IT’S FREE. AND YOU CAME WILLINGLY.
I am a bit confused. Didn’t we all come to OS for the same thing? It is the land beyond and many the residents are either fictitious or needy. We write here for ratings and front-page accolades. Our compensation is comments. It is a form of entertainment and in some cases, therapy.
My friends on OS will neither feed, clothe, nor offer any personal care. But they offer attention. (I admit, I like it! )We wear costumes and have made up names. We are not fully accessible, but we allow ourselves to care what perfect strangers have to say. If I knocked at your door you would not know me? If I called at 2 AM...with a dire need, could you help me?
I think that OS is fine, for what it is. For me it is a place to “publish” my stories and for the most part they look pretty good, compared to other sites. I am using OS, as are we all for something. Internet publishing is big business. The competition for print is fierce. Soooo, we come here and hopefully have a little fun and we get our stuff out there.
It is always popular to put down the publisher whose job is to make money so he can keep the site up and running. Me? I really don’t give a crap. My serious world is on my side of the computer screen. Sorry, but OS is a tool. It serves me well but it is not perfect.
Can’t get on ..on the weekends? Find something better to do.
I am truly sorry for those who come to here with serious problems which need professional attention. But then sometimes I wonder..are they real, or am I reading chapter 13 of an unfinished novel. I try to believe they are in search of help and are reaching out, because they have no where else to go.
I am happy to receive some excellent advice from foodies and techies. I love my coffee with Jon. I read him right after Megan McCardle. (hope he likes that). And I am often inspired to find new themes for my essays and columns by grousing through the posts and comments.
OS is an OZ of sorts. It is like a Olde Antiques Shoppe. You will go through piles of junk before you find treasure. I’ve made some good contacts and I appreciate the help and advice I’ve received.
So…OS members, don’t blame the publishers, they didn’t bring you here…and if this whole dust up is a spam/scam… then I just got sucked in! Beware Dorothy!
Whoops, I meant to say, Beware Ande..
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At the same time, any serious web site, particularly one owned by a parent group wanting to be taken seriously (Salon Media Group in this case) simply does not allow an ancillary arm to appear to be managed this shoddily.
Of course we can all fine other useful things to do when, like clock-work, Open crashes.
But I'm not sure that's the lens most useful through which to view this.
For me, the lens through which I view it isn't the user's; it's the hosts'/owners'.
It's simply irresponsible practice.
So we come and the gate is locked and we can't get in and we look through the fence and there all sorts of interesting toys there left by all sorts of interesting people and we look and rattle the gate and then go home and wonder if the gate will ever open again.
I love to say that. And thank you. I wish for a lot of things. Every day there is stuff that doesn't work as I would wish. And I agree with Jon that the publisher is not providing the level of professional proficiency that is obviously lacking from the site. It is just that "where" I am...it just isn't a big concern. I like the site and I like the members. My need for immediate gratification is waning. Life just isn't like that. Remember the old rabbit ears on TVs???? That was really annoying....;)
The wheel that squeaks gets the oil.
And
You don't get in life what you want, you get what you settle for.
Thing is, Ande, it wasn't always like this. The flood of spam is newish, and the week-end lock-down is even newer. Hell, Saturday night used to be something to look forward to!
Yeah, it's free - but it's a source of revenue for Salon, and also we are their farm-team: They pick free pieces from here for Salon that suit them (do OSers whose pieces are run on Salon get paid?) And for Salon it's cultivating their readers and potential writers. It's not just some freebie thrown out to us for which we should be grateful no matter how awful it's become...
And some of the mess here is (according to computer-savvy people who should know) totally unnecessary.
And finally: we are human, therefore we gripe.
For those of us who were here before the hideous SpamBot invasion, which made the site entirely unusable and inaccessible on weekends, it's quite natural that we would feel piqued at the state the site has gotten to. Many of us remember the "glory days" and long for a return to that. A lot of us are not simply "internet friends." We have made the effort to meet in person, stay in touch over the phone, FB and via email, and visit each other in faraway cities. OS was the impetus for these special friendships and it's sad to watch the site fall into such disrepair.
That's my take on it, FWIW.
I'm looking at this from the perspective of someone looking at the company itself and I remain puzzled, at best, why any business that wnts to be taken seriously behaves this way particularly w.o anything close to a satifactory explanation to its users.
That this is a free service is irrelevant bc the SalonMediaGroup made it a free service w business ends in mind. That's not a bad thing. Most non-profit agencies would be ashamed to present themselves this shoddily, let alone a free service of a for-profit business.
