I'm tired of doing IotD

Undertoad • Sep 20, 2007 2:48 pm
It's been a good long run folks, but damn, every goddamn day... it's finally gotten to me.

Should I make it an open forum? Where anyone can contribute an image?
lumberjim • Sep 20, 2007 2:51 pm
WOW...no....make bruce do it.

or go every other day/week with him .....
Flint • Sep 20, 2007 2:53 pm
srsly [COLOR="White"]. . .[/COLOR] ...Bruce...uh..."volunteered"!... [COLOR="White"] . . . [/COLOR] [COLOR="Gray"] :::takes one step back at exactly the same time as everybody else:::[/COLOR]
Undertoad • Sep 20, 2007 2:56 pm
I asked him at one point... and axlrosen
Shawnee123 • Sep 20, 2007 2:57 pm
If I volunteered, it would have to be "Image of the Workdays and Days I Don't Take Personal Days or Vacation Days and Days I Am Not Sick and Days I'm Not Swamped." Otherwise, it'd be fun.
Flint • Sep 20, 2007 2:59 pm
'Toad? Don't tase me, bro.

What if we (Cellar members) voted on submissions before they went out for general (actual IotD w/ Blog view etc.) consumption?

Have an IotD "staging" thread.
theotherguy • Sep 20, 2007 3:04 pm
What if it was IotW (image of the week)?
lumberjim • Sep 20, 2007 3:08 pm
IotEoD?

image of the every other day?
Shawnee123 • Sep 20, 2007 3:10 pm
IotSS

Image of the Summer Solstice
theotherguy • Sep 20, 2007 3:10 pm
IothEtTHtit21st?

Image of the every third Thrusday that isn't the 21st?
lumberjim • Sep 20, 2007 3:11 pm
srsly, if you open it up to general posting, it will lose all integrity. there will be multiple pics one day, none the next, etc.

appoint 7 people. give them mod status to that forum. assign 1 day per each. have standards, teach them how you do it.

i'd do 1 day per week for a quarter.
lumberjim • Sep 20, 2007 3:11 pm
i mean a quarter of the calendar,.....not trying to negotiate salary here.
Undertoad • Sep 20, 2007 3:14 pm
The voting problem... one thing that this vBulletin software is really bad at, is hooks to the outside world. I was able to code up the IotD blog view pretty easily because it's read-only, you know, in programming, reading something is usually much more trivial than writing it. Then I wrote a queue manager which holds pending images and the posts them when I press the "publish" button.

But the first time I ran it, it logged me out and changed my user title to the default. I shit you not. This is because I used some of the vBulletin functions to post the message, but didn't fully understand what else the function needed to do first. It does a lot of things with the user, before and after posting the post...

So it's hard to write additions where a logged-in user is verified to be logged in, then the user information is used to count a vote, then back to the old forums... and it wouldn't work to have people log in twice, they wouldn't do it.

More time for coding is wot i need
Shawnee123 • Sep 20, 2007 3:16 pm
I'm sorry, I don't speak Undertoadinese.

(This is why I couldn't do it because I have no idea what you're talking about.) ;)
lumberjim • Sep 20, 2007 3:17 pm
what?!
Flint • Sep 20, 2007 3:18 pm
I was thinking more "manual" than that; still having moderators managing the selection (with open input from on the active board members, on an IotD "staging" thread) before going out to the actual "hits generator" thread. It would kill me if The Cellar lost it's magical "first page of Google" power.
theotherguy • Sep 20, 2007 3:23 pm
Translation: Voting is broke.
Shawnee123 • Sep 20, 2007 3:26 pm
theotherguy;387281 wrote:
Translation: Voting is broke.


Ahh, thanks for putting it in terms that laidpeople can understand.
Flint • Sep 20, 2007 3:29 pm
I like to work with the simplest tools that can get something done: How about a daily Image Submission thread, posting closed at midnight, when a poll is created, which closes at midnight the next day, and the image that gets the most votes in the poll goes in the next day's IotD? Complex procedure, simple tools. All managed by moderators, like lumberjim suggested.

