Color coding??

[Cyyber_Chick]

This is not meant to be offensive to any of the regular (avid and prolific) posters here, but I genuinely want to know - is there a way I can customize my view or something to sort out things in this forum?

I am a volunteer editor, but I have no internet access at work, I work *at least* 45 hours a week, and considering what a ridiculous sum I pay in membership fees, I try to go to the gym for an hour or two every other day. This is my life, and I really enjoy it. I also truly enjoy working with writers to help improve their stories, get them posted, and see what kind of awesome feedback they get.

As a Lit member who tries to be a good and conscientious editor, I try to check in every now and then and see what's happening on this forum, but recently it's gotten too hard.

Maybe it's just me, but I find the formatting difficult and the seemingly endless quotes, icons, pictures, links, and dancing bananas completely distracting (but not in a good way). And you can never tell by the thread titles which posting are actually of interest to (any) editors and which seem to be exclusively by/for those of you who must have WAY better jobs than me (or ridiculously wealthy spouses) that seem to be able to read/post 24/7.

Can I customize my view somehow to color code things? I support this forum as a place to members to ask questions and find editorial support and for editors to connect, but I don't have the time or interest to wade through the rants and miscellaneous stuff. Can anyone help? (And if the only answer is "If you don't have time, don't read it" - thanks. I'm not trying to silence any of you, I'm just trying to see if there's a way I can contribute and make this forum more useful... to me as an editor and to anyone else who posts questions or needs help.)

 

[snooper]

... Maybe it's just me, but I find the formatting difficult and the seemingly endless quotes, icons, pictures, links, and dancing bananas completely distracting ...

Click on User CP above and to the right, then on Edit Otions and you can suppress pictures,avatars and signatures. There may be other options available, but those three I do know to work.

... you can never tell by the thread titles which posting are actually of interest to (any) editors ...

That, I can't suggest a cure for.

 

[RogueLurker]

Hey Chick,

Personally, I find that the EF is a great place to blow off steam and have a bit of fun with the others. There are technical/serious threads ... and there are "fun" threads as well. You're going to find this on any discussion board. Think of it like being at a party, you wander around, hearing snippets of inane conversation until you hear someone talking about something that interests you. Then you can barge right in and join the conversation (well, that's not good manners in the real world, but since there's no eye contact on the Internet ... there's no other way to get invited in).


If some of the threads are too distracting, I'd recommend the following:

1-Turn off the AVs, sigs, etc as per Snooper's advice

2-When you log on to the EF, take a quick look at the new threads ... nobody says you have to read every inane comment ... just look to see if there's any meat in them ...

3-For threads that have some serious conversations going on (I started one called Shop Talk, LadyC's thread about the editor's list started off extremely seriously, etc) subscribe to them. When you subscribe to a thread, you have the option of getting an email notification when a new post is made. More importantly, when you access your CP, you get a list of your subscribed threads ... that way you can ignore the threads you feel are superfluous and avoid having to go right into the EF.

4-If there are those who particularly annoy you, you can add them to the Ignore list and you won't see any posts by them. (but finish reading this before you put me on yours)

Send me a PM if you need any help setting up subscribed threads or the ignore list.

On a side note, I work between 40-60 hours a week ....and I never access Lit through work. If I work from home on occasion, I will have Lit up on my personal desktop while I plug away on my work laptop. I tend to stay up late, and if I'm editing or doing something else on the computer, I'll have the EF up on the screen ... I like chatting on the EF, as I said its a way to blow off steam and have a few good natured laughs.

For myself, I'm pleased that the EF has started seeing more traffic and we've got some interactive threads going on. I don't always feel like I belong in the AH, the GLBT forum is interesting but I am more than just my sexual preference, the How To is good for quick fixes, Poetry bores me, I don't like participting in public editing/comments on Story Discussions, the BDSM holds no interest for me and the GB scares me. I like it here in the EF and I enjoy the company of those who post here. I can understand your frustration, and I hope that some of my suggestions will help.

In the meantime, I will ensure that any serious thread that I start is clearly marked so that you can see whether it is something that might interest you.

RL

 

[LadyCibelle]

*Sigh* We can't win can we?

Sorry Cyber_Chick but your post just reminded me that you can never please everyone whatever you do. Don't take it personally, or at least not 100% personally.

