Odd response from TXPMagazine

NyteOwl · 2006-07-29 18:46:29

When I finished The Yak Shack website a couple of weeks ago, I submitted it to the Canada section of the countries gallery on TXPMagazine. I was pleasantly surprised to see it appear within about a day. Having recently finished The Birches I thought I would submit it as well as they cover entirely different content.

The response was unusual to say the least (or I found it so) especially in light of teh previous experience. Basically I got an e-mail that said they only list well designed sites for the United States, Great Britain and Germany. I’m not sure if I’m declined because I don’t live ijn one of those countries, or because my site isn’t considered well designed – it seems to imply both.

What really annoys though is that was followed by a comment that as my site was a blog (which it really isn’t) to register it with TXP Blogmap – oh and yes please provide a donation. Seems one can be listed for a few shekels.

Now anyone can do what they want with their website, but this little escapade has certainly left a bad taste in the mouth of this visitor. I can handle the fact that someone may not like my design but this smacks too much of elitism for my taste and have asked for the removal of my other site from the listings. Has anyone else run into this?

hcgtv · 2006-07-29 18:57:43

That’s odd, maybe there’s a criteria they go through for adding sites, Alex could tell us.

On a side note, I follow the WHT forums, the VPS section specifically. I saw your handle on there, small world :)

NyteOwl · 2006-07-29 19:00:33

hcgtv wrote:

That’s odd, maybe there’s a criteria they go through for adding sites, Alex could tell us.

Actualy the e-mail was signed by Alex (though the from e-mail addrews was a total mess)

On a side note, I follow the WHT forums, the VPS section specifically. I saw your handle on there, small world :)

Indeed. I’ve been a WHT lurker for a long time :)

squaredeye · 2006-07-29 21:34:43

NyteOwl,
I can’t speak for Alex, but I might only suggest that you write and ask her the same questions you’re asking here. Alex is one of the kindest, most reasonable people I’ve ever corresponded with and although I’m biased, I think of TXPmag as a place with fair criteria and an open mind. If you feel your design and site merit inclusion, you may think about giving it another go, or asking Alex what she thinks needs improvement in order to be included?

Just a thought.

I tend to be a pretty forward person, and so maybe these tactics don’t work for you?
But it might be worth a try.

:)

NyteOwl · 2006-07-29 22:53:48

Oh If she doesn’t feel the design is up to snuff as it were that’s fine – everyone has their own tastes and criteria. What I found odd (and I must admit I slightly resent) is the apparent national exclusiveness that seemed to have been communicated. That and the apparent exception to being listed elsewhere if you contributed $$. Just kinda grates on my sensibilities. As with most things YMMV.

Surprisingly, the site no longer lists any sites under Canada (or Swedan or China for that matter).

Last edited by NyteOwl (2006-07-30 00:47:42)

NeilA · 2006-07-30 05:19:51

Err, TXPMag seems to be listing sites from those countries just fine – on the ‘collections’ page and the blog map.

Knowing Alex as Matthew does, I strongly suspect this is just an unfortunate mis-communication, and perhaps some hiccup with the site (in terms of not displaying some countries when you looked). What you’re suggesting certainly isn’t part of the TXpMag ‘Mission’.
With regard to the request for a donation – again, I’m not aware of that as a flat out policy, and perhaps it’s communication issue. Alex has said to me on a couple of occasions that she struggles with the nuances of English.

But like Matthew said: talk to the lady herself. ;-)

Regards

Last edited by NeilA (2006-07-30 05:22:54)

alexandra · 2006-07-30 07:35:21

@Nyte

I had to change link policy lately as the linklists for germany, US and the UK got too long. All links on TXP Mag´s linklists are served by del.icio.us. del.icio.us restricts the amount of links we can receive from their service. That is the reason why sometimes linklists of countries all of a sudden disappear. The problem is noted by me for 4.5 months or even longer. I did already correspond with Andrew about a solution (inserting links form del.icio.us into TXP). Unfortunately Andrew has not had the time to code a solution yet.

Ahead of that, with a couple of thousands txp driven sites by now we can not keep linklists of all of them. Who ever runs a blog, please register with TXP Blogmap. TXP Blogmap is not just a linklist. It is heavily coded by Bastian and he is on and about to do an update which is necessary on and off. We ask for donations because this is WORK! Someone is sitting there a couple of nights coding!! Don´t you think it is more than fair to reward the one who is doing 12 to 20 hours coding for your pleasure? I think it is.

[Last and least a private note from me to you: i did ask for support with TXP Mag (linklists/galleries/articles) here on the forum and on TXP Mag. You never offered your help. Going through my papers i did not find any hint you did donate one buck to the community yet. And now you complain…. i wonder about people sometimes… okay, if you like supporting us with your help f. e. cleaning up the linklist for the US and UK, contact me via email and i´ll explain what you can do and what would be very appreciated.]

Last edited by alexandra (2006-07-30 09:03:01)

alexandra · 2006-07-30 09:22:39

PS The way i felt reading Nytes initial post:

http://www.essell.org/journal2/images/menotdead.jpg

Last edited by Mary (2006-07-31 12:46:00)

els · 2006-07-30 10:07:47

This seems to be the confusing part:

We only link well designed sites for Germany, USA and the UK.

