Here are some things that a good
Everything Editor should do:
1.
Node. Not constantly. Not
50 writeups a day. But
contribution to the
database is
important.
2.
Vote. Everyone else gets to vote -- editors should make their
voices heard this way, too.
3.
Help out the newbies. This place is
weird and
confusing if you've just
discovered it. An
editor should be able to answer most
questions and provide
helpful pointers to
smooth the
newbie's way.
4.
Ching! cool writeups. Well, almost everyone gets to do this anyway, and editors should keep an eye out for
notable writeups.
5.
Pick some Cool Nodes for the Page of Cool. Only editors can designate Cool Nodes, which are the
creme de la creme of
coolness. Editors can pick as many Cool Nodes as they want -- 20 a day, one a week, all that matters is that they be, in the editor's
opinion, even cooler than the typical Ching!ed writeup.
6.
Encourage good work. If an editor (or anyone else, for that matter) finds a writeup they particularly like that has already been
Ching!ed, they should feel free to
/msg the noder and tell 'em they did a
good job. Everyone enjoys an occasional
pat on the back.
7.
Serve as an inspiration. The
job title itself puts ya above the
rabble: you're an
Editor, possessed of superior
writing skills, a cool,
level head, and a desire to see Everything
prosper and
grow. People expect to see
good stuff in an editor's writeup, and it's not nice to
disappoint the
fans too often. That doesn't mean that all the editor's writeups should be
lengthy,
brilliant, and non-
controversial -- Everything is supposed to be
fun for everyone, and there's nothing
wrong with an editor tossing off a few
one-liners and
rants when the need arises.
8.
Weed out the bad writeups. Sometimes, this is as easy as sending a
/msg to a noder pointing out a
misspelling or requesting a
fix. But sometimes, it requires
killing a
writeup. There's a lot of crap and
NFN out there that cries out for a
strong editor to
nuke it 'til it glows. You should feel no
guilt about this -- you wouldn't have been given the
power if
bones and
nate doubted your
ability to execute good
judgment. If you have
doubts about whether a writeup should be
nuked, ask the
advice of a fellow
editor or ask one of the
Gods if they can
correct the writeup.
Now here are some things that are
not part of the
Everything Editor's
job:
A.
You don't have to kill a writeup just because someone else doesn't like it. Use your best
judgment -- if it's completely
useless and
contentless, feel free to give it a
toss, but don't
yank a node just because one person
complains. Some folks'll bitch about every little thing.
B.
Don't let a non-editor tell you how to do your job. Feel free to accept
advice and
suggestions, but
you were chosen as the
editor, not that
Level 4 busybody who keeps
pestering you about what to
Cool and what to
nuke.
C.
Don't stifle your opinion. There are
noders out there who will complain if an editor expresses an
opinion contrary to their own. "You're setting a
bad example!" they will
whine. "Why did they ever make
you an editor?" they will
pout. Listen to this carefully:
Fuck 'em. They're trying to
control you and get you to
quit noding your opinions. Editors are not selected on the basis of their
political beliefs. You're just as permitted to express your
opinions as anyone else on Everything. Don't back off from
controversy if it's what you
enjoy.
D.
Don't try to be perfect. You aren't, and you can't be. You'll make
noding and
editing mistakes, whether that means accidentally
Cooling a node,
accidentally
nuking a writeup (if you do, hit the "Back" button,
cut-and-paste the original writeup, and e-mail the noder or
bones, if you can't find their
address, explaining the
accident and offering the
cut-and-paste of the original
writeup), or getting into
drunken arguments with other noders. It's
no big thang. Someday, you'll look back at it and
laugh.
E.
Don't expect Everything to behave. Horrible nodes will get voted into the
stratosphere.
Brilliant writeups will get
no votes at all. Talented writers will get bored and move on.
Potty-mouthed junior high kids will stay around for
months. Even as an
editor, you will be largely
unable to affect
the future evolution of Everything. Don't get
discouraged. You may not be able to
mold Everything exactly the way you want to, but you can make
some difference, and what you're doing is
important. Someday, that junior high kid is gonna write a
novel, and he'll credit
Everything, along with
your patience and
advice, with helping him develop his
chops...