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What is local?

Submitted by rebecca on Sun, 04/13/2008 - 8:19am.

Hey, I know I haven't been very active on Olyblog lately. I logged on today and took a look at some of the docent discussion. What is the hyper-local content policy?

The last thing I remember, there was not a policy against posting not hyper-local content to your journal, but hyper-localness was a factor in what would be promoted to the front page. Are folks now subject to disciplinary action for posting something that's not considered hyper-local?

Also, I could use a clarification on localness. Does it have to be Thurston County? Or are neighboring counties acceptable? Western Washington? In-state?

I have to confess, I don't live in Olympia. I went to school for three years at South Puget Sound Community College. So I do have some tie to the Oly community. I'm attending the University of Washington in Seattle now. Would events going on at the UW be considered local enough to merit posting?

rebecca's blog
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You missed all the fun :-)

Submitted by security_six on Sun, 04/13/2008 - 3:39pm.

You're about a week too late. Big arguments, etc, etc, etc... Not sure any firm resolution came out of it either. Things have been pretty quiet of late since then.

"Don't try to out-weird me, three eyes. I get weirder things than you in my breakfast cereal."- Zaphod Beeblebrox

"Beware the person who would take your guns. That person is your ENEMY."

Apparently no-one (except

Submitted by rebecca on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 4:00pm.

Apparently no-one (except S6, and maybe one or two other non-docents) would notice whether I blogged about UW or not. I’ll probably be focusing most of my attention other places for a variety of reasons. But I may still check in here occasionally.

So, S6, since you’re the only one reading this, Do you think UW is local and/or are you interested in hearing about what goes on at UW?

I would find it interesting

Submitted by security_six on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 6:38pm.

But given the new and fluid policies and some of the lack of firm clarity on "hyperlocal" I'm not sure how long it would stay up. Methinks if it is something fuzzy or appeals to certain dominant mindsets it will fly, or with all of this disucssion, hyperlocal may somehow include the UW if an Olympia resident is going there...

I don't know how Rick or some of the other docents will react. I know that I think this place has gotten a lot less interesting of late.

Like I say, personally I'll read anything once on this blog.

"A gun is a tool, Marian. No better, no worse than any other tool. An axe, a shovel, or anything. A gun is as good or as bad as the man using it. Remember that.-- Shane

I would consider UW local

Submitted by Guglielmo on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 4:10pm.

though it might depend on the story. I wouldn't worry about it. Just post. No one is "disciplined" for postng non-local content. Worst thing that will happend is you might be asked to make a local connection, but that's about it.

Hyperlocal, Yes!

Submitted by stevenl on Fri, 04/18/2008 - 5:33pm.

Good question, rebecca.

There are a lot of us UW grads running around the Olympia area. It is THE research school for this side of the state. Western and Evergroove are great schools too, but like Elvis, the UW is King. We live in the Lux Sit sphere. So I would say the UW is fair game for OlyBlog.

Personally, I'd be curious to hear about your transition from SPSCC to UW. Did the former prepare you adequately for the latter? Now there is a hyperlocal angle.

UW

Submitted by rebecca on Sun, 04/20/2008 - 7:48pm.

stevenl - I hadn't thought of doing that. That would be more along the lines of feature vs. news . . . but I'm assuming such would not be a problem. Maybe some suggestions/resources for SPSCC students hopeing to transfer to UW? I'll have to think about it and see how much time I have to put into it (and maybe whether enough ideas come to mind to justify an article). S6 - Yes, it's possible it could get taken down. I think my question about whether UW is local was a fair one. If those in charge don't choose to take the opportunity of responding in advance . . . they have left me to make my own assumption and cannot very well fault me for doing so. If the only response I get is positive (that people would be interested in the content), I take the liberty of assuming it is acceptable unless and until I am informed otherwise. Of course, that runs a risk that someone will take my thread down and warn me. Hopefully, no-one would give me more than a warning when I had tried to get clearer guidelines in advance. Honestly, now that I've seen responses for multiple users; it looks like we have a little consensus that UW is of local interest and I'm feeling pretty good about it. The truth is, I'm from Mason County. I went to SPS for about 3 years, so had some tie to Oly and figured I'd stay in touch with the surrounding community on Olyblog, but there was some mentions of things familiar to me from SPS here that I wanted to be able to weigh in on. Now I'm at UW. If only Thurston County proper is considered local, I couldn't contribute much at all . . .

Just post already :-)

Submitted by security_six on Sun, 04/20/2008 - 8:14pm.

Around here hyperlocal seems like pornography "I know it when I see it" as viewed through one's prejudices and goals in life. In other words it is ofen fluid and open ended, and easily maniupulated if needed.

But please, rather than post about posting, how about post something? :-)

"A gun is a tool, Marian. No better, no worse than any other tool. An axe, a shovel, or anything. A gun is as good or as bad as the man using it. Remember that.-- Shane

I'll second that

Submitted by Guglielmo on Sun, 04/20/2008 - 8:30pm.

No more posting about posting!

Rebecca

Submitted by stevenl on Mon, 04/21/2008 - 3:37am.

when you do post on a subject about anything but posting, it will be your post-post on posting.

Say that real fast.

Hah!

Submitted by rebecca on Mon, 04/21/2008 - 7:03pm.

You should suggest that as an alternative punishment for those who violate the rules here. (-: But I think it would be a post-post on posting POST.

I think the University of

Submitted by The Fire Inside on Mon, 04/21/2008 - 3:31am.

I think the University of Washington is local.

In my opinion, "local" should constitute something that has a direct impact on the lives of those in Thurston County and Olympia.

Besides being funded by the State of Washington (whose leaders make decisions in Olympia), I'm sure it is the alma mater of a number of residents.

I talk about military stuff a lot and have little regret in doing so because Fort Lewis - a post which an enormous amount of people in the Army have called home at one point or another - is right on Olympia's doorstep, not to mention the soldiers who are currently stationed there are visible members of the South Sound community.

We all bring something to the table and add to the local angle. Some of us need more work than others in bringing the story around so that there's a clear connection to the South Sound and Olympia, but I'd say most everyone is getting there. While the quantity of posts may have gone down, I'd say the quality and standard has gone up.

the worm turned today.

Submitted by hazzardus waste on Mon, 04/21/2008 - 8:27am.

i live in p-town now can i still post on oly stuff? what does hyperlocal mean ? are we limited to just oly? i say post and post let god sort it out... eat the rich the poor are skinny

Thanks

Submitted by rebecca on Mon, 04/21/2008 - 7:04pm.

Thanks all. I hope to have something ready to go later this week.

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