http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/tags.php?tag=dried-out-aspidistra The NewsBiscuit Community en-US Wed, 22 May 2013 15:27:25 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/search.php http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319&page=2#post-3726 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 22:10:09 +0000 nealdoran 3726@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>Plucky, may I commend you on your excellent taste in music. My absolute favourite guitar solo, on one of my absolute favourite songs of all time. Seriously.</p> <p>And seeing as I'm back, I may as well comment on the voting system for old times' sake. Whether you 'self-vote' or not I think it's now definitely going to be less contentious, which is a good thing, but I didn't mind the old system. I found the 1-10 scores were useful, particularly when starting out, for comparing the performance of my own subs against each other and trying to work out if there was a reason behind one doing better than another -- for example if I really liked one story but it got a six, whereas I wasn't sure about another and it got a seven, I'd look again and see if the first one was a 'just me then' something only I thought was funny, or if I hadn't worked it as hard as I could because just the idea in itself was enough to make me laugh. Just using the scores to compare my own stuff also meant I didn't need to worry about whether anyone else was voting for themselves/getting their other half to vote for them/part of a massive global conspiracy against me.</p> <p>So as you can see I thought about it too much in the old days. Now, I'm probably going to spend hours dissecting the degree of fractions of stars that seem to appear...</p> <p>Also, I could probably go for a screwdriver about now, while we're on the subject. Cheers! </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319&page=2#post-3722 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 21:47:02 +0000 ramblesid 3722@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>What! corse I'm ok. Apart from that cad from down South trying to entice the love of me life away.<br /> I very rarely write anything on here, no matter what it sounds like, without a smile on my face. </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319&page=2#post-3717 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 21:20:54 +0000 PluckyMunky 3717@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>Are you ok. Ram? </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319&page=2#post-3714 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 21:10:15 +0000 PluckyMunky 3714@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>yes, jeni. he is a bit odd tonight and i do hope he is ok. i hope you and your crew are well, also. xxx </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319&page=2#post-3712 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 21:02:27 +0000 The All New Jeni B 3712@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>I'm not having a go at Ram, Plucky. Far from it. It was a question of genuine concern, as Ram seems to have a bear on his back at the moment, and isn't his usual gently mocking self. </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319&page=2#post-3711 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 20:52:58 +0000 PluckyMunky 3711@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>don't go on at ram, you two. maybe he is a bit cranky tonight, but we all have our moments.</p> <p>even if you don't like the carpenters, listen to the tony poluso's guitar solo at the end.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdG-ITxL8ok&amp;feature=related" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdG-ITxL8ok&amp;feature=related</a> </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319&page=2#post-3709 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 20:28:02 +0000 The All New Jeni B 3709@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>Des!!!! You got it? Good. I'd put it on that low wall in the hope that you'd spot it if you dropped by. I've been popping over to check on the old place every so often, you know, taking in the mail, watering that spider plant that refuses to die, and making sure that them next door aren't syphoning off our electric to run that little "farm" of theirs in the loft.<br /> Haven't been in today though, so shall pop in shortly.</p> <p>Given that I very rarely sub anything, I don't think that I'm in any way qualified to make a pronouncement on the new voting system.<br /> Having said that, I quite like it. </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319&page=2#post-3708 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 20:18:08 +0000 Des Custard 3708@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>Hi Jen. Ingore him. I found my screwdriver BTW. There's a nice quiet lock-in over the other place if you're interested. But first, your thoughts on the new voting system please. </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319&page=2#post-3706 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 20:08:18 +0000 The All New Jeni B 3706@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>Ram, what's up? I don't think I've ever known you to be quite so cantankerous.<br /> (No doubt, my friendly concern will cause me to be the next to be ranted at.) </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319&page=2#post-3665 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:38:44 +0000 ramblesid 3665@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>Yes Plucky, it may well be beyond you but it isn't in the man beneath the munky suit is it?<br /> I nearly forgot to mention, where's that fart in a colander tag coming from? It's getting to really piss me off. </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319#post-3658 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:04:45 +0000 PluckyMunky 3658@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>Thanks, Ram. I fear I might be losing the plot. This, as you know, would not be unusual. I hope you, Mrs and Miss Ram are all well. </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319#post-3657 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:58:56 +0000 ramblesid 3657@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>No Plucky, I was having a moan that it no longer tells you how many votes have been given. I thought it very interesting just how few were. Even the really good stuff, with maybe 10 comments probably had only 7 or 8 votes.<br /> By the by, the north/south thing was supposed to be a metaphor for the way you think your way of doing things is proper, correct and you can't imagine anyone doing things differently when others think exactly the opposite. Although, saying that, I do think that them down in the SE of England are a sneaky and treacherous lot, apart from the ones I met when I lived there. </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319#post-3644 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:57:26 +0000 PluckyMunky 3644@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>no, that ain't necessarily the case, Ram. Little angel that I am, I have never voted for myself but often only get one vote. Mrs Munky doesn't come on here and my mum has been dead for about 30 years, so I don't think she votes so much. </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319#post-3616 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:51:02 +0000 ramblesid 3616@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>What's happened to the best feature of the new site-the "only one vote so far"?