META: Feedback request
Hi. It's me. How are you? I am good.
You may have noticed that I've been doing a little writing for the front page, and I'm looking for a little feedback. If you missed it, thus far I've done a weekly Twitter-themed thing:
- http://mgoblog.com/content/week-twitterverse
- http://mgoblog.com/content/week-twitterverse-0
- http://mgoblog.com/content/week-twitterverse-1
- http://mgoblog.com/content/week-twitterverse-2
I've also done a less reality-based piece (http://mgoblog.com/content/national-signing-day-wrap-post-preview).
So here's the question: do people, like, enjoy this stuff? Would people like me to keep doing the Twitter thing? Should I hide in shame? Brian has indicated I've got some flexibility as far as format, so I'm trying to please the MGoMasses (especially in light of today's discussion about how all things are terrible).
FWIW, among the options are "keep doing things as-is," "same tone, but just based on stuff that happens (non-Twitter-related)," "a choose-your-own-adventure type series of text-based adventures," "stop writing things and go away," any mixture of the above, or whatever else.
February 24th, 2013 at 9:48 PM ^
I really like the Twitter-based summary type column, provided it doesn't turn into too much of a "This Week in Schadenfreude" rip off. Case in point, the Desmond Howard twitter fight with the J'ville writer was awesome. Quoting people who hate Burke when the bball team loses isn't so fun.
But seriously, the column has been great. I say keep it up.
February 24th, 2013 at 9:53 PM ^
I didn't love that part. I gave it a try, but it just felt like diving back into the crapstorm that was the crappy basketball week.
February 24th, 2013 at 9:57 PM ^
It's understandable given how rough that week happened to be on the basketball court.
But I'm really glad you got a regular feature. It's been a lot of fun to read, and a welcome addition to the front page.
February 24th, 2013 at 9:51 PM ^
I love it. Keep it coming.
I post some stuff from time-to-time that I think is humorous, and there are always people who don't get the jokes/take things too seriously/are never satisfied, etc. Don't let the [out-of-wedlock children] grind you down.
February 24th, 2013 at 9:51 PM ^
February 25th, 2013 at 12:50 AM ^
So yeah...is the front page thing intentionally a twitter version of TWIS? I'm not a fan, but only because (a) I don't care about Twitter and (b) it just seems derivative of TWIS.
I also didn't get why the other thing was frontpaged. But as I said in the other thread, as far as I'm concerned, this blog is Brian, and diluting that with more alternative content is a risk (and, IMHO, always going to be a downgrade).
February 24th, 2013 at 9:52 PM ^
February 24th, 2013 at 9:53 PM ^
February 24th, 2013 at 9:55 PM ^
"This Week In The Twitterverse" is indeed a great satirical stroll through the combination of sports fandom and the Internet. So far, I have enjoyed it and have no complaints. It's still fairly new, but it is a good concept and written well, and hopefully, this becomes a going thing on the blog.
February 24th, 2013 at 9:54 PM ^
Keep it up. Love TWIT, and always appreciate extra content.
February 24th, 2013 at 9:55 PM ^
Keep it up. Love TWIT, and always appreciate extra content.
February 24th, 2013 at 9:58 PM ^
February 24th, 2013 at 10:03 PM ^
I very much enjoy the Twitterverse column and look forward to it each week. I agree with with a poster above that I would rather not see it stray too far into TWIS territory; both because I think that is Brian's thing, and also because I think you have a great (albeit similar) concept in your own right.
February 24th, 2013 at 10:04 PM ^
As a non-tweeter myself, I enjoy getting an update every week about what I'm missing, for good or for bad.
That said, if you could pull off a weekly choose-your-own-adventure text adventure feature about the Wolverines or college sports in general, that would be awesome!
February 24th, 2013 at 10:04 PM ^
February 24th, 2013 at 10:05 PM ^
This week in Twitterverse is definitely one of my favorite additions to the site. Especially important for the long offseason, and I'd be pretty disappointed if you discontinued it. Would love to see what else you might have in store...
February 24th, 2013 at 10:18 PM ^
seconded. It's been the most entertaining content of the offseason.
February 24th, 2013 at 10:07 PM ^
Good good and more good. Keep it up! Sorry for lack of real feedback but I just enjoy the stuff already.
February 24th, 2013 at 10:08 PM ^
February 24th, 2013 at 10:08 PM ^
February 24th, 2013 at 10:08 PM ^
February 24th, 2013 at 10:09 PM ^
February 24th, 2013 at 10:09 PM ^
Be yourself.
Unless you can be Batman, then be Batman.
February 24th, 2013 at 10:16 PM ^
I can't be batman :(
February 24th, 2013 at 10:24 PM ^
I FEEL like I could be Batman, but I don't have a utility belt. Or a cave. And a Chevy Malibu is on the fringe of what could be considered a Batmobile.
February 25th, 2013 at 9:40 AM ^
when you say you "FEEL" like you coiuld be Batman do you:
1. feel like you have the capability within yourself to become Batman?
or
2. You feel you already ARE Batman, but you're just not sure how to tell?
PROTIP:
Check to see if you're wearing black spandex.
