Setting schedules for FanFare sequential posts (TV shows, movie clubs)
August 14, 2014 2:19 PM - Subscribe

There are over 100 TV shows and a few movie clubs that have varying levels of continued posting. Some have been completed, abandoned or forgotten, while others are quite active, and all sorts of things in between, and there are still new shows being posted and discussed. Would it make sense to keep track of what's getting posted when?

Some users are dedicated to posting about new/next episodes of programs, while others are posted randomly and by various folks. And there are new shows being proposed, with mixed levels of interest. For those who want to keep discussing this myriad of shows but are hesitant to make new posts, would it help to have some sort of posting schedule? The MeFi Wiki would be a great place to do so, I think, because it doesn't require any specific account (besides an account for the Wiki), and there's a record of who has done what, for whatever that's worth.

This could help people (like myself) who are uncertain to propose new watching dates, or forget when things were to be posted.
posted by filthy light thief (26 comments total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
It appears there is some level of hesitancy for people not the originator to post ongoing series. A coordinated public schedule may help.

We are still in the initial phases of FF, and developing norms.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 9:49 PM on August 14, 2014 [1 favorite]


I'd love a schedule but, honestly, I wouldn't participate in the wiki if it meant having to create yet another account.
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 5:39 AM on August 15, 2014


I am conflicted because I want the man of twists and turns to post a new Fringe thread every five minutes or so, but sort of dread in a way making posts for The Wire myself.

I wouldn't participate in the wiki if it meant having to create yet another account.

You just go over to the wiki and sign up using the same username you use here. It's not a hassle like getting an account elsewhere, you just set it up and forget it.
posted by carsonb at 7:05 AM on August 15, 2014


FanFare Scheduling wiki page is up, with general formatting set up, but I stopped at the end of the C's.

By sorting the shows that are active and on hiatus/between seasons, things don't seem quite so busy, but there is a ways to go to get everything linked up.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:05 AM on August 15, 2014 [1 favorite]


I re-did the layout, ordering by active first (current TV, then old TV), then On Hiatus/Between Seasons, and the list is up to the M's.

I'm thinking of re-working it again, splitting the second category into Between Seasons and Stalled/Incomplete, or someone else could do that, or implement any other formatting ideas you have.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:17 AM on August 15, 2014 [1 favorite]


Thanks, filthy light thief.
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 12:09 PM on August 15, 2014


I added the show I'm posting currently, skipping down to the W's for The Wire.
posted by carsonb at 1:00 PM on August 15, 2014


Added some info for Horror Club. (We're once weekly on Wednesdays, with an extra movie each Friday in October. Halloween, dontchaknow.)
posted by DirtyOldTown at 4:55 PM on August 15, 2014


Thank you as well for the work.
posted by Atreides at 5:41 PM on August 15, 2014


Thanks for joining in, y'all! I'll fill in the gaps this weekend.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:15 PM on August 15, 2014


Thanks for doing this. I just added the Star Trek Saturdays that I have been posting.

I was wondering if there was a way we could post the watch schedule. One small pony would be to post the schedule on the show page. Don't know if that is a possibility though.
posted by Benway at 3:17 PM on August 16, 2014


Benway, that's a good idea, but it would require some spiffy coding from pb, and maybe some mod interaction. I think it could work by one of the following ways:
  1. mods manually edit a new field on the show pages
  2. pb created a new userclass who can edit this sort of thing
  3. pb sets up something to query the MetaFilter Wiki in some way, to allow users to post information without directly interacting with MetaFilter itself
  4. pb sets up some sort of automation based on the days when posts are made (based on the server dates or the user-identified time zones?)
  5. pb sets up some automation to pull when the episodes air (only for new shows, and I'm not sure there's a really good, reliable database that could be queried for all the new shows)
If (and that's a big if) this sort of thing is implemented somehow, I think it could fit pretty neatly under the hard line below the general show information (Visual Banner, Show Title (years) [IMDb] [RSS], and short show summary ) and above the list of episodes. It could also list if the time frame for the various postings (original airing discussed starting in May 2014, rewatch posts starting in June 2015, first watch posts started in July 2015, possibly linking back to the start of a particular mode of discussing the show).
posted by filthy light thief at 3:52 PM on August 16, 2014


I was actually wishing for an automatic posting mechanism, like you put the show, the season and the posting rate and then it would automatically get posted, no need to worry if Benway is on vacation or sick or whatever. I realize this will never happen, but since I am spitballing, it could all start frome the FafaTa post talking about the show. If the FaFaTa post got enough votes (like in Projects?) then an automated posting system would just kick in. Oh and a way to prequeue movies for movie clubs. Oh, and the mods could also deliver me sandwiches at the strategic moment just before I get hungry.
posted by Literaryhero at 4:03 PM on August 16, 2014


I think the mods (or anyone) could counter that if there is enough interest in a show, someone will step in and fill the gaps when the usual poster(s) don't make the post at the usual time.

