a basic how-to post

[anna_reading]

I'm making this roughly through my own experience, so I'm sorry in advance if it is still confusing after you read it. I've never been good at explaining things, so please just comment/message/whichever suits you, if there is anything more that is unclear.
I'll also refer to Hey! Say! JUMP (HSJ) as my fandom and LiveJournal (LJ) in general for this post (and extend it to Dreamwidth (DW) where applicable). To the Anon-san who commented on my DW ItaJump list about how to use LJ on this comment here, I hope the first part of this entry answers your question and I'm sorry I took a long time on this.

First, referring to Anon-san's question, LJ is not a download site, it's a blogging site. People make entry posts about anything and everything they wanted, and that includes uploading something somewhere else (download sites) and then posting the links to those uploads in their LJ. DW is about the same as this.

Second, adding the subber's LJ as friends to access their download links. If the subber made their posts locked, you have to add them as friends, and then they have to add you back. You will see if you're added back when LJ notify you, or you go to the subber's LJ and see that (name) is your mutual friend on top of the page. In DW, it's add to circle on top of the page, where you'll be redirected to a page with grant access and subscribe buttons. Grant access let the other read your locked entries, while subscribe only let you read public entries. It's the subber who has to grant access to you, so request nicely.

Third, there are communities in LJ, they're like... Facebook and their private groups. It's in these communities that people post download links, or link people to one's LJ (the subber). You have to join/request membership to the communities to see the entries. I think DW is about the same with this.

So, basically you have to write blogs first. Introduce yourself, talk a little about how you get into HSJ/other groups you follow, etc. And make this a public entry. Make a few public entries if you could. That way subbers/community admins will see that you are a fan and more likely to add you as friends/accept you into community. You can friend-lock or private-lock your other entries if you want.

So after that, request to be added as friends (individual LJ) or request membership (community). It is usually simple how to do it, like leaving intro comments and then clicking the add friend/join button. Both individual LJ and communities usually have posted rules and how to be added/become member, read that carefully. Pay attention to the tags as well, they'll help you find things in that LJ.

When you have added someone or joined a community, give some time for them to add you back. Admins/subbers aren't online 24/7. If you feel the need to, like if you have been waiting months, comment again on your original comment (see their entry about adding or joining to confirm first) or reach out to them in private message etc. And please don't be demanding, don't use ALL CAPS, don't be rude. Always treat others as you want to be treated.

After you're accepted, then you can access the links and start downloading. Of course, please follow the rules that the subbers and comms have laid out. The rules are usually easy to follow. Maybe the easiest would be to keep files to yourself, and not sharing them openly (or at all, let the subber/admin do the sharing). Another thing is say thank you to them; simply comment on their post and write thank you~

 

 

This second part are the rules that I think everyone already knows. Each subber also have their own variation of these rules so always read their rules first. What I wrote in both my ItaJump lists, about the following rules and such, I'd like to repeat them here with a few additions.

- I only provide links to the entry, NOT the direct download links. I repeat, I don't give download links, please find it at the respective links provided. Please follow whatever rules laid out there.

- Community links: Please read and follow their rules. Tags and masterposts are your good friend. Really, find the masterpost if there is one, scroll through the tags, and read their rules too.

- Personal journals/other sites: They also have rules, so please read and follow them. Look through their tags and masterposts if they have them.

- Please read and follow their rules.

- If you have to share to others online, please just share the post, not the files. Maybe preferably in a private message. Or, you know, whatever the subber says or does. These things aren't really legal, you know. Files survive longer with a little discretion. And I really don't wish  to see fellow fans getting in trouble, okay.

Also, please don't steal the subs and remove credits and claim it as your own. Please.

I know I said the word rules a lot, I don't think people like that very much, I don't either, and I'm not even a subber so maybe what I said don't hold much weight, but there are laws and such, people could get in real trouble over it, yet they do it because they are also fans and they want to spread fandom love especially to those who can't access or understand things.

So let's keep it simple. You don't follow the rules, subber stops subbing, us fans who can't understand will be left in the dark. Worst case scenario, the subbers get into trouble. Not a happy thought, isn't it?

Okay, I think that's about all of it...? That I know of and understand at least. Please tell me if I missed anything. Again, sorry if it's unclear, I am really bad at explaining things, you won't be happy with me if you have to talk with me in real life.