From: mins@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (timothy.j.mizerak)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv.soaps
Subject: DOOL:  All this talk about UPDATES.....
Keywords: new idea?
Date: 9 Sep 92 12:37:03 GMT
Organization: AT&T


Time for my thoughts on this update thing....

Ruth wrote:

>occassions.  Granted, things are going a little slow on DOOL
>right now, and some of the stories are a little lame (OK, I'll
>even give it a lot lame) but hey, it's just entertainment.  I
>still follow the stories and will probably never quit watching
>the show.  I just wish there were still updates every day of the
>week like there used to be.  There has to be other people out
>there like me who want unbiased updates!  I'd even be willing to
>do an update myself if that's what it takes to get updates back
>on the net.


I can understand your wanting to see regular updates, but the fact of
the matter is that they take a lot of time and work.  If the show is
not interesting then it is *very* tedious to have to labor through
an update.  I do the Knots Landing updates and as much as I love that
show, it still can be a pain.  I found that updating as I watch [first
viewing] takes away from my enjoyment of the show.  So I watch the first
time for myself, then rewatch later on to take notes for the update.
Then I have to dedicate one of my lunch hours during the week to keying
in the whole thing.  I could just imagine having to do this for a boring
Days show.  I like updating Knots for the most part and I think it is a
nice touch to the newsgroup.  What I'm saying is that to expect regular
updates from a small set of people here is not fair.  It is a much larger
task than it seems.

Also, the people who tend to ask for updates are not the ones who tend
to "contribute" to the group.  No matter how nicely you may ask, it still
seems lopsided.  You have volunteered to help out, however, which is
great.  Hopefully we can come up with an idea to get a better handle on
this.  Read on...

>The Peels and Cores are cute but I want to hear plot spoilers and
>be able to read summaries of the shows that I miss for whatever
>reason.


Well, again, those of us that contribute a lot are only bound to put out
what we enjoy putting out.  That sounds so sleazy.  :)  I mean that we
are motivated to post selfishly.  Updates are more of a duty and since it
is easy to shirk, it will be shirked.


And then Marie said:

>	Could some-one post a list of the people that do daily updates,
>and the "days" that need to be filled?  I agree that the people that do
>updates should have the time and ability to post them regularly, or else
>campaign for an alternate or partner...


Well, you can try to change the list or add to it, but I still think the
same problems will take over eventually.   I think the best way to get
"updated" is to just read the show-related articles and ask questions.
This can at least be enjoyable for all parties and not so much of a chore
for one individual.  And we all should try to practice a "give and take".
If someone asks something that I think I can give a good answer to, I post
it or email it.  So, when I miss a show I know that I can expect to be 
filled in by someone.  I'm sorry, but when someone just pops out of 
nowhere and asks for a full update of a particular show, I just don't
feel like they deserve my time.  If someone out there feels more generous,
that is fine.  I'm always willing to discuss, but just summarizing is 
very one-sided.

So anyway, I do have two ideas on how to keep up better with updating that
might make everyone happier.  

	1.  How about "capsule updates"?  These can be in addition to the
	    regular updates, whether or not those ever actually make it 
	    out there.  Just a paragraph or two about the major happenings
	    of the episode.  This may be enough to let people know if the
	    parts they care about were on, and if so, it could serve to
	    stimulate some discussion and questioning.

	2.  How about updating by *storyline*, rather than by day???  It
	    would be easier to read and I would think easier on the
	    updater.  One person would have the Carly/Lawrence/Nicky 
	    thing, another would have Carrie/Austin, another J&J, etc.
	    This would split things more than 5 ways and would give 
	    people a chance to pick the parts of the show they enjoy, 
	    thus making the updating task more enjoyable.  Hey, I would
	    even take the Kim storyline.  It's the least I could do since
	    I'm probably the only one here that can keep his lunch down
	    while watching her lately!  :-)    What do you all think?
	    How would we go about implementing this?


I didn't mean to be insulting here, but this is my take on the issue.
I hope we can find a solution everyone can live with.

Tim

Intriguing lyric of the week:     (Send guesses via email)
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     "I wish I never learned to weep,
          Don't sell those dreams you should be keeping..."
           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|  What is it up in the air for?                :   Timothy Mizerak        |
|  It's going to fall if it's there for long.   :   tm@mhnmc.att.com       |
|  It's over, it's over me.             R.E.M.  :                          |
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv.soaps