Users could even submit ideas for the clever IotD description. Maybe we could vote on that too. Hell, I'm just thinkin' out loud.

All I know is that Undertoad just tased me right in the heart. He has an "F" string on his axe, and it's my heart-string. Broseph.
lookout123 • Sep 20, 2007 3:30 pm
lumberjim;387274 wrote:

appoint 7 people. give them mod status to that forum. assign 1 day per each. have standards, teach them how you do it.
that could be really cool. that way no one person has to stress over finding good material every day. they can spend a week just keeping their eyes open for that one special image.

i've never really been involved much in IOTD but I'd hate to see it go. a lot of cellarites have gained entrance from lurking in that area. i don't think i'd be good at it, but i'll help if that is what needs to be done.
glatt • Sep 20, 2007 4:07 pm
I'd really hate to see the IotD go.

I'd like to help keep it alive, but I wouldn't want the responsibility of any one day or days. I like the idea of some sort of submission thread/queue etc. where the active Cellar community can participate to create the IotD. A closed thread that you can only see if you are an active user who is logged in. I'm not technical enough to know how it would work, but someone should be able to submit the image and text and then the Dwellars can vote on it, or you (UT) can click a button to make it so if you like it.

I imagine most Dwellars would get involved in the process if it was low key/ little pressure.
Undertoad • Sep 20, 2007 4:16 pm
That could fly. Another weird hitch is that images should live on the Cellar servers when they become IotDs, and that makes work for me. It would be better if ppl could upload their own images to here, and then only view and use them here. But the programming for that is a security hassle.
lumberjim • Sep 20, 2007 4:20 pm
the whole voting thing might work once....but every day? no wai!

srsly. that would be more work than just continuing to do it.
lookout123 • Sep 20, 2007 4:24 pm
true. i think the only workable solution is obvious then. LJ will have to pick up the task of IOTD. no more than 2 pics per week of your cockpuppets. unlimited pictures of Jinx are encouraged.:ipray:
Shawnee123 • Sep 20, 2007 4:25 pm
Do we want every IotD to be a cock? :)
lumberjim • Sep 20, 2007 4:31 pm
one day a week i could do. then it would be like a homework assignment. I could take my time composing the text...and take it all very seriously. I call dibs on Wednesday!
Sundae • Sep 20, 2007 4:36 pm
Excess cock - surely an oxymoron?
elSicomoro • Sep 20, 2007 4:37 pm
The "Quality Images" forum is a result of a board decision 50-11 years ago to give Sheppsie sole control of IotD (because he was good at it and we didn't want IotD to get watered down) while allowing other Dwellars to post other pretty pictures.

IotD is essentially the bread and butter of the Cellar...it has brought many fine Dwellars to our establishment. But I can understand how it can become tedious as well. I dunno...I wouldn't mind helping keep it up on a daily, but maybe a little break on UT's part (week? month?) will recharge his battery and make him want to do them on a daily (or almost-daily) again.
HungLikeJesus • Sep 20, 2007 4:41 pm
sycamore;387319 wrote:
...

IotD is essentially the bread and butter of the Cellar...it has brought many fine Dwellars to our establishment...


That's true...

... but it also brought me.
elSicomoro • Sep 20, 2007 4:46 pm
I know...we're still smarting from that. ;)
LabRat • Sep 20, 2007 4:52 pm
How about having all people interested put their names in, say there is 25. Then beginning on Oct 1st, have the first person put up and image. On the 2nd, the 2nd, until the 26th, when person 1 puts one up again. When one person wants out, or can't post on their day, they post so in a different thread, and someone else takes their place. I would like to participate, but once a week, even for only a few weeks is a little much. closer to once a month would be perfect.

If you have more than one image, you could give it to someone who needs it. a separate thread could be used for that type of stuff, discussing IotD business.

my :2cents:
Flint • Sep 20, 2007 4:59 pm
Point: IotD is the lifeblood of The Cellar.

