This post was relocated to the top of Monday's page. I let the comments get away from me and didn't want Suzy's excellent piece to get lost in the other discussion.
That appears to be Cal, can someone send him something to drink? I don't need to have a pic. Should we use the break? I'll put one in next time. Maybe this time, too
I removed the labels. Maybe Cal doesn't realize that I don't see the avatars when I write, I can only see the ones that I uploaded, not the other ones. I suppose I can download it and upload it again, then I can see it.
I like Cal and am grateful for all he does, but I also have wondered about the passive-aggressive labels. When I post, I don't put my avatar because I'm nervous it will show up on the left, which makes some readers send nasty email. And how does one set up a break and a link to what's beyond it?
Besides the Glossary, the Rules, and the Incomplete History, maybe we need a brief Tips on Posting link in the sidebar.
Proffie G, I was just trying to figure out the break thing myself. I completely agree that a Brief Tips on Posting thing is a good idea. I think Cal might be reaching critical mass......We love you, Cal! We don't want to piss you off!!!
Fab, I am sorry. I did think the labels were funny and we have used them before. We get complaints every day when fonts are weird, if posts eat up half the page, and I personally think there should be a consistency in how we present avatars and graphics.
But I certainly feel bad after you forwarded me the emails. I do apologize Suzy. You have every right to present your text any way you want. I regret that this comment thread has grown. I'd ask fab to run the post again so it can get read without this messy sidebar.
I didn't see what happened last night, but I have to tell you, some of the complaint mail that comes in normally, and steadily, is awfully tiring.
Why did you do this? Why did you do that? I can't read the font. You've made the font in my post smaller than the rest. You are censoring me. The page is ugly. You should take a class at a learning annex.
It's okay, Cal, I get worse grief on Wikipedia any other day of the week ;) I do like the Avatar you made, I just didn't know how to use it besides storing it and then uploading it again. Maybe I'll make a new pic next time, I have some of those funny filters, too ;)
Terry P., it's called /dev/null. Just point the complaints over that a way.
Good point, Hirram! It seems like we of the female gender liked the label reminders less (the way they were done) then the guys. I wonder if there is a study in that, somewhere. Hmmmm.
I actually liked the "why don't people use the fucking labels" one you mention, but wondered if Cal was really and truly mad at me when I got a few of the others. But I want to say that I completely agree that Cal is an amazing person to put in the free time that he does for this place. I truly appreciate it,Cal!
I don't like the new star rating system. The page puts enough pressure on us to perform already with all of Cal's rules and regulations. No wonder hits are dropping like a stone.
Go back to just old school smackdown on students. The rest of this is better covered on the Chronicle or Inside Higher Ed. We're not solving problems here. We're venting.
A distinct change occurred when the page moved from RYS to CM. Everyone's feelings got involved because the comments were turned on. Most of the people who have left the page - and the list is huge at this point - left because of squabbles in the comments.
Sure, comments seem like a good idea, get everyone involved.
But academics are thin skinned. How could we not be?
Taking swipes at the flakes is safe because everyone who's here has them. But when the "community members" get up in arms over the placement and size of their graphics, well, the thing is off the rails.
Fab, everyone loves you, and I respect the work you do. But don't apologize for Cal. If Cal wants to apologize, that's for him to decide. (Personally, Cal, I'd just crank up the tunes and hit the links.)
The explanations and recriminations on the page sometime overwhelm the other stuff.
And you assholes who write to complain about the page design. Are you fucking kidding me? Don't you have a hobby?
All the mods always treated me with respect and great kindness. Anything less than that probably reflects just a hard day doing a hard unpaid job. Sorry Suzy had trouble, because she's great and I always loving reading her posts.
I guess I'm going to have to start paying more attention to the labels. I'd noticed "why don't people use the fucking labels" popping up now and then, but haven't seen any of the others that apparently exist.
I was going to complain that I never get any of the fun labels (probably because I use the regular ones), but, looking back, noticed that I'd forgotten to do so on the duck post this weekend, and got a "wdputfl" one. So now I'm no longer feeling left out.
This is the second time there are passive aggressive labels. What is going on?
ReplyDeleteI was wondering the same: did Suzy put her own labels there, or was that Cal being funny?
DeleteThat appears to be Cal, can someone send him something to drink? I don't need to have a pic. Should we use the break? I'll put one in next time. Maybe this time, too
DeleteI removed the labels. Maybe Cal doesn't realize that I don't see the avatars when I write, I can only see the ones that I uploaded, not the other ones. I suppose I can download it and upload it again, then I can see it.
