I'm doing Tumblr wrong, right?

[marguerite_26]

I know I am... and part of me doesn't care because I'm not really ON tumblr. I just play there sometimes. for the pretty.

but like.. tags? I never use them. Is that annoying? people like... block using tags right?

And I feel very strongly that anyone should be able to block me anytime they like.

so - when do you tag? Do you tag when you re-blog? Do you tag when you re-blog and add your own comment?

Do you only tag when you create your own post (which i've only done once).

ALSO ... hotlinking. Everyone knows hotlinking is evil! don't do it!

But tumblr confuses. So when you want a gif... shirtless guy working out and looking angry LETS JUST SAY (because possibly my favourite kind of gif, anyway) And you google and YAY! found it. And it's some random tumblr address (naturally)... do you then copy if for yourself (where ever you store your images) and link to it there.

Or do you just link to the tumblr. Because it's... on tumblr and for some reason tumblr hotlinking is allowed?

This post is brought to you by Maggie who is apparently not afraid to ask stupid questions this morning.

Comments

[alby-mangroves.livejournal.com]

I WANT TO KNOW ALL OF THIS BECAUSE I DONUT KNOW EITHER.

[knowmefirst.livejournal.com]

Mostly, I tag *your it and runs away* Ok, sorry I couldn't help it *g*

Okay, back to the serious business. I tag, but I only do it when I post, I haven't re-blog anything, so I really don't know if it would let you put your own tags or not. As for the hot-linking,I hate. So, I upload them to the appropriate webpages first and then link them from there.

[eleadore.livejournal.com]

obviously i am not the authority on tumblr (or even that familiar with it) but as far as i can tell:

1) tags are good. good for archiving, good for sharing your (inane) thoughts, good for tumblr saviour (that's what people can use to block certain posts), etc. just good in general. but if you're in a hurry you go ALT + reblog button to automatically reblog, and it'll do so without any tags. that's fine too. DO WHAT YOU WANT.

2) tag when you post, tag when you re-blog. tag alllllll the things. only add comments when they're particularly important or something you really want everyone checking the notes to know. most people react through tags instead of comments, because it's more convenient and less annoying for rebloggers, who want to reblog the content, not your comment.

3) gif posting is done a little differently on tumblr, if you don't want to hotlink. if you want your gif to appear AS a gif and not the little grey box, you have to first save the gif, open a new text post, insert the gif, then click the html and copy the line of code. then in the post where you want to USE the gif, paste that line of code in the html segment again. VOILA.

[kim47.livejournal.com]

Generally, tag something with the fandom/show/actor: #merlin #teen wolf #bradley james, etc, so if people don't want that show/person all over their dash, they can just blacklist that tag. If that's the only reason you're tagging (i.e. for the sake of other people) that'll be enough.

The time not to use ~official fandom/character/whatever tags (AND I WISH MORE PEOPLE WOULD DO THIS) is if you're liveblogging or making an original post that wouldn't be interesting to anyone except your friends. That's because when you tag an original post (so, not a reblog), it shows up when you search for that tag on tumblr. The tracked tags are notorious for being full of text posts, people's liveblogs and character/show bashing because of this, so it's good etiquette not to tag things like that. The best thing to do is to use the tag #(show name) for ts, because it will still be hidden for anyone who has (show name) on their blacklist.

ummm feel free to ask if some/all of that doesn't make sense, tumblr confused the shit out of me for ages.

[fitofpique.livejournal.com]

I tag, even when I reblog, and I only keep people on my dash who do the same, because I need to be able to block (many many many) things to use Tumblr. Otherwise I go crazy O_o

As far as using gifs goes, especially if you're posting rather than reblogging, it's always smart to credit whoever made it (if you can figure it out). Many people don't care, or use a watermark, but it's always good to CYA just in case they're weird about it.

[lilyginny27.livejournal.com]

I do not Tumbl as I have far too many social media accounts as it is.

Having said that, I am addicted to the Woman This Is Jeremy Fucking Renner Talking Tumblr and check it every day and I HATE not being able to comment or ask a question of the blogger.

Also, as someone who, whenever I hear about new pics in any of my fandoms, I just google "bradley james tumblr tag" and it brings up a link that I can click on it that shows everything on tumblr tagged "bradley james". Nice and easy peasy and all in one place.

So um,... tag away?

