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Rob Crotty

Rob Crotty
Location
Washington, District of Columbia,
Birthday
January 01
Bio
America, you're doing okay.

OCTOBER 29, 2009 10:25AM

Help Me Pass Judgement on OS Posts!

Rate: 5 Flag

I'm not one to get into the daily rigamarole of Open Salon.  I think it's a pretty neat idea and a very clever way for people like you and me to meet without meeting and confess sins out loud without saying a single word.

 But, with all the cartoons and increasingly large photos on the front page we've got to come up with a better way to organize content so that we can find good writing. 

 Not all of us have stellar writing backgrounds or get lucky with a viral post, but there is still some damned fine writing that you all are putting out.  

 So here is the plan.

If you see a piece of work that you find unbelievably stellar in terms of writing and plot, then add this tag to the entry.  

#greatwriting

That way when we log on, we can search for "#greatwriting" and up pops a list of recommended writers.  

The only catch is that you cannot add the tag yourself.  It must be added by someone else as a tag on your piece. 

Thoughts?

 

 

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Comments

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If I can't add the tag myself, I'm not interested. KIDDING.

Sounds like a good idea (we stop whining and take some control), but I don't know how you add the tag to an entry...in the comments? What, where...
@Myriad. Right above the add that divides the comments from the post you'll see "Author Tags" and then "Your Tags". "Your Tags" is where you can add your own tags!
Wow. Never noticed that before! Thanks - will start using! Great idea.
That wouldn't work for me because I consider about 75 to 80% falls into the catagory.
The problem is that since I joined here (two days ago) I've read some really awful stuff. Without fail, each post is followed with a stream of compliments. Never is there a criticism. OS seems to be more like a support group for depressed people with low self-esteem.

ocularnervosa is correct: most posts, regardless of actual quality, will be rated "greatwriting" just to make the author feel good.
@John Knight
"OS seems to be more like a support group for depressed people with low self-esteem."

Ouch!
@John Knight: Great writing!
HarleeGirl, please use the suggested format: #greatwriting.

Thank you ;)
Great idea, Rob. Except I have a feeling many, most will get tagged and it may not reflect the true worth.

@John. Stay here another day. You might find the many gems. :) And yes, we are generally supportive around here. Rather divine.
Rob -- You seem to be right, the Editor is not here to point out quality content but to maximize page views. Like everywhere else in the corporate media in this brave new world. As far as I can tell grassroots attempts at OS have could not provide good alternative, let's hope your idea works better. (I tagged your post as recommended :-)

The only useful method I am aware of is to flag as "favorites" those who produced something interesting from my vantage point. Maybe also some of the favorites of these favorites…