When the EF was "dead" for lack of a better word, people complained that it was boring to come here and that "of course, no writer will come, there's no life and the editors are taking themselves too seriously". Now that we've tried to infuse a bit more life in it, we get people, like Cyber_Chick, complaining that it's not serious enough and there's too much fluff...*sigh*.

Whatever we do, however we do it, there'll always be people who won't be happy with our decision. Why can't people understand that, us editors, are like the mini-wheat...we have our educational side (all serious) and we have our fun side (all giggly and silly). The Mini-Wheats are damn good because of those two sides....well, I'm here to say that WE are damn good also because of our two sides!

It doesn't mean the EF is going to waste because we have a bit more fun in here now. It doesn't mean we're not serious about our work because we flirt and laugh with each other. It simply means we're trying to show people (writers) who might be intimidated with us that we don't bite and can have fun just like them.

Once again I repeat, Cyber_Chick, please don't take it completely personally. Your rant simply reminded me that I had a rant of my own to voice. YOU (and some others) are not happy with the "frivolity" of the EF now, and lots of people including myself were not happy with how "dead" the EF was previously. I guess WE simply have to find some kind of middle ground so that everybody is happy and if it's impossible, well, we'll just have to live with the consequences won't we.

No hard feelings?

ETA: We (the group you seem to point at) are not on all at the same time. We're from many different time zone so your observation

Maybe it's just me, but I find the formatting difficult and the seemingly endless quotes, icons, pictures, links, and dancing bananas completely distracting (but not in a good way). And you can never tell by the thread titles which posting are actually of interest to (any) editors and which seem to be exclusively by/for those of you who must have WAY better jobs than me (or ridiculously wealthy spouses) that seem to be able to read/post 24/7.

Can I customize my view somehow to color code things? I support this forum as a place to members to ask questions and find editorial support and for editors to connect, but I don't have the time or interest to wade through the rants and miscellaneous stuff. Can anyone help? (And if the only answer is "If you don't have time, don't read it" - thanks. I'm not trying to silence any of you, I'm just trying to see if there's a way I can contribute and make this forum more useful... to me as an editor and to anyone else who posts questions or needs help.)

is not only unfair but very judgmental. We all have jobs, husbands, children, friends and hobbys. The state of our husband's business and our wealth (collective or otherwise) have nothing to do with trying to make the EF a livelier place.

Furthermore, you say and I quote "I support this forum as a place to members to ask questions and find editorial support and for editors to connect" but can you honestly say that the EF saw that many editors and that many writers coming to ask questions or ask for support when it (the EF) was "dead"? I don't think so!

Every change is difficult and needs a period of adjustment. I perfectly understand that for now it only seems to be fluff but if you looked carefully throughout those threads you'd see that lots of good advices have been given. Lots of things have been discussed, things that have everything to do with writing and editing.

Don't knock it off before you try it, you know.

 

[Cyyber_Chick]

No no! That's the thing! I really did mean it as a question, not as a rant. Because it *is* more lively now, I can't keep track and I assume there are good questions and answers being given, but I'm afraid I'm missing them. I'm just trying to find a way *not* to miss them. That was it. I'm not complaining that there is too much fluff, please - fluff away!! - just that I can't find a good way to identify and differentiate... and because I don't spend a lot of time here, I'm wondering if that's because I just don't know how?? For example, I don't PM. I understand it's possible and I know it stands for Private Message (right?) but I don't know how to do it.

If you take the cocktail party conversation analogy, it's like walking into a room full of people standing in groups - I was just trying to figure out which ones to join. Color-coding was my suggested version of 'Those people in expensive suits and perfect hair look like lawyers...not my type. But those people over there in jeans drinking beer and the people standing around the blender...they look like fun!'

And I meant no offense at my "you must all be better off than me because you can play here all the time" comment. It apparently didn't come across as it was intended, but it was meant to be more of an "I don't think I'm a moron, but I can't follow this so you've gotta be here all the time, or just way better at it than me" thing and if it wasn't taken that way, then I do sincerely apologize.

And THANK YOU to Snooper for the directions - That's EXACTLY what I was looking for. I have turned off those things and found the option to display threads in a way that makes sense to me. (Before I had too many page breaks and they didn't seem to be in chronological order... which, by the way, is what gives the impression that in order to follow the conversation you have to be there when it's happening because I sure as hell couldn't seem to sort it out after the fact... but I've changed the way it is displayed and it seems to make more sense to me now.)

