Welcome to the archived messages from In The 00s. This archive stretches back to 1998 in some instances, and contains a nearly complete record of all the messages posted to inthe00s.com. You will also find an archive of the messages from inthe70s.com, inthe80s.com, inthe90s.com and amiright.com before they were combined to form the inthe00s.com messageboard.
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Subject: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
On one of the parodies on amiright, it was proposed that maybe we should take a day off from writing parodies, and try and find stuff in the vaults to highlight. I'm thinking I could take a volunteer each week to pick 10-20 parodies that never received more than 10 votes, but maybe should have. Preferably it wouldn't focus on a particular parody author either. I could stick it on the site in place of the new entries on a slow day like Sunday or maybe give it a section of it's own for the entire week? Does this interest anyone?
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Sounds good to me...I've seen many that deserved more than they got, most likely because the people did not know the music.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
I think it's a good idea. I personally prefer leaving it up all week instead of taking over the new parodies for a day. I'd be willing to help pick some of those parodies as well.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Quoting:
Sounds good to me...I've seen many that deserved more than they got, most likely because the people did not know the music.
End Quote
Rap? What's that? The stuff you put on presents? Someone pass the Geritol, please.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
instead of the responsibility resting on one person's shoulders maybe there could be 10 volunteers suggesting 2 parodies with under 10 votes a week to highlight... with one that is allowed to be written by the person suggesting it and one that has to be written by someone else.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Maybe this idea(s) could be combined with current news?
Some examples:
Four days ago was the day of the Nobel prizes, that would have been a good day for overlooked parodies about physics, biology, litterature etc.
Ozzy´s accident that almost killed him: Overlooked Ozzy parodies.
Someone suddenly makes the headlines by rowing in a bathtub across the atlantic or down the niagara falls: Overlooked parodies on Rod Stewarts "Sailing".
Some cover song makes it to #1. Overlooked parodies on OTHER songs by the original performer.
NASA finally succeeds in landing a new shuttle on Mars. Overlooked parodies on "Life on mars"
The easiest way would be to just go with parodies related to whatever music-related story Chucky puts on top of the news section of Amiright. Layout-content-wise that would probably look very good and I think that it might give extra attentionen to both the news itself and the highlighted parodies.
Also, since younger original artists are probably more likely to "accidentaly" make the news, this would also in part solve Ethan Mayer´s problem with parodies of newer music not getting the attention they deserve.
Well, that was some random thoughts on the subject folks, and as always, just my 47 cents. :-)
// Peter
PS. Chucky. Thanx for fixing the apostrophe sorting problem. I´m gonna start working on the third part as soon as I have seen the movie. :-)
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
all very good ideas... keep them coming if you have more. I may try and implement this next week or the week after, as it does sound like something people like.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Good idea, but we will still be allowed to submit new parodies, right?
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
how about also incorporating the Appreciation week that we have going back here? (she asks full of hope)
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
You know what? We've got more writers here than readers. We need to get some good press...the kind of stuff that the OTHER misheard lyric sites get...in order to draw some readers in here. I've got links on my site, but that only draws in about 10 people per millenium. Anybody got some connections?
We could also strongly suggest that everyone who submits a parody review a few. Or we could take a page from the scriptwriting competitions (pun intended) and have a requirement to review 10 for every one submitted.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
there was a tiny article about amiright in the my local TV guide. blew me away.
and all these ideas sound very good.
gold parodies often seem to get lost amongst the masses of mediocrity.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
what kind of reviews would these be? unless its a short comment it would be pretty tedius for someone like malcolm higgins or guy dirito to have to review 50 parodies a day.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
We could also strongly suggest that everyone who submits a parody review a few. Or we could take a page from the scriptwriting competitions (pun intended) and have a requirement to review 10 for every one submitted.
