Dumb bots make me want a new network

[Mike Suszek]

After much deliberation, I want to make a new VGJN. As much as I love this place, we're getting attacked by penis-enlarging ringtone robots, and the creator of the network isn't around to bounce them out.

So Jeff and I talked about making this anew. And we want all of our friends (that's you people!) to come with. But I want this to be a group process.

So I wanted to discuss ideas with the people that are usually on here. Should we change social networking sites? Facebook? Myspace? LiveJournal? I don't really know what there is to offer, but we'd want to keep a few things in mind:

- Love, peace, and prosperity
- Being "exclusive" enough to push out non-serious folks
- Distributing enough admin duties to get rid of the bots
- Still allowing folks to post opportunities here
- Just plain usability

Post some ideas in this discussion (without offering ringtones) and we can come to a consensus. I'm FOR REALZ about it.

EDIT: I know some people are still joining up. And that's great, come along, new friends.

[Jeff "Switch" Sorensen]

I got the ringtone/penis-enlargement, and now everybody in the elevator knows when I'm horny (unless I put it on vibrate).

Oh, and as for the related topic, I'm cool with what we have here so long as we have moderation from somebody who sticks around. Nothing against Colin, but dude just isn't around, and all we need beyond what we have here is some moderation from the bots. Other than that, I'm good with Ning or something like it. I don't really want to take this to Facebook/Myspace/Livejournal, since I kind of hate all three of those places.

[Erick]

Since I posted my Nintendo writer's job on this website I have had to install 3 different email filters and spam programs, my email has been sold across the internet to the worst extend possible. It's gotten really bad.

I'm a web designer and I'm willing to create a professional social network for Videogames Journos Network where these things won't happen again. Let me know if we can work something out.

[Steve Haske]

Sounds great, but I don't know what's out there as far as sites go. Maybe we should try one last ditch effort to contact Colin? I don't know.

[Erick]

That would be the right thing to do, I sent him a private message right after I registered over a week ago with no response, so let's hope he answers back soon.

[Mike Suszek]

Jeff and I have done that months ago, to no avail. I'm personally tired of waiting.

[Erick]

You know, we should do a website with a social network so that we can consolidate game writer resources as well as mentioned on this thread http://videogamesjournos.ning.com/forum/topics/game-journalist-reso...

[Jeff "Switch" Sorensen]

The problem is Colin's not around. It'd be really cool if he were around, but he isn't, so I think a new site might be the way to go.

Nothin' against Colin, but a place like this should be moderated by somebody who's still around, and I think that's what Mike is after.

[Erick]

I agree most with you, I was expecting to hear from him right away, I was really shocked that my pms have not been responded.

Ok, let me get to work since I got time to spare today and tomorrow, I will jazz a site tonight and post the link here tomorrow.

Same name right? videogamejournos?

[Jonny Hechema]

Awww. This was the only productive thing to come out of using Ning for my Intro to Media Studies class last year. Ah well, guess it's time to move on.

We need something that's kind of low-key for exclusivity, like you were saying.

[Erick]

Before I spend money (domain and server space) is this consensus that we start a new site? if so is everyone ok that I create it? and should I make it INVITE ONLY? where you need to be invited to be part of the site?

I think that would be the ideal thing to do.

[Andrew Groen]

That would really put a limit on who could be in the group, which has its ups and downs. The big problem is that the Admin of the group would have to constantly be looking around at freebie sites looking for up-and-coming writers.

I think it would work better if we had a simple application process for membership, so that moderators could choose to not accept people if they seemed fishy. Just something simple, like a PM with your name, email, job description, and website.

Ideally, we would make it so that several committed folks could be mods. Otherwise, as I'm sure happened with Colin, their life might simply move in other directions, leaving them with little time to manage the entire network alone.

[Erick]

I think a screening process needs to be put into place like you mentioned in your post above. I mean all of the people on this thread seems to be pretty active. So we could activate accounts in a matter of hours.

Giving moderating access to other fairly dedicated folks would also be the ideal thing to do.

Well, I went ahead and started working on http://videogamesjournos.com