Discussion: June 22nd City Scoop Edition!

Just so it's clear, I don't think anyone on the Scoop asked about Forum Titles before Ex Libris offered them to us.

If you're making a serious point about favoritism and elitism, I'd prefer you make specific examples instead of general ones, because I don't know what you're pointing at. If you're joking (and it seems like you are), then I chuckled.

I'm not about to hold someone's individual problems against other members of the same SG, so it baffles me that someone would even attempt to bar their SG members from reading something as a matter of policy. The forum may be semi-private and not fully under the coverage of the First Amendment, but there's nothing in the Code of Conduct or the EULA that you give up your right to choose. I'm glad you're ignoring his policy if it really does exist.

---

"Null is as much an argument "for removing the cottage rule" as the moon being round is for buying tennis shoes." -Memphis Bill

Well, I poke fun and can be serious at the same time. The air is changing around here, my whiskers are all a-quiver with it. Good or Bad? Meh, who can say. It's just 'Different'. On one hand the forum titles are Cool, interesting, and neat. But on the other it is easy to see where a feeling of favourtism or elitism could spawn. I'm a little split about it really.

As for the J-Force policy; that's how we roll. We're actually rather lucky that we are generally a close knit group of like minded individuals. All of which has little to do with the City Scoop except that there was a thread/post made down on the Freedom section. If interested I can send a link, though Lady A has posted in the thread, so *shrug*.

Oh, and I didn't think that the Forum Titles would have been asked for, or probably given if they had been. I must say, that there are mor and more of them cropping up, which is good. I personally like how they show what we have done for the commuinity or continue to do for the commuinity. Was I trying to point anything out? Honestly, I'm not to sure. I think I had a point, but, meh, whatever.

Anywho, I think that just about covers it. Like I said, I find the City Scoop a fun little diversion. Keep it up.

=. .=b

---

[ QUOTE ]
Well, I poke fun and can be serious at the same time. The air is changing around here, my whiskers are all a-quiver with it. Good or Bad? Meh, who can say. It's just 'Different'. On one hand the forum titles are Cool, interesting, and neat. But on the other it is easy to see where a feeling of favourtism or elitism could spawn. I'm a little split about it really.

[/ QUOTE ]

True. But how is it any different from usual? We've already seen people use Post Counts to take shots at people they don't like, Star Ratings (When we had them), and Reg dates. And there are people who don't like the scoop for one reason or another, and will use anything they can as an excuse to attack people. So it's going to happen one way or the other.

---

Ok, there was some rumblings about favoritism going on in the Scoop? That is in no way anywhere near the truth. Why do I say that?

Because the Sudoku came from me and the Scoop Team was so nice in thinking that it was a cool idea and posted it. They even formatted it from my original and cleaned it up. (a BIG thanks for doing so btw) They could have gone with something else like another crossword or something, but they didn't.

I've made mistakes in the past on the forums and have been involved in some heated arguments. So in no way what-so-ever am I who you'd call popular or well known. But when I submit something one time and it gets accepted, then I have to stand up and rebuke anyone who says the Scoop shows favoritism.

Again Scoop Team, a big thanks from at least this player!

---

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Well, I poke fun and can be serious at the same time. The air is changing around here, my whiskers are all a-quiver with it. Good or Bad? Meh, who can say. It's just 'Different'. On one hand the forum titles are Cool, interesting, and neat. But on the other it is easy to see where a feeling of favourtism or elitism could spawn. I'm a little split about it really.

[/ QUOTE ]

True. But how is it any different from usual? We've already seen people use Post Counts to take shots at people they don't like, Star Ratings (When we had them), and Reg dates. And there are people who don't like the scoop for one reason or another, and will use anything they can as an excuse to attack people. So it's going to happen one way or the other.

[/ QUOTE ]

Meh, no arguement from me there. Shoot, I've had people point at my comparitively small post count in arguements. But this is now getting a little off track. Sorry for the de-railment.

