ACTIVITY CHECK -- ADDITIONAL THREADS FOR SEPTEMBER

[paradisamods]

The following characters require additional threads and/or logs to fulfill activity criteria for September. The hiatus post was cleared of any expired hiatus dates, so any of the individuals who were on a valid hiatus during the month of September should not find their characters here. All the terms for activity requirements are detailed here.

Keep in mind that if you do not comment on the hiatus post or let a mod know, your hiatus does not count. It is your responsibility to comment on the hiatus post. Making a hiatus note on the OOC comm does not count.

If you spot any mistakes or dropped characters, please let us know.

You have until October 7th to comment with additional threads from the month of September. Those who do not supply any or sufficient additional threads will be moved to the sweep list. We've noted who needs reduced amounts due to hiatus.

Alaric Saltzman
Amoretta Virgine
Angel
Apollo
Aradia Megido
Axel
Captain Jack Harkness
Charles Gunn
Claire Bennet
Colette Brunel
Cross Marian
Cupid
Damon Salvatore
Dave Strider
Fujino Shizuru
Gabriel (the Trickster)
Gold
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III
Homura Akemi
Jack Marston
Julia
Lana Kane
Lance Sweets
Max Guevara // X5 - 452
Maya Fey
Michael J. Caboose
Nanako Dojima
Neal Caffrey
Newton Pulsifer
Nozdormu the Timeless One
Oliver Queen
Sakuya Izayoi
Sora Koudou
Spike (Buffy/Angel)
Takamura Uru
Thomas Elliot (Hush)
Tron
Willow Rosenberg

DROPPED/REMOVED:
Cassandra Cain
Himura Tomoe
Ryotaro Dojima
Tavros Nitram
Yuki Nagato

Comments

[paradisamods]

Here is fine!

The logs community is being checked. However, we check only for logs that are posted by that character, we don't go through the posts and check for the threads within that post. There's no intent to discourage activity in the log community - we just don't read through every log to see how many comments the person has within the log post. If the character is tagged on the post but wasn't the one to post it, that could mean that they have one comment or one hundred, so we can't just check people off based on being tagged in to a log.

We keep a mod chart of all hiatuses, so even if it's cleared off, we still know how long your hiatus was intended for. This applies to everyone, but in the specific circumstance you cited, we will still know that your hiatus extended 13 days into September and keep it in consideration.

[i-neverlose.livejournal.com]

The rules in the AC state the following:

If characters do not meet the two required journal entries per month, they may also make up for it with a 3rd person RP log posted in the Paradisa Logs community. Each log posted is worth the same as one journal entry for each character involved.

Which would mean that as long as you have your tag on that post, it should count.

RE: the hiatus note - okay! I just wasn't sure.

[paradisamods]

Yes, they can make up for it with a log or threads. The rule states that each log posted is worth the same as a journal entry, and if the character posts it, then it counts for their activity on the initial check. A log with several people tagged into it is not the same as a "joint" post over the journal where two people actually participate in the dictating of the post.

We are absolutely not saying that these threads in these logs don't countfor anything - just that they are not what we check for initially, like how we don't check for individual threads, since the number of comments may vary. If you have a thread there, please show us here, and we'll count it then.

No problem! :D

[compels]

But it says for each character involved. That's changing the rules without warning if you say it's not the same as a post for the people who don't necessarily post the log up initially.

[paradisamods]

Yes, and we do count it if they were involved. But tagging yourself in and then replying once isn't really being involved.

We'd be happy to make the rule more clear/detailed though, since it's clear that it can be interpreted a few different ways.

[compels]

No, it really can't be interpreted different ways. It's pretty clear language and it says that if you are involved in the log, it doesn't say that one comment doesn't count as involvement, because involved indicates your character being there and doing anything AT ALL, then it counts as one post.

Saying anything else is a policy change and, frankly, it's bullshit. This is the way it has always been, that's why people add their tags to log posts that they participate in. All you're doing is further discouraging use of the logs comm which was, before now, completely valid activity.

If one character makes a post that's a private room filter/actionspam thing in the main comm and tags both characters involved in it, it doesn't matter how many times they tag it, it gets counted for AC. I've sat here and WATCHED it happen. The fact that it doesn't for the logs comm is absolutely absurd.

Editing because I have more to say in the hulk rage that this has inspired. The point of adding tags to the logs comm is so that characters who don't talk a lot or wouldn't be IC for them to make journal posts all the time that are unfiltered and blah blah blah can still make AC without commenting links here every single month. Why are they suddenly being penalized for this?

[leon.livejournal.com]

Tossing out Angel as an example. I just plurked this but it's really hard for me to get him to make journal posts that aren't filtered to a very specific group. It's one of the reasons I gave him the loss I did because he's not the most social butterfly in the world in person either.

Tagging into logs is the most realistic way of netting CR for him unless something specific is happening and he feels compelled to involve himself somehow. I don't know. This whole situation seems like it changed on a whim because it has never been a problem before now.

[encourage]

It may be good in that case to lay out clearly how many tags back and forth are needed before the moderators will count a person tagging into someone else's log as "being involved." Otherwise it makes it sound arbitrary, and if the person making that post has no replies, it still counts for activity? But if someone responds to it, and is through two replies to the original poster, it only counts... for the original poster? They've both generated the same amount of effort, tags, whathaveyou, and the log comm is more deliberate and less used than the journal comm in this game. Everyone participating tags in with their character name, unlike the system we have in the journal community. As is asked below, why encourage or have that practice if it will not help make it easier to track activity?