The Cellar community could collectively submit the images, and collectively vote on the images. That way, there's no searching and deciding for any person or persons to worry about. The moderator duties would be to facilitate the process, and post the IotD based on the outcome.
HungLikeJesus • Sep 20, 2007 5:25 pm
sycamore;387328 wrote:
I know...we're still smarting from that. ;)


-ing = a suffix of nouns formed from verbs, expressing the action of the verb or its result, product, material, etc.

-er = a suffix serving as the regular English formative of agent nouns, being attached to verbs of any origin

In this case, sycamore, I think you meant the latter.
lookout123 • Sep 20, 2007 5:35 pm
alright then, here's how it's going to be.

we will all flood LJ's mailbox with likely pics. he will sort through them and pick the one he wants for any given day. Jinx will slap him and say "not another picture of your cock, dumbass! send that picture there." at which point he will remember his good fortune at having Jinx to keep him in line. Seeing as how he would like to enjoy her assets at some point in the future he will dutifully obey. LJ's job ends with pressing the "send" button.

Next Elspode will open his mailbox to find an image that needs text. He will delete the superfluous image of LJ's cockpuppet, and go to work creating engaging text to put with the real image(seeing as how he's the most eloquent MFer here). Elspode will save his text with the image and press the "send" button.

The appropriate moderator will open their mailbox to find this wonderful collaboration and they will post it, thus creating the next IOTD.

We will all clap, say good job, comment on the image, and go about our day. Once per week a lurker will register because they want to say something relevant to the IOTD. From time to time this former lurker will become a valuable part of the cellar.

TW will pop in at least twice daily to say, "george jr, mental midget, mba's..." before wandering off in search of his meds.

UT will go on about life relieved at the burden lifted from his shoulders. He will soon realize that he has compiled a large list of possible future IOTD's with relevant text. A few months later, UT will step back into his previous role because... well, he's UT. Some things just belong together like PB&J, or IOTD & UT.

OK, now - ready...BREAK!
rkzenrage • Sep 20, 2007 5:40 pm
I would do it in a heartbeat man, but I just can't get on the fucking PC every day.
*pissed*
Spexxvet • Sep 20, 2007 5:46 pm
How about just sticking a pic up - don't bother with text - we can provide our own.
lookout123 • Sep 20, 2007 5:52 pm
well the obvious problem, of course. who is going to decide when we have "enough" text?

:rolleyes:
lumberjim • Sep 20, 2007 6:02 pm
enough is enough
rkzenrage • Sep 20, 2007 6:15 pm
Aaahhhhhh!
Shawnee123 • Sep 20, 2007 6:22 pm
At least none of the solutions sound really complicated.:rolleyes:

I wish I had an answer, or the time and set-up to do it.

Has anyone mentioned tag teaming? I think it would be difficult to remember whose day it is, but if someone did it for a month, then tagged another (willing) dwellar, someone would have to be on the ball for a month, but there would be an end in sight.

Eh, I got nothin'
DucksNuts • Sep 20, 2007 6:53 pm
If you trust my aussieness, I'd do it :)

With some one on one teaching from the Toad of course.
Clodfobble • Sep 20, 2007 7:10 pm
I could be in for once a week. I call dibs on Tuesday. Can't promise it would be up to the quality that UT's maintained, but I could find something at least moderately interesting once a week.

Five more people? C'mon, you could do a few weeks, and then guilt someone into taking your day, when you're ready to move on, eh?

Alternatively, I'd be willing to take over all of the tedious posting bit, if UT would show me how, as long as you fuckers submitted things on a regular basis.
HungLikeJesus • Sep 20, 2007 7:22 pm
Why don't we just take the 365 most active posters and give them all one day per year?
jinx • Sep 20, 2007 7:24 pm
Flint;387284 wrote:
... Broseph.


:devil:

I would do a day - don't care which one really.
xoxoxoBruce • Sep 20, 2007 7:34 pm
The problem is not good pictures, it's the source, and the back story.... and copyrights/permissions.
It takes a lot of time to put all that together... daily.
If more people submitted the package, picture and source/back story, it would be much easier on UT.
monster • Sep 20, 2007 7:49 pm
Ah yes, the permissions. I'd forgotten all about that. That's going to be where the work lies. I'd be up for trying one day, although I confess most of the interesting stuff i see comes from the BBC -how easy/fast is it to get permission from them/their sources? I notice very few IOTDs seem to come from there.....
Undertoad • Sep 20, 2007 8:00 pm
Most of IotD is a big copyright violation. Which is one reason it's a drag.