End Quote
My online access time is very limited--I dare typing this very message during my worktime! Not a good idea, IMHO.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Quoting:
You know what? We've got more writers here than readers. We need to get some good press...the kind of stuff that the OTHER misheard lyric sites get...in order to draw some readers in here. I've got links on my site, but that only draws in about 10 people per millenium. Anybody got some connections?
End Quote
I'm always in favor of that. Putting amiright.com in your signature line on messageboards you visit helps, telling friends, etc. Media tends to bring the wrong kind of traffic usually, people who want just mp3s of Weird Al, etc.
Quoting:
We could also strongly suggest that everyone who submits a parody review a few. Or we could take a page from the scriptwriting competitions (pun intended) and have a requirement to review 10 for every one submitted.
End Quote
Unless you want to write to an audience of just parody authors, it doesn't sound like that great an idea.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
What do you all think of having a newbie posting day, and perhaps a day to post any newer music, say 2000's and beyond.
I'm refecting on Ethans thoughts that, most the posts are from an older era of music.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Quoting:
You know what? We've got more writers here than readers. We need to get some good press...the kind of stuff that the OTHER misheard lyric sites get...in order to draw some readers in here. I've got links on my site, but that only draws in about 10 people per millenium. Anybody got some connections?
End Quote
This is a very good idea. Everyone should have the website listed to get more readers.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Quoting:
What do you all think of having a newbie posting day, and perhaps a day to post any newer music, say 2000's and beyond.
I'm refecting on Ethans thoughts that, most the posts are from an older era of music.
End Quote
I like that idea...they would know each other's music
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Quoting:
I like that idea...they would know each other's music
End Quote
I think we can use the other idea, about highlighting unknown parodies on the site, to help encourage people, without resorting to restricting parodies posted on particular days.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
I'm sure I've suggested this before, but what about a "jump to random parody" button? That would take you to old and new, good and bad alike...
One other thought (though I can see how this might get abused) is a "last half-dozen comments" on the front page that updates with each refresh, so that you get some idea of what's being looked at. But I can see that this could conceivably cause quite an increase in server load.. Downside is, of course, that you'd get people sticking in silly comments just to see them on the amiright front page :-(
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Quoting:
I'm sure I've suggested this before, but what about a "jump to random parody" button? That would take you to old and new, good and bad alike...
End Quote
maybe useful, maybe not. easy to do, I guess I should just do it
Quoting:
One other thought (though I can see how this might get abused) is a "last half-dozen comments" on the front page that updates with each refresh, so that you get some idea of what's being looked at. But I can see that this could conceivably cause quite an increase in server load.. Downside is, of course, that you'd get people sticking in silly comments just to see them on the amiright front page :-(
End Quote
The downside is exactly why I didn't do this, I thought about it when I created the latest-comments section. I've seen these types of things abused before. You place the latest commments on the front page, and people post profane crap, or "look at me" comments. You post links to the most commented on parodies, and people begin to post like mad on their own parodies. Yes it can be policed, but at some point it just ends up draining resources.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
I second the random parody idea - can only speak for myself, but I'd use it a lot.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
First off, I applaud Chuck for his hard work, and for providing us with this very fun website.
Originally when this proposal came up in a message thing between myself and I believe, Adagio, I had in mind something that would give more exposure to those of us who don't get a ton of "hits" (most of us). There are a lot of talented writers here, with very clever parodies that nobody ever sees. Just survey the list of "Top Songs" every week. Same writers over and over and over. This doesn't necessarily reflect the best work, but the writers with the most friends. And as long as some writers maintain a parody-catalog numbering in the hundreds, and even thousands, their names get the best exposure on the list of contributors. There are a number of us who pull in higher ratings than the people in the top ecchelons of this list, and unfortunately, we're getting buried.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
While I do agree that there are many parodies not getting as much attention as they probably deserve, I don't know that I agree with 'getting buried'. Speaking for myself, I've only been posting parodies regularly for a few months, but I've ranked quite well in the lists a few times. Some of the songs I choose to parody just aren't well-known amongst the people that vote regularly, but it doesn't bother me a great deal, because I enjoy the writing, I enjoy the feedback my writing gets, and I enjoy reading the parodies others come up with based on songs that I know and giving them feedback to let them know about it, and IMHO these things mean more than how high up in the top 100 you can get. As far as keeping people from being 'buried' goes, maybe a parody authors page which listed authors by overall vote averages rather than number of parodies written would give a different perspective, but it seems to me that if people are creating quality work, then the votes they get reflect that well (excluding the infamous 1's attacks).
