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Tumblr the Day After

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Re: Tumblr the Day After

#21

Post by genmon »

munchbunny wrote: post #17
pixelmonkey wrote: post #3

"Automattic is still a startup — I’m sure there are deep-pocketed private equity firms that could have outbid us, but the most likely outcome then would have been an “asset” getting chopped up and sold for parts. [...] Instead, Tumblr has a new chance to redefine itself in 2019 and beyond." I think Matt is right to point out the real story here. Automattic is simply the right home for Tumblr. Perhaps similarly to how…

100% agree that of the list of realistic outcomes, Tumblr going to Automattic is one of the best possible outcomes. That said, and I know this is said a lot, but I really wish our industry would stop trying to label everything a "startup". Automattic was founded in 2005 and has 1000 employees. It's not a startup, it's a mature medium size tech company. Its problems are not startup problems, they're mature medium size…

The diff is that Automattic hasn't yet returned money to its investors -- so it's a startup by that definition.

Re: Tumblr the Day After

#22

Post by excalibur »

TelmoMenezes wrote: post #19

It's a shame they won't revert the idiotic decision to ban adult content. The sense of freedom of expression and unrestrained creativity gave Tumblr its edge. Without it, it's just another boring blog engine, and this is just a matter of postponing its demise.

Matt said they're not going to, but I wouldn't count on that being the final word on the subject. He's supportive of adult content in principle, his reasons for maintaining the ban are business reasons. If the community persists in demanding that it be lifted, I wouldn't be surprised to see a business solution present itself in the future.

Re: Tumblr the Day After

#23

Post by bovermyer »

dewey wrote: post #16
giannidunk wrote: post #14

I recently switched from Medium to a static site, but for anyone else looking to switch from medium - this may now be an option again?

I think the real alternative to Medium is Ghost as a hosted or self-hosted version. Depending on your needs and the amount of time you want to spend on it. https://ghost.org/

WriteFreely (or its hosted equivalent, Writeas) is also an excellent option.

Re: Tumblr the Day After

#24

Post by josephwegner »

scrollaway wrote: post #12
ses1984 wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And/or maybe it was never worth over a billion in the first place.

just overvalue an asset by 99.8%. Do you? I have to believe you don't.

Don't most VCs overvalue most startups by ~100%? This doesn't seem that crazy to me.

Re: Tumblr the Day After

#25

Post by tangue »

SolaceQuantum wrote: post #13
high_derivative wrote: post #6

"Instead, Tumblr has a new chance to redefine itself in 2019 and beyond" So, Matt commented in the other thread that NSFW content is not coming back due to the difficulties around hosting and processing adult content (payment processing, advertising, everything). Where does Tumblr fit in 2020 between Twitter, Medium, and Instagram? What's its medium?

For me tumblr does best in that you have chains of responses (reblogs) in images/gifs and text form, that then are reposted on one's own blog for their own followers to experience broadly in a singular dashboard whose ordering isn't really manipulated (like twitter and instagram are, to my extreme vexation). Also, because tumblr makes it easy to create side-blogs, you can follow a favorite person for their specific s…

Twitter is the key. Twitter has failed to deliver a sane way to read threads. after all these years I still don't know how to read a conversation. And the whole platform is about conversation ! If Tumblr can get it it right with WP, I won't miss Twitter.

Re: Tumblr the Day After

#26

Post by chiefalchemist »

genmon wrote: post #21
munchbunny wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

100% agree that of the list of realistic outcomes, Tumblr going to Automattic is one of the best possible outcomes. That said, and I know this is said a lot, but I really wish our industry would stop trying to label everything a "startup". Automattic was founded in 2005 and has 1000 employees. It's not a startup, it's a mature medium size tech company. Its problems are not startup problems, they're mature medium size…

The diff is that Automattic hasn't yet returned money to its investors -- so it's a startup by that definition.

I'm not familiar with that definition. Can you elaborate and/or provide a couple links? tia

Re: Tumblr the Day After

#27

Post by evanelias »

scrollaway wrote: post #12
ses1984 wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And/or maybe it was never worth over a billion in the first place.

just overvalue an asset by 99.8%. Do you? I have to believe you don't.

This graph provides valuable context on changes in engagement over time, relative to key milestones in the company's history. https://twitter.com/somospostpc/status/1161024458460712962

Re: Tumblr the Day After

#28

Post by chiefalchemist »

"Instead, Tumblr has a new chance to redefine itself in 2019 and beyond"

I feel like the same thing was said about Napster at some point as well. It's going to take __a lot__ of resources for Tumblr to overcome its status as yet another formerly-hot-but-now-a-has-been (e.g., Yahoo, AOL, MySpace, etc.)

Trumblr had its moment. It had its time. It had its audience. They are all in the past. The odds of it making any sort of comeback - in a Van's sneakers sorta way - are slim (read: close to zero). The cool kids of today just aren't as interested in a brand like Tumblr.

Tumblr will wallow around for bit and then Automattic will merge it into WP.com, or at least the WP platform with a (name) rebranding of some sort. I suppose that falls under MM's "redefine" but somehow I don't think so.

Re: Tumblr the Day After

#29

Post by chiefalchemist »

elliekelly wrote: post #10

My only real interaction with WordPress was when I purchased, and then promptly cancelled, a premium subscription. But the process was so unexpectedly easy and the employee was so unexpectedly nice and helpful. She really bent over backwards to help me even though I was leaving. It might be silly, but that one interaction coupled with Matt's consistently well spoken/written/thought out public comments lead me to beli…

Words? Yes. Actions? That's another story. He's spoken about the open web and such things and then willfully jumps into bed with Google and Facebook, etc.

His "Learn JavaScript deeply" might as well been "Hold onto your ass kids, the rich are about to get richer." That is, WP is no longer a tool of the common people but it's going to be elitist (because that makes my investors happy).

Don't get me wrong. No one is perfect. I simply want to make sure people get to see more of the picture, because there is more to see.

Re: Tumblr the Day After

#30

Post by rchaud »

It's been a few years since I had logged into my account. Does Tumblr offer a chronologically ordered feed? I'd consider giving it another go if it works in a way that eschews what's annoying about FB and IG.
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