At one point I tried contacting the wire services about buying their stuff, and they weren't interested yet, maybe they are now.

I get permissions when it seems like the right thing to do, as when there's a private person involved who may not have wanted their stuff posted all over the net.

Only one person did not give permission.

Doc Searls, in giving permission for an image I did not use, said pretty much what I thought... paraphrasing, once it's on the net, it's public domain for all practical purposes. Really good Astro pics of the Day get regularly stolen and reused in everyone's livejournal entries. WTF images are routinely shared via email with millions (Hullo xoB!) They can't keep people from trading songs and even movies, so what hope do image owners have?

It's a strange world
Elspode • Sep 20, 2007 8:59 pm
Shawnee123;387282 wrote:
Ahh, thanks for putting it in terms that [COLOR="Red"]laid[/COLOR]people can understand.


Got something to share with us there, girlie?

UT, it has to be a controlled thing. IOTD has inherent integrity. That said, there's a lot of people on here that are well qualified to take it on in terms of ability and discretion, but time...? That's the sticky part.

I haven't read this whole thread, but I know Bruce to be an avid procurer of images, and most of them are not porn. He would be a very logical choice, if he would deign to take on such a responsibility.
monster • Sep 20, 2007 9:05 pm
Oh I can live with risking it permission-wise :D I just didn't want to get the cellar into trouble....

I agree IOTD is important -it brought me :D Also I'm not into the voting thing. way too messy. I like Jim's idea of one day each, and the idea of asking for a stand-in if you can't do your day.
monster • Sep 20, 2007 9:05 pm
...assuming xoB is unwilling. If he'll do it, then we're sorted!
SteveDallas • Sep 20, 2007 11:41 pm
sycamore;387319 wrote:
it has brought many fine Dwellars to our establishment.

While this is undeniable . . . .
sycamore;387319 wrote:
IotD is essentially the bread and butter of the Cellar

The Cellar got along just fine when there were no images (of the day, or of anything else). I too would be sorry to see IotD go. But The Cellar would go on very well without it.

Maybe this is an opportunity to articulate exactly what makes the IotD special, and worth continuing, in the face of several hundred thousand social bookmarking sites and blogs. That might give us some insight into good ways to proceed, that would preserve what makes IotD IotD.
Flint • Sep 21, 2007 12:13 am
As most things, there's more to it than you can see on the surface, so I say bravo to Undertoad for handling it for the time that he did. It brought users and (sometimes server-crashing) hits to the site, but the real delight in IotD was the clever wordplay and running gags.

I heard about the Cellar by word-of-mouth (can't think of an equivalent expression) and I stuck around for the people I found here, who have been very gracious to put up with me. I've never joined a community based on a random image search.
Razzmatazz13 • Sep 21, 2007 12:33 am
I'm gonna have to agree with flint here...most other image sites or blogs are about the pictures...they're interesting and nice, the backstory is cool...but all of the comments are lame, useless, repetitive, boring.
The cellar is the cellar because of all of you guys, I would never have joined except that you're all such a fun group of people. IOTD is awesome, I would be sad to see it go...but even though it brought me here, you all are the reason I stayed.:grouphug:
NoBoxes • Sep 21, 2007 5:38 am
UT, formulate your IotD criteria and a submission procedure. Reduce these to writing in simple language. Send it to each spammer that hits on the Cellar. Offer one day of posting [solicitation] privileges in exchange for each published [successful] IotD submission.

Let someone else do the legwork for you by turning a negative into a positive. It's for a good cause and a little spam never killed anyone :skull: [SIZE="1"][COLOR="White"](at least no one important).[/COLOR][/SIZE]
Shawnee123 • Sep 21, 2007 8:55 am
Speaking from extensive experience...administering any program laden with laws and regulations (and often nuances thereof) is harder even than the actual footwork.