=. .=

---

It's not really a derail, I asked you to clarify and you did. I appreciate it. I agree with you that things are different now, but to me it's in a Good direction. I don't so much see favoritism as highlighting the good things people have been doing, in some cases all along. Having forum titles like that helps dispel the climate of post count snobbery and anti snobbery. But you know that too.

I'll be perfectly straight with you and say, we're doing our level best to avoid any sort of elitism or favoritism. However we're kind of like any new publication, we try on a few new hats before we learn what works. We look at every section of the forums and everything we think of going on ingame, and try to find ways to include it.

There's always going to be limits to who/what we can include though.

---

"Null is as much an argument "for removing the cottage rule" as the moon being round is for buying tennis shoes." -Memphis Bill

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Well, I poke fun and can be serious at the same time. The air is changing around here, my whiskers are all a-quiver with it. Good or Bad? Meh, who can say. It's just 'Different'. On one hand the forum titles are Cool, interesting, and neat. But on the other it is easy to see where a feeling of favourtism or elitism could spawn. I'm a little split about it really.

[/ QUOTE ]

True. But how is it any different from usual? We've already seen people use Post Counts to take shots at people they don't like, Star Ratings (When we had them), and Reg dates. And there are people who don't like the scoop for one reason or another, and will use anything they can as an excuse to attack people. So it's going to happen one way or the other.

[/ QUOTE ]

Meh, no arguement from me there. Shoot, I've had people point at my comparitively small post count in arguements. But this is now getting a little off track. Sorry for the de-railment.

=. .=

[/ QUOTE ]

Low post count? If you have a low post count then mine is minuscule.

The only reason mine is so low is that I only contribute to a discussion when I have a point or a sarcastic comment to make. That and I don't play forum games.

---

I personally do not feel that we are being gripped by favoritism, but, I'd imagine that a cynic would immediately feel me biased.

The issue is this: We work with who wants to help. Very frequently we have brought people into this project of whom we have never heard (I'd list examples, but that's their personal business.). We judge based on content, pure and simple. People send me things all the time, and I look them over. If the person has a genuine contribution to bring to the City Scoop, I approach the rest of the group and tell them, for example, "Certain person wants in. They say that they will watch the Market for us. They gave me a link to said watching." At which point we get a yay or nay. In my position, one of my main responsibilities is bringing people into this project and communicating with the public. I can honestly tell you that I hadn't heard of a very large number of these people before bringing them into the fold.

Take LiquidX, for example. He's a good guy, possibly made of goo, so I don't know how he has a goatee, but I don't judge. When this project started, Ex Libris made an announcement, stating that people could contact Teldon or me if they wanted to contribute. X took that opportunity, and began writing to me, telling me that he could contribute an advice column of sorts. We began talking, and, eventually, he convinced me of how much he truly does rule. I talk with the group, he gets brought into it.

Until then, my idea of LiquidX was "that one guy who may or may not have been around before me." Honestly, that was all I knew.

Hertz and I are constantly evaluating the City Scoop and what needs to be done with it. For example, we noticed that we have a severe lack of PvP coverage. Though not a lot of people have posted that complain in this Discussion thread, we felt within ourselves that it was our responsibility to represent that group. Neither of us play PvP. We know so little about it, that we didn't even know who the "Big Names" were. So, bravely, Hertz headed off to the PvP Forums and began asking around the place. I, meanwhile, contacted a very active member of the PvPEC, telling that person our ideas. After much effort, we have found two members of the PvP community in whom we have a lot of confidence. Therefore, starting soon, you can expect to start seeing PvP get the coverage it so richly deserves.

Why am I going into all of this? I want you, and anyone who reads, to understand how things are done in City Scoop. It isn't about favoritism. It's about finding the people truly dedicated to doing a good job, and asking for their help.

If you or anyone is interested in helping, contact me right away. If you feel that there are specific examples of favoritism in the Scoop, let me know. We WANT to be called out, if their are legitimate examples.

