ADMIN: We'd Like to Pick Your Brains About TBAY

[Risti]

--- In HPFGU-Feedback at yahoogroups.com, "abigailnus" 
<abigailnus at y...> wrote:
> 1. We'd like to know how you perceive TBAY. How would you describe
> TBAY messages? What do you feel is the most important aspect of a 
TBAY
> message? What does the term 'TBAY theory' mean to you? What, if 
any, is
> the difference between a TBAY theory and a regular HPfGU theory? 

The best way I can think of describing tbay is a way that Eileen 
described it once when we were discussing it, and that is that it is 
an extended metaphor.  TBAY messages then are posts that use some 
type of metaphor to give them life.  A TBAY theory for me is one 
that has come to life on its own, to the point that the theory seems 
to be its own entity, with feelings and characteristics and 
everything like that that.  In essence, I suppose TBAY theories and 
regular HP4GU theories are the same-it really does come down to how 
the initiator(or supporters) of a theory feel about it.  I think the 
theories that end up in TBAY, though, are the ones that have become 
so real to whoever posts them that it seems as if they are a 
physical entity.


>  
> 2. Do you read TBAY messages? Have you ever posted a TBAY message? 
If
> you have, what prompted you to do so? Have you ever wanted to 
respond
> to a TBAY thread but chose not to because of the format? What 
about the
> TBAY format made you reluctant to post?

I do read TBAY messages(well, I do when I follow the list, which I 
haven't had time to really do lately, but when I stick my head in, 
I'm most likely to click on a TBAY post).  I've posted about a dozen 
or so TBAY messages myself, putting me somewhere between an 
occasional visitor and a citizen of the Bay.  I don't know if I've 
ever not responded to a TBAY because of the format.  

I was first prompted to post to TBAY when a pet theory of mine was 
dragged in there.  At the time, I'd only been  member of the list 
for about 2 months, and while I was slightly nervous about going up 
against the big guns, I think it helped that there were other 'first-
timers' in that discussion.

I know there have been times when I've responded to a TBAY in non-
TBAY format because I don't have the time, energy, or inspiration to 
enter the bay for that reply.  The reason for that is that it *does* 
take alot of time, energy, and inspiration to write a decent TBAY.
(Most of the time, at least.  I've had one or two come out quick and 
easy.)
  
> 3. How accessible do you find the TBAY format? Do you find 
discussions
> of older theories (such as MAGIC DISHWASHER) on TBAY more or less
> accessible then discussions of older theories in regular posts 
(such as
> Evil!Lupin)? Do Hypothetic Alley (home of several major TBAY 
theories)
> and Fantastic Posts help to make TBAY posts more accessible? What 
can
> veteran TBAY-ers do to make newbies feel more welcome?

For the most part, I find the TBAY format accessible, but I think 
I'm the exception to the rule in that regards. As I said earlier, 
it's all about metaphors, and my mind tends to think in metaphors.  
Now, after being around long enough to recognize some of the older 
theories, I find discussion of them almost easier on TBAY than in 
the main list, because it's easier to format it as a discussion 
about one smaller part of the theory.  However, until I had a decent 
grasp on the older theories, I tended to find discussion of them 
confusing no matter what the format.

Hypothetic Alley for me does help to decifier TBAY, Fantastic Posts 
not so much.  I think the site structure has changed since my first 
foray into tbay(over a year ago now), but at the time I found it 
very difficult to find. Veterans were posting a broken link in their 
signature to it, but other than that, I had to look through just 
about every file on the site before I finally found it-which wasn't 
until after I'd posted my first TBAY.  Once I did read it, I found 
it very helpful, but it's a long file to read, and is at the point 
where it needs updating, which would only make it longer.

My suggestion would be to update Hypothetic Alley with some of the 
newer more 'major' theories, and also include some of the 
terms/symbols that are commonly used in the Bay.  Beyond that, I 
would create a seperate, shorter file with Theory Bay FAQ's.  A few 
that I would like to see included:

1.  Who is George, and why does he keep flirting with me?(It took me 
quite a while to realize that George was not George Weasley.)

2.  What's with all of these different types of ships?
amd related to that

3.  I have a theory, how do I set up a ship for it?  Can I just make 
myself Captain, or do other people need to do that?(the answer to 
that, of course, is do what you want, and give yourself all the 
power you want, as long as no one already holds it.)

4.  I want to comment on a point in a TBAY post, but don't feel 
comfortable with the style.  Will the poster be offended if I 
comment in the normal style?

5.  I want to reply to a TBAY post in TBAY format.  Do I need the 
permission of the person I'm replying to to write them into my 
post?  How do I know what to make them say, I don't want to 
misrepresent them?  I would answer this one with:

If you want to venture into the Bay, go for it!  The original poster 
will be happy to see a new face in the Bay.  The easiest way to 
write words into someone's mouth is to use the ones they've already 
said.  Find a few quotes from their original post, and any replies 
they've made, and use those.  If you're not sure how they'll respond 
to your new idea, you don't need to write them agreeing or 
disagreeing.  Simply write them as listening, or prompting you to go 
on.  If you've observed habits of theirs in the Bay, feel free to 
write those in.  Don't worry if you do misrepresent them slightly.  
It's happened to everyone, and the real posters aren't half as mean 
as their alter-ego may seem to be.  Finally, if you're still really 
unsure about something, email the person in question off-list, and 
express your concerns to them.  I'm sure they'd be glad to help you 
out. 

6.  What is the Safe House, and how come it's a House and not a Ship 
like the rest of them?

7.  Help!  I've just been written into a Theory Bay post.  Am I 
expected to respond in the Bay, because I don't know how.
(the answer to this, of course, is no.)

8.  I don't understand an Acronym/Term/Theory that someone mentioned 
in a Theory Bay post.  Is there a place to go for an explanation?
(the answer to this would be to point in the direction of Hypothetic 
Alley and Inish Alley)


And so on and so forth.  I'm sure others who are more confused about 
TBAY could think of more questions.  Beyond that, I suggest that a 
note is made somewhere explaining the fact that for the majority of 
the alter-egos hanging around the Bay, their bark is worse then 
their bite.  In other words, just because they may not agree with 
your theory, and may start blowing it to bits with all sorts of 
weaponry, doesn't mean they don't respect and admire you for putting 
the time and effort into creating a Theory Bay post.  I also think 
that all regular TBAY members *should* link to TBAY info in their 
signatures, and also make a note inviting people to email them 
offlist if there was something about the structure that wasn't 
understood.  If I haven't been doing this...well, I should.

I would be willing to expand on some of the questions I mentioned, 
or generally give imput if some sort of TBAY primer were to be 
created.
  
~Risti, who is finally done school for Christmas, and will probably 
be making at least one appearance in the Bay soon because of that.  
She'd also like to note that these types of signatures are really 
only one step away from the concept of Theory Bay.