UPDATE, Sunday 9th May

[a_reader2003]

Rather a major update this one as a lot has been discussed. I can't 
implement any of the proposed changes until tomorrow as the site is 
closed, so respond immediately if you don't agree with anything.

CODING PROGRESS:
To date, 6100 posts have been either coded or allocated to someone 
for coding. Out of these 6100, I think about 4700 have actually been 
done, and of these 4700, we seem to have rejected 75%. 

NEW MEMBERS:
Sigune, Arya & The Sergeant Majorette have joined - welcome to this 
mad project. Paul should be able to set up your access to the coding 
site on Monday. Please email Paul with any problems. The category 
list which is being discussed here is available in the meantime as a 
text file in the File section, but you will also see it just as soon 
as you get access to the coding site.

TECHNICAL STUFF:
Paul is going for option 2 in his post 167 because he wants help in 
further developing the site. This will mean some site access changes 
in due course. If you (a) understand what he is talking about (!) and 
have some technical suggestions; or (b) have had any thoughts on how 
the results of our coding should eventually be displayed for search 
by the members, please post.

PROPOSED CHANGES TO CATEGORY LIST:
Ok, I will attempt to summarise.

CATEGORY 0 - REJECT CODES

Trivia contests are definitely OT
HP rumours are OT

0.8 (Mere agreement/adding nothing new)
I am going to split this into the two headings, and add another 
head 'FAQ' so it looks like this:

0.8 Adds nothing new
0.8.1 Mere agreement
0.8.2 FAQs & their answers

CATEGORY 1 TEXT ANALYSIS

1.2 (War & military strategy)
Although there is a logic to it, there seemed no strong feeling that 
we should move 1.2.1 (Voldemort's agenda) and 1.2.2 (Dumbledore's 
agenda) to sub-heads under those characters, so for the time being I 
will leave them here.
1.2.4 (Spying, espionage & betrayal) should have two additional sub-
heads: 1.2.4.1 ESE! and 1.2.4.2 Trust. NB, ESE! posts should also be 
coded to relevant characters
1.2.5 (FEATHERBOAS) does not belong here, as it is really an attitude 
to plot development (!). Suggest it is moved to a sub-category under 
1.3.3.
1.2.6 (FLYING HEDGEHOGS) is really a sub-set of 1.2.4

1.3 (Literary techniques)
Suggest a new sub-category under 1.3.1 (Magical parameters set by 
JKR): 1.3.1.1 (Constraints due to genre). This is for all those 
people who say she can/can't do XYZ because of the type of books they 
are supposed to be. Perhaps this category should be re-named 
just 'Parameters set by JKR' ?

1.3.4 (Foreshadowing, clues & misdirection)
Suggest breaking this into two sections:
1.3.4.1 As literary technique
1.3.4.2 Examples

1.13 Predictions
Big discussion about what goes in these sections, boiling down to 
unsupported hunches vs detailed predictions. Proposal is to add two 
categories under each of the book headings as follows:
1.13.1 Book 4/GOF
1.13.1.1 Predictions/with canon
1.13.1.2 Predictions/no canon

1.13.4 (Book 7) general feeling not to add another heading to this 
(eg 'The End'), as it should be covered already.

CATEGORY 2 CHARACTER ANALYSIS
General decision not to remove theory acronyms for now, but to ask 
Paul to suppress them for the next 20 000 posts or so until we get 
into Theory Bay.

CATEGORY 3 THE WIZARDING WORLD

3.8.2 (General properties & types of magic)
3.8.2.2 Life debts added
3.8.6.8 Add (Time Travel - was 3.10.1) to Time turner & NOT REALLY 
theory acronym & remove time travel from travel section 3.10.

3.15.5 Rename Little Whinging: 'Privet Drive'.

3.16.1 (Layout of Hogwarts) A subsection has been added 'Bathrooms & 
loos' for all those debates about whether anyone ever uses a 
toothbrush.

3.16.10 Note new section on pets allowed at Hogwarts

CATEGORY 4 OTHER TOPICS

4.1 (Childrens' or adults' books ?) Going to rename this section 
simply 'Controversies' and make 'Childrens' or adults' books?' a sub-
section.
4.1.3 (Controversies, banning etc) Going to rename this 
section 'religious book banning' and add a new section 4.1.4 
(Stouffer legal case)

AOB
What this debate has reinforced is the need to be able to quickly 
check what has gone into a section already, ie be able to scroll down 
those posts, not just see their headings (which usually mean 
nothing). I think the ability to do this should be a technical 
priority for Paul, as it will mean we can edit as we go along.

Phew..
Going to find more alcohol..
Carolyn