Compare this to the numerous shows that were started when FanFare first opened up to anyone being able to post, but quickly went dormant when the original poster lost interest, or noted the decreased interest in the show discussions and gave up making new posts. If there isn't enough on-going interest, why should the machine keep spitting out more placeholder posts? And how would show titles and decent descriptions of the shows get automagically filled in? This could be something that solved, but it sounds like something of a solution in search of a problem.

But I get it - I've posted about shows I like and want to discuss, which have some limited interest around them, but I don't always make the posts in a constant fashion, possibly stifling some of the discussions right after the episodes air.
posted by filthy light thief at 4:48 PM on August 16, 2014


I actually totally agree with you, I was just throwing ideas out there. I think that people are a little nervous about stepping on toes when it comes to filling in those gaps. I think that as time goes on it will get better, though.

Anyway this wiki page is great. I dont really follow a lot of the shows, but it will be nice if I want to pick something up.
posted by Literaryhero at 5:21 PM on August 16, 2014


I've posted a good majority of the Defiance posts, but I will say, when Ik ben afgesneden stepped in and did the most recent one, I was actually relieved. One less thing to do off my list and others didn't have to wait until my 24 hour period was up on Saturday since I usually spend it on Friday on another weekly post! Unless people get protective or possessive of the tv show/movie series they're posting (which they shouldn't), I think everyone should feel welcome and invited to make the next post.
posted by Atreides at 6:18 PM on August 16, 2014


Good to know, Atreides. Thanks for saying. As the thread is sorta dead, I wondered if I'd stepped on your toes. We're the only ones who've seen it?
posted by Ik ben afgesneden at 6:42 PM on August 16, 2014


That's a great point. I stepped in for Mathowie after the first Star Trek post was up. The next post I waited until late Saturday then no post, decided to post myself. It would be great if others would jump in.
posted by Benway at 7:17 PM on August 16, 2014


Done with the Wikification of the list. Like I wrote upthread, I think it might be more informative to break down the second part into seasons that have ended and shows that stalled out in their posts, to indicate that someone could pick up those shows and revive them, or at least make posts to complete the season(s) for future discussions, but it's late and I'm stopping before I screw something up.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:28 PM on August 16, 2014 [1 favorite]


That's some good work there at the Wiki - I was unaware of it until this post. could you add upcoming rewatches of movies? I have "My Favorite Year" slotted in for next Sunday (post here).

Or am I misunderstanding the purpose of the wiki?
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 7:57 AM on August 17, 2014


We're the only ones who've seen it?

I dunno, it's possible. I think a lot more MeFites watch the show, all the shows on Fanfare, really, just they haven't gotten use to checking the site or remembering to do so.
posted by Atreides at 8:04 AM on August 17, 2014


could you add upcoming rewatches of movies? I have "My Favorite Year" slotted in for next Sunday (post here).

Or am I misunderstanding the purpose of the wiki?


Nope, I think it can be useful for any sort of planning. There wasn't an "upcoming movies" section, but there is now.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:17 AM on August 18, 2014


Okay I noticed that and was pleased - thank you!

I'm learning wiki and adding things on the fly. If you could check my work it would be great - I haz fear of messing up a community wiki! :o

I have included a year heading (view here), as the Robin Williams Movie Club will run into July of next year (2015). Actually I may not be doing the year heading correctly, now that I look at it...

I'm also adding imdb links as I think people may find these helpful. Let me know if I'm stepping on toes - very very new to wiki editing. Many thanks.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 12:40 PM on August 20, 2014


Hey, don't worry about mucking up the wiki, because
  1. there's an edit log to see what the page looked like before (or as stated on MediaWiki, "The number one rule of wiki editing is to be bold. Go ahead - make changes. Other people can correct any mistakes you make, so have confidence, and give it a try!"), and
  2. I don't really think that many people visit the wiki.
Wiki formatting can be pretty basic, or you can get fancy. Basic formatting is simple, and even things that look kind of complex can be quickly grokked.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:42 PM on August 20, 2014 [1 favorite]


Okay, thanks for the links and help - I'll get to work.
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 2:24 PM on August 20, 2014


Updated this section on upcoming movies for the Robin Williams Movie Club - FYI.

It is pretty easy to pick up, you're right. :) Thanks again for the encouragement and pointers in your comment, filthy light thief. Flippin' a table now in celebration.

ʕノ•ᴥ•ʔノ ︵ ┻━┻
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 4:23 PM on August 20, 2014 [1 favorite]


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