Consensus? That is the very nature of popularity after all.

 

So I should definitely start compiling my list, aye? I'll surely get one of those ten spots.

On a more serious note, and ignoring the bullshit I'll get from my own little amusing comment, I think that it shouldn't be the most popular people, but the most popular authors. For example, Vash, NonJon, Jbern, etc.

 

*sigh*
How do we determine the most popular authors - after the first six or so?

 

No.

Authors don't know what a good story is better then anyone else. That's stupid.

Kate already has a list, we could just sort it into 5 star 4 start etc. categories instead of alphabetically.

 

Yes, b/c we have so much free time now to go back and reread every fic in the library.

I've asked countless times now for folks to bring to our attention fics in the library now that deserve to be moved into the trash can... you know what? No one's submitted a single one. Not one. Most of the staff right now is very busy with stuff, and as I've stated, going back and rereading years worth of stories just isn't possible.


Bring to my attention shitty ones and I'll happily clean the place out.

As for a must read list. It's a good idea. If it's good enough that diverse crowds all like them, then it's damned good. Yeah our tastes may be different, but there are a few stories every one will agree kick ass. White Knight, Grey Queen jumps to mind, everyone loved that until the author decided to purposefully shitbomb the thing with Ginslut for some reason.

But yeah, Vash's idea of a good fic is vastly different then IP82's, etc, etc. I've got most of my good fics from Dark, Xiph, Indo, and a few other IRC regulars. I've got a list still of like maybe 100 I find to be good reads that I need to catch up with, I think the bookmark file is still posted here somewhere too. The DLP C2's are another good place.

As for a popularity judging/opinions, it's a bad idea. We have far too many sheep mentality folks to put it bluntly, for that to ever be a good idea. I could say I like something and instantly 20 people would run out and try it. I'd say the same would go for Vash, Xiph, Jbern, Dark, and Nonjon pulling a good follower group, maybe Gio to a lesser extent, Ameri,etc. You see what I mean?

 

Alright, so your saying that your... followers... for a lack of a better word, Will instantly go out and read anything you recommend, and that that same probably goes for the other 5-7 people you mentioned; Personally I've never seen a direct recommendation from Lord Ravenclaw, if I did I would probably take a look at it just to try and see what he saw in it.

Might I recommend that the people we know to definitely have followers put their heads together for the initial list? The group you listed is about as diverse as they come, and if you can get LR on it as well the odds are good that anything the majority of you agree on is more than likely an epic fic. make it a 2/3's majority just to keep out the ones that draw on the extremist (no offense intended) mindset and we have a good baseline to grow from.

Either that or take a long look at the five star fics. If they rank almost completely 4s and 5s they are probably good candidates.

 

I like the idea but once again the main problem is finding a way to bring together a list that everyone agrees on. The multiple list idea has merit but how do we decide who gets to put together the list?

 

I didn't actually know about this but I actually did tell Syao about 'Inderpendence Day' which got it binned

Anyway, my original Idea was to have a 'DLP must read', Fanfiction from DLP members that are a must read for example;

Vash's 'Bluer'
Syao's 'Burn Baby Burn'
Shezza's 'Resistance'
Tinn's 'Song's' etc

I know that didn't quite come across when I was talking to Taure but yeah, that's what I ment.

-Linc-

 

Hey look, we got someone that did point out a crappy one! Use that as your example folks, and we'll stat mowing em down.

 

This might need a reviewing or voting system too, as someone might think it's trash now, while others may still think it's up to scratch. But yeah, I generally agree that the Library needs a good cleansing. Especially amongst the older works, filth has been accumulating. I've seen many fics that had been highly acclaimed in the past, which would make me retch after reading just a couple of paragraphs nowadays.

 

Perhaps you guys should just form a committee of DLP higher ups, qualified by how many stories posted, reviews and so on. Perferably people who spend most, or a substantial, amount of their time in the fanfiction sections.

They can be the DLP version of the Gestapo or the KGB: "Have you read these Papers yet, Comrade?"

Punishments can be made in the form of members having to read and write summeries on HP/whatever slash, which we can put into a "yaoi pit" section.

 

Stars, stars, stars. Sure if 3-10 people rate it, and by rate, I mean rate it and post why, we probably won't touch it. But if 20 people post saying it sucks, it's going bye bye. We won't knee jerk trash fics based on a few people if it's of debatable quality, that's not what I'm saying it all.

I just get a bit annoyed when folks say there's some trash in the library, then make zero real effort to help us remove it.

 

Well, both Shadow Of Azkaban by IndoGhost -T and Lord of Caer Azkaban by Rorschach's Blot - PG13 now only have three stars, so, maybe they should be removed. But I don't know what we do to stories in the Library, that only have three stars, so...

 

Sounds like a good enough reason to make assigned reading and reviewing a requirement for membership . . .

On the other hand the idea of shorting through the yaoi/slash pit that ff.net has become for good fics scares me.

 

Ah but both would stay. See, they've both been around forever, long before we started rating them, so maybe 1/10 if that of the people who've seen those threads, would of rated it, most lately. They wouldn't be recommened maybe, but they wouldn't be binned either.

Speaking of which I need to ask if we're deleting the bad ones straight out now, or moving them to the recycle bin and leaving em, seen alot of folks doing things different.

 

I'd suggest moving them to the Recycle Bin, or even into a new forum, with the ratings reset to 0. Then just let people have a look and rate them from there, less than 3 stars, delete. 3+ Recycle bin.

Aekiel

 

Someone should be given the date of 'For review' go and find all the stories posted before that, list them in a thread and tell people to go rate them.

 

As for the master list idea (I'm not sure if it's been shot down yet), can all of the stories be completed? WIPs seem to nullify the purpose of a reading list.

 

Okay. We've got like a dozen different suggestions and things under discussion here now: Cleaning up the library, re-rating old fics, a DLP master list of DLP authors' fics, a DLP must read list of all the required reading stories, a DLP master list of the best stories, several DLP must read or master lists from individual members, and probably a few others from people who are just confused.

Re-rating old fics can sometimes be a grey area too. If memory serves Indoghost was an active member and his/her fic would have easily slipped past to get them some feedback. So do old DLP members who helped get the site going get any leeway? Not to mention half the time people rate fics based off early chapters and a few chapters later, or once completed will have a totally different opinion on a fic today than a year ago. Middy's example of White Knight, Grey Queen is probably one that would've had tons of 5 star ratings until the final chapter, after which I think a few of us would lower our opinion. Hell, my own opinion on Miranda Flairgold's A Second Chance and sequel vary from 2-5 depending on my mood (sometimes its brilliant, engaging, and full of original ideas... other times there's nothing Harry Potter related at all and I'm fucking sick of these cliched gay vampires).

I'm just saying everything has a context, including our ratings and opinions. The same for "must read" fics. Are we talking must-read from a historical standpoint, in which things like Rosswrock's fic or Barb's trilogy are nearly must read to understanding the fandom, how it was shaped, and why fic xxx sucks so bad. I can see that kind of stuff being called must-read while not even being within ten miles of most peoples "favorites" or "top ten".

I just can't see much consensus from DLP as a whole on what defines must read and what fics would fit that definition. That was why I suggested "Staff Selections." Primarily because ALL staff could easily edit the first posting with everyone's list. The staff have that ability and other members don't. It requires no extra work other than from the staff that want to make their own list.

Though, Lyndon Eye, I'll say I'm with you. For me, there's no such thing as a "must read" WIP fic. Because a WIP fic may never be finished or may start to suck. The only "must read" ones out there are complete.

Good complete fics > great WIP. Always.