Quoted from FilmMaker06 What if Don made it so that you couldn't post or see the other boards until you were at at like 50+ post count or above...? That way you have to have reviewed some before you become a full member. Just an idea.

Or maybe just 25.  50 posts to see the other boards would mean reading roughly 45-50 scripts.  But that's not a half bad idea.

Tomson,

Don would just delete the one liners.  They bug him, they bug us, so therefore they wouldn't count.

Could Don fix it where a post must be a minimum number of characters?  Say one hundred?  That's not that much for a real critique.  That's probabaly less than what I posted here.


Phil

I actually look up the new people now.  If I can't find them as having posted something, I don't review them.  That guy from last week, 'Film Utopia' is a great reason why I don't post for everyone.  This guy practically refused to read other people's work.  And when he did, he never read past page five.

People!  Read something!


Phil

I think it is a pretty damn good idea.

But I agree with what Bert has said, people will probably just ignore the script they are talking about and end up holding conversations on that particular thread instead.

Still, well worth a try!

The plus side is it has made me get back to writing my own script instead of talking a load of shite. (Not about other peoples work, I meant in general, I talk shite)

That is a great idea, TriggerStreet has something like that. You're required to review at least two screenplays for each screenplay you upload.

-Zavier

I don’t want to spark controversy with this (though I seem to be able to do that whether I’m trying to or not) but it seems to me that all this is unnecessary.

There’s no one on this thread who hasn’t posted in a thread outside of the scripts threads. Obviously, we all enjoy posting back and forth and getting to know one another as an added bonus.

The problem was never the way the board is set up.

If there are people who feel like they’re spending too much time chatting instead of reading, isn’t that really a matter of self discipline? There are times I realize that I’m spending too much time posting in other threads but then, after I’ve had enough, I straighten myself out and start reading scripts again. Sometimes you need a break from reading and reviewing and sometimes you need to mix and mingle.

Yes, sometimes there are people who get carried away (myself included) but part of being an adult is correcting that and getting back on to what’s important. Some of the younger posters aren’t yet mature enough to do that but isn’t that the price we pay for having an open board? And any adult should have the maturity and discipline to avoid the other threads when “play time” is over.

This is just my opinion (which isn’t worth anything) but it seems to me that this board is doing pretty good. We’re for the most part like a unique family. We’re going to get irritated by each other sometimes and we’re going to act stupid sometimes. But so far as I can see, we’re for the most part able to work it out for ourselves. So sometimes it gets really annoying. But every artist needs a break. Taking a break is as important as the writing itself. It’s how we refresh and recharge and tap back into our sources of inspiration anew.

Just some thoughts.

Quoted from FilmMaker06 What if Don made it so that you couldn't post or see the other boards until you were at at like 50+ post count or above...?

That DOM guy is already at 50+ and I have yet to see something meaningful from him.

Quoted from Nixon (dn?) TriggerStreet has something like that.

Triggerstreet sucks.

Isn't it in Don's best interests to have as many active, posting members as possible?  I think this little experiment is more for our benefit -- and to satisfy his own curiousity.  You can't force people to read others -- there will always be people who are selfish, or just miss the point.  Whatever.

Don should do whatever is best for the boards as a whole -- in his opinion.

I'll continue to confine most of my reads to the active members, regardless of the form these boards eventually adopt.

I hate to say this but a review is not how long it is, it's how helpful it is at the end of the day. I find certain reviews more helpful then others like when someone tells you what they like and what doesn't work for them.

Those are the best because you find out what your specific audience would like, can't please everybody but if you find a core group of people who say this, this and that and another that hate it at least you know you don't have to scrap your hard work because one or two people don't like it.

I can't remember the last film that everybody liked, if that's ever happened anywhere on this planet even.

Some guys and gals change their entire vision based on 1 review even if it is George or Phil, they aren't the whole world and I wish people would stop ruining great work based off of reviews by people who probably aren't your audience to begin with. (Not meaning those two specifically but as an example.)