There's more, but I feel that I started rambling somewhere in there. Thanks for your time, though. I really appreciate the criticism, as we take every bit of it seriously.

---

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Well, I poke fun and can be serious at the same time. The air is changing around here, my whiskers are all a-quiver with it. Good or Bad? Meh, who can say. It's just 'Different'. On one hand the forum titles are Cool, interesting, and neat. But on the other it is easy to see where a feeling of favourtism or elitism could spawn. I'm a little split about it really.

[/ QUOTE ]

True. But how is it any different from usual? We've already seen people use Post Counts to take shots at people they don't like, Star Ratings (When we had them), and Reg dates. And there are people who don't like the scoop for one reason or another, and will use anything they can as an excuse to attack people. So it's going to happen one way or the other.

[/ QUOTE ]

Meh, no arguement from me there. Shoot, I've had people point at my comparitively small post count in arguements. But this is now getting a little off track. Sorry for the de-railment.

=. .=

[/ QUOTE ]

Low post count? If you have a low post count then mine is minuscule.

The only reason mine is so low is that I only contribute to a discussion when I have a point or a sarcastic comment to make. That and I don't play forum games.

[/ QUOTE ]

Mine is lower and I am happy with my title hehe. I like the Scoop because it offers a pretty good variety of stuff that can appeal to a diverse crowd. Still I'd like to see a Justice interview, /em rib rib.

---

[ QUOTE ]
Mine is lower and I am happy with my title hehe. I like the Scoop because it offers a pretty good variety of stuff that can appeal to a diverse crowd. Still I'd like to see a Justice interview, /em rib rib.


[/ QUOTE ]


Hey, Kat is from Justice ya know!

---

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Mine is lower and I am happy with my title hehe. I like the Scoop because it offers a pretty good variety of stuff that can appeal to a diverse crowd. Still I'd like to see a Justice interview, /em rib rib.


[/ QUOTE ]


Hey, Kat is from Justice ya know!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes but Kat is insane .

---

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Mine is lower and I am happy with my title hehe. I like the Scoop because it offers a pretty good variety of stuff that can appeal to a diverse crowd. Still I'd like to see a Justice interview, /em rib rib.


[/ QUOTE ]


Hey, Kat is from Justice ya know!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes but Kat is insane .

[/ QUOTE ]

HA HA!

---

[ QUOTE ]
All of you who write the City Scoop now seem to have new unique forum titles and...

[/ QUOTE ]
I will point out that I've had my forum title since January 2007, well before the scoop was started.

Flareback:
[ QUOTE ]
They even formatted it from my original and cleaned it up. (a BIG thanks for doing so btw)

[/ QUOTE ]
You are welcome. The original was a bit blurry .

---

Wow, this was great! Fun to read and put together well, with lots of inhteresting facts and outlooks. More please!

---

Champion: Luminous Diva, Megamax, Trinity Divinity, CoV: Crime Minister., Mr. Puddums, Hot White Chocolate, Uranium.,
Guardian: Aura., Sparx-, Zero Lad
Infinity: Supertodd, COV: Golden Calf
So, so many more...
TNTComics.com

[ QUOTE ]
Wow, this was great! Fun to read and put together well, with lots of inhteresting facts and outlooks. More please!

[/ QUOTE ]

Just remember, if you look in the Announcements section you can see every issue so far. If you joined us late, there's a ton of stuff waiting.

---

"Null is as much an argument "for removing the cottage rule" as the moon being round is for buying tennis shoes." -Memphis Bill

I'm torn as to what my opinion is.

On the one hand, I appreciate the initative, and the time and care that is put into the finished project.

Is the Scoop primarily a collection of puff? Yes. But puff has it's place.

Too much of the same kind of puff, however, quickly becomes boring. I already know I can expect the same old stuff in the Scoop -- fake horoscopes, a puzzle, art collector e-high fives, recipes, etc. -- and now I barely even skim it.

The Lord Stryker interview was the first complete article I'd read in weeks, other than the Market Report.

