Now, the users who make these support requests probably haven't read FAQ 24, but that's where we direct them when we answer, and it reads as follows:
[snip]
PUBLIC:
Anyone, whether logged in or not, may read entries that are marked Public.
PRIVATE:
Only the user who posts an entry marked Private can read that entry.
If you are logged in and viewing the friends page of someone who lists you as a friend, your private entries will appear on that page when you are viewing it, because you have access to them, but no one else who views the friends page of your friend will see your private posts.
FRIENDS:
Only you and people that you list as a friend can read entries marked Friends, and only while logged in. If someone adds you to their Friends list, that will not allow them to view your Friends-Only entries. See http://www.livejournal.com/support/faqbrowse.bml?faqid=35 for details.
CUSTOM:
Custom security allows you to post to only certain groups of people on your Friends list. These groups are completely customizable. See http://www.livejournal.com/support/faqbrowse.bml?faqid=102 for details.
[snip]
The only time it mentions this problem is under "private". Many people will skip directly to the appropriate section (either "friends' or "custom") and not see that. I think we should edit the FAQ to something along the lines of:
PUBLIC:
Anyone, whether logged in or not, may read entries that are marked Public.
* For the following security levels, if you are logged in and viewing the friends page of someone who lists you as a friend, your entries will appear. However, other users will only be allowed to view an entry if you specifically allow them to, by making the entry public, limited to friends, or including them in a custom group which has been selected for this entry.
PRIVATE:
Only the user who posts an entry marked Private can read that entry.
FRIENDS:
Only you and people that you list as a friend can read entries marked Friends, and only while logged in. If someone adds you to their Friends list, that will not allow them to view your Friends-Only entries. See http://www.livejournal.com/support/faqbrowse.bml?faqid=35 for details.
CUSTOM:
Custom security allows you to post to only certain groups of people on your Friends list. These groups are completely customizable. See http://www.livejournal.com/support/faqbrowse.bml?faqid=102 for details.