Posted on 01/04/2005 5:53:04 AM PST by crushkerry
As we draw ever closer to the launch of Ankle Biting Pundits, (which you should visit just to get an idea of what we're talking about) the two jabronis that run the site are have a serious disagreement about what the site should look like. Frankly, we are at an impasse, as each of us has dug in his heals over two irreconcilable features of the site. Understand when we use the term "irreconcilable" it doesn't mean either of us is quitting, just that we have differing ideas on teh new site. We will both contribute the same as we have here no matter what we do. Keep in mind what we really want here are YOUR OPINIONS which we ask that you leave in the "Comments" Section". Anyway, on the the "debate".
Here’s the issue. I have, since this site's inception, hated (with a great hatred) the Observations on the News section. More accurately, I have hated its placement. I would like the Articles section (which currently appears below the Observations on the News; the very section you are reading now) to be the first thing that greets visitors and users.
My Writing Partner thinks I am smoking banana peels. He is of the opinion that the Observations on the News section is one of the fundamental attractions of the site. He is therefore insistent that we keep it the way it is when we transfer over to Ankle Biting Pundits.
I am not exaggerating when I tell you this has become the great schism of this site. Both of us are, however, man enough to admit we might be wrong. So we’re putting it to you, the visitors and users of Crush Kerry to help us decide.
Please just bear in mind my vision for Ankle Biters. I want it to be far more interactive than Crush Kerry has been. I want Ankle Biting Pundits to be an interactive web-based community, not merely a blog; and the Observations on the News section is the least interactive feature of this site.
Anywho, we are soliciting comments from you in this thread to determine which direction to go with this. Please let us know your thoughts.
Pat accurately states the disagreement. As you can see by visiting anklebitingpundits there are "tabs" in the banner that will allow you to "jump" to different sections of the site. The major disagreement is what content will be on the "Home" page, and what content will be in the tab now labeled "News" which will require the visitor to click to get to it from the "Home" page.
Look, here's my thinking. It's no secret every website wants as many visitors as possible. I think that the way to do that is to have the home page of the site be updated most often to comment on events as they happen, like we do now in the "Observations" section.
The "Observations" section is what would traditionally be called the "blog" portion of the site (ala NRO's "The Corner", Instapundit, Polipundit). I agree with Pat that the "Observations" section is not the most user friendly in the world and does not allow for comments by you the readers. I share Pat's vision of making it as interactive as possible for the readers and allow them to comment on our "Observations" (ala RightWingNews, Polipundit, Kerry Haters. We think we have the technology to do that.
As to the types of "Articles" you are reading now (which are more lengthy and detailed) I think they should be on a separate page that we will direct users to from the "blog" section when they are posted. We think the articles we right laying out ideas and thoughts in detail is the most substantive portion of the site. My reason for not wanting to put it on the "Home" Page is that it is not updated as often and if people check back a few times a day they may not think the site was updated and will not take the time to click the tab for the "blog" portion that will be updated more regularly.
But keep in mind that I do share Pat's vision of the site being something more than "just" a "blog" type site. I want our readers to be able to contribute their thoughts as much as possible. After all, it's you, the readers, that matter, not us.
Please let us know your thoughts in the "Comments" section of the thread.
I know some of you are only on the "ping" list for the "Most Annoying Liberal Pundit" contest, so you can ignore it if you aren't a regular reader of our site, but if you are we really would like your feedback.
Thanks
1) That is not an "ankle biter" that is a "Glutious Removious". You need a seriously angry Jack Rusell to be an "AB".
2) the ABP logo is "interesting" but very hard to look at for long periods, as it creates a bit of an optical illusion that is very distracting.
JMO - NPAIM - YMMV
I have to go with Writing Partner. Of course, coming from someone who spends a lot of time on FR, this shouldn't be surprising. I come here for my news and commentary so the layout here suits my purposes.
Welcome to Ankle Biting Pundits, formerly known as Crush Kerry. If you’re confused about the new name, we’ll give you a little background. During the 2004 election – the Year of the Blog – NEWSWEEK columnist Steven Levy took a cheap shot at political bloggers saying, “We were promised a society of philosophers. But the Blogosphere is looking more and more like a nation of ankle-biters.” And given that we bask in Old Media derision, the name stuck.
And why can't you get into the forums. Let me know and we'll try to figure it out.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.