That’s different from

For Germany, USA and the UK we only link well designed sites.

which is what the about page on TXPMag says.
One might conclude that not so well designed sites from other countries are accepted. In that case I wonder why mine was removed, because if there ever was a not so well designed site… :)

(Don’t take me wrong, Alex, it doesn’t matter to me.)

alexandra · 2006-07-30 10:22:56

Okay, for clarification: only well designed sites get linked for germany, us and uk because there are too many links in these country categories already. Blogs should subscribe to the Blogmap.

Within 2 years i did remove approx. 5 sites because they were outdated or not txp driven anymore.

I never removed your site, Els! I wonder where it is and will check this now. I guess it does not show up as del.icio.us restricts the amount of links. I really like to find a solution for this but need a programmer. Folks believe it or not, it is not all that easy as you think.

Destry · 2006-07-30 11:25:54

I can vouch that communication between folks of different native tongues can go astray…right Alexandra ;)
If you don’t understand this, it’s very, very easy to take things in the wrong manner from which they were intended…right Alexandra ;)

This has happened to me on more than one occasion, but once some one-to-one communication was made, a whole different situation became clear each time. I suspect that’s what’s going on here.

I would apologize to the TxPMag crew, I have signed on there primarily for editing contributions (and the occasional article) and I guess I need to focus on that more. I’m swamped with a serious XAMPP problem at the moment and two client projects, but if the TxPMag crew would like to make a list of mag pages that could use a bit of review for clarity and meaning, by all means make the list and send it to me. I’ll go over things and see if we can improve the overall communication of the messages.

I applaud Alexandra’s courage for doing a Mag in English when she is struggling a bit with English herself. Now that I’m facing similar shoes with French publishing, I can really understand the challenges; however, if the Mag is going to be in English, the English must be clear in meaning.

Destry wrote: however, if the Mag is going to be in English, the English must be clear in meaning.

Those words are going to come back and haunt me, I’m certain.

Last edited by Destry (2006-07-30 15:39:15)

NyteOwl · 2006-07-30 18:32:06

els wrote:

That’s different from

It most certainly is. As I said anyone can run their site any way they like, and if they don’t find any submission I make matches their criteria for design that’s fine. I just resent being told (effectively) it’s unacceptable because of the country I live in. That kind of discrimination has no place here (or I would hope it didn’t).

alexandra wrote:

I had to change link policy lately as the linklists for germany, US and the UK got too long.

Your e-mail (which I will only post in public with permission) said you were only accepting sites from US, UK, DE – quite a different thing, and my source of annoyance.

and he is on and about to do an update which is necessary on and off. We ask for donations because this is WORK! Someone is sitting there a couple of nights coding!! Don´t you think it is more than fair to reward the one who is doing 12 to 20 hours coding for your pleasure? I think it is.

No argument that asking for donations for a public project that requires a fair amount of resource from the creators is fair enough. What I find annoying is that on one hand your communication implied that the submission was somehow unacceptable for a free list but if one was willing to pay space could be found.

You never offered your help. Going through my papers i did not find any hint you did donate one buck to the community yet. And now you complain…. i wonder about people sometimes… okay, if you like supporting us with your help f. e. cleaning up the linklist for the US and UK, contact me via email and i´ll explain what you can do and what would be very appreciated.]

Well gee – how many hours in the day are there? I try and help here as moderator, did a howto for TextBook, albeit a small one, volunteer with two other projects, do off-line community work, do coding for a couple of other projects (for the pleasure of it) and have a living to make or starve. I apologize I don’t have time for your project too. You required money for a listing? If one is going to offer a free service one should be prepared to do so, not whine when people who are offered something for free become annoyed when they are diverted to something for pay (around here it’s called “bait and switch”), especially in such a discriminatory manner. If you want people to contribute for a listing and help monetize your site, say so up front (I bet it would solve the overflowing links problem). And are all those well designed sites that are overflowing the US, UK, and DE section contributing somehow (other than providing content in the form of links to their sites)?

—-

I was mildly annoyed before, but this latest flame, and the cartoon has removed this from a simple annoyance with a website policy to disgust at what has become a personal attack – not something I generally participate in as they are generally started only by the immature. Please remove ve1cbf.ca from your listings in Canada and you will have one less link to contribute to your burdgeoning linklists.

As far as I am concerned the minute this thread descended to an ad hominem discussion ( not something I had expected on these forums as they are generally quite mature and sensible when it comes to varying viewpoints ) it lost all credibility, and I will not be participating in it further.

Please direct all further replies to /dev/nul

Edited for typing errors

Last edited by NyteOwl (2006-07-30 18:49:22)

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#1 2006-07-29 18:46:29

Odd response from TXPMagazine

#2 2006-07-29 18:57:43

Re: Odd response from TXPMagazine

#3 2006-07-29 19:00:33

Re: Odd response from TXPMagazine

#4 2006-07-29 21:34:43

Re: Odd response from TXPMagazine

#5 2006-07-29 22:53:48

Re: Odd response from TXPMagazine

#6 2006-07-30 05:19:51

Re: Odd response from TXPMagazine

#7 2006-07-30 07:35:21

Re: Odd response from TXPMagazine

#8 2006-07-30 09:22:39

Re: Odd response from TXPMagazine

#9 2006-07-30 10:07:47

Re: Odd response from TXPMagazine

#10 2006-07-30 10:22:56

Re: Odd response from TXPMagazine

#11 2006-07-30 11:25:54

Re: Odd response from TXPMagazine

#12 2006-07-30 18:32:06

Re: Odd response from TXPMagazine

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