Member showcase forums?, Please post your thoughts here Options

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hi all.  

Recently, a discussion began regarding the idea of creating a new category of forums (would be located at the bottom of the board) titled "Member Showcase" that would house your own works.

This category would contain a forum for EACH of our Admins, Praetorians, Centurions and Gold Members where you could COPY and PASTE your own works to serve as a centralized record of works you choose to put there (forums ON REQUEST) - NO CRITS. This would be a place where you can keep track of your selected works.

I could do a few things in the forum set-up:
[*]Make it so only the groups mentioned above could start, read and reply to topics.
[*]Make it read-only for our Silver & Bronze members.
[*]Make it available to guests.

Some of the feedback I've received thus far include;

Others may think differently, but personally I'm not that bothered about having my own forum to post copies of my work. I have all of my poems and stories on an access database on my PC and I am in the process of uploading most of them onto a website which I have set up.

I have copies of all my work on my PC anyway, and backed up elsewhere. I suppose the new system would allow them to stay on MM as an additional backup?

The benefits are endless. Recently ezboard was a part of a mass hacker attack where we lost most (almost all) of our posts. I had a forum I used as a database there, but everything is gone.

Let's say your computer freezes up, and the only way to fix it is to reset it from its original state and this would mean losing all of your files. You would still have your work stored at Mosaic Musings. Let's say that you have works on another site, such as poetry 911-and it crashed, losing it all. You would still have an archive of your work here.

Great idea!

It would be for work that has been posted, critiqued and revised that you feel its a finished piece for others to access, without having to go into forum archives searching. Actually each writer's choice of a small collection of what they consider their best work. No comments or additional crits.

On reflection this seems like a very good idea. Often I want to check back on a posting and this can be a long and tedious business. It would also help when trying to find a particular piece written by another member that I am keen to read again.

I am posting this thread to obtain feedback on this idea. Yours is MOST welcome!

Thanks!
~Cleo    


post script - 08 AUG 2005:

Stay tuned - I am going to revise the initial thread.

My apologies as I am using the wrong techno terms which is causing confusion here with this new idea...

I do not mean that MM will serve as a data storage back-up facility (thanks James, Peter and Don) as I mentioned earlier. My bad.

All we're offering is a specific category for members to put copies of their work(s) making it easier for them and others to browse. I term this as a "reference repository" in my words.

Even if this new category was a back-up, the Terms of Service specifically (in paragraph 14 section b) absolves MM from any legal action resulting from loss of data. We take reasonable precautions to ensure that data will be available in the event of a complete system crash. However, I recommend that you all have a back-up copy of your works somewhere other than on our (or any other forumboards) system.

If our database is lost, it would not affect only this new category of forums, it would wipe out the whole forum board's database. I can assure all that not only do we have our own back-ups but in the event of a crash, we also have an offsite copy (within a couple of days old) and that provider also does tape back-ups too.

Having just said that, I want to say this is a place for selected works copied by the member (which would be the forum names = member names) as they choose to showcase their talent 'at a glance' instead of having to search through every forum for that member's posts. Also, the search feature by member name will populate not only topics started by that member but also all their replies. This is a much more convenient way to read works by a specific member.

Does this clarify my idea?
Cheers!

~Cleo  

[Cleo_Serapis]

Dear Lori,

I never had any doubt of your intentions.  I think the change of name is a good idea.

Don

Hi Don.  :wave:

Ya snuck this reply in while I was resplying to James.  :oops:  :grinning:

Yes - a showcase forum - is that what you are referring to?

Sometimes my works spill out all jumbled up!  :upside:  :blush21:  :oops:

Cheers!
~Cleo  :sings:

[Guest_Don_*]

Yes Lori I was thinking the prime purpose, up front, as a showcase.

I can forsee a member refering to various showcases—especially their own—to an outsider for examples of quality or ramification for a debate.

I had no doubt that MM was legally covered, and did not intend to add a database storage headache to administer.  My initial comments were thinking aloud and hoping someone would light my candle.

As I tell Lynn, my spouse, don't worry about the spelling  because knowing what you mean is what counts.  If readers do not understand by now what you mean it isn't your fault and outside your control.

Don   :pharoah2

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hi Lori,

Sent me computer away for Hols on 5th August, he got re-configured (computers weight watchers) he came back this afternoon 9th August, n' is a ball of electronic muscle.

So I've been missing for four days (well youknow what I mean).

 

Good Idea, some sites have members archives in membership alphabetical order where members a reference to their dablings. Members, as you say, would always have an archival copy of their literary works. Be a help to MM also, if for instance, you wanted a quick reference to someones poems or stories. May be looking for poetry or stories about different subjects etc. Also, if a member is working to improve a poem or story, he/she could work on site and repaste, save a lot of working on files on the members PC and then repasting in MM.



I think it has a lot of merit Lori.  


Regards,


John    :pharoah2

Why hello mate!  :wave:  :troy:

So glad to hear ye pc had a make-over! Didn't ay know us ladie-folk love make-overs! PC weigh watchers ... ! Good one!

Yes - but remember it would be a quick reference of whichever posts the member decides to into it.  :grinning:

Revisions should still be done in the crit/non-crit forums (if those are posted on MM), and always keep at least two back-up copies elsewhere too (either on paper, or on your own pc or at a back up site. While I'm all for saving trees one can never 100% rely on the internet for safe keeping....

