TL has a history of people making enormous pronouncements without waiting for any evidence to bear a theory out, so now is the perfect opportunity for me to stand up and make an effort to make some incisive observation before anyone can refute/repudiate with fancy things like "evidence" or "common sense."
Look to your left; look back immediately afterwards though, I don't want to lose you guys.
Alright, tell me what you see in the featured blogs section. Do you see a list of blog posts of significantly higher quality than those below? Are they the must-read blogs you'd hope to see in a Featured Blogs section? Are these the blogs you'd have in your RSS, if RSS weren’t so arcane and incomprehensible?
The Current Competition in Blogsports is a Farce
There are ways to understand this. There are analogues. As Plexa has suggested, there are certain approaches to the construction of a competitive scene that stand to stunt the development of the competition itself. Look down the list of featured bloggers, look at all the names you recognise, even us washed up probloggers who've been languishing for months (please, this isn't about me).
There is a rising tide, new bloggers swelling up to crush the old. Gheed is prime among them, but for every Gheed there are a hundred potential greats who haven't caught your eye yet. Beautiful minds with beautiful girl blogs, waiting for their chance, their shot at the featured blogs section. You haven't seen them because they're not being sponsored. They're not on the problogging teams.
In the early days of competitive SC2, the speculation was that that the presence of so many Brood War players (whose skill would clearly be sufficient to immediately dominate SC2 competition as soon as they took it into their pretty little heads to switch games) rendered all games in a poor light. The summation of that post was that there was a shadow cast across every game of SC2 and, with so many games ending with flaky rushes, it was hard to argue. A spectre was haunting esports - the spectre of Brood War.
Now, a shadow has been cast across blogsports. We find ourselves in a world of stagnant ideas, devoid of romance. Where have all the girl blogs gone? The future is bright though, the future is beautiful. The blogging metagame is so deep... think about what we've been given.
Gentlemen, we have our league. All you need do is reach out and take it.
I have a dream, a dream of a world in which metaphors mix freely and clichéd quotes clutter the bottom of a blog post. The Blog Ladder has been expanded; we have our Grandmasters. Nothing is perfect from the outset, but you can fix it.
Blog harder, blog better. Depose them. They deserve it.
Don't look to the featured blogs for content.
Look to them for targets.
1. Massive thanks to FuseFuse for whipping up the Blog League medal/icon :D
i skip over the featured blogs (unless i see a capitalized Elephant) because the best blogs are the ones by people who dont take it seriously. the girl blogs, the help me blogs, the rage blogs.... also, i have wondered why blogs are getting featured and i heard that its based on rankings, but when you look at rankings you'll see very few people actually vote on blogs. but whatever....
I think featured blogs should be the same as featured threads instead of sorted by ratings. Some users get high ratings regardless of their content just because they're long time TeamLiquid veterans.
Personally i think tl should find a group of people who are willing to read as many blogs as possible and discuss amongst themselves what blogs should be featured, rather than featuring every blog from some of the better bloggers on tl.
On April 26 2012 08:26 neoghaleon55 wrote: I think featured blogs should be the same as featured threads instead of sorted by ratings. Some users get high ratings regardless of their content just because they're long time TeamLiquid veterans.
Rating Inflation is a problem.
I'll rate your blog a 5 if you rate mine a 5.
Actually, I just realized I don't have a blog. Need to get on that. Hopefully I can go straight from bronze to GM with my first entry.
On April 26 2012 08:26 neoghaleon55 wrote: I think featured blogs should be the same as featured threads instead of sorted by ratings. Some users get high ratings regardless of their content just because they're long time TeamLiquid veterans.
Rating Inflation is a problem.
I'll rate your blog a 5 if you rate mine a 5.
Actually, I just realized I don't have a blog. Need to get on that. Hopefully I can go straight from bronze to GM with my first entry.
MATCHFIXING IN PRO BLOGGING SCANDAL READ MORE ON RAKAKA
On April 26 2012 08:26 neoghaleon55 wrote: I think featured blogs should be the same as featured threads instead of sorted by ratings. Some users get high ratings regardless of their content just because they're long time TeamLiquid veterans.
