Comments on: Thanks for the Plugs! http://nearwestendnews.net/2007/08/20/thanks-for-the-plugs/ Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:26:04 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: kory http://nearwestendnews.net/2007/08/20/thanks-for-the-plugs/comment-page-1/#comment-26 kory Wed, 22 Aug 2007 13:52:08 +0000 http://nearwestendnews.net/2007/08/20/thanks-for-the-plugs/#comment-26 Thx, John! Got it. Thx, John! Got it.

]]> By: john_m http://nearwestendnews.net/2007/08/20/thanks-for-the-plugs/comment-page-1/#comment-25 john_m Wed, 22 Aug 2007 12:50:58 +0000 http://nearwestendnews.net/2007/08/20/thanks-for-the-plugs/#comment-25 Waldo Jaquith: <a href="http://waldo.jaquith.org/blog/2007/08/near-west-end-news/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Near West End News</a> Waldo Jaquith: Near West End News

]]> By: Eric http://nearwestendnews.net/2007/08/20/thanks-for-the-plugs/comment-page-1/#comment-24 Eric Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:18:56 +0000 http://nearwestendnews.net/2007/08/20/thanks-for-the-plugs/#comment-24 Point Well Taken... Point Well Taken…

]]> By: john_m http://nearwestendnews.net/2007/08/20/thanks-for-the-plugs/comment-page-1/#comment-23 john_m Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:44:36 +0000 http://nearwestendnews.net/2007/08/20/thanks-for-the-plugs/#comment-23 It seems to me that the posts, the events, recent comments, and some advertising spots *have* to be in the initial screen and this dictates the design. These features promote interaction, communication, and community, and are essential to having the site really get popping. There are other categories of information that need to be available, if not right away. Both <a href="http://wotbn.net/" title="Museum District and Carytown" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">West of the Boulevard News</a> and <a href="http://fdhub.net/" title="The Fan, Richmond, Virginia" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fan District Hub</a> have more <i>design</i>, but I dunno if they are as <i>useful</i> as they only partially hit these points and lack some of the functionality of this site and the others (<a href="http://chpn.net/news/category/schools/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">archives by categories</a>, <a href="http://www.nearwestendnews.net/subscribe/" rel="nofollow">subscribe to the weekly email broadcast</a>, <a href="http://www.nearwestendnews.net/calendar/" rel="nofollow">events calendar</a>, <a href="http://pburgpn.net/classifieds/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">local classifieds</a>, etc). I do like how <a href="http://wotbn.net/" title="Museum District and Carytown" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">West of the Boulevard News</a> spotlights specific articles to the right, though they lose a lot of screen space on that. The <a href="http://fdhub.net/" title="The Fan, Richmond, Virginia" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fan District Hub</a> layout feels too busy too me, too much like <a href="http://brickweekly.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">a magazine</a> in that it can be difficult to scan and see what is new on the site. But you are right, they do look different. : : As far as being anonymous, I wouldn't out you on the site, but if you're going to hide behind anonymity to be snarky and sarcastic I won't ignore that *I* might know who you are. If after folks take the time, effort, and initiative to put together something that they offer as a community service, all you are able to offer is an anonymous complaint then I'm not really sure how to value your contribution. Put your name on what you have to say, offer a solution, be constructive. It seems to me that the posts, the events, recent comments, and some advertising spots *have* to be in the initial screen and this dictates the design. These features promote interaction, communication, and community, and are essential to having the site really get popping. There are other categories of information that need to be available, if not right away. Both West of the Boulevard News and Fan District Hub have more design, but I dunno if they are as useful as they only partially hit these points and lack some of the functionality of this site and the others (archives by categories, subscribe to the weekly email broadcast, events calendar, local classifieds, etc).

I do like how West of the Boulevard News spotlights specific articles to the right, though they lose a lot of screen space on that. The Fan District Hub layout feels too busy too me, too much like a magazine in that it can be difficult to scan and see what is new on the site. But you are right, they do look different.

: :

As far as being anonymous, I wouldn’t out you on the site, but if you’re going to hide behind anonymity to be snarky and sarcastic I won’t ignore that *I* might know who you are. If after folks take the time, effort, and initiative to put together something that they offer as a community service, all you are able to offer is an anonymous complaint then I’m not really sure how to value your contribution. Put your name on what you have to say, offer a solution, be constructive.

]]> By: kory http://nearwestendnews.net/2007/08/20/thanks-for-the-plugs/comment-page-1/#comment-22 kory Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:18:30 +0000 http://nearwestendnews.net/2007/08/20/thanks-for-the-plugs/#comment-22 I appreciate a good design, especially when I don't have a lot of time to quickly catch up on news before rushing off to work. I also appreciate consistency with certain websites that offer similar functions yet content related specifically to their locale (i.e. John M's community blogs). I know if I visit these sites, I'll know exactly where to look for features across the board yet with information relevant to the specific community I've visited. Personally, I think some visitors appreciate the consistency while others appreciate the uniqueness of varying designs. All, for what it's worth, of course. :-) I appreciate a good design, especially when I don’t have a lot of time to quickly catch up on news before rushing off to work. I also appreciate consistency with certain websites that offer similar functions yet content related specifically to their locale (i.e. John M’s community blogs). I know if I visit these sites, I’ll know exactly where to look for features across the board yet with information relevant to the specific community I’ve visited. Personally, I think some visitors appreciate the consistency while others appreciate the uniqueness of varying designs. All, for what it’s worth, of course. :-)

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