Blogging on this site! New Guidelines

  • As most people realise one of the cool features on this site is that everyone - literally, EVERYONE - can post up their own content in the form of blogs.

    To date there have been well over 500 blogs posted. And as a result its all got messy and chaotic. Also a lot of you have been posting up stuff as 'blogs' that isn't really blog material at all. The actual blogs are getting lost in amongst the morass! So, as Skyrim releases into the big world world, we need to get a grip and lay down some guidelines.

    So, lets be clear what we DON'T want in blogs.

    1. Blogs which just say things like 'I bought Skyrim today, and I'm now taking it home'. That's NOT a blog, its a Status Update. So post it as a Status Update.

    2. Blogs which just ask a question. For example we get blogs saying stuff like 'What race are you going to play?' or 'Which Guild will you join?'. They are NOT blogs, they are Discussion Topics. If there are not already discussion topics open on that topic, then wait until the new Groups are created and post up discussions in the relevant group.

    3. Blogs which ask people stuff like 'how are you today?' or 'what are you doing to pass the time?'. They aren't blogs either - they need to happen in our Chat Room sessions.

    4. Blogs which do nothing more than post photos or videos. We have a dedicated Video Gallery and Photo Gallery to handle videos and photos.

    5. Blogs which repeat or recycle information already posted. We are getting a HUGE amount of repetition. Before you post a blog, make sure that someone else didn't already post the exact same information!

    So from now on we are having a change of approach with blogs...

    Blogs will be for meaningful content. If you want to record your in game experiences, or you want to post a detailed game guide, or you want to write a character backstory, then use the blog feature. In other words, blogs need to have real actual content that adds something to people's experience of the game, not just random stuff that comes into your head.

    If you ignore these guidelines and post up just anything as a blog, then don't be surprised if a Blog Host comes along and deletes it!

    Later today I will be creating lots of new Groups - see my post last night for details - where there will be facilities for adding discussions, content, photos etc on the various Guilds, Factions and areas of Gameplay. You will be able to join as many of these as you like, and start getting stuck in straight away...

     

Comments

17 Comments
  • Nakia the Rogue
    Nakia the Rogue   ·  November 10, 2011
    I am one of those is was against the forum format.  There are plenty of forums out there for Skyrim.  I don't come here to find out what the weather is or what someone had for lunch I come here to discuss Skyrim with like minded people.  I have joined sev...  more
  • Ashley Matthews
    Ashley Matthews   ·  November 10, 2011
    Well, Neal, it was great having you here while you were. Thanks for visiting, at least. :)
    And thanks a bunch, Paul, I appreciate this. This will give blog hosts more things to monitor. :P
  • Paul
    Paul   ·  November 10, 2011
    I partly agree with Krazee, and the reason its partly is that every poll we ever had on the old site (and we have several) made it abundantly clear that people did NOT want this site to become a forum site.
    So whilst we will obviously need to look t...  more
  • Krazee Mon
    Krazee Mon   ·  November 10, 2011
    My comment/opinion on this is:  

    the membership obviously desires a method for general communication;
    the only method thus far provided to serve this purpose is the blog feature;
    the blog feature is the single most highlighted for...  more
  • Jay
    Jay   ·  November 10, 2011
    Sounds good, Paul.  The only thing that I ask is that if someone has a problem with a post, please send me (or the 'infringer') a Personal Message and ask us to change it. 
    I'm MUCH more receptive to that than someone telling me in the comments to t...  more
  • Neal Lockhart
    Neal Lockhart   ·  November 10, 2011
    sorry to say i am going to be leaving when skyrim is released. I was just chillin here before its out
  • Doug S
    Doug S   ·  November 10, 2011
    I appreciate this clarification. This blog has so many options so having clear and concise categories (considerable alliteration!) and guidelines is necessary to maintain a clean and orderly place. Thanks!
  • Tygravius
    Tygravius   ·  November 10, 2011
    Phew! Thanks P! It was gettin a little hairy!!
  • Witschas
    Witschas   ·  November 10, 2011
    Actually this is standard on most sites of similar structure, so as Paul says - it's inevitable. Unlimited freedom on a site with multiple ways of sharing brings too much chaos, and noone will be able to find what they are looking for 'because WHERE did t...  more
  • Mike W
    Mike W   ·  November 10, 2011
    That's fair comment Paul and very decent of you to post that.