C'mon Wes, I'm like a god here.  People worship me.  They beg for my attention and blessings!  George is a nice guy, too.

I think that having a minimum number of characters in a post would eliminate all the 'attaboys,' 'this sucks' and 'me too's' from the boards.  It would also cut down on a lot of the threads that don't pertain to scriptwriting.


Phil

Wow! Over already? I thought this was going to last a few more days. Glad to see things back to normal. Nevertheless, I still have some reads I intend to live up to.

I enjoyed the exercise. It was a good idea to get the cobwebs out and get back to the screenplays for awhile. I enjoy the other distractions, but the reading is an important aspect of the board and we need to remember that.

Well, I've sat back and watched how this has gone and here's my two cents on the issue, before this thread comes to an end.

I can quite easily admit to being one of the chatterboxes on this forum. So, I do take a lot of responsibility for the off topic threads that have taken place over the last couple of years that I've frequented here. With that, my reason for joining was to upload my first fanfiction script. Not because I thought it would be made, but because I was interested in what other people's opinions of it would be. That's it. Then, as I received feedback, I became interested in reading other people's work, who had so kindly read mine. So, natural read for a read there. Then came the getting to know you's, then more reads for my fellow active friends on here.

Now, I've read a number of shorts by inactive members, but that's not an issue for me, because most of the time, I fancied a read and saw something that caught my attention. It doesn't really bother me too much if the writer doesn't reply to my review, because I'm not the best reviewer here at the end of the day and I'm not expecting a read back just because I read theirs(while it would be nice, it's never my intention). However, some have replied in email to say thanks, instead of on here. So, not all members who join aren't grateful... they just don't all do the discussion thing! I think that's up to them if that's what they prefer to do. Seems a bit pointless, but whatever.

I'm not trying to become a screenwriter, but have found the writing challenges to be very enjoyable, as I like a good challenge. So, my purpose for being here isn't to break into the industry to be honest. I like to read the active members works when I get a chance, and hopefully it helps them. If not, hopefully they're happy with just a simple review!

I do think it seems ungrateful to criticise the less in depth reviews, as to be honest, not everyone who signs up here does so to be a hardcore critic. You have to remember that similarly when you go to the movie theatre, some like to analyse every detail, while others just simply either liked, loved or hated it. Some don't feel they could give an in depth review. Do directors/producers/actors/whoever have a right to dismiss the audience members who don't have a lot to say about their movie? I think that would be ridiculous if that's the case. If anything, all reviews, from all kinds of people, both with an interest in writing and not, is always a help at the end of the day. So, all the expectations of a certain number of words to be posted in a review and what not, to me, seems to be asking a lot and also leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Like, if it's not this long, it isn't good enough...

I do dislike seeing new members being jumped on so much too. I think it's slowly become this way and again, in my opinion, is too much. If I'd have joined now, and been straight away advised so very often, that I needed to read other stuff in order to be read, I honestly think it would have put me off sticking around. Just becasue it's too much too soon. Even if the advice was graciously given, it's just so confrontational at such an early stage when you're feeling out whether or not you want to contribute! That's something I've always thought about and wanted to say. Also, it bugs me when people start to read a script and then never finish it. It really does. Even if it sucks, it's so... for want of a better word, hurtful. Again, imagine everyone just walking out of a movie half-way through... sure, if it's bad, but still seems pointless to not stick it out to the end at the very least.

As for the off topic stuff, I totally see why this frustrates some of the members. I understand that recently things have become very heated, but that always happens on most boards. You can't avoid it, but exercises like this do help to remind people of the purpose of this site, which was a good idea.

However, as a chatterbox, I also realise my lack of place here, as I'm not serious about writing professionally, but am here for creative, mental stimulation and because I actually care about where some of you guys and gals end up, as I'd love to se you all succeed. So, I apologise for the many times I've contributed to the off topics stuff, which has taken away from everyone's works being read.

