A user made a comment in the forum regarding the front page and how often new blogs are posted and how they are chosen. I responded to this comment in the forum, but I think this it is important that everyone in the contest be aware of how the front page works.
Moderators, like myself, and Reboloke, Art, etc . . . choose which blogs get promoted to the front page. I am not sure what criteria they use specifically, but I decide based on the quality of the writing, timeliness, and if the post follows the PU guidelines. By that I mean, I ask myself before putting the post on the front page, does this post fall under one of the PU Categories, like news and politics, or business etc . . . ? Then I ask myself, does it promote Relevant Progressive Principles (which is the most important question)? If it does not, its not following the site guidelines, and therefore should not be shown off as an example for all users to base their blogs off of.
I know that sometimes, like today, the front page is not updated for several days. I know that when I was in the contest that really irratated me too. And I cannot speak for the other moderators, but I have a life outside of this site. I am in college too! This was a busy week for me! And on here I have other things to do besides post things on the front page. I have forum questions to respond to, and private messages about PU to answer as well. That takes a LONG time, and I dont have a lot of time in the first place. I know that Reboloke spends a lot of time coming up with good poll questions, that is her niche. Then, I try to check my track IE check for new comments so that I can respond to comments that were responses to something I said. THEN I read the posts of the day.
So here I am reading posts, and to be honest, a lot of them dont fall under the PU guidelines, so I cant promote them. Or the writing is bad, even though is is progressive. I have strict guidelines for promoting posts. It takes me a long time to find one I think is worthy. I usually comment and say I promoted it, at least I have recently, so you know if I promote yours, I must have really liked it. The point is, it would be a lot easier for me to change the front page if users really rose to the occassion and posted blogs that I cant say no to.
So this is partly an explination for why I have been slacking as some might say, and partly an encouragement for bloggers to really sit down and write such a good blog that I read it and promote it and move on to the next blog and feel the same way, and all the blogs are just so darn good that I keep changing my mind about which ones should be on the front page. LOL. Please be patient, understanding, and helpful!
What is stopping someone at this website from just writing 100 two sentence blog entries everyday and winning the scholarship. Also, how do we know how our points stack up to everyone elses? Is that information withheld from us?
Too often people offer their opinions without the discomfort of "thought."
Each blog entry must be 100 words. More information is in the FRQ. But i would like to know also, how do we know how much points we have and what our progress is versus our competitors?
There is a 100 word minimum for every blog.
Ceila
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ceila30
As previously stated, there is a 100 word minumum. And if your blogs are consistently below par- people are going to stop reading them, therefore you will have no points for reads. We have had bloggers write many bad blogs in the past, and they didnt even crack the top ten because NO ONE read their blogs after the whole recent blog posts was by them. And when no one was reading thier posts, they got dicouraged and quit.
About halfway through the contest there will be a list on the front page of the top ten users, in no particular order. That way you know if you are in the top ten, but you still have to work hard because you dont know where in the top ten.
Francesca Chambers
I'm sure a lot of people forgive you now!
Can you possibly post the criteria for good PU blog posts? I just hope that some of the entries I've been writing to go towards the contest won't be disqualified. I was assuming I could write about any issues to debate or include my own opinions.
Well when you are sitting down to write a blog think about if it falls into the values of the site that you can find in the About Us and FAQ tabs. We dont disqualify anyone -yet, even though I have been somewhat lobbying for it- but we do make comments reminding users to blog on topic. There is nothing wrong with debating and including opions- that is a good thing. But not if you are debating stuff like Britney Spears and entertainment that really isnt entertaining. Try to stick to political issues- whether that be Cheney and his lesbian daughter or Bush and Iraq or Obama and if he really counts as "black" l, you get the idea. Or social issues like community service etc . . Thats a pretty broad category so thats why I dont understand when people dont blog on the PU topics. But like I said, you can find all this in the FAQ.
Francesca Chambers
When I promote a post to the front page it's usually because I found the post to be (in order of priority) well written, informative, encouraging more discussion, unique, and about a topic that's interesting and relevant to a lot of people. I don't think about promoting posts very often, because I don't look at the front page very much (I use the lists on the sidebar to find new posts to read).
I've been trying to post a new poll every week, so I'm glad somebody noticed, but you used the wrong gender when you said that's my niche.
You work hard on this site, so you shouldn't feel bad about not promoting any posts for a few days, and just because you have a life beyond Pro U, doesn't mean you're slacking.
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"If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?"
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure." - Marianne Williamson
You could have edited the blog to change that . . . SORRY! That was really an accident- I was frustrrated and didnt even catch it! And thanks for the support. You work hard too, and I do notice it.
XXXXXFrancesca Chambers
I didn't even think about the fact that I can edit posts (most of the time to edit a post seems too much like censoring for me to even want that ability), but that would have made more sense then leaving a comment when I knew you just made an innocent mistake. Thanks for correcting it.
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"If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?"
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure." - Marianne Williamson
Ya I dont use that ability often --- only to go in and click promote to front page.
Francesca Chambers
I personally haven't seen any complaints regarding the front page (although I did allude to one in one of my blogs); actually, I remember seeing a lot more complaints about the featured bloggers in the last contest than I have seen about the front page in this contest.
But I am wondering if you would clarify what "well-written" means? Only because I am wondering how subjective that term is... formatting, grammar, spelling, length, tangential? The main reason I ask (and I do not hold you at fault for this) is because I have seen some truly awesome blogs that get no attention / comments, and then see someone else write a blog with the exact same information, the exact same opinions, and the second blog is promoted while the first blog remains ignored. In some of these cases, I felt that the first blog was much better-written than the second blog.
But, it could just be my opinion working against me on that.
Regardless, I don't think anyone can be angry with you for having a life outside of Progressive U.
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"Dream as though you'll live forever, but live as though there's no tomorrow" --James Dean
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/fanaile-essence
Well there have been comments, and I know it would irratate me as a blogger too. And I cannot really define well-written. I mean how do any of our teachers specifically define it either, you know? I guess I mean not too long, but not too short. More than one paragraph but not ten. Spell check is a virtue, as well as grammer. The claims should be supported with facts, although if the post does not, but I still find it interesting every GREAT once and awhile I will still promote it. The author should sound informed, but not cocky . . . Is that more helpful?
I will make an announcement in the coming weeks with overall suggestions for bloggers how to improve their blogs, but I still have not gotten a good enough feel for this group and their style to do that yet.
Francesca Chambers
My English teacher uses that funny "Lady's Skirt" rule.
Long enough to cover the subject, short enough to be interesting.
Why is it on the front page?
haha just kidding :)
Making light of things, n'stuff!!!!