That being said/rambled through, I echo the sentiments to the work ChuckyG puts in day in and day out, which is much appreciated.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Im cool with that.....conscidering I have alot of songs that would be in the category. ::)
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Quoting:
You know what? We've got more writers here than readers. We need to get some good press...the kind of stuff that the OTHER misheard lyric sites get...in order to draw some readers in here. I've got links on my site, but that only draws in about 10 people per millenium. Anybody got some connections?
End Quote
Maybe the advirtising should be approached differently. I mean this site started and is featured as a "misunderstood lyrics" site, I mean even the name is "amiright". So maybe people aren't coming and seeing the parodies, just confirming lyrics they don't understand. I myself even had this site bookmarked for what had to have been at least two years before i found out about the parodies, and even then it was only because someone on the "World Of Weird Al Forums" posted they had a new parody here. I'm not saying change the whole site, but maybe take a different approach as to letting people know the content of the site.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Go check out Paul Robinson's parodies this week. I've given up on self-promotion entirely. I try to respect the idea that if one person who isn't me enjoys my parody, then it was worth it. If more than one person enjoys it, well that's just icing on the cake. It's like high school: don't get intimidated that your not one of the cool kids. More good things happen when you forget everyone else and do whatever it is that you do. This might also just be a rear-end present from a guy who doesn't get that many votes. You never can tell. By the way...check out Paul Robinson if you haven't. Maybe if the Appreciation Week thing works well, Chucky can make it official.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Quoting:
Maybe the advirtising should be approached differently. I mean this site started and is featured as a "misunderstood lyrics" site, I mean even the name is "amiright". So maybe people aren't coming and seeing the parodies, just confirming lyrics they don't understand. I myself even had this site bookmarked for what had to have been at least two years before i found out about the parodies, and even then it was only because someone on the "World Of Weird Al Forums" posted they had a new parody here. I'm not saying change the whole site, but maybe take a different approach as to letting people know the content of the site.
End Quote
this is something I have thought about a lot myself, and I'm not sure what can be done. The misheard lyrics are still a huge draw and a huge part of the website. It's not my goal to replace them, so drawing attention towards the parodies at the expense of the misheard lyrics isn't something I'm thinking of doing.
Now that I've put in the code to see how many views a day people are getting, it's interesting to see that a parody can be seen a few dozens times without anyone leaving a comment or a vote. Maybe what I should do, is place a message at the top of the site again to encourage voting and commenting on parodies.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Quoting:
This is a very good idea. Everyone should have the website listed to get more readers.
End Quote
I'm thinking of trying to contact more websites myself, and asking people who have sections of parodies on their personal sites, to consider submitting here. It may help encourage more people to talk about the website.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Quoting:
I'm thinking of trying to contact more websites myself, and asking people who have sections of parodies on their personal sites, to consider submitting here. It may help encourage more people to talk about the website.
End Quote
Just off the top of my head, why not see if you can get a link on the official "Weird Al" site. And even if you need a leg up, Bermuda Shwartz is on the World of Weird Al forums all the time, so it's possible for someone on the inside to put in a good word. Just a thought.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Quoting:
Just off the top of my head, why not see if you can get a link on the official "Weird Al" site. And even if you need a leg up, Bermuda Shwartz is on the World of Weird Al forums all the time, so it's possible for someone on the inside to put in a good word. Just a thought.
End Quote
that's an exquiste idea, though I don't hang out on either site, and I'd feel strange about contacting them out of the blue like that.
