Reader Feedback

[jpw23]

Just saw this! Pretty cool!!!!!!

[ChiefOsceola]

Looks good. Will it be an online mag only or can we look for a printed edition down the road?

[motoeric]

Although there are currently no plans to go to a printed version, we are always open to ideas. It would require properly monetizing and considerably more logistical planning and this is a volunteer effort.

We may reexamine the issue after issue 6.

Eric

[2Drunk2Que]

Hmm I am an editor for a local periodical so I must bite my tongue as my job makes me too critical. I also read the history and rules here so I don't want to overstep my bounds. I must say that there should be some more attention paid to sentence structure and proofreading. The magazine employs conversational language in a few areas which tends to appear sloppy in text. I also noticed another issue. My old boss so rudely put it like this. "The problem with publishing is smart people have to learn how to write for dumb people." Most people read at a 4th or 5th grade reading level. I saw words that wouldn't be used in the Wall Street Journal. I, myself, went to dictionary.com on two occasions to double check the definition. No one wants to read with a dictionary and no one wants to feel stupid because they can't read a regular magazine without one. I actually saw the word anachronistic used. Its definition describes it own position in the English language. If we used that type of language in our publication we would lose subscriptions. The sesquipedalian needs to put away the Thersaurus. lol

Sorry if that seems hurtful. It was not my intent.

[BobBrisket]

Originally Posted by 2Drunk2Que

Hmm I am an editor for a local periodical so I must bite my tongue as my job makes me too critical. I also read the history and rules here so I don't want to overstep my bounds. I must say that there should be some more attention paid to sentence structure and proofreading. The magazine employs conversational language in a few areas which tends to appear sloppy in text. I also noticed another issue. My old boss so rudely put it like this. "The problem with publishing is smart people have to learn how to write for dumb people." Most people read at a 4th or 5th grade reading level. I saw words that wouldn't be used in the Wall Street Journal. I, myself, went to dictionary.com on two occasions to double check the definition. No one wants to read with a dictionary and no one wants to feel stupid because they can't read a regular magazine without one. I actually saw the word anachronistic used. Its definition describes it own position in the English language. If we used that type of language in our publication we would lose subscriptions. The sesquipedalian needs to put away the Thersaurus. lol

Sorry if that seems hurtful. It was not my intent.

Sadly, you are correct. The base reading level for most people IS at 4th or 5th grade level. Since you have the necessary editing skills, then perhaps you should overstep your bounds and possibly volunteer to proofread the articles before they are published. We could certainly use your skills in our fledgling publication. Your skills can only make it better. Send MotoEric a PM if you are interested. Lastly, nothing wrong with learning a new word or two while elevating one's reading level, is there?

Bob

[MilitantSquatter]

Originally Posted by BobBrisket

Sadly, you are correct. The base reading level for most people IS at 4th or 5th grade level. Since you have the necessary editing skills, then perhaps you should overstep your bounds and possibly volunteer to proofread the articles before they are published. We could certainly use your skills in our fledgling publication. Your skills can only make it better. Send MotoEric a PM if you are interested. Lastly, nothing wrong with learning a new word or two while elevating one's reading level, is there?

Bob

I agree with Bob...

Please remember that all the contributions, editing, and assembly is strictly a labor of love at this point for those on the forum involved. It is not for profit in every aspect.

Motoeric has quite the vocabulary so I agree with Bob that a few new words don't hurt and can only make us better for it. For those who don't like it, I am sure their eyes will just glance over it and still get the overall message of a given article. And for any other writing that is not perfect, I'm OK with it as it's written with love by the same people who post here.

[2Drunk2Que]

Originally Posted by BobBrisket

Sadly, you are correct. The base reading level for most people IS at 4th or 5th grade level. Since you have the necessary editing skills, then perhaps you should overstep your bounds and possibly volunteer to proofread the articles before they are published. We could certainly use your skills in our fledgling publication. Your skills can only make it better. Send MotoEric a PM if you are interested. Lastly, nothing wrong with learning a new word or two while elevating one's reading level, is there?

Bob

Bob I would love to but at this time in my life I really don't like my job. lol It would be torture to do more then I have to. I am at a point many in my position get to...burnout. Once I learn more about this place I may change my mind. I have noticed in the reading I have done so far that there is definitely something different here. If I "fall in" I may just change my mind.

Although I do agree that expanding ones vocabulary is a wonderful and necessary thing I also know that these words should be viable alternates in todays venacular. My job requires a more in-depth grasp of the English language and I went to the dictionary. Its great to use new words in place of tired overused words but within reason. To use big words for the sake of using big words is not the best way to show your intelligence. In fact many who do are called on it by their peers. We even have a word for it -- sesquipedalian.