[xfortytwo.livejournal.com]

Generally, I think the best form is to tag everything, at least with show name, if it's a show. Even if you just reblog, because people use tumblr savior so they don't have to see all those posts about the fandom they're not in. So even reblogs would clutter up people's dash with shows they don't watch and don't want to see.

[alba17.livejournal.com]

I'm reading the comments and feeling like I've been using tumblr all wrong. I didn't really know you could block by tags. How do you do that? I only reblog and I only tag if I'm in the mood. I guess I should be more vigilant about that. I just finally got around to figuring out people mainly comment via tags and not an actual comment on the image. tumblr is so weird.

[giselleslash.livejournal.com]

Get Tumblr Savior! It's amaaaazing. I use it to block fandoms I'm not in and it really helps to clear up my dash. If you use Chrome it's super simple. I never did figure out how to mess with the coding to use it on Firefox but it's a Chrome add-on and it couldn't be simpler.

Tumblr is so lame as a blog if you want to "talk" with anyone. It's just all flailing and tags and I would never use it to connect with anyone, but hey, there's lots of pretty there. LOL.

[alba17.livejournal.com]

I'll check that out. There isn't really much I want to block, if anything. Not into Teen Wolf but I enjoy looking at the cast, ditto with Avengers. :) Atm, I use tumblr a lot to follow 1D since it's much easier on there. I'm using Firefox mainly though. Why isn't one browser good for everything? whah

[giselleslash.livejournal.com]

IKR? It isn't too difficult to tweak the code for Firefox - there are quick/easy tutorials on how to do it - but it just never worked for me. I've talked to someone else though that had no trouble at all so hopefully it'll work out fine for you if you try it. :)

[herbeautifullie.livejournal.com]

Well damn, I must be doing this all wrong... I generally only tag when I post something myself? But I only did that because, for some reason, I assumed tags carried over? I mean, it would make more sense if they did... But, to be honest, tagging freakin' annoys the shit out of me anyway (especially on AO3 when people have a million tags that don't make any sense and that no one will ever use ever again because they freakin' feel like that box is for their personal feelings and not the readers who are trying to understand/decide to read their fic).

As far as hotlinking goes, I save the ones I realllllllly like and will probably use a million and one times:



Ones that I probably won't use, I don't save. But I "like" everything on tumblr to make it easier to go back and find and I "like" things that are freakin' gorgeous but that I don't want to reblog because... Well, my screen name is my name-name and I'm just waiting for the day my mom calls me and says, "CIARA, WTF?" so I kind of pick and choose. Example: this (http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9ujbkZFPj1qf6m81o1_1280.jpg) and this (http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9w999gXtl1qf6m81o1_1280.jpg) by sdkay (http://sdkay.tumblr.com/) are both SO FREAKIN' GORG and I don't want to forget their existence but I don't want them on my page, either.

BUT I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND TUMBLR, I JUST STALK IT FOR ALL THE PRETTY TEEN WOLF GIFS. ♥

[phoenixacid.livejournal.com]

TUMBLR IS SO ADDICTIVE!!!

Personally, I think it's best to tag everything - whether they are original posts or posts you reblogged. I find that tagging makes things easier for me to find old posts and for visitors to search my tumblr, avoid spoilers and triggers, and etc.

There's no need to tag all the things, just a basic #show title or #name will do. And if the post is potentially triggery or spoilerish for your followers, #trigger warning or #spoiler (or any variations thereof, just stay consistent) is probably best. But it's really all up to you; if you don't feel like tagging, that's alright too.

As for GIFs, as long as you are using it to express your mood and not repost them as your own, you're golden. Right Click + Save + Insert is better than hotlinking (because of le ugly grey box). Also, make a note on the source of the GIF, just in case.

*big hugs*

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

I'm not on Tumblr, and based on these comments *is confused* probably never will be. Too much social media, too little time.

Good luck, hon. ♥

[kitty_fic]

^ This

Tumblr confuses me so much!

[renrenren3]

Like other people said, tag allll the things! You can block posts with Tumblr Savior which is an add-on and the best thing ever. So for example I have blocked "#spoilers" and "#glee" and it keeps my dash (mostly) spoiler free and without crap I don't care about. I think as long as you tag with a show's name you're golden, and maybe ask people to tell you if there's any particular pairing/character/whatever that you should tag because they don't want to see.

