With the FanPost and FanShot sections getting busier and busier by the day, I figure now’s a good time to take a minute and address some random BE housekeeping issues.
On duplicates
– Lately we’ve had a number of duplicate FanPosts and FanShots popping up. Sometimes this is just a matter of one member beating another to the punch by a few minutes, sometimes it’s because the first FanPost has already been bumped down the sidebar. Whatever the case, since the FanPosts are generating so much excellent content these days, it’s become increasingly necessary to delete dupes and keep discussion for one topic confined to one post. This is not to say that two FanPosts with opposing views on the same topic are not welcome – on the contrary, in fact – but when two posts copy/paste breaking news from the same source and add little other insight or analysis, one of them’s got to go. The easiest way to ensure that your post isn’t a dupe is to do a simple search beforehand and tab through the Stories, FanPosts and FanShots sections.
– If and when a duplicate post needs to be deleted, I (or the deleting staffer) will do my best to send a note via email or the SBN backend explaining why. However on a busy day, this may not always be possible. If you feel a post of yours has been deleted erroneously, feel free to drop me a line and I’ll get to the bottom of it ASAP.
On posting in general
– Do not quote (read: copy/paste) more than 2-3 paragraphs, and always link to your source.
– If you’ve got a cool picture or video to share, don’t write exactly 75 words about it just so it can be a FanPost. It has a better chance of being promoted to the front page as a FanShot!
– Lastly, since it’s slipped out of view at the moment, I’ll direct everyone’s attention once again to Rundownloser’s excellent Bloody Elbow Technical Assistance post which contains just about every bit of information you need in order to make your postings look super slick.
– “I can’t stress enough…I’m not looking for New York Times worthy writing. But I will never promote a fanpost filled with cursing. One or two isn’t bad but my personal standards are that you can make a point without swearing and if you do swear that you can do it without being over the top. The fanposts have gotten a LOT better in this regard but just something to keep in mind.” – Brent Brookhouse
Other notes
– weoweoweo suggests switching the number of FanShots and FanPosts that are displayed when you visit the front page. You can do this by clicking on your username/icon at the top of the page, then “EDIT SETTINGS” at the top-right. For reference, I have mine set to 20 front page posts, 15 FanShots and 15 FanPosts.
– Luke wrote a really useful post at the end of last year entitled “How to Write a FanPost and Get It Promoted” and SBN’s Chicago Cubs blog, Bleed Cubbie Blue, has a great post detailing just about everything you could ever need to know about FanPosts and FanShots.
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