It might not hurt to put amiright in your signature line on that forum, I bet if you post there a lot and have something refrencing this site, it would drive a decent amount of traffic.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Quoting:
there was a tiny article about amiright in the my local TV guide. blew me away.
End Quote
if it's not too long, you should type it up and post it here, I'm sure everyone would get a kick out of it. of course that was a few weeks ago so it's probably long gone by now.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Quoting:
I'm sure I've suggested this before, but what about a "jump to random parody" button? That would take you to old and new, good and bad alike...
End Quote
just making my coding list up for the next month or so... and noticed this again, and I can safely say this is not only going to happen, but is an EXCELLENT idea to encourage voting. I can add a link on the voting results page to let people check out another random parody, or maybe a couple other links. That's prime real estate I've been ignoring
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Quoting:
Maybe if the Appreciation Week thing works well, Chucky can make it official.
End Quote
I'm happy to make it official. Sometime in the next month I'm going to make a new section on the front page, and highlight parodies and a particular parody author for a whole week. Not sure when it'll happen (may even take longer if I get busy), but it will happen. For now just keep posting it on the messageboard.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Quoting:
Maybe this idea(s) could be combined with current news?
End Quote
I do have to admit, I like the thought of this... maybe when people click on a news comment, they can then suggest appropriate parodies to be added to the bottom of that page?
It may get abused, but a report inappropriate link might help prevent that. I think if it's a news headline about a performer (ie. Michael Jackson) there would be one link to display all parodies on the site of that performer (otherwise a Beatles news story would make a certain parody author here drool with delight).
I love ideas that build on content we have here already, and helps to encourage people to look at more parodies. I know most people writing them put a lot of work into them, and I certainly want to encourage as many as possible to get looked at.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
here's a brief list of what I'm thinking of doing for the next few weeks after work. It's a large list, so I probably won't do it all. Plus, sometimes I do a quick, primative version of a feature, and if it's not popular, I kill it off.
Break daily comments into seperate pages by day (currently displays last three days worth of comments on one page, too huge)
section for highlighting one overlooked parody author each week. Not sure how to handle who gets picked, 2nz has been doing it anyways, should we just appoint them? - now handled by 2nz
section (part of the one above) for ten overlooked parodies each week - changed my mind on this, not gonna do it, overlooked author notice should be good enough
some kind of message about the importance of voting on the parody pages
Replace banner ad with the two most recent news headlines? I'd like to encourage people to submit headlines and comment on them more. - changed my mind, possibly sold the space again
Related parodies on the news comment pages? - done
Random parody button. One for the left hand navigation bar, and one on the voting results page. - done
Voting results page should also have a "next parody" page button, and maybe a better thank you for voting an explanation of why it's important -
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
First of all Chucky, congrads on reaching your 'bi-centennial' in terms of posts. Secondly, thanks for this excellent site where we all can let our creative juices flow out from the reservoir of our minds to the ocean of amiright and blah, praise, blah, praise, blah. I fully support the idea to separate the comments page into smaller pieces, the 'next parody' button, the inclusion of more news and support for comment on it, and of course the appreciation week idea. If you put in a 'next parody', would it scroll through the works of the same author or parodies of the same original band name or song? And I was gonna mention a 'last parody' button, but I would be forgetting about the one already provided on most web servers. The random parody idea I could take or leave, I probably wouldn't use it much. Good luck with the changes. And also, there are some rules I've been trying to follow in the appreciation week thing. First, any one who averages ten or more votes per song is generally disqualified.Secondly, the person should be an active poster, meaning that the person should have submitted at least one parody in the past two weeks or month. Thirdly, and this has nothing to do with the selection process, but any specialty or trend in the author's original song choices or parody style should be highlighted. For instance, if you chose Arwen for the next Appreciation week, you might say that she has that name for a reason and LotR fans are in for a treat. And if you chose Rick Duncan or Agrimorfee, you might point out Rick's many, many Beatles parodies, or Agri's focus on Pink Floyd.
