Forum Critique Policy Revision

Forum Critique Policy Revision

Zyn 28 Apr 2020 04:38

Noting that I would like to enact these new measures in May.

Given the recent responses to this thread: http://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-13268033/required-forum-activity here are some suggestions I have moving forward:

1. Remove the "try to post critique on all threads" staff expectation for the Ideas Critique forum.

• The forum required reading will note that authors are expected to reach out to reviewers for feedback of their own initiative.
• A separate "how to make your concept post more attractive to reviewers" sort of thread will be posted and stickied. It will be mostly a rehash of this post: http://www.scp-wiki.net/forum/t-13095662/required-reading:how-to-use-this-forum-ideas#post-4528407

2. For concept threads that go unanswered past page 6, put a boilerplate copypasta noting how authors can request feedback, and link to the forum required reading and Guide Hub.

• This is so that authors who thought they should just sit and wait will have some guidance regarding how to proceed (and possibly for those who don't know, let them know the Guide Hub exists and encourage self-guided study).

3. Require a wordcount be stated for drafts in the Drafts Critique forum.

• The "try to respond to every thread" staff expectation should still hold for drafts.

4. Instead of having a numerical quota, check staff activity on a monthly basis. Those who have not been active will be moved to Inactive.

Thoughts?

Last edited on 30 Apr 2020 04:35 by Zyn Show more

Re: Forum Critique Policy Revision

DrBleep 28 Apr 2020 13:41

Generally in favor of these proposals.

Re: Forum Critique Policy Revision

gee0765 28 Apr 2020 14:52

1. Remove the "try to post critique on all threads" staff expectation for the Ideas Critique forum.

We're at the point where this is probably necessary, so I'm in support as long as the required reading is updated to reflect this change.

2. For concept threads that go unanswered past page 6, put a boilerplate copypasta noting how authors can request feedback, and link to the forum required reading and Guide Hub.

In support of this.

3. Require a wordcount be stated for drafts in the Drafts Critique forum.

This makes sense. Would the wordcount go in the small summary box, or the main body of the forum post?

The "try to respond to every thread" staff expectation should still hold for drafts.

I'm slightly less enthusiastically in support of this. While it's probably feasible for some time now less work will be needed in the Ideas forum, there's a pretty high chance that this expectation will also become less realistic if the site's growth continues as it has been.

4. Instead of having a numerical quota, check staff activity on a monthly basis. Those who have not been active will be moved to Inactive.

I'm not sure what problems this is intended to fix? Unless there's something I'm missing (which there easily could be) this just feels like an additional task for staff without any real benefit.

Re: Forum Critique Policy Revision

TheMightyMcB 28 Apr 2020 19:03

I'm not sure what problems this is intended to fix? Unless there's something I'm missing (which there easily could be) this just feels like an additional task for staff without any real benefit.

If people seeking crit are expected to PM reviewers, then it makes sense to remove inactive reviewers from the listings. It places more of a burden on the PMs of the currently active staff, but keeping the butterfly squad roster up to date is an important thing that we need to be doing, imo.

Re: Forum Critique Policy Revision

SoullessSingularity 28 Apr 2020 16:31

Re point 4 - I think it should be fair to warn someone they're being moved to inactive to give them a chance (say, a week or two to justify their inactivity). Other than that, I am down for this.

---

Living the dream, or dreaming the life?

Re: Forum Critique Policy Revision

TheMightyMcB 28 Apr 2020 19:18

I'm down for all of the above policies, but I'm admittedly unsure about how proposal 1 will interact with the current greenlight policy. The ideas forum is essentially a gatekeeper to the drafts forum, and I worry that this change, while being a necessary one, will be a source of significant frustration for first time writers.

How do we feel about making slight changes to the greenlight system in tandem with these other fixes?

Off the cuff, I propose that we drop the greenlighting requirement to one, but we raise the standards of what allows one to issue greenlights. I think that the requirements of qualifying for an author page are pretty incongruous with the ability to give decent crit. There are lots of nonstaff/nonbutterfly reviewers who deserve to be able to issue greenlights, but there are also many who, in my opinion, do not. I'm open to suggestions here, but my first instinct here is to make greenlighting a privilege that can be given to somebody by a member of crit opstaff and similarly revoked. Thoughts?