The situation's at best confounding.
I'm with you. I'm on this site for personal entertainment, and for the pleasure of occasional "payback" in the form of comments from other thoughtful writers and readers. If the site didn't work over the weekend.... well, geesh, I missed it, because I didn't post my latest piece until Sunday night, when all seemed well and fine.
Seems there is and always has been a degree of grumbling on these pages -- I suppose it goes with the territory - as there are those who write very close to the bone.
1. some of get shut out of the front page..( me too)
2. the site is slow and lots of weekend bloggers slow it down even more.
3. the editor and chief is not being straight with the members
and living up to his professional title.
4. there are many uses for the site, including making friends and learning new recipes.
5. There are some teachers among the group that give us good advice and "open"the door for discussion.
6. There are some folks who like to use a lot of profanity to gain attention
7. On-line blogging is an addiction.
8. I'm here, so I must enjoy the adventure. Walking on eggs is not my thing. Ask my husband!
*Can’t get on .....? Find something better to do. *
Exactly! Thks.
OS is a beautiful place to visit. I want the people behind it to care about it as much as I do.
I swore I would not comment tonite, just get on, get off, then I get this PM and here I am.
I think MOST writing comes from darker places than the average Joe none writers. Any talent that requires the trick of the mind comes from deep inner space.
Ray Romano, a very talented comedian,(Everybody loves Raymond) said "If my father had actually hugged me, even once, I would no doubt, be an accountant today"
If anyone I have found to be interesting on OS, I actually really want to know them. An intellectual mind is always the more favorable for company.
And my friend Jerry worries that I am too trusting, and maybe too reclusive for the company I prefer here.
If I have something someone else needs, I will give it up with no thought, just like I would shelter anyone.
My pain on my site is Genuine. So much so, that, and I am not looking for attention if I hadn't learned about blogging, I would probably be dead. My last incident MUST be the last. I was born, raised and married into abuse. But I am so tired. And I have held it in for too long. I had to put it out there, whether anyone was interested or not.
I had only heard the word BLOG and never heard anything good about them. Only that they were a frivolity of sorts.
Yet, when I watched Julie & Julia that made me go to Salon since it was the site Julie used to cook and comment on her adventure cooking ALL of Julia Child's recipe's.
I had never been a victim to emotion in the way I was this last year. I didn't know what to do with all that angst. I am still, daily, trying to come out of that deep black place.In the beginning, I didn't talk to anyone on Salon. I read their work, but I didn't want to have interaction. But then I got more comments, more ratings, and PM's from other OSers helping me work through my initial crude fashion of writing.
The nice thing is, there is so much diversity here, you don't have to stay in any one place. I have a preference for certain people and though I show many as fav's, I still have my dozen or so. You, Jon, Scy and so many more.
And aren't we all really looking for some attention? There are enough "blank page" journals to go around for all of us to write, but we chose to be here, we chose to write, read and travel through our own personal web that is OS
You make a very good point about finding something else to do. I'm taking "weekend breaks" from the computer completely when I work out of town. Leave the laptop at home, sick of taking it out for security.
I did expect to hear from you which is why I began this blog with a caveat about not offending. Of course, most of us want to be recognized. I write about the lack of genuine attaboys in our culture and too many off hand attaboys to level the playing field. Comments are our currency.
And I am glad that you have found support and help on OS. I walked in my own Hell for a period of time. But my devils are still hanging from a tree limb and some days are better than others. Here is what I believe. The internet is a public forum. When people get tired or leave, your problems will still be there. Forgive me for this, but when you are in agony, chances are they are out to dinner or sleeping or working. Friends who really love us and support us are always there. On the other hand, I am amazed and heartened by the good will which is so prevalent on this site. What I speak of is a kind of dependency on OS which is akin to addiction. I wrote an open letter to my grandchildren, published in June, in which I exercise my right as their grandmother to suggest that the internet is a "tool" not a way of life.
I am going on way to long and I
Idon't generally return to a post...but just saying your ratings here seem way outta whack with the comments. (when i take the time to comment, i also leave a rating...so i would expect your ratings to be far higher, anyway...)
One of the tech difficulties with this site is that ratings don' t always stick...or whatever they do to tally. I was told this by Emily, who incidentally lamented that there have been times when her e.p.s don't come thru as well.
