I get the feeling that many new readers here don’t know about “Da Roolz”—the guidelines for posting here—and I can’t really blame them, as they’re located on the sidebar (at this site) and there’s no way to alert someone coming here for the first time that such guidelines exist. Short of putting up a “Read Da Roolz” post once a week, I’m not sure what else I can do.
But I want to emphasize again that new posters should read them, and also to reiterate one rule in particular: rule #16.
16. Please do not use this site to promote your project, book, website, and so on, or to raise money for your cause. If you think there’s a cause that deserves my attention, by all means email me.
As this place becomes more popular, I’m getting more requests to publicize peoples’ projects. It’s one thing to say, “I want to call your attention to this project,” but another to say, “I’d appreciate it if you’d post about my project/book/e-begging scheme, etc.” The first is simply a polite notice, the second is importuning, and it feels like pressure.
Now there are worthy causes that I publicize when they come to my attention, and I see that as part of my responsibility. But if you are promoting a cause you see as worthy, please just call it to my attention, and don’t tell me I should post about it (especially if that request is accompanied by fulsome flattery, which I detest).
I’ll clarify #16 now to reflect the above. But under no circumstances should you ever tell me that I should or must post about something, or that my readers will certainly want to know about your exciting news/project/photos. Just submit stuff for my consideration without the importuning, flattery, or the like. Professor Ceiling Cat will make the decision.
Thanks,
The management
Speaking of the sidebar, one thing that I think would be very useful would be a Professor Ceiling Cat reading list.
You do make reference to various books over time and I am continually making mental notes to self that I must look up the book (for example the one on falcons whose title I do not recall at the moment).
It would’ve been funny if you wrote that request in a way that violated the rules Jerry just laid out – especially if you started it with “Coyne”. 🙂 See how I try to get you to do it so I won’t get in trouble? 😉
Jerry posted about 5 books that had cool recommendations in it.
I think the appropriate challenge would be to break every ROOL in a single posting.
Kink and I will get right on it!
I fear that you could post da roolz every day and an increasing number of new readers would ignore them, esp. no. 16. I see that sort of self-promoting “response” in almost all websites. There is probably a website out there that tells people it is a good way to get their product/book/project publicized: spam websites under the guise of being part of the community. 🙁
I think some people don’t need to be taught, they just can’t help themselves. Even Potato-salad-guy is having to pay for his unexpected success by having his Kickstarter page covered by opportunistic narcissists either begging for his money or trying to promote their own stupid potato-salad equivalent.
Well, on the plus side, I guess it’s a good problem to have (even if it’s difficult to know exactly how best to handle it). At least it means the community here is growing.
I’m not saying you have to appreciate it, though. 😉
Da Roolz seem like common sense to me, but there are so many rude people on the internet that I’m sure they are necessary. I only have a problem with one. I have no idea what is meant by “embed” and no idea how to post a video as per the instructions, so I’m not going to post one until I find out. Please, I’m not asking anyone for instructions. I know enough younger folks I can ask. I may even ask one of my own children. They know everything.
Indeed, and it is one of the lovely things about this site that rudeness isn’t tolerated. Profanity is fine, but no being mean. Also the quality of the commenters here is second to none; even Richard Dawkins pops in occasionally to say a few words when appropriate.
Professort Ceiling Cat knows how to use ‘fulsome’ correctly – which is more than can be said for most people these days!
😉
Dear Sir or Madam,
will you read my book
It took me years to write,
will you take a look.
It’s based on a novel
by a man named lear
And I need a job,
So I want to be a ….