Rating Inflation is a problem.
I'll rate your blog a 5 if you rate mine a 5.
Actually, I just realized I don't have a blog. Need to get on that. Hopefully I can go straight from bronze to GM with my first entry.
I really liked this post. Anyone who has read my blog knows what I bring, and I will RELENTLESSLY work to receive a spot in the featured section. I am determined, and I hope I can make some people laugh in the process.
On April 26 2012 08:26 neoghaleon55 wrote: I think featured blogs should be the same as featured threads instead of sorted by ratings. Some users get high ratings regardless of their content just because they're long time TeamLiquid veterans.
Rating Inflation is a problem.
I'll rate your blog a 5 if you rate mine a 5.
Actually, I just realized I don't have a blog. Need to get on that. Hopefully I can go straight from bronze to GM with my first entry.
MATCHFIXING IN PRO BLOGGING SCANDAL READ MORE ON RAKAKA
Translated from a Korean article: "Mr. B" told "Mr. J" to make an intentionally controversial blog post to amass 1's, all while betting against "Mr. J"'s ratings on a popular problogbetting site.
On April 26 2012 08:57 FuDDx wrote: I'm still reeling from my last blog rating fail hahaha.
This just in: Also implicated in the scandal is a "Mr. F", whose last blog was clearly thrown.
Some of the featured blogs seem really undeserving if you look at the specific blog post rather than perhaps the entire blog history of that person. Personally I would prefere to see the featured blog section work as a sort of relaxed featured post section where the content might not be revolutionary to the TL community, thereby earning a spot on the first page, but the mod who read it really found it to be an interesting/funny read.
Yes, I've been very disappointed by this "featured blog" section. TL should restrict new posts in this section to pro players, pro casters/hosts, and pro tourney organizers, imo. I like to see the likes of Nony, QXC, djWheat, Totalbiscuit, and lilsusie in here. I would rather not see TLNet staff in this section like Plexa, Rich, and Waxangel, although I can tolerate it. But there's a lot of random bloggers (like this SirJolt guy, wtf! =) ) who write good posts, but have no role in community except for the posts that they make on TL. And I think those types of posts are more appropiately put in the "normal" blog section.
Also, it bugs the crap out of me that blogs in this section are sorted by rating, instead of by last post date. It's really annoying to need to resort every time I go back to that page.
On April 26 2012 08:26 neoghaleon55 wrote: I think featured blogs should be the same as featured threads instead of sorted by ratings. Some users get high ratings regardless of their content just because they're long time TeamLiquid veterans.
Rating Inflation is a problem.
I'll rate your blog a 5 if you rate mine a 5.
Actually, I just realized I don't have a blog. Need to get on that. Hopefully I can go straight from bronze to GM with my first entry.
MATCHFIXING IN PRO BLOGGING SCANDAL READ MORE ON RAKAKA
Translated from a Korean article: "Mr. B" told "Mr. J" to make an intentionally controversial blog post to amass 1's, all while betting against "Mr. J"'s ratings on a popular problogbetting site.
On April 26 2012 08:26 neoghaleon55 wrote: I think featured blogs should be the same as featured threads instead of sorted by ratings. Some users get high ratings regardless of their content just because they're long time TeamLiquid veterans.
Rating Inflation is a problem.
I'll rate your blog a 5 if you rate mine a 5.
Actually, I just realized I don't have a blog. Need to get on that. Hopefully I can go straight from bronze to GM with my first entry.
MATCHFIXING IN PRO BLOGGING SCANDAL READ MORE ON RAKAKA
Translated from a Korean article: "Mr. B" told "Mr. J" to make an intentionally controversial blog post to amass 1's, all while betting against "Mr. J"'s ratings on a popular problogbetting site.
On April 26 2012 08:57 FuDDx wrote: I'm still reeling from my last blog rating fail hahaha.
This just in: Also implicated in the scandal is a "Mr. F", whose last blog was clearly thrown.
Woah, woah, woah, stop right there, Mister. These accusations are clearly fabricated and completely unwarranted. I have received information from my own secret sources that SonuvBob has been paid off by a third party to make these accusations as a way of undermining the integrity of BLOGSPORTS and to do damage to the scene.