Again I am completely new and may be skirting or obliterating the line here but I just wanted to give some feedback. I know this isn't a pay for item and it seems readership isn't the reason to publish it so maybe my take is off base.

[2Drunk2Que]

Originally Posted by MilitantSquatter

I agree with Bob...

Please remember that all the contributions, editing, and assembly is strictly a labor of love at this point for those on the forum involved. It is not for profit in every aspect.

Motoeric has quite the vocabulary so I agree with Bob that a few new words don't hurt and can only make us better for it. For those who don't like it, I am sure their eyes will just glance over it and still get the overall message of a given article. And for any other writing that is not perfect, I'm OK with it as it's written with love by the same people who post here.

Hi Vinny. I had noticed that this was a volunteer effort from the thanks and praise given by the editor. I truly appreciate that. I did volunteer work with our local neighborhood paper for years and yes it is a labor of love. Love or not though you want people to read it. In my years in the industry I have been privy to market research which concludes over and over again that reading level and uncommon vocabulary leads to decreased readership.

I appreciate that you are ok with it. Maybe it is just my experience that doesn't allow that type of thinking in this instance or possibly its just knowing what works in publishing and what doesn't. As for those who don't like it I must disagree on your assumption. People who don't understand the word will not only overlook it, they will put it down and look for something else. When someone picks up NASCAR magazine they don't want to filter through writing fit for the Wall Street Journal.

Be it for love or monetary gain any publication lives and dies on its readership. Be it sentence structure, vocabulary, or topic the content must engage its reader not alienate them. A "good read" is based on both its interest and its ability to hold your attention. If a reader must break from the flow of the article to get a dictionary then they may not come back. Others who may be sensitive to their intellectual prowess may be turned away completely.

I'm really trying to follow the rules here as well as disseminate information about an indusry I am intimately involved. I mean no disrespect.

[motoeric]

Thanks for the feedback!

I hope you enjoyed the magazine.

Eric

[SirPorkaLot]

Originally Posted by 2Drunk2Que

Hmm I am an editor for a local periodical so I must bite my tongue as my job makes me too critical. I also read the history and rules here so I don't want to overstep my bounds. I must say that there should be some more attention paid to sentence structure and proofreading. The magazine employs conversational language in a few areas which tends to appear sloppy in text. I also noticed another issue. My old boss so rudely put it like this. "The problem with publishing is smart people have to learn how to write for dumb people." Most people read at a 4th or 5th grade reading level. I saw words that wouldn't be used in the Wall Street Journal. I, myself, went to dictionary.com on two occasions to double check the definition. No one wants to read with a dictionary and no one wants to feel stupid because they can't read a regular magazine without one. I actually saw the word anachronistic used. Its definition describes it own position in the English language. If we used that type of language in our publication we would lose subscriptions. The sesquipedalian needs to put away the Thersaurus. lol

Sorry if that seems hurtful. It was not my intent.

Don't over think it - it is just BBQ

Most of us are simple folk with simple language, and upon occasion we like to throw around big words to make us feel smarter (btw what the hell is a sesquipedalian??)

You will find that the majority of the people on this site (also the majority of the readership) will just skip over the words they don't understand, and go to the parts they care about....BBQ..

I can also tell you that a lot of us are antiestablishmentarianism and if the "establishment" says we should use smaller words - well then fark 'em..let's drink a beer, fire up the smoker and hide ourselves in blue smoke.

The moral to this story...it is just BBQ...don;t over think it. Read the mag for it's content, not it's linguistic quality.

[bbqpitstop]

Well now this was a handy thread to read because I was just asked to write an article for the NBBQA (which by the way you should all consider joining, it's a great organization) about blogs. I am certainly going to reread what I've written and make sure I haven't included anything that could be considered too wordy or over the top.

This was also funny to me because I actually got reamed for using too big of words in a meeting I had......it was an eye opener to know that not everyone knew what ambiguous meant....cmon......really I thought ? But in hindsight if it was going to lose the audience, sticking with simplicity is probably best.

Thanks for the amicable reminder....lol

[bbqpitstop]

And by the way, is it reamed ? or Reemed ?

[BBQ Grail]

Damn, some of you people are just down right mean spirited.

Originally Posted by 2Drunk2Que

Sorry if that seems hurtful. It was not my intent.

So just how hurtful could you be if that was your intent?

[{Midnight ☼ Smoke}]

Okay, I am a little slow... again. When I click the Smoke Signals link I see the Mag, but cannot read it, I tried + and my Browsers View, It is unreadable. I know it's me so please help a challenged person.

[bbqpitstop]

Magazine looks great, I just got done reading it...especially loved Jerry's article on trash talkin...lol....hilarious !