Downtime happens. So let's have some common courtesy, people.

Skype had some technical difficulties today. So far, they've been mostly down for 10 hours. A couple weeks ago, Tumblr was down for two days straight.

When things go wrong, people make a stink. And quickly. While it's reasonable to be upset when our favorite websites go down, people often overreact. Some run their mouth about how angry they are; others threaten to move to a competing service. I find the sense of entitlement that people claim, to be both comical and depressing at the same time.

Here are a few tweets about Skype I found on a quick search:

And here are a few about Tumblr:

Clearly no one has broken the news to these people that they are NOT the most important person in the world. The fact is, it's not like the people behind these websites want their sites to go down. Downtime sucks, but it can happen to anyone. Behind these faceless websites are people who devote their lives into making the products you love. And guess what? They hate downtime more than you do.

So the next time your favorite online service goes down, here's what I propose: Go outside, get some fresh air, and realize that a few years ago, this awesome technology that you rely on didn't even exist. We are blessed to live in an age where we can communicate with people across the world in realtime. Our grandparents would have killed for that.

As hard as we try, things will never be perfect. So instead of just complaining, let's try to look on the bright side once in a while.

Comments

Well said. I agree 100%
For free and the still complain... "Typical the more you give the more they complain" My good friend in Malibu says when the heavy rain comes to L.A. let alone like the floods they had in L.A. today their internet always goes down. So with these floods I am surprise its not even worse.
This sort of reminds me of the idiots complaining about the conditions in the super dome in New Orleans. Hmmm... Didnt they say to evacuate? didnt they tell you that you live below sea level. Yet the "Poor" people dont ask for help they are screaming as if they are entitled to it! WTF? The government owes you a roof over your head? the Gov owes you because you did not plan ahead of time even though you were warned time and time again? You wanted to live and then stay in New Orleans you better be prepared or at least not bitch when you are rowing a boat down your neighborhood.
Sigh... How are you gonna complain about FREE $#¡†? Same thing happens whenever Facebook/Twitter/Google changes something too.
Hear hear!
I have to disagree. Personally, I don't have any complaints about Skype, but when you pour hours of time into creating content, designing your page and then posting it to tumblr, you expect the service to at least come through. What if you're a customer who links your URL to a tumblr homepage? I've been more than frustrated, time and again, because I was unable to login and edit my own content (almost on a weekly basis) with tumblr. Maybe people shouldn't vent their frustrations so harshly but criticism is definitely due.
Ahhh, I love it how bananas people go on Facebook when Tumblr crashes.
This is why I don't like to stress myself on the downtime period whenever there are technical problems on free blogs, I read and listen. I think reputation is very important on every aspect and what it's valued... glad that there is posterous! I am not going to tumbling anymore :) lol

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