On April 26 2012 08:26 neoghaleon55 wrote: I think featured blogs should be the same as featured threads instead of sorted by ratings. Some users get high ratings regardless of their content just because they're long time TeamLiquid veterans.
Rating Inflation is a problem.
I'll rate your blog a 5 if you rate mine a 5.
Actually, I just realized I don't have a blog. Need to get on that. Hopefully I can go straight from bronze to GM with my first entry.
MATCHFIXING IN PRO BLOGGING SCANDAL READ MORE ON RAKAKA
Translated from a Korean article: "Mr. B" told "Mr. J" to make an intentionally controversial blog post to amass 1's, all while betting against "Mr. J"'s ratings on a popular problogbetting site.
On April 26 2012 08:57 FuDDx wrote: I'm still reeling from my last blog rating fail hahaha.
This just in: Also implicated in the scandal is a "Mr. F", whose last blog was clearly thrown.
Woah, woah, woah, stop right there, Mister. These accusations are clearly fabricated and completely unwarranted. I have received information from my own secret sources that SonuvBob has been paid off by a third party to make these accusations as a way of undermining the integrity of BLOGSPORTS and to do damage to the scene.
It seems we have a mystery on our hands.
Let's call Rekrul! (Or the Problogging equivalent of Him!)
On April 26 2012 08:26 neoghaleon55 wrote: I think featured blogs should be the same as featured threads instead of sorted by ratings. Some users get high ratings regardless of their content just because they're long time TeamLiquid veterans.
Rating Inflation is a problem.
I'll rate your blog a 5 if you rate mine a 5.
Actually, I just realized I don't have a blog. Need to get on that. Hopefully I can go straight from bronze to GM with my first entry.
MATCHFIXING IN PRO BLOGGING SCANDAL READ MORE ON RAKAKA
Translated from a Korean article: "Mr. B" told "Mr. J" to make an intentionally controversial blog post to amass 1's, all while betting against "Mr. J"'s ratings on a popular problogbetting site.
On April 26 2012 08:57 FuDDx wrote: I'm still reeling from my last blog rating fail hahaha.
This just in: Also implicated in the scandal is a "Mr. F", whose last blog was clearly thrown.
Woah, woah, woah, stop right there, Mister. These accusations are clearly fabricated and completely unwarranted. I have received information from my own secret sources that SonuvBob has been paid off by a third party to make these accusations as a way of undermining the integrity of BLOGSPORTS and to do damage to the scene.
It seems we have a mystery on our hands.
Let's call Rekrul! (Or the Problogging equivalent of Him!)
On April 26 2012 08:51 hifriend wrote: Featured blogs discourage me from blogging, and seem to encourage the good bloggers to update more frequently. I can only conclude that it's working.
Lots of people have the Ladder Fear, maybe you can find some good tips there.
@fusefuse, I like your profile picture, haven't seen that one before =o
On April 26 2012 09:53 RoboBob wrote: Yes, I've been very disappointed by this "featured blog" section. TL should restrict new posts in this section to pro players, pro casters/hosts, and pro tourney organizers, imo. I like to see the likes of Nony, QXC, djWheat, Totalbiscuit, and lilsusie in here. I would rather not see TLNet staff in this section like Plexa, Rich, and Waxangel, although I can tolerate it. But there's a lot of random bloggers (like this SirJolt guy, wtf! =) ) who write good posts, but have no role in community except for the posts that they make on TL. And I think those types of posts are more appropiately put in the "normal" blog section.
Also, it bugs the crap out of me that blogs in this section are sorted by rating, instead of by last post date. It's really annoying to need to resort every time I go back to that page.
Although I have no problem with your view that priority should be given to notable community members when selecting things like featured bloggers, I think it's important to make a distinction between sc2 community members and TL.NET community members (the latter having a great if not equally strong bearing on blogs here)
On April 26 2012 08:26 neoghaleon55 wrote: I think featured blogs should be the same as featured threads instead of sorted by ratings. Some users get high ratings regardless of their content just because they're long time TeamLiquid veterans.
Rating Inflation is a problem.
