history
everything in its right place
by anders pearson
Thu 30 May 2002 23:14:57
i'm probably not the only one who's noticed that postings to the main part of this site have slowed down a bit lately.
it seems to me that part of this is that people have been discovering and utilizing the diaries more and more.
this isn't a bad thing, but i thought i'd try to take a moment to clarify what my original intentions were for the different sections. i loathe playing dictator so please don't take this as a mandate; just suggestions.
in my eyes, the diaries are a place to post things that are probably only interesting to people who specifically care about you and are curious what you're up to. i added the section because i wanted somewhere to post mundane stuff without cluttering the front page.
anything that may be interesting to a wider audience or is likely to spark a good discussion should go on the front page where it will get seen by more people with less effort. eg, jP's recent <a href="node.pl?nid=3576">analog</a> post and tuck's ongoing series on martial arts and mental states and their relationship are the kinds of things that i would envision going on the front page.
it's a fuzzy distinction sometimes. the acid test i've been using is that something goes to the front-page if i can really give it any topical keywords other than 'the uneventful life of anders'.
just knowing that people are using the site, posting things and reading is enough to warm my insides, so don't feel bad if you prefer to keep stuff off in your diary.
i find the intricacies of how online communities like this grow and evolve and interact with the tools infinitely fascinating. so i'm curious: how does the feature-set and design of the tools that thraxil provides influence how we interact with and communicate with each other? how do you think the thraxil community has reacted to and changed with the addition of new features like diaries, bookmarks, images, keywords, or threaded comments?
comments
sarah - Thu 30 May 2002 23:15:57
As a rank newbie I can't say much about the features. The interesting thing has been how to figure out what might be interesting to a bunch of people you don't really know, but who are otherwise friendly and well disposed towards someone barging in and blabbering about. This is the first community I've ever seen where there is a strong relationship of members the came before the site. I like the set up. A lot. I'd put it ahead of blogger and livejournal, though LJ has the community based on its ease of use, it isn't a real community... more like a journal+chat without the realtime That's why I'm so itching to try it in isolation with my face to face friends, and some others. To see how similar or different it would be. Back to reading Rheingold.Matt Micalizzi - Thu 30 May 2002 23:16:57
myself.. i'll tell you. there's no pressure in the diary postings. (i often come here to read -and when i post.. it's nice to know i won't get flamed 'cause i've forgotten my audience expects some'thing' and not some opinion.) anyway, i don't know what i'm saying.. thraxil rules. it's the only page that's been linked to my site since i learned how to write it.Mark Boudreau - Thu 30 May 2002 23:17:57
I've never liked posting on the front page, simply because my writing on here tends to be driven towards certain topics with a definite (political) slant. I'd hate to subject people to that on a regular basis. I'd rather that they have to go and find it in my diary. Because of the nice drop down menu system that shows recent diary postings and responses, I feel better about posting to my diary because people can find it if they want to. Usually when I come to thraxil, that's the place I look to find something to read. however, if we as a community want to try and manufacture discussion topics on the front of the site, I'd be willing to work towards that end.sarah - Thu 30 May 2002 23:19:57
I think that we should erase the front page, and block everyone from posting... and hijack everyone's browser for ever with the following content: http://www.stileproject.com/weeee.html Wheeeeee!Mark Boudreau - Thu 30 May 2002 23:20:57
Gonads and strife, gonads and strife, gonads and strife... Those lyrics <a href="http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/ts/exchange-glance/Y01Y0201172Y9880303/qid=1022871635/sr=1-1/103-4934609-0899008">and many more!</a>jp - Thu 30 May 2002 23:18:57
I was considering posting that diary entry on the main page, but I wasn't really sure what your intentions were when you created the diaries. I figured, topics of general interest not pertaining our personal lives belonged on the front, whereas more personal schlock (analog, or as I like to call it, anal log) would get filed in the secondary level haven of the diary. but, perhaps I'll resume filling up the main page with worthless goo as I'm oft tempted.Inu_yasha - Thu 01 Jul 2004 21:35:34
GONADS IN THE LIGHTNING! GONADS IN THE LIGHTNING! GONADS IN THE RAIN! WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!TC - Fri 02 Jul 2004 08:14:03
Okay... I was thinking about writing something pretty stupid, and too long for the front page. How do I get it posted, without going to the front page, or have you not added that to the new site yet?