Would you like a showcase forum John?

Cheers!
~Cleo  :hsdance:

[Cleo_Serapis]

From Don:

An offsite backup is worthwhile for many.  The offered MM feature is more a convenience than traditional backup.
Traditional backups tend to be bulk and inconvenient except to retrieve lost data.  

I keep a record of all my stuff on home backup.  Don’t forget that a given floppy or CD may fail, and a given drive may fail. A backup on CD and another on DVD— the new FLASH MEMORIES is a good idea.  I have an old ZIP drive that works great.  Disadvantage of ZIP is the media is abortively expensive, but I already have a supply of discs…so…

A self-selected collection at proposed new MM archive probably will not have as extensive a search capability.  I doubt that professional backup services, which charge fees, have such search capability.

I like the idea the staff is not assuming more responsibility.  I feel the self-editing feature already provided should be satisfactory.  

These are my current thoughts, which fail to convince me of the advantage of signing up.  What do you say?

Don

Hello Don.

The new offer seems to be a vanity archive where authors can show their best foot for others to view.   I see a benefit for learning styles and bias for more efficient and effective critique.  I totally agree upon banning comments except by author along with original, if desired.

Yes - I'd like to call it a 'Showcase forum'.  :grinning: I see what you see, a quick reference to potentially learn their writing styles to better assist when critiquing in the crit forums.  :viking:  Yes - no replies will be allowed. It will help to point the way for the person who wishes to comment to go to the crit thread instead where they are free to comment as they wish.

As mentioned - members shuld always keep multiple back-up copies in various places...

Good input Don...

TY!
Cleo  :pharoah:

[Cleo_Serapis]

Lori,
I have read the comments from my M. M. peers and they all offer much to ponder.
Your original suggestion of making an easily accessible database by author is a good one and provides us with an easy to view file of our works.  I would use it simply the way it was intended; merely as a means to see my collection of MM postings.  I have personally backed up all of my work so I don't look to MM as being my only source of safekeeping.

James raised some interesting issues, many of them with a legal bent to them.  When I think of MM and what it offers for me, I never entertain legalities; I simply think of this "club" as my poetic home away from home.  

The one issue that I tend to agree with James about is the one that relates to nominating authors for awards.  I know personally, I have come to admire an handful of writers here and I eagerly wait in anticipation for their next posting.  I have sometimes been negligent in not viewing as many of the other authors as I should.  By consolidating everyone's work into an easy to find venue, it does lend itself for someone to zero in on their favorite author to select a poem/story for nomination.

However, overall, your concept is a good one and I look forward to this new database to be made available as soon as possible.
JLY

Hello John!  :wave:

Good points! Always keep back-ups of your work - a good philosophy!

I should hope that our members continue to read through ALL the crit and exhibition forums and when a tile affects them, they nominate it. While I cannot control the actions our members may take with this new area, I would HOPE they read all new posts in the MAIN area of MM when nominating works.

I assume you'd like a forum?

Cheers
Cleo

[Guest_Nina_*]

Hi Lori

I think showcase forum is a much better name for this and doesn't bring with it any preconceptions or expectations.

Nina

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hi Lori

I think showcase forum is a much better name for this and doesn't bring with it any preconceptions or expectations.

Nina

Thanks Nina!

I think so too.  :sun:  :guitar:

~Cleo  :read:

[Cybele]

Hi Lori and Nina,

Hi Lori

I think showcase forum is a much better name for this and doesn't bring with it any preconceptions or expectations.

Nina

Me too   Thank you for my showcase Lori

[Cleo_Serapis]

You are most welcome Grace!



Enjoy as I will!

[JLY]

Lori,
I would love to see a Showcase Forum....the positives greatly outweigh the few concerns that have been brought forward.
JLY

[Cleo_Serapis]

Thanks John!

I've added the new category and 4 showcase forums (one for you) already.

Check it out at the bottom of forum...

Cheers!
Cleo :pharoah2

[Guest_Don_*]

Hi Lori

I think showcase forum is a much better name for this and doesn't bring with it any preconceptions or expectations.

Nina

I agree.

[Cleo_Serapis]

Thanks Don.

The new Showcase is up now with 4 members thus far. Why not go and have a read as they create their collections? :)

Cheers!
~Cleo

[Guest_Cathy_*]

Hi Lori,

I think it's a great idea!  Sign me up for a forum please!

Cathy

[Guest_Don_*]

Thanks Don.

The new Showcase is up now with 4 members thus far. Why not go and have a read as they create their collections? :)

Cheers!
~Cleo

Most likely will.  For one curiousity, I desire to see how convenient the showcase may be.

Thanks for the prompt.

Don

[Cleo_Serapis]

Hi Lori,

I think it's a great idea!  Sign me up for a forum please!

Cathy

All set Cathy!  :dance:  :sun:

[Ephiny]

Hi Lori..

Could I sign up for a forum as well please?  Whenever convenient..thank you:)

[Cleo_Serapis]

Will do Lucie.

Look for your showcase in the new forum (at the bottom of the board) soon....

Cheers and enjoy!
~Cleo