thread)(Expand)

(no subject) - bradfitz, 2001-09-02 07:19 pm UTC (Expand)

The Solution - humberguy2000, 2001-09-02 08:59 pm UTC (Expand)

avva 2001-09-02 07:25 pm UTC (link)

Here's why I think it's a disastrous solution. 1. It prevents free inflow of new LJ users which is one of the most attractive features of the site. In fact, the statement given on the create page that "nearly everybody that signs up does so because a friend referred them" is a non-statement. Nobody can know if it's true or not, the current organisation of LJ doesn't make it possible to find out. With >300,000 users any personal anecdotal knowledge is absolutely irrelevant. Google reports 1,820,000 results on the word "livejournal" and only 650,000 results when further restricted to livejournal.com . That's a lot of links in the outside Web to draw people to LJ. I myself found LJ due to a random link on a web forum. While "nearly all" is absolutely unsupportable, evidently many LJ users do come because someone showed them LJ. One of the common models of new users inflow is when someone discovers LJ, gets enthusiastic about it, and draws many of his relatives/friends to LJ. This happens very often. The new model effectively prohibits this: not many people will be able to pay for dozens of their friends to try out LJ (which will at least partially a waste of money because many users try LJ a bit and find out they don't like it - you don't know that until you tried. There're scores of journals out there with just 2 or 3 entries), and friends themselves will be reluctant to pay for something they aren't able to try out. 2. For people living in poor countries, where $25 or even $5 is a big deal, this is effectively a show-stopper for LJ. This includes for example the thriving Russian-writing LJ community, with >1000 active members and its fair share of paid users. While some people in that community can afford to pay, the absolute majority can't. While 1000 members may not matter much to LJ admins, well, we matter to ourselves. The Russian community has now started, with deep sorrow, to discuss ways to create a separate LJ server and collectively migrate to it, which may or may not prove possible. The other reason given for the new policy - prevention of abuse - seems to be hogwash. If indeed a new user is created just for leaving a rude comment and then banished and never writes again, no LJ resources are wasted - the admins have repeatedly stressed that idle account pose no problem for LJ at all. If the only problem is the rude comment, it'd be very easy to have a new option for existing users to disallow comments for new users until they're 2 weeks old. This is just one simple way of solving it; there're others. Also, this reason doesn't support at all the policy of making the invitation codes scarce; if all that matters if referring by existing LJ users, let everyone issue however many codes they like. While the admins state that they have no intention of turning LJ into an elite club, this is in effect what this system does. It's very sad, and no less sad is the fact that no discussion of the proposed system was attempted in lj_biz, news, or wherever else. (Reply to this)(Thread)(Expand)

(no subject) - bradfitz, 2001-09-02 07:36 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - way2tired, 2001-09-02 10:47 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - bradfitz, 2001-09-02 07:41 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - foobar, 2001-09-02 08:14 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - nder, 2001-09-02 11:52 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - duien, 2001-09-03 06:37 am UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - ceruleanlobster, 2001-09-15 05:54 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - ironman1231, 2001-09-03 11:45 am UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - avva, 2001-09-02 08:16 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - bradfitz, 2001-09-02 08:19 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - avva, 2001-09-02 08:31 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - bradfitz, 2001-09-02 08:35 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - evan, 2001-09-02 09:14 pm UTC (Expand)

If the owner gets the email, couldn't... - hiraya, 2001-09-03 05:28 pm UTC (Expand)

(Reply from suspended user)

(no subject) - bradfitz, 2001-09-02 07:43 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - avva, 2001-09-02 07:51 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - starblazr, 2001-09-02 07:49 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - amythyst, 2001-09-03 12:20 am UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - bertho, 2001-09-03 01:19 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - insomnia, 2001-09-03 03:56 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - amythyst, 2001-09-03 05:24 pm UTC (Expand)

(Deleted post)

The Aussie is confused (big surprise ;-) - cerulgalactus, 2001-09-16 02:49 am UTC (Expand)

Re: The Aussie is confused (big surprise ;-) - ceruleanlobster, 2001-09-16 06:05 pm UTC (Expand)

Re: The Aussie is confused (big surprise ;-) - cerulgalactus, 2001-09-16 06:09 pm UTC (Expand)

Re: The Aussie is confused (big surprise ;-) - ceruleanlobster, 2001-09-16 09:26 pm UTC (Expand)

Re: The Aussie is confused (big surprise ;-) - cerulgalactus, 2001-09-17 01:05 am UTC (Expand)

Re: The Aussie is confused (big surprise ;-) - ceruleanlobster, 2001-09-16 06:19 pm UTC (Expand)

Re: The Aussie is confused (big surprise ;-) - cerulgalactus, 2001-09-16 06:21 pm UTC (Expand)

More reasons avva 2001-09-02 07:44 pm UTC (link)

More reasons why this is a disastrous decision. 3. The stated policy of supporting LJ financially, so far, has been to promote paid accounts in various ways. Little has been done to do that lately. While the admins may feel that the growth of paid accounts doesn't match their expectations, they should keep in mind that with the LOT of instability problems in the last 2 months, which in most cases involved fast servers and paid users as well, people have been greatly discouraged from paying. Even so, there are 2.7% paid accounts (if we correctly count only accounts that ever updated in the total, others are irrelevant), and 5.2% if we count those who are effectively active (updated in the last month). Much, much more could be done to encourage paid accounts. Even a simple email to the few tens of thousands of users who subscribed to receive announcements, to the effect that "we need your help, please pay" would probably increase the percentage quite a bit. And that would in no way be spam or harrassment. Further, an explicit call for help (not necessarily payment, maybe contributing to support, code, art, etc.) on the home page could help. Better advertisement of lj_dev, lj_biz, promo communities could help. etc. etc. It seems that the admins give up on the existing model of balance between paid/free users without trying harder to maintain the balance and tip it towards paid users in creative ways. Maybe I'm being unfair here, since I don't know inside details. But the possible ways to enlarge number of paid users haven't even been publically discussed. There could be a call for help or brainstorm. (Reply to this)(Thread)(Expand)

Re: More reasons - ejase, 2001-09-02 08:03 pm UTC (Expand)

	nika 2001-09-02 07:48 pm UTC (link)
	Verra good idea. ~thumbs up~ You guys are geniuses... (Reply to this)

	elfbabe 2001-09-02 07:57 pm UTC (link)
	*sigh* ...I don't know if I like it. I know it would have prevented the huge influx of my friends to lj back in the day, when there were no paid accounts, mood or music options, and you only got one picture! One! </fogey> But it'll have to do, as I don't think I can come up with any better ideas. (Reply to this)(Thread)(Expand)

(no subject) - piman, 2001-09-02 08:19 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - bradfitz, 2001-09-02 08:20 pm UTC (Expand)

(no subject) - elfbabe, 2001-09-02 09:04 pm UTC (Expand)

chrissmari