For those of us who have been here awhile it is just very funky all this spam and these inexplicable tech problems. Complaining about the complaining isn't fair, in this instance.
My point is, if you don't like it, opt out and go somewhere else. I get the feeling that there is a priority point of view for the "first bloggers" and your opinions are certainly welcome and interesting. Gathered from the beginning that this was 'Open Salon'. I totally agree with the disfavor of members who are not happy with the spam and other problems. It is really beyond our reach as OS will find other members. I don't think they have any allegiance to old members or new members. Problem is, as I see it, that the members think that they do. Thanks for you comment.
Yeah..it's free...well...no....we spend time writing and posting....does that count as payment of some type?
Swapping?
But we have a different piece of the puzzle here too.
Pronouncement that the site will be faster and less of an adventure, only to have the opposite occur....and then vast amounts of time with no communication
In managing expectations here, the editors overpromised...dramatically.
Dramatically as in weeks and weeks past the pronouncement, and dramatically as in the site actually got a LOT worse rather than even moderately better.
Even "free" can be an issue if a promise is made and not met, and if explanations of why are never forthcoming.
I think I saw a small blurb today about how the spam surprised the management here, and please be patient.
More such pronouncements would go a long ways.
But more importantly, don't make bold declarative statements to the blog world, have them blow up, and not expect some vocal dissapointment.
I appreciate the site,..the freedom...etc....but talk to me more. If this site is run on a shoestring budget, and fixes are off in the distance, just allude to it.
I am a writer...I communicate through words. The readers do too.
It makes sense the managment would use for words as well.
And perhaps the biggest thing of all, I like to think of myself as part of the team here. If the site has issues, I feel bad for it and the people that manage it and the writers and readers that employ it in their lives.
I'm not going to bash the crap out of OS if they are having issues, and admit to some issues, and every once in a while let us know the issues are still on the radar.
After all, I am part of the team.
But cut me out...never talk to me....never give me a reason to feel allegiance to OS, and what happens?
It's called a dust up...and it is no fun!
You have not been cut out..in fact this forum has given many of us the opportunity to talk about how we feel....I've made my case. I like the substance. If this was an opportunity for many to speak to the problem, then I am pleased. What I intended to say was there is more....if this does not please you...go forward. And thank you for your comments. It is good to learn from each other.
You seem to have no issue detaching if need be, and for you that is a wonderful and good thing.
I have come to feel a part of a community here that includes the team running it, and I have a passion about the site that does not make it easily "detachable" for me. (my word, not yours)
Perhaps I have too much passoin for it in the eyes of others, but it is none the less a driving force for me...so I wish for the site to work and be successful.
To wish success for a site I do not pay for is not a bad thing in my mind.
I respect what you write here, and merely point out that there may well be a large group of people here who feel as I do...not all...maybe not even most....but a large group none the less.
The fact that I can call them out by avatar name and even their avatar pic ...as well as what they write of and when...is evidence perhaps of the passion I feel for the site.
"My friends on OS will neither feed, clothe, nor offer any personal care."
Oh but they do Ande Bliss
"... they offer attention. (I admit, I like it! [me too! ])We wear costumes and have made up names...[some do] We are not fully accessible, but we allow ourselves to care what perfect strangers have to say. If I knocked at your door you would not know me? [maybe] If I called at 2 AM...with a dire need, could you help me?" depends
... you may be (obviously) surprised at the reality of this community..
I have no doubt there are many who came here hoping for accolades but I also have no doubt there are many here who are here for the same reasons as I.
There are a number of people I have met here who are way beyond being viewed as "contacts" but rather they are indeed "friends". They ARE friends who DO offer personal care ... they are friends who COULD help me if I called at 2am. Believe it or not ... but for me, it is true.
I have visited and participated in a number of other writing and poetry sites ... but, for me, OS offers much more in the way of a caring and sharing community. I am passionate about this site and do not want it to fail.
I respect your viewpoint, Ande, and I truly appreciate what you say and am glad you wrote of it here. I have a different viewpoint of course. But, gee, I'm so glad we can share those viewpoints here, chat about it, and learn a little more of each other.
Thank you, Ande. : )
We can follow that to DC..to our marriages and friendships or to commerce. Thank you for your comments...do you remember Poems, prayers and promises? It about sums up life.
You being in Australia makes it a bit more difficult and all
Over time we develop deep affection, or sometimes dislike, for each other.
I prefer the affection side. OS is way beyond a fantasy land
This "Love it or leave it," mentality leaves me cold.