With that, I will keep checking in on how things are going and reading scripts from here, but it's difficult to know what's ok to chat about in general chat anymore, when it's mostly so frowned upon!

Anyways, this was my 5 cents in the end, so there ya go. Good luck with the writing everyone.

Andy

Sometimes I'm in the mood to just come onto the site and read some work, read some critiques and work on my writing.

Sometimes I'm in the mood to offer my opinion on off-topic subjects that are going on.

Sometimes I'm in the mood to create an off-topic post to see what other people from around the world say or respond to.

I like the options that SimplyScripts give me and I feel that I know a lot of you personally, even though we may never even post in the same thread.

Just a ramble.

In my opinion, if we weren't supposed to post off topic discussions, thre wouldn't be a topic for those discussions. General Chat is to discuss anything, so an off-topic in that board would actually be to discuss screenwriting (as Wesley has pointed out multiple times). The off topic stuff is what helps get our mind off writing at times, and to be honest, not talking about writing is part of the writing process.

It's that two weeks after you finish your first draft to getting into rewrites. The rule is to do whatever and get your mind off of it so you can go after it with the scissors later.

I think what's going on with some of the new posters is when they come in and post 5 replies to their own script thread asking why no one has read it yet. Every post they've made is on that thread, and they're miffed that no one is reading their stuff. Andy, you're part of the community and a fun part of it you make. A lot of us are aspiring screenwriters and I think the comments you've mentioned are directed to them, not necessarily to those who are in it for fun.

I liked the diversion this last week has given us, but I also know that we need the off topic stuff for sanity's sake. So feel free to continue to piss off those who feel we don't it, and amusing those of us who get a kick out of it. Without you, all that Tanuki business would never have happened, and while I never contributed to much of it, I was thoroughly entertained by the threads.

I think this reply is going to have a little bit of everything.

I enjoyed this week's exercise.  It got me more focused on the content of the website, plus there was no drama distracting me from reading.*** After four days of it or so it was getting kind of dry.  I found myself scrolling down the page to find none of the other boards.  I guess we all need that branched out discussion, as George said, for sanity's sake.  People who stayed around this week and continued reading I think we know have a passion for this thing and are loyal to the site.  

I'm not saying that if you didn't show up then you're a selfish jerk.  Everyone has shtuff going on in their lives and obviously don't have the time to read scripts, but if you look at who reviewed last week, or even who just posted in this thread--all regulars of the site.  A few people didn't post at all this week.  Maybe coincidence, I don't know.  Again, I'm not calling anybody names, I know everyone has a life, I just think the figures are interesting.

***Then we come to that one possible minor distraction which branches out even further.  We had a new addition who surpassed 50 "reviews" in only 5 days.  Of course they were all 1-3 liners, so what are we supposed to think of that?  I hate it when people do that.  It's happened to me a few times on here, as it has probably everybody.  You're trying to tell me that you read a 116 page screenplay and you only have 2 lines to say about it?  That doesn't only waste my time but it wastes yours.

Everyone here is an intelligent human being and we know when someone is sincere or not.  If DOM were to post something, would he get reads?  Maybe a few just for being all over the place.  But in 9.9 times out of 10, if you respond to a screenplay with 3 words, you're not going to read.  Like Phil said several posts ago, that film_utopia fellow was questioning why he didn't get read and the few scripts he made an effort to read he didn't get past page 5!  That won't get you read!  If someone reads my shtuff and gives at least a partially insightful review then I make my best effort to read something of theirs.

I guess that's all I have to say.  It was a peaceful week without all the fights and what-not, but I think we need the other boards just for sanity's sake.  I also think we know what may loom in the future if all the bickering continues.  Don is a very flexible person, but if we're all at each other's throats then it probably is in the best interest to close down the off-topic threads.