Discussion

Last edited by Aithine:
listed new categories, new GJ comm for discussion/announcements
Thu, 31 May 2007 23:29 PDT

Just a place to have more room to expand and discuss topics that aren't really questions but that have been discussed in various pages' comment sections. Same deal as before: post to the top of the page and sign your comments. :) I'll also put new category announcements, layout change info, etc. here, too, so they're all in one place. --Aithine

New categories (without spaces): Category Essays, Category Meta, Category Vidding, and Category Writing. --Aithine

New categories (without spaces): Category Fan Site (for sites about actors/writers/directors/shows), Category Personal Site (for your own site). --Aithine

(Avoiding work, who me? *g*)

Would it be helpful at all if I set up an IRC or AIM chatroom (or something along those lines) for folks to hang out in 24/7 and get questions answered on how to do specific things (relatively) quickly? (On top of writing an even simpler Directorium101 sort of page.)

The reason I ask is that stuff like this∞ makes me a little leery. While I understand the desire to help or to learn how to do something, I'm a little fussed about it (understandably, I think), because most of the people I've seen suggesting or offering to do this are people who haven't contributed at all to the project yet, and are therefore more likely to confuse people just getting started, because they haven't been going through the site's growing pains with those of us that have been working on it quite a lot and figuring out what works and what doesn't. Because of that, much of the reasoning behind why I've asked that things be done one way and not another may not be clear. (Which is my fault--I need to collect all of the site "rules of thumb" into one place and there just hasn't been time.) Now, that's not to say I don't want people showing others how to contribute to the directory, but...

Am I being excessively fussy? --Aithine

Huh. I had the impression that Tan Ac Awyr was proposing to do the presentation herself, and she has been working on it. But I know nothing about cons and the doing thereof, so I may be wrong... But I like the chat idea. So far it feels like we're all sitting in our own cubicles working away... a conference lounge would be nice :) --Mlle Manon

I'm not too worried about her, but I've seen it elsewhere, as well. (Darned if I can find the URLs, though. >.<) --Aithine

You aren't being too fussy. this is your baby. We are just wet-nurses <G>. Seriously, I'd love to have a place to discuss stuff, but I'm on a dial up so IRC doesn't work for me and I don't use IM programs anymore. (I've had my 'puter crashed more than once by crap coming through them.) But I think it would be a great resources for people who do use them. I suggested LJ or Greatest journal just because it allows threading of repsonses...but I can also use email for stuff -- because the way I see it, even if we do something wrong, it's fixable and not everything has to be done right now, this second no matter how much my OC demands it be so. ~Maygra De Rhema

Hehehehehe. Yeah, that's one thing I'm having to restrain myself on. I want it all done now. *vbg* --A

Maybe a message board/forum/whatever they're calling it these days? --Mlle Manon

I've set up a bulletin board here∞; let's try that and see how it works out. (I don't really want to go to an LJ comm--though we can if this doesn't work--because that assumes that everyone has an LJ account, which is not always the case.) I checked out the hacks for forums integrated into the wiki engine, but there were too many issues. (I'd rather not spend hours fixing the site thanks to a missed security hole.) --A

Groovy! *trots off to investigate* ;) --Mlle Manon

And because the forum was such a pain, I set up a Greatest Journal comm here∞. --Aithine

Hey, do me a favor: if you're linking to places to purchase stuff on fandom pages, please be sure to check out the Amazon and Right Stuf pages, which give examples of how to make the direct links generate just a little bit to pay for sitehosting costs. If there's another site you think I need to set up an affiliate account with, let me know, please. Right now I've got Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk and Right Stuf covered. --Aithine

I feel better now about linking the individual titles on the Westmark page. :D I had the vague idea I shouldn't gratuitously link stuff, which is probably silly of me. --Mlle Manon

Hehe. Nah. Links to purchasing copies of the source material are extremely helpful, IMO, because then all the work's been done for you. ;) (Plus there are sites where it's hard to tell what product you're trying to get -- Amazon's manga listings leap to the forefront as an example of incomplete information making it nearly impossible to easily know which volume of the series you're ordering if you don't have the volume's ISBN from somewhere else.) There are limits to the number of outside links I would suggest doing on a page, but I haven't been able to articulate my feelings about that yet, like why the Samuel West page has tons of marvelous information, but has far too many links. Or why I don't really want official government pages (call me paranoid) like the ATF, etc., linked. (I have the pages set not to be indexed by search engines in an attempt to keep the site as much below the radar as possible, but sometimes folks don't understand the reasoning behind that.) Annnnd, I'm babbling. But am I making sense to anybody but myself? --Aithine

Makes sense to me. A lot of exterior links, or even a lot of interior links can distract from the actual content sometimes. --Mlle Manon

Exactly. --Aithine

Do we need a category for story lists or indexes, as opposed to archives proper? Are there enough sites that just collect links to all or most of the stories for one fandom to set them apart? --Aithine

Here's something useful that would be nice to have on author pages: if a professional author has requested that fanfic not be written (or posted where they can see it, etc.) for their series/universe/whatever, it should be noted on the author page. --Aithine

I guess that goes for MZB, huh? *hides the Darkover plotbunnies she's been contemplating for the past six years* In all seriousness, though, that's probably a good idea. --Mlle Manon

I agree it's a good idea yeah, but --not to speak ill of the dead-- but she is dead. Now her estate might have a problem and play hardball...but it's not like fanfic is going to compete with MZB's visions of Darkover Anne Rice is another kettle of fish. ~Maygra De Rhema

Ironically, I am still more inclined to respect MZB's veto than AR's. Except that I can't stand most of AR's books. It evens out. --Mlle Manon

In truth, I'm inclined to totally agree with that...it all comes down to respect. (although me, the Darkover books made me insanely happy. AR -- not so much, either. ) Still, it could be noted and as with all things, fen willmake their own call. <veg>. ~~MdR

I agree, people will make their own decisions. Not our job -- we can but provide the information. :) I must admit, I was thinking of living authors (Lynn Flewelling, Anne McCaffrey, Anne Rice) who've stated publicly that they don't want fans writing fic for their books, but the more information we can collect and put in one place for people to find, the better. (Librarian, who me? *g*) --Aithine

I've updated the Archive Template, added Category Adult, and reworked most of the Magnificent Seven-related pages. Check them over and make sure the M7-related pages are consistent, and holler if you find something looks like it hasn't been left off just because it's 4 in the morning and I have to be up for work in four hours. ;) Otherwise, go ahead and fix it yourself, please. I think my logic is obvious and consistent, but the execution might not be (it's been a long week). --Aithine

fawns Now that you've done it it makes perfect sense. I am scarily impressed. --Maygra

Heh. Cool. *vbg* Did I cover all the issues that were confusing everybody? --Aithine

New categories (without spaces): Category Episode Guides, Category Archive Scripts, Category By Character, Category Virtual Season.

Category use change: rather than using the Category Resources link on its own, use one of the subcategories. If there's a resource subcategory you think needs to be created, email me∞ or post it on the questions page. -- Aithine

The Directorium : Discussion

Discussion