disgruntled

[ratcreature]

I have to say that the more I hang out in storyfinder comms that allow mixing specific with general searches (like the Star Trek one I follow, st_ficfinder) the more cumbersome and pointless the strict separation of the SGA comms in story- and genre-finders seems to me.

Because the rules are enforced rigidly, you frequently have dual queries: Either because a poster remembers a specific story, but wants similar ones right away too, or someone posts a general search first, then someone else remembers a story that fits but not its title, and has to make yet another post in a separate comm, wary of the mods' wrath if they asked others in the comments. And then shortly after you get another modly reminder post anyway, because someone else has forgotten yet again to keep the chocolate away from the hazelnuts.

Comments

[telesilla]

Yeah, the separation doesn't make much sense to me, either. Maybe it was originally designed to keep traffic down, but most people I know are members of both comms so it actually adds to my flist's traffic.

[ratcreature]

Yeah, exactly. Also it is a built-in pitfall for anyone posting. I mean sure, I understand that everyone ought to read the rules, but it runs counter to the convention of most search comms, so it's no wonder posters stumble over it or forget that and regularly new member's first experience is a swift reprimand.

[telesilla]

*nods* Just replying to say that your rat icons always fill me with glee; they're so cute. :)

[cathexys]

They are my favoritest of all the icons on my flist. I feel like I want to write a paper on icons simply so i can talk about them (which i'd never do to you, ratcreature!!! You know that :)

And yes on the story vs genre. for me the two are so intimately connected, bc I read so strongly genre-focused and when started then crave more and more...

[ratcreature]

It's such an artificial division in many story searches, and with the extension into the comments even, it also interrupts the conversation of "I remember the story where..." comments that are teasing out more responses.

(and I'm glad you enjoy my icons)

[slybrarian]

I agree. I never understood why they're separate or why the mods are so vehement about keeping the requests tightly in line to the comm.

[ratcreature]

why the mods are so vehement about keeping the requests tightly in line to the comm.
Yeah. Frankly, especially wrt the "correct comm" rules, I often find the mods' rule reminder post and deletions more disrupting than the behavior that they are reprimanding. Mixing the general with the specific is not quite the same as using a high traffic comm for doing OT posts to promote your new challenge or RPG, or whatever other rulebreaking posts usually cause swift deletion and angry mods everywhere.

[schneefink]

It´s probably not necessary to be quite as strict as they are, but to be honest, I appreciate the distinction. When I´m bored I sometimes go through the tags on genrefinders to find stories I´d like to read, it´s quick and easy. I´d never do that on storyfinders because that one story someone remembered a tiny detail of doesn´t really interest me.
(I do think that answering a request at genrefinders with "there was this one story and it went like this" and answering should be allowed, because then the original requester can do the extra-work of asking for it on storyfinders himself, or else if someone recognizes it there it keeps dual posts down.)

[ratcreature]

The Star Trek search comm has tags as well, and those allow for easy browsing if you want to look for searches by genre, same for the SPN one. I use mixed story finder comms that have good tagging often just like you, and never had a problem on a practical level with the specific posts mixed in.

[schneefink]

I don´t use any other search comms except these ones, but that does sound like a workable. (Even more useful would probably be patk´s suggestion below ^^)

[patk]

The thing that would probably really keep traffic down somewhat, at least on the storyfinders comm?

A sticky post about the three most sought after stories: the one with the multiple chairs is Shaenie's "Indelible", the one that's a "They're clever"-version of "Rising" is Synecdochick's "City On The Edge Of Forever" and the one with Elizabeth in stasis and Rodney in charge is Shalott/Astolat's "Transcendental".

The comm's traffic could probably drop about a quarter. ;-)

[ratcreature]

Hee. I often have the same thought! Though I think "Take your clothes off as directed" by Helen needs to be included as well, plus a pointer of "if you are looking for Karen McFadyyon's stories" link, then we're set.

[thedivinegoat]

This times a hundred.

Plus possibly a link to Freedom's Just Another Word for Nothing Left to Lose, as that one seems to come up every couple of months.

[ratcreature]

Yes, it would be an FSS for the comm, like an FAQ only listing Frequently Sought Stories.

[frogspace.livejournal.com]

"if you are looking for Karen McFadyyon's stories" link

There are still people looking for her stories? I thought she put them all back up on Wraithbait. http://www.wraithbait.com/viewuser.php?uid=3125

[ratcreature]

Right, last I had checked there was only the penguin story up, so there were still requests, but I see that others are now there too. So that explains why I haven't seen that one recently.

[patk]

*g* Hell, yes!

We could make it the "Top Ten" and also include the one where John-on-Earth frequently runs into closed doors and is mistaken for an abuse-victim: "Bang" by Rageprufrock and the one where Rodney picks up a kitten that grows up to be a "Wraith Killer" - by Lady Ra. *G*

Actually, I think a sticky post of the ten most sought after stories might *really* be useful for the storyfinders com.

[ratcreature]

Actually, I think a sticky post of the ten most sought after stories might *really* be useful for the storyfinders com.

*nod* I could see that.

[astridv]

I've always found that separation pointless and quite mystifying myself. And I always wince when yet another hapless newbie falls into that particular pitfall and gets slapped.

[ratcreature]

Yeah. I wince too and feel sorry that they walked into it. A few times I messaged newbies with answers off the comm, because of course you get slapped if you still answer in the comm too.

[devin-chain.livejournal.com]

I agree.

[ratcreature]

It is so often inconvenient for searches, and it doesn't even keep traffic down for the many of us who have subscribed to both, because you now see these related and split searches.

[patk.livejournal.com]

There's a SGA-comm that allows both or a combination of it. This one: http://community.livejournal.com/sga_storyfinder/

[ratcreature]

Huh, that's neat. I didn't know of that comm. I think I never looked for alternates because in general I think the more centralized search comms are the better, because they work better the larger the base is.

[patk.livejournal.com]

It's not es efficient as the two other comms, I guess because it's not as widely known but it's there and it does have a certain amount of traffic. So, the more people know about it and actually use it, the better it gets, right? :-)