Proposed Action Plan: Request For Contributions

[abigailnus]

I've forwarded this to MEG for their comments.  My own personal feelings 
are that the database should have been deleted ages ago, and that placing a 
footer on all messages is a little crass.  I'm undecided as to adding a line to 
the main page.

Honestly, I have my doubts about this project, although I suppose it has a 
better chance of working now that the main list isn't so crowded.

Abigail 

--- In HP4GU-FAQ at yahoogroups.com, "Cindy C." <cindysphynx at c...> wrote:
> Hey,
> 
> I've been thinking about how we might get list members to nominate
> Fantastic Posts to us.  Here's what I'd recommend . . . 
> 
> I think our goal should be to make nominating a post very easy and to
> encourage members to believe that we will appreciate and acknowledge
> their contribution.
> 
> First, I would ask MEG to add a sentence to the Main List Home Page
> asking that members nominate FPs, perhaps after the links to the VFAQ
> and OoP VFAQs.  We would ask that members click on the link and send
> us the message number.  As I said earlier, I think our current process
> is too labor-intensive and difficult for list members to execute, and
> putting a prominent link on the Main List Home Page would help quite a
> lot with this.
> 
> Second, I guess we could also make a brief pitch in the footer for all
> main list posts, again including a link.  The pitch could be "Is this
> a Fantastic Post?  Let us know where to find it at: [link]."  FWIW, I
> can't see what the current main list footer says (why is that?), but
> perhaps MEG could be coaxed to feature our request prominently?
> 
> Third, I'd delete the database (which currently has no entries) and
> rely on the other FAQ list instead.  I'd send out the following ADMIN
> (the original ADMIN is copied below for reference), and I'd try to
> keep it as short and snappy as possible:
> 
> **********************
> 
> Greetings from the "Fantastic Posts And Where To Find Them" Team!
> 
> You remember the "Fantastic Posts," don't you?  Sure you do!
> 
> http://www.hpfgu.org.uk/faq/
> 
> For months, we've been sharpening our quills and shuffling our
> parchment, preparing to crank out *lots* of sparkling, brand-new
> essays.  You know, all your favorites -- Harry.  Aurors.  Thestrals. 
> And best of all, *Snape's BVDs!*
> 
> And then we kind of noticed something.
> 
> We, erm, need Fantastic Posts.  Lots of them.
> 
> That's where you come in.  If you see a post or a thread you think is
> pretty darn good, please take a moment to let us know.  Just send the
> message number to [link].  That link is now on the home page of this
> list and in the footer of every single post -- that's how much we want
> to hear from you!
> 
> What's that you say?
> 
> <leans over and listens carefully>
> 
> "What's in it for *YOU?*" you ask?
> 
> *Plenty!*  If you nominate a post, it will not fall through a veil
> into the Great Beyond.  Oh, no.  No, you will receive a prompt
> acknowledgement and expression of appreciation from a Fantastic Post
> team member.  Submit two message numbers and we will stroke you. 
> Submit three or more and we will slobber all over you.  You get the
> idea.  
> 
> So keep an eye out for those Fantastic Posts and tell us Where To Find
> Them, OK?
> 
> Cindy,
> For The Fantastic Posts "Owls"
> http://www.hpfgu.org.uk/faq/fpowls.html
> 
> 
> ***************
> 
> Thoughts?  Comments?  Suggestions?  Edits?  MEG?
> 
> Cindy
> 
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> 
> [Original ADMIN]
> 
> Dear HPfGU Members,
> 
> Hello from the FAQ team! We're in charge of writing the Fantastic
> Posts essays, which can be found at
> 
> http://www.hpfgu.org.uk/faq/
> 
> These essays collect posts on a variety of different subjects,
> ranging from The Weasley Family to Justice in the Wizarding World.
> They also provide summaries of important and popular theories
> such as LOLLIPOPS or George. The Fantastic Posts are a great
> asset to group members old and new, providing a coherent
> perspective on the ideas that came before us. They also allow us
> to save from Yahoo! oblivion those posts which are truly
> remarkable and worth remembering.
> 
> We on the FAQ team are eager to get to work on updating the old
> FPs and writing new ones in the wake of OOP, but we'd like you
> all to help us. Have you read a post recently that really made you
> think? A well-written post, that offered a new perspective or
> submitted a new thoery? In short, have you read a Fantastic Post
> recently? If you have, we'd like to hear about it.
> 
> Before you get going, a few words on what makes a post Fantastic.
> You might want to check out some of the posts referenced in the old
> FPs to get an idea of the kind of quality we're looking for. Also,
> bear in mind that a a Fantastic Post should:
> 
> 1. Be well written and coherent
> 2. Present new ideas or offer a good overview of old ones
> 3. Have good formatting - good grammar and spelling, capitalization
> and punctuation where appropriate, more then one paragraph, etc.
> 
> There are three simple ways to let us know about a Fantastic Post:
> 
> 1. We've opened the FAQ archive group to posting by the general
> public. You can e-mail us at
> 
> Fantastic_Posts at yahoogroups.com
> 
> Please use the following template when sending us a
> recommendation e-mail
> 
> Fantastic Post number:
> Author of Fantastic Post:
> Topic of Fantastic Post:
> Date of Fantastic Post:
> 
> Not all fields have to be filled, but we *must* have the message
> number - finding a message in any other way is all but impossible.
> 
> 2. You can also reach the archive group homepage the same way
> you might go to the HPfGU homepage and post a message from
> there. The URL is
> 
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Fantastic_Posts/
> 
> Simply use the 'Post' link on the sidebar. Again, use the
> template above, and be sure to include the message number.
> 
> Please note that you do not have to join the group in order
> to post. In fact, in order to keep the archives list manageable and
> nominations confidential, we are limiting membership to the
> Fantastic Posts team.
> 
> 3. A database has been created on the HPfGU homepage. To get
> there, simply go to the homepage and click on the 'Database' link
> in the sidebar on the left-hand side of the screen. Scroll down the
> list until you find a database entitled 'Fantastic Posts'. Click on the
> title and you will be transferred to the database page. From there
> you can simply click on the 'add record' link at the top of the table
> to make your suggestion. You don't need to fill out all the fields,
> but you must include a message number.
> 
> Important note: please do *not* forward a message to the archive
> group. A forwarded message will not contain a message number,
> and that will make it impossible for us to locate it.
> 
> Finally, any post you send is only a suggestion. If you look at the
> old Fantastic Posts you might notice how few messages they actually
> reference. This isn't because these are the only good messages in
> over 70,000 posts, but because if we were to include all the fantastic
> posts ever made to the group we would drown, and the very purpose
> of the FPs is to provide brief and concise overviews of ideas on the list.
> We can't promise to use every post you send us, but we do promise
> to read and consider every one with all due gravity, no matter who the
> author is.
> 
> Wishing you happy hunting,
> 
> Abigail
> For the FAQ team