Finding characters more easily doesn't make sense, as we have no equivalent for the main community -- where such a tracking system would make more sense.

just adding onto your comment... not making a point about what you said. <3

[i-neverlose.livejournal.com]

I just also see that on the last day of the month, dozens of people make a post in those last few minutes to make their AC and they don't reply back to people until later.

Discouraging participation in logs, like this seems to be doing because it's "not enough", is just going to increase the number of private and last-minute posts that get counted for activity.

I would much sooner go through the logs comm and look for open posts and tag to them to help build CR than to blindly have conversations with a castle resident my character might not meet face to face.

Also, logs tend to have people backtagging for a much longer time-period. I am still tagging things in the log comm that started at the beginning of September and that happened in August.

This is just really, really disappointing to have this stated this way.

[leon.livejournal.com]

I want to add that I really dislike the whole "we have to judge what counts and what doesn't count on a case by case basis" regarding threaded activity (and now apparently participation in logs, I guess...). I am the type of person who wants to know that something has been cleared and not have to worry about it so that I can just have fun without stressing. This does feel very arbitrary (and out of the blue, might I add), especially when joint posts over the journal system are used so frequently with room filters and stuff and both people/everyone in participation there has it count toward activity--even when it's only a short scene that doesn't continue into the comments.

[i-neverlose.livejournal.com]

I mean, I really, really don't want to go through the journal comm and point out all the posts that are posted on the very last minute of the month, get replies or none and then people haven't replied to them since posting them.

I mean, a community that frowns on last-minute scraping by posting, this is just really frustrating to know that going out and SEEKING actual interaction with someone isn't enough when clearly ANY SORT OF JOURNAL ENTRY of ANY LENGTH is acceptable.

[compels]

That's okay, I will. I don't mean to call anyone out, just give an example.

http://paradisa.livejournal.com/13676713.html (iirc this is a mod character)
http://paradisa.livejournal.com/13678600.html
http://paradisa.livejournal.com/13675443.html

This person made all their AC by posting two entries with no tag backs on the last two days of the month:

http://paradisa.livejournal.com/13674861.html
http://paradisa.livejournal.com/13679486.html


What you guys are saying is that this is acceptable for activity, but us actively using the logs comm and adding our tags to it isn't.

Note on posts @ end of the month

[orz-woeisme.livejournal.com]

Just a head's up that for characters who consistently post @ the end of the month to make AC--

These are tracked and recorded every month. If muns/characters routinely wind up on this list (usually they get 3 strikes) then penalties DO apply: declination of applications, stricter activity checks, etc.

Sometimes people have bad months and they'll slip once or twice, but generally we don't penalize people until the third offense. I won't comment on what does/doesn't count as AC here since we'll be replying to that shortly (or already have by the time I finish this), but we do keep track of people who post at the end of the month to make AC and drop threads consistently for long-term Activity Check purposes.

These lists are maintained by me and updated on the 13th of every month, following the monthly request for threads.

[huntersdaughter]

Just a note, on your note:

If they never apply for new characters or never get listed on the AC because they make posts at then end of the month - how can they receive a stricter AC?

I have never heard of a long-term activity check taking place, so while I appreciate that you are keeping track of these things - I'm not sure how it can be implemented fairly.

[orz-woeisme.livejournal.com]

Good question! I literally go through the last couple of days of every month and record the following:

Character Name

Mun

Month

Type of post (open/filtered/private)

How many of those posts were made

So for instance I'll wind up with something like this:



If a character shows up on this list 3 times an email is sent to the mun with a warning and if they do not improve their AC over the next couple of weeks then the head mods make a decision concerning what action to take (drop the character, no apps, harsher AC--not accepting any posts at the end of the month, no posts where threads have been dropped, etc). Whatever they decide!

[huntersdaughter]

Okay! Thank you! This makes as lot of sense.

[orz-woeisme.livejournal.com]

Aaaaand here's (http://paradisaooc.livejournal.com/3540581.html?thread=93916517#t93916517) the clarification on AC :)

[compels]

Thank you for the note and link! I tracked this whole thread though aha.

[leon.livejournal.com]

Why do we tag the log community when we post into a log there ... if it's not going to count.

This is like an overnight policy change unless I missed something.

[i-neverlose.livejournal.com]

There are countless times where someone doesn't have both characters dictating in the post that it has both of their tags to it. These "room filter" posts are often one person setting up the filter and then using that filter to play out their scene. They do not always have both people talking in that initial post.

There are also large party posts that get put up in the journal comm. Host Club, World Plots, Ballroom parties - all of those get multiple tags put on them and those all count for everyone in the post.

And if this is the case, then you're just encouraging people to just have two people talk in that post and then not worry about any other activity. Which is the same as the Private posts and all the journal entries that get posted and get no replies at all.

The rules say that it counts for EACH character that participates. This has been the rule for as long as I can remember.

[compels]

Uhhh I was under the impression that tagging into logs counted for AC. I've done it to make AC before. Is this a new development?

[someoneto-carry.livejournal.com]

That was my impression too.

It's essentially the same as a joint post right as long as they actually comment to it and do the log, right?

[compels]

That's what I thought! Same principle. I mean, when people both tag an action post/room filter type thing in the main comm and do it together, that counts for both people, shouldn't it be the same for the logs comm? This makes no sense ...

[leon.livejournal.com]

This is weird because I usually make sure to tag logs in addition to threading, just because I want to make the "official" check and not have to keep track of my threads in other people's posts to clear myself every month. Too much of a headache--personal preference. Anyway! As far as I can recall this is the first time that my tagging into a log I haven't posted has caused me to land on this list, so I just assumed that tags in the logs comm were always checked regardless of who posted the log. Which is why I was confused to see this, and then even moreso after I read your response.