Just sayin': I'm not sure any of these solutions really lets UT off the hook in any way.
Spexxvet • Sep 21, 2007 9:01 am
lookout123;387379 wrote:
well the obvious problem, of course. who is going to decide when we have "enough" text?

:rolleyes:


Dude, on the Cellar, if you go beyond "enough" text, someone will come down on you with both feet.
BigV • Sep 21, 2007 1:53 pm
IotW?
LabRat • Oct 3, 2007 12:47 pm
Update?
Undertoad • Oct 3, 2007 1:30 pm
I don't know. vBulletin has added a blog feature that I have to check out to see whether I am gonna reinvent the wheel. If what they have isn't good enough, I want to re-do the software I've written to queue and post the IotD, so that many of you can use it and there can even maybe be voting and whatnot. Then maybe we can add a schedule to it so that one person's pick goes up Tuesday, etc.
lumberjim • Oct 3, 2007 3:14 pm
it seems to me like you must have shrugged like....wait, lemme re read it and count.....well, actually it was 3 little shrugs, and one long one at the end. You sound rather un-enthused, matey.
slang • Oct 3, 2007 3:40 pm
Help me understand how this works.

The IOtD is normally found somewhere on the net, right? It's something posted somewhere that's current events like or interesting.

The job that you are talking about is basically finding new material already on the net, yes?
Undertoad • Oct 3, 2007 4:56 pm
Yes, and people send them along. It's probably about a half-hour a day, including a bit of boring uploading and management effort. I've just been doing it for so long!

But there is a better way, somehow, to get it done.
Undertoad • Oct 25, 2007 7:33 pm
Neatorama is probably going to end our collaboration, as they have now been contacted by a photographer who is upset about their use of a copyrighted image. They are considering not posting any copyrighted images unless they are postage-stamp versions.

I will probably end IotD if they do. Unless I work an hour a day at image clearance, it's just a huge copyright violation and puts me at risk of huge legal harm.
Aliantha • Oct 25, 2007 7:36 pm
Well I don't think you should risk getting yourself into legal trouble over it.

If this does happen, will that mean that no one should post pics they find elsewhere on the net on your site?
Undertoad • Oct 25, 2007 7:43 pm
No, the rest of the forum is sort of noise-level to people hunting for copyright violations. Nobody's going to get sued because they shared something on a forum. They're going to get sued because somebody thinks the website is worth a lot of money. Somebody probably thinks Neatorama, just because it's well done, is some sort of money-making operation. Alex at Neatorama said the photog wasn't satisfied by the deletion of the image and the post. He hopes the photog will be satisfied by the licensing of the image.
Aliantha • Oct 25, 2007 7:50 pm
Hmmm...that's pretty rough huh. With some photographers they put a watermark on web versions of photos they're hoping to sell. Maybe that's his issue? no watermark means any old person can download it and make a photo quality image for themselves.
lumberjim • Oct 25, 2007 9:58 pm
Well.....It's certainly not worth any risk......add it to the fact that you're tired of it.....

Fuck it.
monster • Oct 25, 2007 11:28 pm
what he said
monster • Oct 25, 2007 11:29 pm
('cause I'm his puppet)
Aliantha • Oct 25, 2007 11:33 pm
has he got his hand up your arse?
lumberjim • Oct 25, 2007 11:45 pm
that's not my hand
Aliantha • Oct 25, 2007 11:46 pm
what is it then?
Razzmatazz13 • Oct 25, 2007 11:47 pm
monster is jim's new cockpuppet?
monster • Oct 25, 2007 11:49 pm
that's not my arse......
Aliantha • Oct 25, 2007 11:51 pm
what is it then??
LabRat • Oct 31, 2007 11:50 am
Say, i was rooting areound the cellar yesterday, and thought of an idea.

If we really want to keep IotD going, we could do a Celler Member's IotD thread. Using the calendar a member can sign up for the day(s) of their choice, then post on that day. Sign up for as many or as little as you like.

Just an idea.
Undertoad • Nov 4, 2007 4:00 pm
Well there it is.