On the other hand ... there is a distinct air of cliquishness and favoritism about the Scoop. If you're not in "the group," then you're out. And cliques, for the most part, are don't have that much interesting to say.

Personally, I'd much rather see a wide variety of articles and topics, collected through a submission process that is fully explained and open to everyone.

---

[ QUOTE ]
Personally, I'd much rather see a wide variety of articles and topics, collected through a submission process that is fully explained and open to everyone.

[/ QUOTE ]
We are in the process of creating a list of guidelines for that very thing, because we openly admit there's no way twenty people can cover every topic, every week, that even of the fraction of the readers would be interested in.

On the other hand, there isn't any point in making the Scoop a place where absolutely anybody can post absolutely anything — that's what the forums are for.

---

[ QUOTE ]
On the other ... there is a distinct air of cliquishness and favoritism about the Scoop. If you're not in "the group," then you're out. And cliques, for the most part, are don't have that much interesting to say.

Personally, I'd much rather see a wide variety of articles and topics, collected through a submission process that is fully explained and open to everyone.

[/ QUOTE ]

As for the first, I say again that is perceived more than anything. We keep trying to dispel it, and people keep saying it, and I can't understand why. How many times and ways do I have to say, I don't really know or hang out with any of these people? The only person on the Scoop that I've even played the game with is Teldon, and that's because we're from the same server and I knew Behind the Mask would be a winner feature so I asked him to join.

The last thing this is, is a clique. Heck we're trying our hardest to get more new people in and rolling every week so we don't feel the need to burn out. It doesn't help that when we ask for people to volunteer for specific projects, the return is sometimes minimal (State of the Archetype is something I've asked for names on, and gotten a grand total of one from outside sources).

As for the second, submission guidelines are something we are in fact working toward. Is it ever going to be "submit something and it will be in the Scoop" no. That's unrealistic. However we've been working on ways to let people submit event reports, supergroup profiles, puzzles, and more.

I'm sorry things are seeming repetitive. We've been trying to change things up and keep it fresh, but on a weekly schedule we have to keep with things people are comfortable with enough to get done on time. That means once someone comes up with an idea, we let them roll with it until they're tired of doing it. This is the same thing that happens with any periodical.

I'd love to hear more ideas from people. Our Editors in chief are our main contact people, and I trust them to bring ideas to the newsroom if people send them in, but we haven't heard a ton of good specific ideas yet. The ones we do, we do our best to get them in.

So I say again now. If people want to write a State of the Archetype piece for one of the ATs that hasn't been covered yet, let me know. I don't bite.

If people have some good ideas for a piece or an ongoing column get in touch with one of the editors or staff. It's got to be a little more detailed than "I want to help" though.

Thinking about it as I write, I realize that one thing that may seem cliquish is the way we've been posting when comments about the Scoop are made. It's not like we all decide to swoop down en masse and defend what we're doing. We all watch this thread because that's why it's here. We all have thoughts when people make comments, and we like to explain the difference between the way things seem, and the way things are. If that's a bit overwhelming, I'm sorry. But the last thing we're going to do is limit the discussion if it's at all productive. Someone trashing what we're doing for the sake of trashing it (other threads not here), isn't going to be looked on kindly, but if someone wants to start a conversation about how to do things better, we're here to hear it.

---

"Null is as much an argument "for removing the cottage rule" as the moon being round is for buying tennis shoes." -Memphis Bill

[ QUOTE ]
The Lord Stryker interview was the first complete article I'd read in weeks, other than the Market Report.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well its all an matter of opinion. I don't see how the Stryker Interview is any more complete or noteworthy than any other BtM interview.

Personally, the only piece of non-puff I think we've had in the Scoop was the report on the Rainbow Prom, something that was an actual event rather than some colorful back story or chance for a player to get the limelight. Well, ok, the Market Report in up there too.

---

[ QUOTE ]
I'm torn as to what my opinion is.

On the one hand, I appreciate the initative, and the time and care that is put into the finished project.

Is the Scoop primarily a collection of puff? Yes. But puff has it's place.

