Recommendation - Gamer tags for the Games pages

I'm not altogether sure how tags and things work, not having Wi-Fi or anything of that sort, but I've witnessed some easily setup games on the Atari forum courtesy of friend code and username threads. I'm thinking, you know that spot under games that's empty where the others have favorites? Of course more information could be allowed for expression of one's taste, but online gamer criteria and games played with them seems to be as good a knowledge as anything. I'm not sure how it'd work - gamer tag specified on the outset, you leave some sort of a mark courtesy of an item system that supports this on the games you play, and maybe you can even search to find Listal users you've played against online.

It seems to fit the purpose of Listal great. I'd might as well mention it now since you're hard at work on the item pages, Tom. :)

I don't want to take up another thread with this next one, but why not include original book titles in the fashion that movies are given original titles? It wouldn't just help for foreign productions in that one could easily link to the original work in an omniscient book page of some sort. But now I'm digressing into the matter of a base book item.

I keep getting visited by my Muse.

The Phillies

One of the best things about Listal is that pretty much everyone contributes and shares content. You don't get such freedom with MySpace (unless you're an artist and everyone reads your bulletins). Though some people are being just a little too forward about wanting to connect.

I refer not only to the message spammers, as two of my friends from the Atari forum stated that they've gotten a message or two in this manner, but also to the open and direct form of it expressed often by male users toward female users, often on their profile page or as a response to their photos. I myself have one Listal friend that had two posts put on one of her pictures of such direct intention, though since they were exactly the same she deleted one of them. But usually how the process carries out is that the male users give the female users 1) A compliment on their physical state of being and 2) Any form of contact that's most convenient for them. While this member follows the formula in a more harmless manner, spreading the word of his 'love song' to the audience he thinks will enjoy it (female, because men know not of love), and some members happen to appreciate compliments, however duplicated across multiple profiles, I fear it creates uncomfortability in some parts. Connecting people based on their profile pictures isn't making use of other means of compatibility located on Listal - Movies, Games, TV - and certainly doesn't contribute to it. I can't name these philanderers offhand, but I've noticed it more than a little bit.

I don't think it's the mass freedom that's so responsible as the idea of no heirarchy being present. But I'll get to that.

Online Indicators

While the Random Chat and Anime sections are planned for purging, the 'whos on?' threads and all, I think an online indicator could be useful for other members as well. I was thinking the style of a dull button for offline changing to and from a bright, neon button for online, but I'm starting to think that a simple 'Online Now!' under their username might work better than that. I mention this in all actuality with no favor between including it or not, but I'd like to see what the Listal community has to say about it. If you think it's unnecessary, it probably is; if you think it's useful, it most likely is.

You're a Star!

On Care2, a website devoted to activism on a range of issues, this was the message I sometimes received. What it meant is that I was simply recognized for any given reason by another user. One thing I noticed about Care2 - or at least what I saw of it - was a general friendly air about the members. Even among all the controversial issues covered. Whereas here you can vote on many specific things (reviews, lists, pictures posted for items), I believe that Listal could make similar use as Care2 of a member-recognition system, however simple. We're more in common in that Listal and Care2 are more 'contribution' communities moreso than other social outlets.

Tom Weekly

Name it what you want, Tom. I think a crazy cool way to get people active here is to tell them what's up when or whenever. What I am proposing is this - You start a Listal news blog (perhaps in the manner reviews are posted) and state what updates have been recently made, what in particular is or isn't going on with the place, or anything of notable mention. I'm not sure where this'd go - it'll be important, so obviously somewhere accessible. I know the place was made to give out e-mail for special announcements, but I've only received e-mail for comments and things so far. Plus, a news-style blog allows the user to scroll back and see that the website has been constantly worked on, and maybe even notice updates they find useful but never noticed. You can also see announcements you may have missed. Perhaps a 'Subscribe to Blog' option could be put in place? Not necessarily that you create a blog-type blog, but the features are useful.

On another hand, the Phillies will find the website and get the impression that there is someone in charge. I guarantee that'll filter some of them from first glance. Others we'll have Prelude, Grand Assault, and other moderators tackle.

That would be better done by just merging all book editions together

I agree, actually.

I am interested in doing something like this by giving awards to members like 'top 100 reviewer' etc with a little icon to indicate this.

That's a good insentive. It's similar to how Epinions and Amazon go about it.

There used to be a blog but I found I prefered just posting on the forums, I have been meaning to bring it back and link the latest updates on the front page though. I actually reinstalled it recently but haven't finished configuring it yet.

www.listal.com/blog

Great. That's exactly what I was suggesting.

I will be adding this at some point.

Thanks, Tom. :) Most of these have very little to do with the item pages, so I'll port the first suggestion over to the other thread.