While I think it's a horrible thing that people are using the gifts to send hurtful messages, I'm not going to sign it, because I don't agree with either option presented.
As has been pointed out before... the different gifts mean different things to different people. I know people who would love to get a black rose, but would hate a red or yellow one. aflon pointed out a cool positive side to the coal.
As for the anonymous thing, well, there are more reasons than hateful ones to send things anonymously. Maybe the sender doesn't want credit, maybe they don't have an LJ... I can go on and on.
Personally, I think that rather than ruin the fun of most people who aren't using the gifts for anything malicious because there are a few bad eggs out there (as I'd be willing to bet that in a circle of friends, if there's a lot of malicious V-gifts, they're all coming from the same source), they should put more control in the hands of people who get the gifts.
I think that rather than eliminate the so-called negative gifts or take away the option to send anonymously, LJ should give its users the option to opt-out of receiving anonymous gifts. If someone has opted-out, then when you select who you're sending the gift to, the option to remain anonymous will be grayed out, just like the option to comment anonymously is grayed out on journals that require you to have an LJ to post.
That way, people who are just having fun can still have fun, and people who don't want to receive anonymous gifts don't have to receive them.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2007-03-13 10:55 pm (UTC)While I think it's a horrible thing that people are using the gifts to send hurtful messages, I'm not going to sign it, because I don't agree with either option presented.
As has been pointed out before... the different gifts mean different things to different people. I know people who would love to get a black rose, but would hate a red or yellow one.
As for the anonymous thing, well, there are more reasons than hateful ones to send things anonymously. Maybe the sender doesn't want credit, maybe they don't have an LJ... I can go on and on.
Personally, I think that rather than ruin the fun of most people who aren't using the gifts for anything malicious because there are a few bad eggs out there (as I'd be willing to bet that in a circle of friends, if there's a lot of malicious V-gifts, they're all coming from the same source), they should put more control in the hands of people who get the gifts.
I think that rather than eliminate the so-called negative gifts or take away the option to send anonymously, LJ should give its users the option to opt-out of receiving anonymous gifts. If someone has opted-out, then when you select who you're sending the gift to, the option to remain anonymous will be grayed out, just like the option to comment anonymously is grayed out on journals that require you to have an LJ to post.
That way, people who are just having fun can still have fun, and people who don't want to receive anonymous gifts don't have to receive them.