Sunday, April 20, 2008
New staff at EnidBlyton.net... Honest!
Big news! I've hired new staff to take over at EnidBlyton.net! Well, okay, maybe it's not "big" news, maybe not even "news" at all to most people, and I don't know if "staff" is the right word, or "hired" for that matter, and "new" is questionable in 50% of the personnel in question. And as for my use of the phrase "take over," well, that's not quite true either. So, I guess what I really mean is: ! I've to at EnidBlyton.net! Only that doesn't make any sense whatsoever.
Well, I think you get the idea anyway. Basically I've badgered a couple of online friends to help out with the daily routine of approving messages and sorting through the Talk About Blyton comments. As you may know, sometimes it takes me a couple of days to get to this, which is not much good for anyone trying to maintain a conversation through the site. So my two new Helpers (for want of a better word) are a welcome relief for me. They're going to be especially helpful in May, when I leave for England — otherwise it might be three weeks before I get a chance to log in!
I have to say the conversation in the Talk About Blyton section has degenerated over the last few weeks. There are some very good posts of course, raising interesting discussions, and these posts I'm only too happy to include. But there have also been a number of, well, less-than-interesting posts from certain young ladies who seem to do nothing but get angry at each other over trivial matters. I mean, do we really care if one thinks that "Dick is better than Julian" and that "George is better than Anne" and that "Anne is stupid" and so on? I hate to be rude about this, but I don't want that kind of childish chit-chat on my site. I think it's tailing off now, thanks to some ruthless editing and a few friendly but meaningful jabs.
When I step back and think about it, as I have done in the last few days, I initially created my site for adults. It may sound daft to some, but everything on my site is aimed at fellow like-minded adults reliving their childhood. When I first put the site online in December 2004, it was really just a page about the Five Find-Outers. And as I started writing reviews of each book in the series, I wrote them from an adult's perspective, for other adults to read and comment on. During that first year or so, I was lucky enough to "meet" many fellow fans of varying ages (but all adults) some of whom contributed reviews and articles. There was hardly a sniff of a child in those days, but I always welcomed messages and comments from the younger Blyton fans whenever they came along.
In recent months, the activity on the website seems to have been mostly from children. Now that in itself is fine, as long as there's some interesting discussion about Enid Blyton going on. Unfortunately there's been a lot of childish hissy-fits, and I've got to a point where I just delete any posts that contain "angry" or "hurt" feelings. I've actually had posts where one kid says to another, "See you in class on Monday!" — and as I write this, I just deleted a message that asked if her classmate had finished her homework! What is this, a chit-chat forum for schoolgirls now?
I've tried to be patient. It's great that children are reading Enid Blyton, and I feel privileged that these same children are visiting my site and taking the time to write. But I have to draw a line somewhere, sometime, and I've just drawn it — a big fat straight mark in the dirt, see? That line represents the difference between interesting, sensible, hopefully mature conversation — and the inane drivel of a select few school kids. Now, by this I mean a select FEW — I think they know who they are, and if they don't, they're probably going to find out soon. This kind of stuff is going to be nipped sharply in the bud.
Discussions are great. Controversial discussions are also great, such as the one where George Kirrin was accused of being gay. Everyone has an opinion, and everyone is welcome to voice it, even loudly and forcibly! — just so long as one remains on topic and, above all, respectful of others. A fairly recent spate of bickering occurred briefly between adults, which surprised me; again, discussion is good and healthy, but silly name-calling and childish bating is pointless.
While on this subject... I have 280 "club members" who receive notifications of site updates. 254 are subscribed to receive notifications of blog posts only, although I've now stopped doing that as I couldn't shake the feeling I was shoving my rambles down throats! Anyway, the point is, of the 280 who receive notifications I wonder who actually welcomes them and goes to the site to read the latest stuff... and who groans and deletes the notification without even glancing at it. I'm not fishing for praise here! — quite the opposite in fact, as I'd love to hear from those who might have lost interest in the site, or would like to unsubscribe, or whatever. Any feedback is good, even if it's bad. If I were to send out a notice to request a "renewal of club membership," I wonder how many of the 280 would actually renew?
I'm just musing here. Well, until a number of people tell me otherwise, I'll just keep on rambling...