I'll rate your blog a 5 if you rate mine a 5.
Actually, I just realized I don't have a blog. Need to get on that. Hopefully I can go straight from bronze to GM with my first entry.
MATCHFIXING IN PRO BLOGGING SCANDAL READ MORE ON RAKAKA
Translated from a Korean article: "Mr. B" told "Mr. J" to make an intentionally controversial blog post to amass 1's, all while betting against "Mr. J"'s ratings on a popular problogbetting site.
On April 26 2012 08:57 FuDDx wrote: I'm still reeling from my last blog rating fail hahaha.
This just in: Also implicated in the scandal is a "Mr. F", whose last blog was clearly thrown.
Woah, woah, woah, stop right there, Mister. These accusations are clearly fabricated and completely unwarranted. I have received information from my own secret sources that SonuvBob has been paid off by a third party to make these accusations as a way of undermining the integrity of BLOGSPORTS and to do damage to the scene.
My lawyer has advised me to inform you that you are a big dummy and could not never ever be wronger.
Why why why why why are you reminding us of that thread? Let's all try to forget it, and the like 8 months of dead horse beating that ensued....
On a serious note: I checked out the Featured Blog section once, and haven't really gone back. Half the highest rated bloggers haven't updated in like a year, and the other half aren't that great IMO. Blogs are like a box of chocolates; there are good ones, really really good ones, and some that are just nasty (like the maple goo ones, bleh). But if you never eat the nasty ones, you never know just how tasty the good ones really are. If all we ate were caramel chocolate dealies, after a while we'd be sick of them. (maybe)
So bring on the stupid girl blogs. They just make Newbistic's food look tastier and 1000 pictures of RBD look even more awesome.
Oh, look at me, i'm uber cool and uber meta. I also understand the movie inception. Makes me one cool dude, dude. Though seriously...featured blogs is a bit "lol" to seperate them like that in the first place.
As an aspirant to membership of a pro-blogging team I have to be very selective with my words here.
Poop.
Featured blogs should be based on the merits of the individual blog, not on the blogging history of the poster. At any rate, because a problogger's posts are likely to be of higher quality they would be featured regardless. The system as it exists now might encourage some spectacular falls from grace.
Last week it seemed that the blog section consisted of nothing BUT girl blogs, now I count NONE on the first page. What explains this emphatic change? Perhaps it has something to do with a kind of collective TL MENstrual cycle, that every once in a while (perhaps 28 days) all the bloggers go a little bit nuts and and seek catharsis. You know how women's cycles synchronise if they spent a good deal of time together? Either that or it's tidal.
I actually really love the blogs section here. I posted a couple blogs about my experience with job interviews with Microsoft and Google, and one of them got featured on the front page. Amazing feeling.
This featured blog thing might be enough to bring me out of hiding to write a blog about my college experience that I've been itching to write.
On April 26 2012 16:51 synapse wrote: I think rather than a featured / unfeatured blogs section, we should just have a normal blogs section and a blogs-about-sc2 section.
I second this idea. Sounds great. Often times, I just want to read starcraft related blogs but get hampered by girl blogs and stuff about absolutely nothing.
I am actually very glad SirJolt brought this issue up.
Like, I don't understand why this one is under featured
On April 26 2012 16:11 ohsea.toc wrote: As an aspirant to membership of a pro-blogging team I have to be very selective with my words here.
Poop.
Featured blogs should be based on the merits of the individual blog, not on the blogging history of the poster. At any rate, because a problogger's posts are likely to be of higher quality they would be featured regardless. The system as it exists now might encourage some spectacular falls from grace.
So your words of wisdom for the aspiring plobogger is that cheesing their way to the top of the TL GM BL with a one-blog-wonder is okay and it doesn't matter how shit you post afterwards, you've already proven your skill? D: Maybe I'm just extrapolating and interpreting your post wrong
The new system just makes it easier for the coasters to stay GM & harder for novice probloggers to get into the rankings But effort will be rewarded even better now, I guess. Because getting up there is going to be one mean feat. Myeah Lets see what season 1 of TLGMBL brings.
