Posting Outside the Queue

[dr_mabeuse]

Hey Pure and others--

Things are pretty dead over here and have been for a while, and I wonder how much of that is due to our insistence on the Queue rules and the stringent style of board moderation. I wonder if we might not generate more contributions if we loosened up the rules somewhat.

I'm not suggesting we let people publish major works here for critiquing without contributing themselves, but if someone wants to put up a passage or two for opinions without going through the queue, would that be so bad? I see that Geronimo Appleby had something up that was kind of interesting, and then the thread was shut down because he didn't follow the protocols and we're left sitting here twiddling our thumbs with nothing to talk about. That seems kind of silly to me.

I really haven't seen anyone trying to take unfair advantage of the system here too much. Usually posters are just ignorant of the rules. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to just remind them of the protocol when they post outside the queue, and leave their stuff up for anyone who might like to comment. It would be more like an open forum tyhen, with the main business going on inside the queue, and little discussions happening on the fringe. Would that be so bad?

Anyone else have any opinions?

 

[Penelope Street]

I agree; something between abandonment and anarchy would be nice.

 

[wishfulthinking]

I worry that those who get shut down don't come back, thinking we are unfriendly.

I like the suggestion of Zoots were maybe the mod could post about the rules, and please contribute etc, and leave it up to us to decide if we want to post on the thread or let it die abandoned in the unknown.

But, I fully support Pure's decision. Pure has done an excellent job with us rag tag lot

 

[Pure]

i agree we can be lenient in some cases. the majority of stories that turn up, however, are from people with few, often under ten postings, so that they're bumbling around, and in many cases unlikely to return.

they have not read any info about any forum and slap the story down one or more places, fishing, as it were. if I'm not mistaken, Geronimo had indeed already set up a thread in Author's Hangout, so my capping here was of a duplicate.

i suppose it may be thought unrealistic, but when Joe New wants to slap down his story for feedback, no strings, i think he's best situated in 'story feedback.' indeed, mab, i believe you participate there. do you see that degree of direction/segregation as undesirable? anyone here with time on his or her hands can find 5-10 stories for comment at any given time.

i myself am partial to the idea of a give and take community; i.e., few freebies-- the exceptions being people who have a bit of history, in not at sdc, then at literotica.

----
Note: i see that mab has specified 'passages' of stories; if that's a key distinction and people want to have at such pieces from newbies, with say, a cap at 1000 words, I'd be willing to discuss it. sounds like kind of a bloodsport, i must say.

 

[Penelope Street]

I agree that many of the posts in the SDC are honest mistakes that clearly are more appropriate in Story Feedback. Even so, I think we could be a little more welcoming. What if when someone posts outside the queue, we ask them if they'd like a place in the queue or they'd rather have the thread moved to the Story Feedback forum? And, when the queue is empty, does it really matter so much if someone has offered two or one or no critiques in the past year?

Other threads, while clearly not within the current scope of the SDC, are still interesting. The problem as I see it is there is no forum dedicated to serious writing issues. Is there any reason the SDC can't be the serious discussion circle? I think we've taken a step that direction with some of the non-story-specific threads in the past year.

 

[Pure]

penny, there's no problem with threads about writing. i've never moved them, indeed, i've started them. there are one or two now, are there not?

this could be a fine place for such threads, since the preference for serious threads could be enforced: I.e., unlike Author's Hangout, where only Laurel (re)moves things, maybe once a year, i can move the 'what color is your underwear?' threads to more suitable forums.

i have just modified the forum description as follows-- would that new folks would ever read it!

Besides the queue, there are sometimes threads where the regulars--and any interested 'drop ins'-- discuss writing-related topics.

Lastly Penny, perhaps you could post a question or excerpt--start a thread-- and all of us regulars could subsequenlty take turns starting such threads. The last was mine, even if it's pure-ly grammar.

 

[Pure]

To sum up

If we proceed as follows, how does this 'sit' with people:

There will be a bit more latitude re posting of stories, where it looks like the poster may be drawn in the SDC and/or has been around the SDC or literotica. It's not possible to put all rules down as a substitute for judgement, but roughly

1)The virgin or near virgin who stumbles in with a full story will be shifted to story feedback, with some explanation and information about SDC, but I will generally leave a 're direct' so that those with time on their hands can see the opportunity. I notice often some 'regulars' like Penny do provide this information to drop-ins in perhaps a more diplomatic way than I am capable. And that's fine.

2) Excerpts that turn up, will generally be allowed, provided the clutter isn't so great as to obscure the main threads.

3) There will be main threads 1) from the queue, and 2) on writing related topics.

4) The normal criterion for being put into the queue, i.e., official weekly selection, is [i.e., remains] having participated in critiques or discussions at SDC previously.

5) Spam, ads (including self-ads: 'read my story at...'), trivia will continue to be pruned and generally anything Literotica have official policies against.

NOTE: In all but the cases of spam, illegal, and offensive materials, I never shift a thread to oblivion (Mod queue), but simply relocate it; if nowhere else, then to the general board.

 

[Black Tulip]

Although I haven't been participating actively in the past year I still consider myself as part of the SDC.
I wouldn't mind a broadening of the field in the way you suggest, Pure.

Hopefully I will have more time on my hands to be an active member in about six months. LOL

 

[sincerely_helene]

There are discussions of which I would like to participate from time to time.

I also feel when I have something of value to contribute, it won't be recieved well by the regulars of the SDC for the simple fact that I'm an outsider with nothing waiting in the "Queue."

 

[Penelope Street]

There are discussions of which I would like to participate from time to time.

I also feel when I have something of value to contribute, it won't be recieved well by the regulars of the SDC for the simple fact that I'm an outsider with nothing waiting in the "Queue."

Please jump right in whenever you want. A fresh point of view is always welcome.

 

[sincerely_helene]

Please jump right in whenever you want. A fresh point of view is always welcome.

Thanks. Never been quite sure...