DeleteI like Cal and am grateful for all he does, but I also have wondered about the passive-aggressive labels. When I post, I don't put my avatar because I'm nervous it will show up on the left, which makes some readers send nasty email. And how does one set up a break and a link to what's beyond it?
DeleteBesides the Glossary, the Rules, and the Incomplete History, maybe we need a brief Tips on Posting link in the sidebar.
Proffie G, I was just trying to figure out the break thing myself. I completely agree that a Brief Tips on Posting thing is a good idea. I think Cal might be reaching critical mass......We love you, Cal! We don't want to piss you off!!!
DeleteI apologize to all of you, especially Suzy.
DeleteI apologize as well. Honestly, I thought the labels were funny and I've used the "labels" one myself to encourage people to help us format the page.
DeleteI don't see half the stuff Cal fixes on the page but I'm endlessly appreciative for the consistency of the design.
But in the end we should all be allowed to format or not format, label or not label, use an avatar or not.
There have been too many rules for too long. You've ruined a lot of the spirit of the page.
DeleteFab, I am sorry. I did think the labels were funny and we have used them before. We get complaints every day when fonts are weird, if posts eat up half the page, and I personally think there should be a consistency in how we present avatars and graphics.
DeleteBut I certainly feel bad after you forwarded me the emails. I do apologize Suzy. You have every right to present your text any way you want. I regret that this comment thread has grown. I'd ask fab to run the post again so it can get read without this messy sidebar.
I didn't see what happened last night, but I have to tell you, some of the complaint mail that comes in normally, and steadily, is awfully tiring.
DeleteWhy did you do this? Why did you do that? I can't read the font. You've made the font in my post smaller than the rest. You are censoring me. The page is ugly. You should take a class at a learning annex.
It's almost unfathomable.
It's okay, Cal, I get worse grief on Wikipedia any other day of the week ;) I do like the Avatar you made, I just didn't know how to use it besides storing it and then uploading it again. Maybe I'll make a new pic next time, I have some of those funny filters, too ;)
DeleteTerry P., it's called /dev/null. Just point the complaints over that a way.
The labels were funny. I got slapped with the "why don't people use the fucking labels" one and I've not forgotten to use them since.
ReplyDeleteAnd the labels actually are a huge help for people trying to navigate the page and find posts about topics.
And, what, Cal's high strung because he's up at 2:30 fixing the page for free? No, you don't say.
Good point, Hirram! It seems like we of the female gender liked the label reminders less (the way they were done) then the guys. I wonder if there is a study in that, somewhere. Hmmmm.
DeleteI actually liked the "why don't people use the fucking labels" one you mention, but wondered if Cal was really and truly mad at me when I got a few of the others. But I want to say that I completely agree that Cal is an amazing person to put in the free time that he does for this place. I truly appreciate it,Cal!
I don't like the new star rating system. The page puts enough pressure on us to perform already with all of Cal's rules and regulations. No wonder hits are dropping like a stone.
ReplyDeleteGo back to just old school smackdown on students. The rest of this is better covered on the Chronicle or Inside Higher Ed. We're not solving problems here. We're venting.
Go back to the old system.
A distinct change occurred when the page moved from RYS to CM. Everyone's feelings got involved because the comments were turned on. Most of the people who have left the page - and the list is huge at this point - left because of squabbles in the comments.
DeleteSure, comments seem like a good idea, get everyone involved.
But academics are thin skinned. How could we not be?
Taking swipes at the flakes is safe because everyone who's here has them. But when the "community members" get up in arms over the placement and size of their graphics, well, the thing is off the rails.
Fab, everyone loves you, and I respect the work you do. But don't apologize for Cal. If Cal wants to apologize, that's for him to decide. (Personally, Cal, I'd just crank up the tunes and hit the links.)
The explanations and recriminations on the page sometime overwhelm the other stuff.
And you assholes who write to complain about the page design. Are you fucking kidding me? Don't you have a hobby?
You rock, Walt!
DeleteAll the mods always treated me with respect and great kindness. Anything less than that probably reflects just a hard day doing a hard unpaid job. Sorry Suzy had trouble, because she's great and I always loving reading her posts.
ReplyDeleteAwwww ;) I love this place, because I can vent and because you seem to have the same flakes I have.
DeleteI guess I'm going to have to start paying more attention to the labels. I'd noticed "why don't people use the fucking labels" popping up now and then, but haven't seen any of the others that apparently exist.
ReplyDeleteI was going to complain that I never get any of the fun labels (probably because I use the regular ones), but, looking back, noticed that I'd forgotten to do so on the duck post this weekend, and got a "wdputfl" one. So now I'm no longer feeling left out.