**COMM RULES - PLEASE COMMIT TO MEMORY!!**

[vlredreign.livejournal.com]

Once more, I'm going to remind people of the rules here.



1. Subject lines

Adding subject lines to your post makes it easier for us to place your entries into the Memories. We have so many posts over there with no subject line that it gets frustrating trying to figure out what the post is without opening it.

2. Posting

For the sake and sanity of the comm, please confine your font color to default (black) and font size to no bigger than this. This is font size 3. Larger fonts take up too much space.

3. DETAILS!!

When looking for a fic, please add as much info as you possibly can. If you're looking for recs, specify what you do and don't want.

Bad Request: "Looking for B/J fics."

Why is this bad? Because this is primarily a B/J fic comm. That describes almost every fic in the Memories.

Good Request: "Looking for post-513 B/J fics"; "Looking for fics based in New York/Hollywood"...got it? Okay!

4. Updating

Once your fic is found, or you have several recs, please update your post. If you have time to comment and say thanks, you have time to update your post to state that your fic was found, or recs were given. I don't want to come back a day later asking you to update your post. Nor should I have to.

5. But first...

...Did you bother to check the Memories section? Or skim the main page of the comm to see if someone else already posted asking for what you're looking for? Duplicate posts are a pain. We have so many duplicate posts in the Memories that it's almost ridiculous. Therefore, if you post a request that has been posted within two days of yours, yours will be deleted.

6. Speaking of deletion...

Flames are not welcome. Discuss fics all you want. Giggle at the requests if you must. As long as you're being respectful, all is well. I've done it myself, usually when the mpreg monster rears its head. People can ask for whatever they like. Chances are, someone's written what you're looking for. If you get into an argument with someone in a thread, I'll delete it. Do it again, and see ya, wouldn't wanna be ya.

7. The dreaded "OOOH, ME TOO!!!"

There are numerous fics that are no longer available for whatever reason. Writer's left fandom, archive is shut down, or fics can't be found by way of the Wayback Machine. Lots of us have saved fics to our harddrives. Sometimes someone will offer to email a saved fic to someone.

And then, suddenly there are 80 comments all with people asking for a copy.

This drives the mods nuts. Trust me.

If you are offering to email a fic, comment with a subject line saying "email me for fic" or something along those lines. Any requests to "ooh, me too!" will be deleted after the email offer comment.

8. And finally...

This is an open comm. DO NOT LOCK YOUR POSTS. From this point on, I will delete any posts that are flocked. Actually, if I find any posted after I post this, I'll know that you didn't read this, or that you're ignoring it.

So there you have it. Any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. The only stupid question is an unasked one. Have fun, and happy fic hunting!

Comments

[michele659.livejournal.com]

I appreciate having this community and thank the people who moderate and maintain it. I've found many wonderful fics here.
I'd like to suggest that people not comment on people's requests in a negative way at all-even if it is just to giggle over it. It might make other people who are looking for a story that might be a bit out of the mainstream (or not,maybe just an unpopular pairing or something)hesitant to ask for it.

[vlredreign.livejournal.com]

True, but the thing is, as much as we can ask people not to, they will. as long as it's not particularly snarky or nasty, I won't say anything. If it is rude, then yeah, we'll deal with it.

Thanks for the suggestion, though. I will remember it. ;-)

[xc0l0rful.livejournal.com]

Can we stop directing people to the memories for every post?

I know that personally I check the memories BEFORE making a post, maybe read what I find, and THEN I ask for more/whatever I didn't find.

Its frustrating to take the time to post, and then just get directed to the mems. I would bother making the post if I could find it there. *shrugs*

Maybe its just me?

[vlredreign.livejournal.com]

Actually, no, I can't. First, a lot of people that come here don't even think to look in the Memories section, and others don't know where the main page is that contains the link. Oftentimes they just click on an individual post.

Second, and most important, if you've already checked the memories, just state that in your post. Saves people from bringing it up, and you the aggravation of having someone ask.

[xc0l0rful.livejournal.com]

Oh well, thought I'd ask anyway. ;)

[vlredreign.livejournal.com]

No problem. The idea is just to get people, especially newer people, to check out the memories. Someone posted a few days ago about a rec list, and if we could get a few of those, I think that would help a lot. Newer fics get added every time when someone does that, I find. And I'd bet that it would make checking the memory section a bit more fruitful.