Too much of the same kind of puff, however, quickly becomes boring. I already know I can expect the same old stuff in the Scoop -- fake horoscopes, a puzzle, art collector e-high fives, recipes, etc. -- and now I barely even skim it.

The Lord Stryker interview was the first complete article I'd read in weeks, other than the Market Report.

On the other hand ... there is a distinct air of cliquishness and favoritism about the Scoop. If you're not in "the group," then you're out. And cliques, for the most part, are don't have that much interesting to say.

Personally, I'd much rather see a wide variety of articles and topics, collected through a submission process that is fully explained and open to everyone.

[/ QUOTE ]

<.<

The horoscopes aren't fake.

>.>

Yes, I am that much of a flake. I have a star chart program. Each AT was entered into my star chart program with a DOB that corrosponds to a zodialogical sign. My program is more for making a full blown, lifetime star chart, so I had to use a year for the birth (the year CoH launched) and a location (lat and long of Providence, RI for heroes/ lat and long of Hispaniola for villains) for each AT/sign.

If you're really interested, the exact corrolation is Brute = Aries, Dominator = Taurus, Controller = Gemini, Defender = Cancer, Scrapper = Leo, Mastermind = Virgo, Peacebringer = Libra, Blaster = Scorpio, Corrupter = Sagittarius, Stalker = Capricorn, Tanker = Aquarius, Warshade = Pisces.

I'm actually getting kinda bummed that I've put a lot into the horoscopes and it's just doesn't seem worth the effort so far.

---

[ QUOTE ]
I'm actually getting kinda bummed that I've put a lot into the horoscopes and it's just doesn't seem worth the effort so far.

[/ QUOTE ]

*hug* I think they're cool Athy, but you knew that. I'd also say that we knew ahead of time that not everyone would get it.

---

"Null is as much an argument "for removing the cottage rule" as the moon being round is for buying tennis shoes." -Memphis Bill

Thanks Lemur.

But I am seriously wondering if it's worth the effort.

I haven't really said anything, but it takes a couple hours for those. I think I showed you what the one horoscope from my program looks like. It's more than one edition of the Scoop. Trimming it down, making it relevant to the game world, all that... 12 times... ugh. If it's not that big of a deal, why am I putting a couple of hours into it?

---

The more i read The Scoop the more i enjoy it, it was a great idea to do it keep up the outstanding work!

---

There is but one truth. Time is limited. ndnw its over

Umm...

>.>
<.<

The Horoscope is the first thing I read each City Scoop...

=. .=

---

[ QUOTE ]
Personally, I'd much rather see a wide variety of articles and topics, collected through a submission process that is fully explained and open to everyone.

[/ QUOTE ]
Well, when someone submits a puzzle to me, I use the following to determine if it is worthy of the scoop:
-------------
Is it based on in-game content, game designers, or comic books generally, or can it be tied into these things?

These things can be fact-checked. This week's sudoku is a prime example. I don't follow sudoku, but a fan submitted a sudoku puzzle with a tie-in to the game. I then refined the idea (finding clear pictures, re-constructing the puzzle to fit the scoop's format, finding a spot to host the file).

Is it based on supergroups, specific players?

This is a good way for a submission to be rejected. I don't want to be seen as playing favorites, and this helps me to do so.

Is it based on random out-of-game things?

Again, I am trying to look at trying to build the community, and random puzzles don't quite work.

Is it in a format that I can use?

I don't really want to have to get a specialty program to be able to be able to see or use the puzzle.

I can use the following with ease: .GIF, .JPG, TIF, .TIFF, .PNG, .TXT, .DOC, .HTM, .HTML

If you have a "finished" puzzle, it should be no larger than 768*1024 in one of the above graphics format if picture based. If text based, the remaining four will do.
-----------
Even after all that, and even if I disagree with the puzzle, I will still bring a summary to the Editor-in-Chiefs for their consideration. It is easier to get a puzzle submitted if it follows the above guidelines.

---