This post has 10 comments
The same thing happens on the EBS forum periodically, as you'll know. For a while last year, I stopped going there because it all became so tedious thanks to one or two younger folk. But it seems the troublemakers don't really last long on a site -- they get bored pretty quickly, which is good.
I agree with you about critical feedback, particularly from visitors who are not regulars. You have had your share of glowing remarks in the past, whilst we have had virtually nothing. We have some excellent sections on Enid Blyton herself, put together by Anita, but they have never received a single comment. I often wonder whether the hours I spend trying to improve the Book Listing are largely wasted, but just occasionally I get something worthwhile in an email, such as the comment I had yesterday, 'I thoroughly enjoy exploring the site -- it's a tremendous resource to have set up.' It would be nice, though, to have a few more comments on what our visitors want or don't want to see.
My apologies that this has become a very long post, I don't want to write more than your original post!
Liz, it's interesting that you got bored with the EBS "kid-talk" and left for a while -- exactly as Tony and I feared, and I believe you weren't the only one. I also meant to mention in my post that, regarding the somewhat heated subject of George being gay, I was both amused and bemused to have a child write in (twice, I think) to complain that the subject wasn't fit for children! Now, I do draw the line at open rudeness and vulgarity, and of course am sensitive to the fact that kids might be reading... but primarily the site is for adults and I make no apologies for that.
Ilsa, you can rest assured that the site won't go unattended for three weeks! Luckily it'll now be taken care of in my absence, but otherwise I would have logged in every chance I got. In fact, I'll try to blog while I'm away too, if I can.
Nigel, that's very clever of you! You should be a Find-Outer!
Tony, no need to apologize for long posts, you can write as much as you like! Yes, feedback is essential in all forms. I think most people don't realize the effort that goes into ANY site; it may be that most people happily visit the site every day like Liz, or a few times a week, or whatever, and their silence is a good thing, as in "no news is good news." On the other hand, when people visit sites and don't like what they see, the chances are they'll go away without leaving any feedback, and never come back. That's a shame, but to be expected. However, all those long-term regulars who suppress moans and grumbles for fear of being "ungrateful" need to speak up right now. And those who are particularly pleased with something need to speak up as well. While general praise is always nice, I find specific information far more useful -- "I like the way the navigation is simple" or "I like the pictures on the right, with the captions underneath," or negative feedback like "I don't like the colors" or "I wish you'd not be so critical in your reviews." I can actually make informed decisions based on comments like these, whereas I can't do much with simple comments like "Good site!" or "What a load of rubbish!"
So come on, folks -- tell us (Tony as I) exactly what we're doing right and wrong! Not necessarily right now, via this blog, just however and whenever you feel like it at some point in the future. Just something to mull over...
The answer format minus paragraphs is puzzling if you're trying to promote good english expression. Bad omen on a literature site !
Rogoz, I actually liked the Bloopers section as it was, when it contained nothing but "important" bloopers. But it had a limited shelf-life as far as "ongoing discussion" went; after a while the bloopers became watered down to simply matters of opinion over what might be mistakes and what might simply be unimportant inconsistencies. Plus many bloopers were repeated in different books. So I think, ideally, a separate section of carefully selected "major" bloopers would been interesting for some to read. Even now there's a discussion about what kind of bird Kiki is, and yet this was discussed very early on in the Blooper days. Maybe I just need to extract all the bloopers and re-package them as a static article...
Meanwhile, the current Talk About Blyton section has its own value, as you said, and has definitely livened things up!
By the way, I do take your point about the way I compact all posts in the Talk About Blyton section to one paragraph. 95% of the time this works just fine, as posts are usually fairly short, and single paragraph posts tend to be "less messy" in terms of layout. But once in a while there's a long post and I do regret those being compacted. Anyone else agree with Rogoz on this?
Ming, yes please -- do go on!! :-D
Like many, I subscribe to some news and current affairs newsletters, and the Economist lately to try to follow what is going on in the global food markets. But there is *always* that very special, happy feel, when the Baker Street Blog and the EB Secret Blog updates appear in my inbox. (With the cessation of the Secret B updates, am very happy to find my own way to the site). It's quite a revelation to read that this high standard is kept up and attained only through vigorous and rigorous editing -- like the newsprint editor of old, green eye shade in place, hunched over the spike/delete button.
Thank you Keith for one of the web's treasures.
Jane, UK
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