I HOPE THEY PATCH IT, I DONT UNDERSTAND THIS BLOG MMR SYSTEM
Blogs are awesome. There needs to be more blogs on TL everyday - about rage, love (girl blogs!!!), triumph, epic fail, Kpop, and whatever else life throws at us.
That league icon is amazing ^^. I'm glad you guys are seperating the great blogs from the meh ones so that we can see who is putting the effort forth, maybe some new stars will shine :D, also this allows me to lurk so much more efficiently
On April 26 2012 16:11 ohsea.toc wrote: As an aspirant to membership of a pro-blogging team I have to be very selective with my words here.
Poop.
Featured blogs should be based on the merits of the individual blog, not on the blogging history of the poster. At any rate, because a problogger's posts are likely to be of higher quality they would be featured regardless. The system as it exists now might encourage some spectacular falls from grace.
So your words of wisdom for the aspiring plobogger is that cheesing their way to the top of the TL GM BL with a one-blog-wonder is okay and it doesn't matter how shit you post afterwards, you've already proven your skill? D: Maybe I'm just extrapolating and interpreting your post wrong
The new system just makes it easier for the coasters to stay GM & harder for novice probloggers to get into the rankings But effort will be rewarded even better now, I guess. Because getting up there is going to be one mean feat.
I think you've taken the opposite of what I intended to say. I see a difference between the "featured blogs" and GM league (and currently there is no such distinction). A blog should be featured based on the merit of the blog alone, where as entry into GM league would demand consistent quality blogging. This way it would be easier for a great blog written by an unfeatured blogger to get more attention.
I agree with the second part of your post wholeheartedly: those are the concerns I am addressing. Ah, the politics.
On April 26 2012 16:11 ohsea.toc wrote: As an aspirant to membership of a pro-blogging team I have to be very selective with my words here.
Poop.
Featured blogs should be based on the merits of the individual blog, not on the blogging history of the poster. At any rate, because a problogger's posts are likely to be of higher quality they would be featured regardless. The system as it exists now might encourage some spectacular falls from grace.
So your words of wisdom for the aspiring plobogger is that cheesing their way to the top of the TL GM BL with a one-blog-wonder is okay and it doesn't matter how shit you post afterwards, you've already proven your skill? D: Maybe I'm just extrapolating and interpreting your post wrong
The new system just makes it easier for the coasters to stay GM & harder for novice probloggers to get into the rankings But effort will be rewarded even better now, I guess. Because getting up there is going to be one mean feat.
I think you've taken the opposite of what I intended to say. I see a difference between the "featured blogs", and GM league (and currently there is no such distinction). A blog should be featured based on the merit of the blog alone, where as entry into GM league would demand consistent quality blogging. This way it would be easier for a great blog written by an unfeatured blogger to get more attention.
I agree with the second part of your post wholeheartedly: those are the concerns I am addressing. Ah, the politics.
I think this is the crux of the issue, and wrote a tool to 'feature' currently interesting blogs on TL, I call it Team Liquid Blogs of the Moment. I wrote about it in my most recent blogpost, but it's basically an attempt to not have everything as decided prior to the publishing of a blog.
semi-serious topic that i think its a shame you made fun of tbh. There are brilliant blogs with brilliant content that will never reach the featured section because its not pop culture related or posted in 10 000 char essays everytime. I honestly dont bother with the featured section what so ever. all the featured blogs are in the list with the normal blogs aswell and if one of them actually does catch my attention i'll read them there, on the same conditions as the rest of the blogs.
On April 26 2012 08:19 sc4k wrote: Totally agree, featured blogs so far has been somewhat of a damp squib, need some ppl to step it up!
but that is the fun of blogs!
I agree, I used to read all the blogs and wasted a lot of time, but now I just read the featured blogs and waste less time. (Apart from the occasional girl blog, ofc.)
Also, the other elephant in the room: all the major casters are white men, and the one caster who was a different race and gender (kellymilkies) was pretty controversial/has disappeared.
EPT
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![[image loading]](http://dl.dropbox.com/u/42425448/TL/TLGBL_black_1920x.jpg)
that's what I do . . .![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/Cvncx.jpg)