About hotlinking, I usually hotlink gifs from Tumblr because it's not on someone's account and I'm not stealing their bandwidth and Tumblr lets you do it unlike most other sites so I don't think they're against it. (They're quite vocal about stuff they're against.) BUT ON THIS I'M NOT 100% SURE, SO.

[hardticket.livejournal.com]

Tagging is important because that is one of the ways tumblr savior works to blacklist things. Ie, add klaine to your blacklist tumblr savior will hide all post tagged klaine from your dash.

So rudimentary tags are important. :)

And about gifs. reblogging is good as long as the source link is valid and you can get back to it. Same goes for fanart. If there isn't a source link I'd think twice about reblogging. And Tumblr is hotlink city because I don't think there is a way to destroy their bandwidth. :P

I'd use tumblr savior too. It lets up reblog with links from what you are reblogging. I use it with ff.

[giselleslash.livejournal.com]

I'm just repeating the: TAG EVERYTHING!! comments. I mean really all you need to do is tag the fandom as most people just put the general fandom names on their blacklists. For example, I have #teen wolf and #1D and stuff like that, which pretty much takes care of everything I'd rather not have on my dash. I add ridiculous, random tags to my posts but I always tag with the fandom first.

When I first started tumbling (or whatever ;P) I never used to tag and now that I've got Tumblr Savior I realize how annoying I was by not tagging.

[archaeologist-d.livejournal.com]

I have no idea either. I don't even know how to reply to a tumblr thing or comment on something. How other people do it is beyond me.

[frogspace.livejournal.com]

I only reblog stuff and I tag everything. Helps me with finding things and gives others a way to block me.

[clawdine]

I really hate the "tagging your feelings" thing from Tumblr that has taken over to Ao3.

That aside, I don't usually post commentary. When I do, it's nearly always under the post and not in the tags. People can delete my comment and just reblog, I don't mind. I just don't want to put comments in the tags because it crates NEW TAGS and I'm for organizing my content instead of "feels", TYVM!

(of course, ever since Tumblr's memory system tags became non-permanent that kinda... isn't so relevant any more.)

I tag everything for my benefit. It's how I make my tweetspams also. :D

If the gif can be used everywhere I upload it onto my imgur so I can find it later.

[destina.livejournal.com]

Ever since I discovered the joy and bliss that Tumblr Savior brings to my life as it enables me to block things I can't stand, I tag every single one of my posts and reblogs so my followers can blissfully block the things they can't stand in return. I use tags in a practical way, but also I use tags that are for me to find things. Like, I'll tag any Arthur Pendragon post with merlin, arthur, arthur pendragon, merlin spoilers, etc for ease of blacklisting, but also with 'so fucking hot' and 'my king' so I know where to go to get certain kinds of things for myself. *g*

[girlofavalon.livejournal.com]

I'm definitely doing Tumblr wrong too. I'm not tagging anything at the moment, though I plan to edit add tags at some point.

[tourdefierce.livejournal.com]

TAG YO SHIT. NO REALLY.

(That being said, I have really silly tags and I'm a monster. MUHAHAHA.)

Tumblr is massive and so you don't have to worry about hotlinking from them. They are actually one big site dedicated to hotlinking. But yeah, it's best to make sure that when it comes to fanart that you can get back to the source but other than that, ALL OF THE .GIFS. ♥

[jad.livejournal.com]

I just recently signed up to tumblr and mostly just use it to post my fanart (which I then link to here, so some folks find my fics that way). It's woefully confusing for me, too. I generally just tag things like "merthur" and "arthur/merlin" and "merlin fanart" and that seems to work... at least, a few people have found and liked/reblogged my things.

IDK though it's all very intimidating. I do very much prefer LJ. If you manage to figure it out, be sure to let me know x_x

[ourspacesongs.livejournal.com]

So some people are a little obsessive about their tagging, I'm not the best tagger, mostly because I'm lazy. I'll tag stuff if I think it'll be a trigger for someone or if I post a lot of it (ie. one direction, teen wolf) and I know a lot of people who follow me aren't interest in it so they can tumblr savior it. But most of the time I just use the tags to caption and comment on whatever I'm reblogging...

[fbf.livejournal.com]

I thought of getting a tumblr account just so I can comment, but it was way too confusing for my wee brain. so I anonymouse there. But I so feel for you.