Re: Forum Critique Policy Revision

Zyn 29 Apr 2020 03:21

Off the cuff, I propose that we drop the greenlighting requirement to one, but we raise the standards of what allows one to issue greenlights.

I'm only comfortable with this if we heavily advise against people giving "tentative greenlights". We've had a number of cases where authors received two greenlights, but the drafts still needed some conceptual changing. Also, if it becomes that much quicker to pass material to the drafting stage, we will need more active draft reviewers.

my first instinct here is to make greenlighting a privilege that can be given to somebody by a member of crit opstaff and similarly revoked.

Technically this is what the Reviewers Spotlight is for—in recent months, I get pretty much no suggestions of names.

Personally I would want to see how the new changes go before making further revisions to the greenlighting process.

Re: Forum Critique Policy Revision

DarkStuff 28 Apr 2020 21:07

Pretty much in favor. I know of myself that it can take me a week to two weeks to get to critiquing, as I am a busy dude (college college college), but I try to make up for that by giving especially in-depth critiques (line-by-lines, suggested directions to take a draft or idea, et cetera) when I have time. While I think I hold myself accountable enough to get to everything, having a quota would also be pretty helpful (even if the quota is "don't be inactive", and I'll just not be inactive!). I definitely think people should be encouraged to reach out to the Butterfly Squad more. I don't peruse the forums, because the critique I give is so consuming, I only respond to PM requests. The previous thread's suggestion to do "an idea thread a week" would have been difficult for me because I don't receive an idea thread a week in my inbox. Though, with these improvements, that might start happening. Summer's coming up, which will be a perfect time for me to increase my output of critiques, as my input increases.

Enough blathering. I support these motions. But to be very specific:

1. Remove the "try to post critique on all threads" staff expectation for the Ideas Critique forum.

Yup. Ouch, but yup.

2. For concept threads that go unanswered past page 6, put a boilerplate copypasta noting how authors can request feedback, and link to the forum required reading and Guide Hub.

Honestly a great idea.

3. Require a wordcount be stated for drafts in the Drafts Critique forum.

Not totally necessary but very helpful, sure sure.

4. Instead of having a numerical quota, check staff activity on a monthly basis. Those who have not been active will be moved to Inactive.

Absolutely in support.

Re: Forum Critique Policy Revision

RockTeethMothEyes 29 Apr 2020 11:10

I'm very much in support of these changes. Encouraging users early on to reach out to reviewers very much falls into common practice seen in authors that have been on this site for a while now. This will also hopefully be a good measure in keeping our roster up to date in regards to activity.

Re: Forum Critique Policy Revision

taylor_itkin 29 Apr 2020 21:03

In support of this, though I am admittedly not really an active critstaff member anymore what with Seminars.

Re: Forum Critique Policy Revision

Zyn 30 Apr 2020 04:39

Just giving this a quick poke to note that I would like to enact the new procedures in May (that is, within the next day or so). That will mean I will:

• adjust the required reading thread in the Ideas critique forum
• create a new thread (based off the info in the current required reading) to make it clearer to authors how they can request feedback
• write up the boilerplate copypasta for threads that fall to page 6 with no replies.
• (doing tonight) update the drafts critique guidelines to note that a wordcount is expected.

If there are any major objections to the proposed changes, please state so.

Re: Forum Critique Policy Revision

Zyn 01 May 2020 04:59

Noting that I have implemented the changes above.

New threads created:

• General ideas forum rules: http://www.scp-wiki.net/forum/t-13282684/required-reading:how-to-use-this-forum-ideas
• How to get more reviews: http://www.scp-wiki.net/forum/t-13282692/how-to-get-more-reviews
• Announcement thread: http://www.scp-wiki.net/forum/t-13282788/new-ideas-critique-forum-policy

The boilerplate for ideas threads that fall to page 6 (or further) with no replies is:

Since this thread has fallen to page 6 with no responses, this is a quick staff reminder that authors should contact reviewers directly to request feedback as needed.

Please refer to this thread for more information: http://www.scp-wiki.net/forum/t-13282692/how-to-get-more-reviews

Feel free to let me know if any of this needs adjusting!

Note to staff: you can and are always allowed to refuse to critique something if you don't want to. Ideally give the author some steps to more forward with, but don't force yourself to review something if you really don't have the time/energy/brainpower/etc.