If you all want, I could just keep choosing people. But I have no problem handing the job over to someone who's been here longer than two months ;D.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Quoting:
If you put in a 'next parody', would it scroll through the works of the same author or parodies of the same original band name or song? End Quote
Currently at the bottom of each parody, there's a next/previous button based on when parodies were added to the site. You could theoritically view all 15,000+ parodies on the site by constantly clicking on it. I think though I'll make a small list, with the next/last, and then a "other parodies by this author/performer/song title".
I think I'll also change the comment page the simple "than thank you" page, to also contain these items.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
How about you make it so that whenever a person views a parody, if they don't vote, the parody automatically get's 3's? It would kind of help with people that just go and look at parodies and don't vote. Whatcha think?
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
I think it would screw up the voting results too heavily to really work. Parodies that received high votes would be brought down each time a person clicked the link and didn't vote, whether they be someone not planning to vote or comment or someone who has already voted and going back a second time to add a comment (or another comment, if they've already commented before).
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Quoting:
How about you make it so that whenever a person views a parody, if they don't vote, the parody automatically get's 3's? It would kind of help with people that just go and look at parodies and don't vote. Whatcha think?
End Quote
there's no way to track whether it's a search engine or a person, or whether it's the same person hitting refresh...
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Well why not hav the server copy down their ip adress? Then they can't vote again. Unless the current system is based on cookies.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Quoting:
Well why not hav the server copy down their ip adress? Then they can't vote again. Unless the current system is based on cookies.
End Quote
that would mean everyone who uses AOL is counted as one person (every AOL account shows as the same IP address). Not to mention that most dial up users get a new IP everytime they dial in, broadband users can renew, etc.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
I added the random parody link to the main nav bar of the site, and also on the voting results page. I may add more to the voting thing as I get the time.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Quoting:
I added the random parody link to the main nav bar of the site, and also on the voting results page. I may add more to the voting thing as I get the time.
End Quote
Thanks, Chucky - I noticed that just now... It'll be interesting to see if any old long-forgotten favourites come out of the woodwork
Phil
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
The new Thanks For Voting page looks pretty good, too.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Ooh, fun... I think I'm going to play with the random parody doodad for a bit. Oh, and I'm glad I'm still technically eligible for the appreciation week thing, as only 5 songs of mine have gotten at least 10 votes, and one of them is at exactly 10 :-).
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Umm. How about instead of having a vote for how funny, you have a vote for how much you care about the topic? Just a thought.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Got a couple ideas: How about a "1950s Songs" category and a "Christmas Songs" category. There are a lot of great Christmas parodies here at Am I Right, and it'd be nice to link them together for easy locating. Chucky, you've made some excellent improvements lately to the site.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Quoting:
Got a couple ideas: How about a "1950s Songs" category and a "Christmas Songs" category. There are a lot of great Christmas parodies here at Am I Right, and it'd be nice to link them together for easy locating. Chucky, you've made some excellent improvements lately to the site.
End Quote
Both good ideas, the biggest problem is moving the existing parodies into the new categories. It would be nice to have a Christmas section though, especially near Christmas time (might spur a newspaper article or something). I'll have to think about how to let people help identify the songs that should be moved.
Subject: Re: New idea for the site, opinions wanted
Quoting:
Umm. How about instead of having a vote for how funny, you have a vote for how much you care about the topic? Just a thought.
End Quote
The purpose of the site is comedy, which is why that's a voting category. I don't discourage people submitting serious parodies, but I certainly don't think people should freak about getting all categories as fives. If you write a serious parody you're really just limiting yourself to two voting categories, that's all.
Not to mention, there's no easy way for me to identify existing votes (and would need to write a lot of code to handle votes counted before the change over, etc.) It's not likely to happen anytime soon. I don't even have time to upload author profiles, so a major overhaul of the voting system is less likely.