<br /> Does this mean we'll have to assume any sub with a vote has been scored by its writer, unless it has half a star as well, in which case their spouse or mum has also had a vote. </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319#post-3613 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:40:16 +0000 Scroat 3613@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p><blockquote>Ctrl C, hit quote button, ctrl v, hit quote button.</blockquote></p> <p>Magic. Ta. </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319#post-3610 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:26:05 +0000 Scroat 3610@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <br /> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319#post-3564 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 09:04:30 +0000 Des Custard 3564@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>It's interesting to compare two currently successful writers: Ludo, I would guess, launches himself with a 5, while Stoopy leaves a blank. Personally I don't see why the opportunity should be passed up; MPs vote for themselves, and even writers have to push their own work a bit. But really I just missed discussing the voting system.</p> <p>Next question. Now you have to be signed in to vote, do you ensure someone's online before you give them a 5? And do you wait till they're offline if you want to give a lower mark? Is that another north/south thing? Oh, it's a minefield... </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319#post-3563 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 09:03:51 +0000 John Square 3563@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p><blockquote>BTW how do I quote from other people's comments, like Mr Square above.</blockquote></p> <p>Ctrl C, hit quote button, ctrl v, hit quote button.</p> <p>I'm not even sure you can attribute...<br /> [quote= Stephen Byers] Five grand to Westminster at this time o' night, guv.[/quote]</p> <p>Edit: Apparently not. Does this Forum software have a "quote" function buried in it's php somewhere? </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319#post-3560 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 08:52:04 +0000 Scroat 3560@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>Writers, in fact anybody who does anything creative, always have to make value judgements about their own work. It's called "knowing when it's finished and not doing any more."</p> <p>BTW how do I quote from other people's comments, like Mr Square above.</p> <p>Oh, and I think introducing the whole north/south divide thing is rather odd. Golly gosh... </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319#post-3550 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 06:51:31 +0000 sauce 3550@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>I don't vote for myself, either. On the basis that the ed will chose what he likes for the FP anyway. </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319#post-3546 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 06:21:41 +0000 edward hack 3546@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>No mention of an involuntary 'fart' button Malgor<br /> Nose snorting and bottom burping are common NB ailments and should be caterd for.<br /> I often vote with my arse </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319#post-3544 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 01:18:38 +0000 Quaz 3544@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>I don't vote for myself, why would you? You should only post something you think is good, then you want to know what others think. If you big yourself up by self voting then it's a pretty hollow victory when you score well. </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319#post-3542 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:53:31 +0000 cazzbar 3542@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>I never vote for myself, unless I think it's great. </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319#post-3525 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 21:15:01 +0000 sauce 3525@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>Great! Everyone's settled in well enough to discuss the voting system. </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319#post-3524 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 21:14:52 +0000 PluckyMunky 3524@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>if people don't vote or comment, that is judgement enough. </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319#post-3523 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 21:12:31 +0000 malgor 3523@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>And one final extra button needed: image of someone fetching their coat. Reserved for use as the self-voting button. </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319#post-3519 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 21:06:32 +0000 John Square 3519@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p><blockquote>Jeni, how can anyone produce something and be the sole arbiter of it's quality? Surely people make things public so that they can get other people's opinions of them?</blockquote></p> <p>Great idea- as long as people either vote or comment. </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319#post-3515 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:57:52 +0000 malgor 3515@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>The star system scale is flawed. It goes from ‘Poor’ to ‘Fantastic!’ (with an exclamation mark, note). No-one votes ‘Poor’. If a submission is poor, you’re not going to waste further time voting it that. Two stars is ‘Works’. What’s that supposed to mean? ‘I get the joke, but it didn’t really make me laugh?’ Again, a waste of time voting.</p> <p>Three stars means ‘Good’. Now this would be a better starting point for the scale, because if you think a piece is good, you are more likely to be bothered to say so. Four stars is ‘Great’, which would become ‘Better’ on the new scale (that is, better than the ones you think are good) and the current five-star 'Fantastica!’ would be the new three-star ‘Best’ (for quality satire, well-written, with a good gag in nearly every line and building up to an excellent punchline).</p> <p>But a couple of extra buttons are needed. A fairly common situation which occurs for many NB Forum users is that they take a mouthful of their beverage and fail to swallow it before reading a one-liner so incredibly hilarious they suffer an involuntary physiological reaction whereby they spurt said mouthful simultaneously down their nose onto their keyboard and project it out of their mouth onto their screen.</p> <p>Buttons for this might relieve sufferers of Involuntary Spurting Syndrome the tedium of having to spell out precisely which flavour drink / yoghurt, etc was involved, graphic details of the particular spurting technique deployed and the extent of the ensuing damage. Two buttons could simplify this: one to depict the act of snorting out fluid, and the other showing a screen with a huge splat across it. </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319#post-3514 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:56:12 +0000 MADJEZ 3514@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>I suppose you could consider it like a busker putting some coins in his hat to get things started (and so people don't think they are useless). </p> http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/topic.php?id=1319#post-3503 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:41:33 +0000 PluckyMunky 3503@http://newsbiscuit.com/forum/ <p>Jeni, how can anyone produce something and be the sole arbiter of it's quality? Surely people make things public so that they can get other people's opinions of them?</p> <p>If we thought our own work could be better, we would <em>make</em> it better! Almost by definition, we must be offering the best we can, but it is for others to judge how good that is. </p>