Dear Homeschooling Friends,
My letter this week will be somewhat short, like last week’s letter. I would like to write some more about the standards on the site, but I think I will save that for next week, and this week discuss why there are limits on how often we can post, and why I have been thinking about restricting the limit further.
Ben implemented the limits back in 2009 when he still ran the site, and I agreed with his reasons. He was originally going to limit posting to 1 post and 7 comments per week, but then in the end he raised the limit to 2 posts and 12 comments (personally, at the time I was in favor of keeping it to 1 post per week, with unlimited comments, or at least a higher number like 21).
You can read the post where Ben explains his reasons here: http://www.apricotpie.com/2-posts-week-12-comments.
There were two reasons that Ben mentioned, which tended to dovetail together. One was quality over quantity, and the other was that Apricot Pie was becoming a busy place where too much was happening. The pace was too fast… he felt like it was becoming like Facebook. He put it this way:
“On Facebook no one has time to pay attention. There are too many things to keep up with and too many social connections to make. Time is an important element to apricotpie. It takes time to write something meaningful. It takes time to be authentic. I trust and believe in quality far more than quantity.”
Now, why am I quoting Ben? Well, it’s not that I feel like I have to do everything the way Ben did it or rigidly continue the site exactly the way he would have done it. But I bring up what Ben said when he first implemented posting limits, for the following reasons:
First, his reasons, feelings and motives are similar to mine, and he expressed them well -- so why completely reinvent the wheel?
Second, there is value in continuing Ben’s original vision for the site. He created a wonderful place, and while change and growth are inevitable, in essence Apricot Pie ought to continue to be the kind of place that it was when Ben ran it -- a safe place for homeschoolers to post creative writing, in an environment that fosters friendship, thoughtfulness, and quality (among other things).
Third, it underscores that posting limits isn’t a new thing, but is well established as part of Apricot Pie’s history, and was originally put in place to help keep and preserve the site’s nature and atmosphere.
I have the same concern that Ben had, namely that a culture of high frequency posting undermines the quality and thoughtfulness of the writing on Apricotpie, and causes the atmosphere of the site to feel too fast-paced and busy.
There is one other concern I have, and this dovetails with keeping the site at a slower pace: more equity on the front page.
Why more equity? Some of us post more often than others, and without posting limits, those of us who post more often tend to just dominate the site. Now, this isn’t entirely a bad thing… naturally those who find more time to write, and can contribute more to the site, should appear on the site’s front page more often. But at the same time there is a balance, and those who tend to post less often (say, once a month, or perhaps three or four times a year) tend to get pushed off the front page rather quickly. Some more equity would be a good thing -- it’s ok to be on the front page more often than other writers, but my concern is that it doesn’t become overwhelming. For this reason, keeping posting limits is a good thing -- and also for this reason, I’m thinking that Ben’s original thought of only one post a week should be reconsidered as a good policy. Even with most people posting no more than twice a week, the site still seems to be on the busy, fast-paced side of things. So this is a major reason that I’m considering restricting the posting limits further.
I know many of you already shared your thoughts last week, but if you have any more thoughts, or would simply like to reiterate what you shared last week, please comment!
Blessings to you,
-- James
Comments
Thank you for explaining and
Thank you for explaining and for your post! You make some good points. Obviously this site is very important to me, and I will continue to be a part of it and support it no matter what! Anyway, thanks!
2 posts, please!
I believe that you feel bad about not being more active on ApricotPie, you've mentioned that before, so I could see how you wouldn't really now how slow the website really is. I often reflect how dead the website will feel at times, so I really don't see how it's "busy". I of course will support whatever happens because, like the comments above have said, I love AP and it's helped me to grow. I still wish to implore that you keep it to two posts per week, for selfish reasons more than anything else, but also for the steady flow on AP. If you limit AP to 1 post per week, it's my belief that the website will become a graveyard-silent and still... But maybe not, you never know! I understand that you want order, but you can have steady activity and order at the same time.
"Here's looking at you, Kid"
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Write On!
2 posts, please!
I believe that you feel bad about not being more active on ApricotPie, you've mentioned that before, so I could see how you wouldn't really now how slow the website really is. I often reflect how dead the website will feel at times, so I really don't see how it's "busy". I of course will support whatever happens because, like the comments above have said, I love AP and it's helped me to grow. I still wish to implore that you keep it to two posts per week, for selfish reasons more than anything else, but also for the steady flow on AP. If you limit AP to 1 post per week, it's my belief that the website will become a graveyard-silent and still... But maybe not, you never know! I understand that you want order, but you can have steady activity and order at the same time.
"Here's looking at you, Kid"
---
Write On!
I am completely in favor of
I am completely in favor of bringing it down to two. Quality is much more important than quantity.
I also agree that more comments would be nice. I confess that I may have gone over the 12 comment limit in the pass, 'though not purposefully.
God bless!
I don’t thrive off of chaos: chaos thrives off of me.
Good argument.
I personally would be fine with 1 post. Of course, I hardly post, so what have I to say about posting limits. But it's always special to have a work on the front page, and I always wish it would stay up longer. Anyways, I would be fine with what you decide. Just thought that if you did decide to limit it to once a week, at least I (and maybe a few more?) are okay with it.
One thing I didn't find clear is if you were putting a comment limit as well.
"It is not the length of life, but the depth of life." Ralph Waldo Emerson
Clarification
Thanks for your continued input, everyone. I just wanted to clarify, the posting limit is already at 2 per week, it's just that it's not automatically enforced anymore because the software that did it is no longer working and hasn't been for a couple of years (and many were unaware of it because I didn't communicate this sooner). So it's a matter of either leaving it where it already is at 2 per week, or lowering it to 1.
Also, in terms of comment limits, there was a point in Apricot Pie's history where comments were getting out of control (and I confess that I was contributing to it). However, that has not been a problem for years. I don't think there is a need for comments to be limited, so don't worry about how often you comment.
<><~~~~~~~~~~~~><>
"The idea that we should approach science without a philosophy is itself a philosophy... and a bad one, because it is self-refuting." -- Dr. Jason Lisle
:)
Better put my two cents in...I liked your reasons, James! Being a very busy person myself I often find that Apricotpie moves far too quickly for my liking, but that could just be my lack of spare time to read and write and comment.
I think that for some, posting only once a week could be limiting, but then....oh, I don't know. I'm glad you're the editor, not me, as I can hardly make my mind up even now!
Goodbye? Oh no, please. Can’t we just go back to page one and start all over again?” – Winnie The Pooh
2/12
I liked the change to 2 posts/twelve comments, and am still fond of that. One thing this site taught me was to strive for quality, and a posting limit insures that people are at least considering what works are the best and postworthy.
"Sometimes even to live is courage."
-Seneca
Posting/Comments Limit
While I have not been active on the site in a few years, I have checked in time to time to read some good writing during those long college nights. (Sorry I didn't have time to comment like I should have!) I felt that at times, the site was less busy, and at others there were many posts. I think at the moment I am still in favor of keeping the posting at 2 per week. I would love unlimited comments, but I also think that around 12 is a good amount to strive for per week. I would still support AP with 1 post per week, but for those who post series, that would severely limit them in posting other writings like poetry or risk making their readers wait a whole week for the next update (if they update weekly). From a reader and a writer's standpoint, I would hate to wait! Just my two cents :)
"Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity." 1 Timothy 4:12
Hi again! I will stick with
Hi again! I will stick with my thoughts from last week. However, if you decide to implement posting limits again, I would definitely prefer two per week. That worked adequately last time without restricting anyone too much.
"You were not meant to fit into a shallow box built by someone else." -J. Raymond