February 24th, 2013 at 10:13 PM ^
TWIT more yes please.
February 24th, 2013 at 10:15 PM ^
Frankly, I don't think the actual form of your column matters (whether it's TWIT, free-form, etc.) as long as it is your humor. Your humor is quick, witty, and eccentric -- just write about what you find most interesting, and I'll read it.
February 24th, 2013 at 10:19 PM ^
and you just completely nailed it. Any humor column BiSB writes is going to be funny, so I say just go for whatever feels right. I think TWIT is good, but if something else strikes your fancy, go for that. I don't think it needs to be strictly rigid to be a good weekly feature.
February 24th, 2013 at 10:18 PM ^
Really enjoy the Twitter stuff. I say keep doing what you're doing.
February 24th, 2013 at 10:22 PM ^
After scrolling down all the way to the bottom and reading all the comments, I can't remember what your four options are. Oh well
I have very much enjoyed TWIT (and it's got a very fitting abbreviation) thus far. HOWEVA, I'm not sure it's a sustainable feature. I mean, you can only poke fun at people saying bombastic things before it just becomes noise. As someone else mentioned, the Desmond Howard thing was gold, Jerry, gold, while while people telling [individual x] to suffer some great calamity after [signing with their rival; losing an important basketball game] will become repetitive after a while. So if you're going to keep going with TWIT as-is, I'd suggest branching out and focusing more on, say, really creative sayings (as if any of those exist on Twitter) and less on people just being general asswipes.
Frankly, I think doing a choose-your-own-adventure column (or perhaps alternating between that and TWIT) would be the ideal solution; don't restrict yourself unnecessarily (see my comments about the staleness of just "standard features" in the other META thread). Either way, you're an entertaining enough writer that I'll read anything by the guy formerly known as Blue in South Bend.
EDIT: I think the idea behind my post is to give your take on the week's news, whatever that might be. Of course, then you run the risk of straying too far into UV territory, so what do I know? Do whatever the heck you want, I'm sure it'll be great.
February 24th, 2013 at 10:20 PM ^
February 24th, 2013 at 10:20 PM ^
February 24th, 2013 at 10:27 PM ^
February 24th, 2013 at 10:30 PM ^
posters on here, I'd say go for whatever you want. Too many times you've made me laugh out loud (seriously, though I refuse to use the abbrev.) for me to pick and choose.
February 24th, 2013 at 10:31 PM ^
February 24th, 2013 at 10:35 PM ^
February 24th, 2013 at 10:48 PM ^
They poop in my house and eat my things.
February 25th, 2013 at 9:44 AM ^
and then they poop your things in your house?
I have three, one of them ate two decks of Uno cards. That was interesting poop.
February 25th, 2013 at 11:27 AM ^
When my younger dog was a puppy she ate a box of crayons (unbeknownst to me). You've never been more confused than when your dog unexpectedly craps a rainbow.
February 25th, 2013 at 8:54 AM ^
really isn't my thing, I can see that other people embrace it. Hell, I would have even tended to agree with you had it not been for the small matter of reading that other bitchfest thread.
Apparently there's no small number of disgruntled people whining about free content. It seemed to me that BISB, whom I assume has at least some vested interest in the success of this blog, is merely trying to tap the pulse and see if there's anything he can do to please the disgruntled.
I guess it says more about you that you take that instantly as a request for ass kissing instead of reading the crapfest that is the other thread and seeing someone trying to make it better.
February 24th, 2013 at 10:39 PM ^
BISB, you're a funny dude. The TWIT write-up about Nix cracked me up all afternoon.
February 24th, 2013 at 10:40 PM ^
Keep on doing what you're doing. I find your sense of humor more natural and organic than some of the other front-pagers'. TWIT is a good start; I would not mind reading your impressions of other aspects of today's sports world.
February 25th, 2013 at 1:10 AM ^
Agree on BiSB having more natural and organic sense of humor. Thanks for saying that because I was about to type something that would have made me look like an asshole.
February 24th, 2013 at 10:41 PM ^
TWIT isn't my thing, but only because I'm on twitter enough already, but I'm fully capable of just skipping past it when it pops up on the main page. I could see it being pretty entertaining for people that don't see that stuff as it's happening in real time.
February 24th, 2013 at 10:49 PM ^
Keep up the good work.
Also, I think Fathead might make a Batman cling to help out with the Malibu, unless it's purpley or some other non-Batman color.
If it's purpley, then be a Barney.
February 24th, 2013 at 10:49 PM ^
Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar.
February 24th, 2013 at 10:55 PM ^
I can not start a thread but I thought this was worthy. I have not seen anything yet. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/24/combine-medical-test-reveals-star-lotulelei-has-heart-condition/ Sad to hear.
February 24th, 2013 at 11:01 PM ^
February 24th, 2013 at 11:07 PM ^
I like the TWIT thing, but I hope it can branch out from just highlighting a bunch of stupid people that need to be beaten in the throat with their own keyboards.
The signing day thing was outstanding.