open posting periods?

[ratcreature]

Based on the recent discussion, I've been applying some tweaks to encourage more activity: The sign-up post is now sticky, there's a c&p friendly box for the recs template in the intro post, and the relevant posts are linked from the profile in a more direct manner.

The suggestion of occasional open posting periods got some positive feedback, but before making such a change to the set-up, I thought a poll to gauge interest for using such an option, would be a good idea. The simplest way to implement this would be to leave the monthly sign-ups as they are, and just opening up posting for additional recs by anyone in any fandom for a week every now and then.

Poll #12534 open reccing periods?

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 28

View Respondents

What do you think of allowing rec posting for everybody at certain times?

View Answers

I'd like this and would post recs then that I wouldn't post otherwise.
19 (67.9%)

I might use the open posting period, but it would reduce my inclination to rec within the current structure.
0 (0.0%)

I'm not against this, but I'd be unlikely to use that option for reccing myself.
5 (17.9%)

I'm against this, because the possibility that others might also post recs for the fandom I picked in a month with an open period is upsetting.
0 (0.0%)

I'm against this, because I would prefer the comm to just keep just to the current structure.
1 (3.6%)

I'd like open posting, but it should be organized in an entirely different way, that I'll explain in the comments.
1 (3.6%)

I have no preferences or opinions on this.
5 (17.9%)

Your ticky box options are too limited (and I'll explain the missing option in a comment).
1 (3.6%)

Comments

[omens]

I chose 3 options XD! I would prefer to keep the current structure but I also acknowledge that I would most likely participate anyway.

[ratcreature]

Well, we can all contain multitudes...

[kitty_fic]

I think adding open posting times is a great idea. I'd likely still use the current system, but I think a little bit more freedom for those who want it could be a good thing and encourage more reccs!

<3

[erinptah]

If we're going to have open reccing periods, I think it would be nice to have some organizing theme for each one. Digital art, depictions of couples, great uses of blue in the palette, whatever. Something people can use to jump off of, beyond "now you can rec anything you like in any fandom."

[ratcreature]

But who would come up with these themes? And how would be made sure that they are interesting enough that anyone wants to rec them? Looking at themed rec comms like fancake, it seems to take quite a production with polls and all sorts of stuff for themes to emerge.

[erinptah]

Yeah, it can get complicated. My thinking is that at fancake it's the driving principle of the comm, so they have to take it seriously. I'm in a couple of comms that do daily/weekly drabble prompts, and those do fine with random ideas chosen by whoever's posting the prompt thread.

What if the themes were optional? And there could be multiple themes per open reccing period -- say, a color, a medium, and a subject. That way it could offer some direction/inspiration to people who like that sort of thing, without the pressure of "there can be only one, and if you don't like it, the comm is useless to you for that whole month."

[ratcreature]

Optional themes as inspiration for reccing seems more feasible, though I'm not sure about coming up with multiple themes every time. I mean, unless there was a lot enthusiasm from member for suggesting themes, I would have to come up with the prompts as mod.

[dirty_diana]

I didn't have an opinion on this until we started talking about rarer fandoms/pairings in the discussion post. It would be cool to be able to rec something rare-ish that doesn't necessarily have 3 other recs to go along with it. Or where I feel like the audience wouldn't be interested in that many.

Not sure it's needed more than once or maybe twice a year, though.

[ratcreature]

But reccing rarer fandoms is already possible. Early on someone asked me to whether they could sign up for "small/rare fandoms" to rec a mix and I allowed it for fandoms that only have very little art. So right now if you can rec four different small fandom fanart pieces you can sign up for that.

I can see the point about just a single rec, but just pointing out that the structure now is not as rigid as that.

[dirty_diana]

Huh, I actually did not know that. Back to having no opinion, then. Although I might use it for a single rec, if it existed.