Technorati Profile
A while ago a user came on and started discussing how the netroots needed to help the Veterans more. I agreed and offered my assistance. I researched hosts, explained domains, hosts, Content Management Systems etc. I set up the Content Management System, designed the logo, Linked to blogs and alternative news sources, fed newsfeeds through javascripts in order to display them as headlines on the side bar, researched PTSD, Health, International resources for inclusion in the site, arranged for a cartoonist and a Gear Shop to be installed, created a back room for administrators along with advice on how to post images and youtube videos, explained copyright violations and how to avoid them and I did all this for free.
Now the owner, a Veteran, has decided that I am not worthy of his particular project. I did all of the above in a week’s time. I have been on computers since the age of 11. I understand HTML, javascript and Content Management systems, I understand search engines and ranking techniques and have just recently understood how to utilize newsfeeds in new ways as yet undiscovered by the majority of bloggers and websites.
So God dammit I tried. To any Veteran that feels these skills would be helpful to their own projects please contact me at thefuture at inbox.com. I would very much like to help someone that would like to be helped.
Tips for better communication below the fold:
1. Dynamic Creation – a website is a dynamic creation, what you see on the page one day may not be what you see on the page the next day, this is because certain parts of a website take time to build before becoming linked to or part of the front page.
2. Diaries/Essays/Articles – should not be removed, moved, hidden as this will interfere with the flow of your newsfeed.
3. Tech people usually access the site at night when most other people are sleeping, this is in order to avoid disturbing the end user’s experience and because traffic in general is much slower late at night which allows us Tech people to work quicker and get more done in a shorter amount of time.
4. Flooding your IT person with emails and phone calls is a no no…One simple email at the end of the day with a list of issues to work on that evening will suffice.
5. Cutting and Pasting complete articles from other news sources is a no no, it can get you in trouble and everyone involved in the site in trouble.
6. Research on your own – if you don’t agree with your partner regarding an issue research the issue on your own before making an ass of yourself.
7. Community – any social/political site is about community…if there is no community feeling it will be difficult to involve others in your goals.
8. Hosting and Domains – proper registrations are key to a smooth launch, make sure to enter all information exactly as it should be, triple check before submitting.
9. The webmasters can not do it alone. We need the owners to recruit members, friends, guests, over to the site to begin posting almost immediately. Many of the tricks a webmaster can offer depend on a large database of information to work with. Without a large database development potential is limited.
10. Your IT person probably went without food and sleep while developing your site for you…be kind to them.
Thank you.
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anyone?
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and says “the netroots aren’t doing enough to help the veterans” is going to get a knocked in the teeth.
🙂
It sounds like you put a lot of work into your effort.
Once, when I ended up regretting putting myself out to do a good deed because of suffering some fallout from that good deed–A wise person reminded me of the old saying, “No Good Deed Goes Unpunished” 😉
IMHO, it’s helpful to remember that veterans are not a homogeneous group of people, who all think and act the same way. They are all individuals with their own good and bad personality traits. I’m really sorry you were taken advantage of and that your hard work wasn’t acknowledged. That particular person/ blog/ group (?) obviously wasn’t the best place for you to be–I hope you don’t give up, but maybe “vet” the “vet” a little more closely before giving of your time and expertise ?
I’m sure that if you do find the correct “place”, your expertise will be invaluable to them, and the experience of working with likeminded (and grateful) people will be rewarding for you.
i’m so sorry…
i think, maybe, there are two types of un-teched people
those, like me, who understand its a great deal of persnickity work getting all the correct characters in the correct order and connected to the correct instruction and/or destination…..
and those who think its snap! & it’s done…
try to find those who’ll appreciate your talent
…I’d add an “11” —
Pay, if you possibly can. In-kind, if you cannot. In-kind in terms of site participation if you cannot manage booze, sex, smoke, marzipan or the labor for new cabinets. But otherwise…trot on down to the bank, and take it out of your retirement. The only exceptions to this are very hungry newcomers lookin’ to up their resumes and people who already have the whole survival thing locked. And even then — if you can — pay.
And if you can’t pay — by god — be very, very nice, don’t be pushy, and ooze gratitude. If one is very good at this method — and the cause is wonderful — it’s as good as being paid. Sometimes.
This is detail oriented work which requires great attentiveness. The number of people who expect one to put up a website for nuthin’ is mindboggling. Just because someone is a dear friend, or politically sympatico, would you ask them to clean your house every day? Heck no.
It’s incredibly nice of you, NLOB, to make this offer.