[court1429.livejournal.com]

It's a legit question to ask and Red's answer is also legit in that if someone asks as they did a couple days ago for "voyeur fics" (for example) but *doesn't* say they've already checked the Memories, then that's going to be the first place I send them, which is what I did.

I am using voyeur!fic as an example because a year or so ago I asked for this same topic, got a ton of responses, and compiled all the links (over 40, I think) into one post, so I *know* there're good recs in that category in the Memories. I've never updated my post with more, which I should do. What I did do, though, was come along behind my response and suggested the Through the Eyes Of challenge over at neverenough_bj. That comm would've been my suggestion, too, if the original poster had said she'd been through the Memories and did anyone have any other suggestions.

Please don't think I'm picking on you with this lengthy response. It's just an available opportunity to further clarify. ;)

It's just that it's so obvious with some posters that they don't do any searching themselves first, and we do want to encourage that. Can't tell you how many times someone asks for a link to a fic *and they have the title and author!!* and they don't bother to google xxx-fic+xxx-author. I mean, c'mon, right? So suggesting the obvious is always going to be one of the responses. lol

(But then I'm torn, too, between my impatience for people to do a little of their own work and for getting as many fics out there listed here with good subject lines and Memories/Tags categories to make this comm into a really useful archive, so I try really hard to curb my impatience. You notice I said try really hard, not successfully...) ;p

[netfics.livejournal.com]

well said!

[flowercup.livejournal.com]

I've never commented before, but I have been using this comm as a "fic by type" list. And it is wonderful by the way!!
So I have one question: because of the content, do you have to be over 18 to post? I ask because I saw some posts the other day and the first thing I though was "that person can't be more than 13"!
Hope you understood my bad English.(And really thank you so much for #2 those blink fonts makes me want to throttle someone!!)

[vlredreign.livejournal.com]

I understood you just fine!

Because we don't post actual fic, and because the comm is open to all, I'd have to say no. Do I like it? No. However, I'm really not wanting to be the web police. I would hope that people that are underaged aren't coming here looking for R or NC-17 fics, but we both know that that's a possibility. Let their parents police them. They should be, anyway. I do! lol

[flowercup.livejournal.com]

You are fast! And you explained really well, thank you!

[brianswalk.livejournal.com]

I can't tell you how many times I've gone to the Memories looking for something specific and been so distracted by all the pretty, pretty stories I forgot what I was looking for to begin with. Thanks for keeping this place running smooth!

[vlredreign.livejournal.com]

We try! Thanks!

Our next project is going to be trying to make heads or tails of the Memories section. Adding a few categories and trying to clean up a bit.

[am3lee.livejournal.com]

Is it okay if someone ask for a fic and I have a copy of it then tell her/him that I'll send it to hers/his email and for other people who also want that fic to contact me through my email?
I think it's better than read the "ohh, me too.." 90 times.
But sadly sometime people don't read the post thoroughly even though you already said contact me by my email. Is it rude to remind them again (politely of course) even it's not my original post?

Hopefully you understand what I mean... =)

[vlredreign.livejournal.com]

I do understand, and yes, that's fine. Use your subject line and say something like "email me for fic". If you see a bunch of people asking afterwards, you can remind them. If it gets ridiculous, then I'll take care of it, or Court will.

[am3lee.livejournal.com]

Ok, thanks a lot for the info anyway.
Have a good day!!

[(Anonymous)]

Excuse me but how can I look into the Memories? I'm still new to LJ and sometimes even the explanations are a bit cryptic to me.
Thanks in advance
Sabine (bidyke73, not logged in because I'm at work)

[vlredreign.livejournal.com]

Two ways to access the Memories.

One is from the main page (http://community.livejournal.com/getithere/). Click the link for Memories. It's on the bottom next to the icon of Lindsay and Gus.

The second way is from the profile page (http://community.livejournal.com/getithere/profile). Click the link for Memories.

[bidyke73.livejournal.com]

Oh thanks. What a great way to find even more stories. Will take weeks to check them all out. *sighs*