Use Default Reading Filter by Default

[zvi]

Title:
Use Default Reading Filter by Default

Area:
reading filter, reading page

Summary:
The default reading filter should be applied to the reading page when the reading page is viewed by anyone, not just when viewed by the logged-in journal owner

Description:
The default reading filter is how one's reading page is usually served to one. However, if one has to view the reading page while logged out (maybe one is at a computer where one suspects they might be keylogged), one is currently obligated to have all subscribed journals appear on it.

I also would like the default reading page to be default for all viewers because I have an off-label use for reading filters, to wit: if something keeps appearing in my network page that I would really rather not see, I will subscribe to it and *not* put it on my default reading filter page, and then it is neither on my usual reading page nor on my network. However, if I approach my reading list while not logged in (maybe I just cleared cookies from my cache, maybe I'm at the library and about to login, whatever) then whatever it is that I was trying to avoid may pop up on my reading page.

I can't imagine any real downside to this. I mean, I guess somebody could put in the work to figure out which of your subscriptions were in your default reading filter or not, so there's a minor loss of privacy, but other than that, I can't think of anything.

Poll #2258 Use Default Reading Filter by Default

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 53

View Respondents

This suggestion:

View Answers

Should be implemented as-is.
8 (15.1%)

Should be implemented with changes. (please comment)
8 (15.1%)

Shouldn't be implemented.
29 (54.7%)

(I have no opinion)
8 (15.1%)

(Other: please comment)
0 (0.0%)

Comments

[zvi]

See, I'm not actually convinced that public reading filters have any use, so I didn't suggest that. I know it's how it's handled on LJ, but *shrug* just because they did it doesn't necessarily mean it worked.

[foxfirefey]

Public reading filters can have some use! Like, for instance, I have a Dreamwidth reading filter that I'd be perfectly happy to share with others. They are even more useful here than on LJ, because paid accounts here have the ability to make super special reading filters that free users can't, and if they could make those filters public, the free users would be able to go read that paid user's compilation. (Of course, that could be an argument to make filters NOT usable publicly, ha.)

I think the minor loss of privacy you mention is going to be a much bigger deal to some others than it is to you, especially towards lurker personas.

It wouldn't be much work for a person to figure out whether or not they were in your default reading filter--all they'd have to do would be to make a public post and then check your reading page. That's a pretty low bar of discovery for something some people might not want to share.

[zvi]

But being off the default view doesn't necessarily mean being unread! It just means not being on the default view. For instance, I have a number of sexy picture tumbler feeds encircled. I do check them out on a regular basis, but I don't have them in the default filter, both because they're uncut and NSFW, but also because I like them better when they're all by themselves than when they're mixed in with descriptions of pilling the cat, or customers unsexily sucking, etc.

I actually don't think the privacy loss will be a big deal for lurkers, since no one knows they're here to care about their reading pages anyway. I concede that for the people who use DW for a small circle of close personal friends, it might be an issue if someone finds out they're subscribed to but not on the default filter.

[willow]

Actually I haven't been able to figure out how to subscribe to someone and have them NOT on the default filter. I guess my brain just hasn't been clicking. So I just don't subscribe to them anymore, but maintain giving them access and go peek at their journals when I have the chance, while hoping that the reasons I unscubscribed don't show up.

Hmmm. Now this is OT. Do you know if DW plans on having a way to either a) follow posts by a user that have particular tags or b) follow all posts BUT particular tags?

Ex: All posts but tag: political, tag: french music scene ?

Should I suggest?

[zvi]

You can track that sort of thing or you can arrange your filters for that (although there are some reports that filtering by tag is a bit wonky). I think you have to be paid for that, though. Do you want a year of paid time, I've got some sitting around.

[willow]

Can you point me to the info for tracking via filter?

Do you want a year of paid time, I've got some sitting around - makes me think of Mother Nature from that stop animation/claymation holiday special you like so much.

If I can track via filter then yeah, paid time is ok. Though I still wish I could figure out what happened in this user account that has so messed up storage of comments.

Also, do you know if one of these days is DW considering importing only specific entries from another journal? M'curious.

[cimorene]

I've made a lot of use of other people's public reading filters.

[pauamma]

My LJ fgroups are deliberately all private - including Default View. I would definitely want my DW reading filters to be that way too - including the default one.