So thanks. I was looking for information, now I have it, I appreciate it, and I hereby propose a toast to all the fluffy threads you want to start, now that I know how to sort a little better.

 

[fieryjen]

Yay. Here I thought I was about to get a beating for the free association thread. But it's all good

As an explanation: I am a college student with an overload of classes this semester. I usually spend a lot of time on my computer doing research, writing papers, chatting with my family members who are on another continent and the like. On another window, I have Lit running, and I check it occasionally - less often if nothing appears to be going on, more often if people are posting aplenty (is that a word, my lovely editor friends?). There are days when I'm not on at all. There are days where I have free time and I post a lot. But I still have extracurricular activities I do and tests I must prepare for, so I definitely am not one who is here 24/7.

 

[Cyyber_Chick]

Also meant to thank Rogue Lurker for the additional instructions! Just one last question... it says 'Virgin' under my name when I post... but I notice everyone's is different. How can I change or delete that? (And while I'm at it, is there a place to ask such 'website' questions specifically? Because I'd be happy to do it there and not here.)

 

[RogueLurker]

To send a PM ...
-Click on a person's name and a list of options will appear.
-Select the one to send a Private Message
-A basic or standard edting text box will appear and you can type your message.

You can also go straight into Private Messages (link at upper right corner or through the User CP)- Go to the Private Messages - select Send message and then type in the person's username.

You don't have your own profile set to accept PMs. To allow them:
-Go to the User CP
-Select Options
-Go to the Messaging and Notifiction section and then select the option that will allow you to accept PMs

The only way to get rid of the virgin tag is to post 25 inane posts in quick succession.

 

[RogueLurker]

Also meant to thank Rogue Lurker for the additional instructions! Just one last question... it says 'Virgin' under my name when I post... but I notice everyone's is different. How can I change or delete that? (And while I'm at it, is there a place to ask such 'website' questions specifically? Because I'd be happy to do it there and not here.)

The FAQ is up on your menu bar ... but it kind of sucks.

The How To Forum is usually pretty good. The best way to sort through things is to hit search (menu bar), select advanced search and then type in key words (like virgin or subscribe or making new friends) ... you can limit your search by selecting which forum you want to search for the key words, title, user, etc. After that, you can either narrow it down with more specific searches or just start reading.


And we are usually a helpful bunch here in the EF, so don't be shy. PM if you don't want to to bug the whole board ... but posting to the board may get you a wider selection of answers/opinions, etc.

..... less often if nothing appears to be going on, more often if people are posting aplenty (is that a word, my lovely editor friends?)
.

It is when you say it, jen.

..... There are days where I have free time and I post a lot. But I still have extracurricular activities I do and tests I must prepare for, so I definitely am not one who is here 24/7.

I've been going through a bout of partial insomnia over the past few weeks and I've got worked piled up around my ears so I'm always on my computer ... but I'm not on 24/7. Sheesh!

 

[fieryjen]

To send a PM ...
-Click on a person's name and a list of options will appear.
-Select the one to send a Private Message
-A basic or standard edting text box will appear and you can type your message.

You can also go straight into Private Messages (link at upper right corner or through the User CP)- Go to the Private Messages - select Send message and then type in the person's username.

You don't have your own profile set to accept PMs. To allow them:
-Go to the User CP
-Select Options
-Go to the Messaging and Notifiction section and then select the option that will allow you to accept PMs

The only way to get rid of the virgin tag is to post 25 inane posts in quick succession.

About the Virgin Title...

What RL means is that, When you post more, that title will change to (I think) Experienced, and then it will change a few more times to different things... Your own custom title can be inserted after 1000 posts, just like you get an av after the first 100öm

 

[kbate]

I've been going through a bout of partial insomnia over the past few weeks and I've got worked piled up around my ears so I'm always on my computer ... but I'm not on 24/7. Sheesh! o

And you do understand that I was lying when I said I'm not in a rush, that I'm patient, understanding and all that, don't you?

:emoticon:

 

[RogueLurker]

And you do understand that I was lying when I said I'm not in a rush, that I'm patient, understanding and all that, don't you?

:emoticon:

 

[fieryjen]

*holds and pats your hand for support*

 

[RogueLurker]

*holds and pats your hand for support*

The hell with comfort and support ... hide me, woman, hide me!

 

[fieryjen]

The hell with comfort and support ... hide me, woman, hide me!

*shoves you under couch*

*sits on couch and whistles innocently*