The feedback question

The concept of feedback: why, why not, and where do we screw it up? has been making it's rounds. destina came up with an excellent list of why some readers don't feedback, and zortified came up with some ideas about how to solve the problem with clearer communication on the part of the writers, but the question remains of whether or not the current climate is too muddled for such communication to work.

What I'm wondering now is if we need to break the mold just a tad. IMO the "Feedback:" header in a story has become too corrupted to be useful. Either writers lie about what they want, or they become too demanding and readers are put off by it. I don't think there's any way we can (easily) save that header.

However, what if we created something else to help clarify our feedback desires? What I'm picturing here - and I'm open to suggestion - is something like a page on a writer's website which explains in detail their feedback wants/needs/feelings. Then this can become general information for any readers who are wondering (and curious enough to seek it out) without being this in-your-face "I demand feedback!" style requests.

Granted there would be bugs in the system - like the readers having to seek the information out and remembering it for each author - but if it became something of an "industry standard" so to speak it could become as much a habit (or strongly suggested habit) to check a writers' "Feedback" page as it is to check out a FAQ before joining in on a newsgroup or discussion.

Again - not saying it's perfect, but maybe it's got the start of something workable in it?

Shore Leave

Okay gang, I'm more or less getting into final prep mode for Shore Leave. I may be able to answer an email or two but otherwise don't be surprised if you don't hear from me again until Monday.

Anybody going to Shore Leave is welcome to try to track me down.

("James Marsters - how many bags of luggage should I use? If any?")

One final rant

Could we perhaps make it a meme to use the word "meme" properly? I understand that many people are only seeing it for the first time on LJ and are trying to get the meaning from context, but honestly - it's a real word, it's got a real meaning and you can look it up and use it correctly and everything.

Memes.org has a good explanation.

Dictionary.com also has a definition although I don't find it as useful for trying to break the term down for the average person to understand it - ironically enough.