They say that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. In the hopes of not falling into that trap and in conjunction with the move to WordPress (which is in progress behind the scenes), I’m contemplating making some other small changes around the site. One of which is this:
How would you feel if Question of the Day became Question of the Week?
The Question of the Day has been going strong since January 2009, more than four years now, and I wonder if it has run its course, at least as a daily thing. It’s getting tougher to come up with a new question each day, and the response from you guys seems to be depressed lately.
So I’m considering posting just one question each week, on Mondays, and letting it run all week — hopefully I’ll be able to come up with questions that inspire ongoing conversation, not quick responses. (I’d still run the non-pop-culture-related Question of the Weekend, too.) As a sort of compensation, I’ll go back to posting links and quick commentary to stuff happening around the Web in their own posts, instead of as the collection of links I’ve been posting as my social-media roundup post late each evening (though I’ll continue to post those things to Facebook and Twitter and Google+, too).
What do you think? Do the QOTDs often not interest you? Would one question given more prominence be more interesting to you?
I’m going to try the just-one-question this week and see how it goes, and gauge your responses.
(If you have a suggestion for a QOTD, feel free to email me. Responses to this QOTD sent by email will be ignored; please post your responses here.)
Great idea! I think a lot of folks would love to participate, only there’s just a shortage of time in a 24-hour period…go to a QOTW, and if there’s a sudden, burning inquiry, have the occasional QOTWE (…weekend).
Sounds like a good idea, I’d get behind a weekly question.
Not a bad idea, but really I’m good either way :)
Your site, your rules. If it’s taking time away from watching and reviewing, I’d imagine that comes first…
It’s a good idea. A lot of times, I have something to say, but by the time I get around to answering, you’re already on to the next, so I don’t bother.
I wondered if this was happening a lot. I never intended for discussion to shut down on a QOTD by the end of the day, but I can see how that might have happened anyway.
What also happened a few times is that I had gotten into a conversation with someone about a particular topic and didn’t pursue it further simply because it felt like the conversation had moved on to the new QotD.
I certainly enjoy the QOTD. It’s not the only thing that keeps me coming back daily, but it’s definitely a big part. I don’t always have something to contribute (or time to contribute it when I do), but I always enjoy reading the responses.
Of course, you could just turn it into a Question of the Whenever, and update whenever the spirit moves you or you get a good suggestion. I’m guessing that you would see participation in a weekly question tail off after 2-3 days anyway, so you might want to leave yourself the flexibility to post whenever you damn well please. :-)
I agree, plus sometimes inspiration comes all at once, or several topical items can spring up in the news in a few days and then it can be a while before something else that provides good fodder for interesting conversation pops up.
Well, I do plan to be posting other stuff — like the links that have previously just been rounded up at the end of the day — that would prompt conversation, too.
Your more in depth discussion and posting of links to referenced articles in the current QOTD format tends to spur more thought and education IMO.
Damn! Somehow my comment was lost. I hate re-typing.
The quick version:
I agree with Jurgan in that I can’t always respond right away, and by the time I can it feels like the topics already been played out. Especially when you post the “results” on Fb, as if the topic we’re closed. I know that’;s not how you intend it, but it feels that way.
Plus, I’m just not interested in every QOTD. I suppose I’ve probably been commenting less lately, but, apparently, I’m not the only one.
A QOTW would require a different type of question. Something more conversational that could last more than a day.
As you’re across the pond now, how about a Question Of The Fortnight? :)
Every two weeks might be pushing it a little!
A fortnight is fourteen nights, i.e. two weeks. People in the eighteenth century and earlier (it’s in Jane Austen novels, for example) also used sennight (seven nights, i.e. a week) but for some reason we’ve dumped that but hung onto fortnight.
I know what it is since my parents are from Northern Ireland. :) I wasn’t seriously suggesting cutting back to two weeks–I just like the sound of fortnight, that’s all.
No worries – I get people not knowing what it is fairly often, is all! I like sennight, personally – much more romantic than ‘week’. Weak, leak.
Yeah, once a week works okay.
I think they’re great, but I’d rather see one really good question than 7 okay ones in a given week. I also like when you recycle old questions of the week, because then new readers get to join in on the conversation as well. If you don’t end up making a Question of the Week instead, that could be something to consider, I guess. They’re, like, the only sequels I like.
If I don’t leave a comment in the first two or so days, whatever I say seems to come too late for anyone to find. Everyone has moved on. So, yeah, maybe twice a week.
Go to once a week. Aside from all the other reasons folks are airing here, my feeling is that this is the sort of question that just asking it implies the answer. If you’re feeling stretched doing it daily, it’s time to go for fewer.
My 2 cents…..quality not quantity…… but why force yourself into a once a day or once a week box? If there is an obvious event, strike while the iron is hot and let quality conversations run. I would second the previous comments that quality conversations often seem to be onto the back burner before I have time to comment. If, however, another quality topic comes up in 3-4 days why make yourself wait some arbitrary amount of time. Knowing that a new quality question could be posted any day and their relation to current movies is a reason to visit your site each day.
I don’t know about others but I tend to visit your site for the filosopher more than the flick but the film side of it makes it much more approachable
I’ve never heard of sennight but that;s because my only exposure to Jane Austen is one of the Blackadder The Third episodes insinuating she was a man, if my memory serves me correctly. I like it as a word, though!