Andrew / August 7, 2003 11:22 AM

And please, don't ask for a pony. You didn't take very good care of the last one, so we had to give it away. We just don't think you're ready for such a big responsibility.

Craig / August 7, 2003 11:44 AM

An option to post comments/questions for the MERGE section news.

tasha. / August 7, 2003 12:08 PM

Yes, yes! I definitely second that.

Ian / August 7, 2003 12:14 PM

Maybe I just haven't found them, but, archives for HEADLIGHTS and DRIVE-IN.

alicia / August 7, 2003 12:51 PM

i second the suggestion for adding comments to merge.

kegz / August 7, 2003 1:21 PM

I third the suggestion for adding comments to merge. With stars! Just like in the Gapers logo.

Andrew / August 7, 2003 1:42 PM

Comments in merge, noted. Anything else?

amyc / August 7, 2003 2:29 PM

More rich cocoa flavor!

And maybe a thumbnail gallery of the Rear View photos?

lacey / August 7, 2003 3:21 PM

In the contributors section, it would be nice to link to some of the past entries/contributions by each member. You can do this in MT easily and also, The Morning News does it :)

Also, comments on news is good.

I think this might be excessive, but it would be cool to see pictures from past events...for example, maybe some random Chicagoan could upload one of their pictures from the Bud Billiken parade, or the Elvis is Alive 5k? Or maybe just a slideshow of events past? Something like that.

J. Luke Seemann / August 7, 2003 3:39 PM

Make up your mind about whether GB has an apostrophe! (As a former copy editor, I vote "no.")

Naz "Getting down to business" H. / August 7, 2003 3:46 PM

Luke, you just won't give up on that will you?

Here's a question: what would you comment on the news about? As a good chunk of it is events-oriented, what would you say? I'll be there!? We don't mean this sarcastically, we're truly curious. Or would you comment on more of the news story type entries?

Lacey: On Merge, you can click on an author's initials to view all their contributions, this was implemented last week. Part of the revamping will incorporate links to author's entries in a permanent place.

What else? How about appearance wise, any irks? Suggestions, readability, usability?

Craig / August 7, 2003 4:39 PM

What would we say? Here are some quick scenarios:

-EVENT: Hints, insights, tips about the event if somebody went in the past. Things to read about it beforehand. Good restaurants in the area. Best way to get there. Even "I'll be there" posts are cool, I think.

-LINK: I think a lot of the links posted here could spark some great dialogue between all the readers!

It's all about dialogue.

PS- What DOES Gaper's Block mean, anyway?!

miss ellen / August 7, 2003 4:39 PM

i take the same lean as Naz on the comments in the news section - redundancy? unnecessary? i keep reading comments on the gawker stalker & it's almost getting out of hand with people just saying "me, too" or other such frivolous things.

i have to think more about what i'd like to see....

lisa / August 7, 2003 4:47 PM

I'd like to see a total switch to Verdana or other sans-serif font for all things non-titular (especially for "Detour"). It may just be this #(@$*& non-font-smoothing PC I have to use at work, but I have pump the font size waaaaaay up before the Georgia becomes easily readable.

Naz "Getting down to business" H. / August 7, 2003 4:56 PM

Craig, Ellen and Lisa, all good points, thanks and keep 'em coming if you got 'em.

Craig: Gapers Block is a Chicago phrase apparently, and you may also hear it as "gapers delay", which is basically when you slow down to watch an accident or such event in a car, thus causing traffic. Thus sections have been names with automotive leaning titles, Detour, Drive-In, Jam, headlights, etc.

Ian / August 7, 2003 5:21 PM

Hello...Tiled brick wallpaper with ivy...

Kevin / August 7, 2003 6:10 PM

More pictures of boobies would suffice.

Seriously, I'd like to see larger images when clicking on thumbnails. Lacey's suggestion of event or Chicago oriented galleries would be very cool.

I've also found myself wanting to comment on the Merge section as well. Would be a cool idea to implement and see what happens.

kegz / August 8, 2003 8:04 AM

I think today's Merge article, "Number 1 Stud", is exhibit A for the pro argument on merge comments.

dce / August 8, 2003 8:47 AM

I think today's Merge article, "Number 1 Stud", is exhibit A for the con argument on merge comments.

Wendy / August 8, 2003 9:50 AM

There's nothing to discuss because Number 1 Stud is mine. He's MINE, I tell you.

Joe / August 8, 2003 10:02 AM

GB needs an advice column.

The first one can be questions from the masses about how to acquire their own number 1 stud.

Incidentally, this page is now exhibit A for the pro argument on merge comments.

Alex / August 8, 2003 11:12 AM

I understand fears of metafilterization on GB if mergo comments happen, but we'll never know if we never try. Maybe we'll create something strange and wonderful. We can always turn them off, after all. I say give authors an option to turn them on for a week and see how it goes.

Higher quality features. Slow down how often they run and bump up the quality of each. Recruit non-bloggers from Chicago to write.

Archives are apparently available for most of the sections, but a lot of people can't seem to find them - I'm sure a few minor tweaks would pick that.

It's great that you can now click on contributor initials and get their past posts, but dude - I click through to see their pictures :)

Higher quality features. Slow down how often they run and bump up the quality of each. Recruit non-bloggers from Chicago to write.

Run the site off of Slash or Scoop - they're designed to do this sort of thing.

Roll Cinnamon's 'trunk show' idea with the cafe press store and prints of GB photos into a single kewl store. In a year, branch it off to offer Chi-nique products like Weekend Records and Soap.

Higher quality features. Slow down how often they run and bump up the quality of each. Recruit non-bloggers from Chicago to write.

Regular columns or beats.

In general - the format (or as we say 'genre') enables (or retards) the content that gets writ. GB is good now, but there is a lot of energy that could be released if we were pointed in certain directions to go. GB business cards and laminates might prompt us to interview people, e.g.

A hands-off approach sometimes seems more respectful (and a lot less work!) than (gently) pushing people in certain directions, but often a little gentle pushing actually empowers them to begin rocking out. I'd urge Naz and Andrew to urge us on - I trust their intuitions and don't mine being told what to do :)

Above all: more more more!

dce / August 8, 2003 11:20 AM

An advice column!? Now that's a GREAT idea.

Sorry. I'm feeling a bit snarky today.

Alex / August 8, 2003 11:26 AM

Oh yeah - let us post restaurant reviews whenever we want, or otherwise tweak the reviews. It's too much like metromix.

Finally - I promise I'll shut up now - long ago John Hiler came up with the City Blog concept (scroll though archives - the original site is now down). Everyone thought it was a great idea, but John got sick and couldn't bring it to fruition. I think we'd do well to inherit a lot of his vision.

miss ellen / August 8, 2003 12:20 PM

alex,

good point on the features; i'm having a hard time keeping up with all of them. i understand wanting to have stuff to put out there, but they seem to keep on coming...and coming. i'm at least 2 behind & soon they'll be missing from the front page once a few more go up.

pics with the "click on" author link is good, too.

and, i will back down on the no comments on merge, b/c i agree that we need to see how it goes & can always turn them off (or have them optional).

i also would like a restaurant collection of all our reviews. me likes to eat.

Andrew / August 8, 2003 12:36 PM

Well-noted, all. Expect to see some changes soon.