Subject: [FFML] Rant: Headers and dates of stories posted
From: "Shunsuke" <shunsuke@mailcity.com>
Date: 7/16/1998, 4:15 AM
To: ffml@fanfic.com

Hi all,

Please excuse this rant, and also take note that I 
only speak for myself.  But as one of the reviewers 
for the Synopsis List, I felt this needed to be said.  
I have two minor gripes with some people and how they 
submit their stories; no names will be mentioned, I 
am trying to be kind. ^_^ 

When stories are posted to the list with a long batch 
of [words] and [stuff] in front of them, the story 
title is often cut off when the item is sent.  Now, 
when the story appears on the FFML this is not a 
problem, but later if I or someone else wants or 
needs to find a story from the FFML archive, the 
title or keywords that would be used for searching 
have been cut off.  This renders the FFML search 
engine useless, forcing me or anyone else to search 
several day's worth of posts by hand to find one 
story; can you imagine the time it takes to find 
each of ten or twenty stories in this manner?

Also, when people list a submission date for their 
story on the Synopsis List, about half the time 
the story appeared on the FFML on the day before 
or day after the author posted it due to time zone 
differences, so this also makes fics harder to find.  
This often happens when stories are posted within 
four hours of midnight and where the author is 
outside of North America.  Check for when your story 
*actually* *appears*, not when *you* send it, and 
list the FFML date on the Synopsis List.

These two problems often forces me to spend a lot 
more of my time searching for stories than reviewing 
them.  I only have so much time in my day to do the 
list, and for me to do justice to your story and 
give it a fair review, I need to find it quickly.  
If you suggest that I save *every* story that comes 
to me through the FFML to avoid these problems, then 
I would ask you to buy me a larger hard drive and 
more online time for me from my ISP. ^_^

Time spent searching for your story means it may not 
get as good or accurate a review; in future, stories 
that are hard for me to find will be reviewed last, 
and if this results in a hasty or shoddy review, 
please do not blame me; I am trying my best.

So to say it quickly, allow me to do the best job 
I can by:

1) Shortening tags where possible, ensuring the key 
   words of the title appear (about 40 characters 
   is the maximum before being cut off)
2) Check to see when your story was posted on the 
   FFML, *not* when _you_ sent it

Your cooperation is much appreciated. ^_^

One of your humble SynopList reviewers,
Shunsuke

---
If it weren't for the last minute, nothing would ever get done.



Now MailCity offers forwarding so you can check your MailCity messages and other e-mail all in one place.  Go to http://www.mailcity.com