post:podbook tag

[cybel]

Does anyone have strong feelings about deleting the post:podbook tag?

Many posters do not add the tag, so I am frequently adding it myself. Also, it is not uncommon for those who post links only on their own journals to not specify what formats they've used, so it requires clicking through to those sites to find out if a podbook is being offered and therefore if the tag is needed.

I originally created the tag to make it easy for me to find my own podbook posts. With more and more readers making their own podbooks, however, and with me making fewer myself, this is no longer a useful tool for me. I'm leaning toward thinking the tag has become unnecessary, especially now that the Archive is to date (YAY!) and searching by format is a simple matter there.

Thoughts?

Comments

[troisroyaumes]

I do use it to browse for podbook posts. I know I can use the Archive too, but I tend to search this community first, esp. since browsing the post:podbook tag lets me look at all the pretty cover art. (I have in fact downloaded podbooks solely on the virtue of their cover art!)

Though, if it adds a lot of work to update the tags, I can definitely adapt to browse without it. ^^

[cybel]

Thanks for the input! It does get time consuming having to add the tag so frequently. :-(

On the bright side, there is a lot of cover art for mp3s now as well as m4bs, and most everyone is adding the art to their posts, which makes it easy to find when browsing down any given page of the comm. I do so love all the poster created art and podbooks as well!

[busaikko]

Could you make a comm announcement that you will no longer be adding the tag, and that as people do search for podbooks (m4b format) it is ~highly recommended~ that people add the tag themselves? (And preferably mention in their announcement here, either in the post or in tags, what formats are available....) That way the tag remains in the game, but the burden is off your shoulders.

(And would this be a good place to tell you how much I love your podbooks? So many of my favorite covers are yours - I often choose books by covers, and will go "Ooh, Starsky and Hutch, vacation cottage, almost kissing!" or "Oooh, classy black and white Ray/Ray art!" or "OMG, is this a Dark Is Rising podbook? Yes, burning sign, must have!"... just to name a few that I have on my iPod now (as well as your recent SPN brothers-in-silhouette with tranquil landscape, also downloaded because cover:pretty!) Thank you so much for all your work over the years.)

[cybel]

Anywhere is suitable for loving on podbooks!

Thank you for the feedback. I know I'm not the best fanartist around, but I always try to make covers that capture something about the story or at least reflect the fandom/pairing in some way. Informational if not artistic? I'm glad to hear some of them have worked well for you. :-)

I just said in a comment on LJ that I'm quite OCD about our tags. I try to keep them as complete and accurate as possible: that's my job! I'll take your suggestion under advisement, though, and won't make a hasty decision in the matter. A post such as you suggest might be a good interim measure in any event.

[luzula]

Ha, both the Ray/Ray one and the Dark Is Rising one were my podfics! *obviously profits from Cybel's artwork*

[busaikko]

*adores everyone in this thread* Gorgeous art, fabulous reading, great stories: my life is so much richer for you all!

[cybel]

After receiving very little feedback on this issue, and as there has been consensus elsewhere that our tagging system should be simplified as much as possible and requirements for tags be kept to a minimum, I went ahead and deleted the post:podbook tag today. It was somewhat difficult for me to do, given my dedication to podbooking, but it was the right thing to do at this time.

Again, I really appreciated your feedback on this matter. I hope this doesn't inconvenience you too much.

[starduchess]

I have been confused posting here. I was looking for tag post:podfic for my mp3 ones, but there isn't, so I assumed the post:podbook was it, not realizing there was a difference. But I guess everything here was a podfic to begin with so it seemed redundant to have a tag back then? Yeah, I think it's too confusing. I would just kill it.

[cybel]

Yes, you're exactly right! I deleted the post:podfic tag a few months ago because not only was it redundant, but I was the one having to add it in many cases! Imagine if the post:podbook tag is annoying me how annoying the post:podfic tag was! :-)