Request for contributions and other stuff

[elfundeb2]

Abigail asked some good questions to get the ball rolling. 

On the database idea:

I've posted to MEG about using a database for fantastic post 
nominations. If people aren't crazy about this idea, though, we could 
get Abigail's request out to the lists and revisit when we see what 
kind of response we get.  I think I would be much more likely to 
enter a post in a database on the same list than to find an address 
for some other place to send it to (too many steps . . .) but then I 
always out of sync with the rest of the world so the archive list 
might work fine.

> 
> 1. When should we start writing the new FPs?  Should we wait a 
while, 
> and if so, how long?  Should we set a date on which we'll start our 
> work or just wait until we feel that the group has produced enough 
> posts of a sufficient caliber? 

I agree I would wait out much of the fall as the more in-depth 
analysis is just starting to materialize, but begin work on some of 
the more basic background material that comes straight from the books 
(e.g., an overview of the WW justice system).  Maybe each team should 
get together and sort out among themselves which portions of the FP 
each will write, and nominate one person to start on the basic 
stuff?  If I had a specific assignment, I know I would read all posts 
on the topic carefully and keep a record of the good ones; that way 
less would fall through the cracks.
> 
> 2. Should we attempt to comb the 15,000 posts since the publication 
> of OOP for Fantastic Posts?  I know we're going to deputize the 
group, 
> but I doubt that many people will remember more then a few days 
> back.  I also know that we set up our own FP database, but 
> something tells me that most of us haven't been very conscientious 
> about adding to it - I *know* there have been more then 20 
> Fantastic Posts in the last two months.

This is a tough question.  Trawling through June-July posts won't 
likely yield a bountiful catch, but there are some gems.  I think 
this is a worthwhile exercise for those of us that are anxious to get 
started.
> 
> 3. Should we attempt to complete the Full Enchilada?  There are 
> 10,000 posts between the last catalogued one and the publication 
> of OOP, and there are certainly some truly wonderful posts during 
> that period.
> 
This is definitely worthwhile, but we'll probably need to limit the 
inclusions to the real *highlights* in the interest of time.  (When 
we were cataloguing, on the other hand, we were trying to represent 
every single thread.)  At current posting rates, we would never get 
around to writing FPS if we didn't seriously limit our inclusions.

To answer Abigail's question about Amanda's proposal to 
create "volumes" I'm starting to lean against the idea, for several 
reasons.  First, much of the old material is still quite relevant and 
only would need a little bit of updating.  Second, I think it would 
be feasible -- and of more value for the reader -- to keep some of 
the old dead theories in the updated FPs while noting the new canon 
that swept the theory away.  I might even do that a little bit for 
new FPs -- I have trouble still using "Avery" in a sentence without 
also using the words "Fourth Man." <g>

Another thing we can do to gear up when we're not busy *writing* 
fantastic posts is to sort the Enchilada for topics relevant to your 
subject.  (Note to Slyths:  I did that last March for Justice and 
Aurors.)

One last thought.  There are a couple of completed FPs (I'm thinking 
of Sirius and Neville) out there that are crying for an update in 
light of OOP.  Do we have enough people to detail anyone to work on 
these?  

Debbie