Echoes

I think # 210 is a brilliant idea

I realize it`s a personal thing but i find sites that are not cluttered nor complicated to look at very inviting. Interestingly, I find that the color stripes on the front page a turn off - i have to make a special effort to go to those articles. I also note that they have had a lot fewer clicks.
I also realize that you`re trying to make this look more like a magazine than a blog site. Therefore it`s hard to know how complicated in appearance this can be while keeping the visual appeal.
Also, articles that invite a lot of interest could be pushed to the margin before they are pushed off the front page. This way their transition into oblivion will be more gradual.

Re: # 209 Keeping up appearances, is what seperates Democracy from
other other forms of govt.

I read write-ups at Chowk with interest, but sometimes I cant help say to myself: Fuk it (I say that while I clinch my fists real tight). The journalistic component on this website is pretty edgy, but some of the subsequent discussions end up in fist-fights among Chowkies. E.g., Indians blaming everything on Pakistanis, and half of Pakistanis blaming Pakistanis, and the remaining are divided between India haters and Jew haters. Once in a while, you find an Indian hating other Indians. One cannot but notice that this tension, if you will, is what makes this place tick. This tension also brings Pakistanis closer to other Pakistanis and Indians and Jews. Therefore, it might not be a bad idea to have a new tab labeled “Gleason’s Gym” – a Boxing gym in Brooklyn where over a 100 Boxing Champions trained (including heavy weights like Mohammad Ali, Mike Tyson, George Foreman). Most recently, Hilary Swank, the “Million Dollar Baby” trained there for her role.

The purpose of “Gleason’s Gym” will be to have a purely dedicated section for Indo-Pak (and Pak-Pak) rivalry, because as it is, every discussion gets corrupted by the useless bare-knuckle fights between the various groups, and very rarely is there is a knockout. In this section, there will always be a knockout. You be the referee.

While I am not it… Since Chowk is tabbed into various sub-sections named inappropriately without any significance to what is being discussed there (I never heard the name Leafyglade until I came here – I still don’t have a clue what it means – I am clinching my fists again), I think some of the other tabs should also be re-named. “Gymkhana” sends very upper crusty vibes for a section’s name. I avoid going there caz the name intimidates me. I think you shouldn’t be so abstract, and should choose more user-friendly (and lower middle class) names for various sections. Not everyone lives in Gulberg. My German colleague once was very surprised to know that we have places in Pakistan named in Duetche;;; I told him, Gulberg is not on the Neckar, and is prettier than Heidelberg.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE USUAL LOOK???????????????????????????

Updating without warning is like eating pizza for breakfast.................................

#210


Correction: It should read as “There shouldn’t be a need for “Ignored By”….

I think the peer rating system in one’s profile should be done away with. What purpose does it actually serve? I mean, ain’t everyone equal, a few more equal than others. Similarly, there’s should be a need for “ignored by”. One can always be “manually” ignored. These were suggestions for cosmetic appearance. Now for the content:

There should be a place to list articles submitted (pretty much like monitors at the airport arrival halls). Like this:

- Dogs and Military – by Romair – Submitted on 11/6/98 – To be reviewed
- MukhtaraN Mai and Starbucks – by Urstruly – Under Review
- India Pakistan and US in a threesum – by Dulla Bhatti – Rejected due to adult language
- Waterhose and Hydraulics – by Mr. Gill – to be published on 11/12/05

Such a status of submissions will give the Chowkies an idea of what exciting stuff to look forward to, and also to make vacation plans accordingly.

Re: # 207

...personally i recommend removal of this good for nothing `letters to editor` section...it does not serve any purpose except to put the editors under unnecessary pressure and a chance to losers to get closer to the power base through the tried and tested mantra of flattery and apple polishing...neither are you going to implement any of the recommendations that may not fit in with your world-view, so why this painful excercise in pretence and `democracy`...be honest...thank you.

It has been 48 hours and I am still awaiting a reply from chowk staff in the feedback section.

I ask chowk staff (yet again) to make public the list of chowk interactors who are empowered to ban posters and censor posts.

Dear Chowk Edtior:

My post #77 was not about a suggestion how to improve this site and should be removed, not “filtered,” just as all other posts on this board that have nothing to do with the editorial content of this site and ideas as to how to improve Chowk.

A philistine with too much time on his hand seems bent on destroying this site, or at least make it as unpleasant for the visitors as possible. This is a filthy virus and, like all other viruses, must be put to rest.

Again, I suggest you take away the ability for the users to post in real time on this board and edit the posts before you publish it, or this board will become just another thread of the unruly Unplugged of the morally and intellectually corrupt and experts in abuse.

Sincerely,
Godot

Re: # 67 Wah bai, tu te bari aqal di gallaN karda aieN...tenu kenay
andar aan ditta ?. :)

Good job man. Keep the faith.

Re: # 55 Um...............YEAH!. Like, totally.

SaimaShah,

Thank YOU :)

To the current Chowk staff,

Thank YOU too for filtering out Beej.

To the Editor in Chief,

Make us believe that you are what is best for this beloved website. Good luck.

Dear Chowk Editor:

I thought it was a great idea to provide space for the Chowkies to write directly to the Editor suggesting ideas as to how we the writers, the readers and the interactors can contribute in making this site our home where we come to learn, discuss and enjoy.

Noble idea as it is, there are some elements who know nothing other than abuse. I suggest that you should take the ability from the interactors to post in real time, at least on this Letter to Editor board. If a post has nothing to do with an idea or a suggestion re improvement of Chowk, the post should simply not be posted. This should also make “filter” unnecessary on this board.

Sincerely,
Godot

#61
``This space should, however, be treated as a `Letter to the Ed` with suggestions/comments and not to get into a dialogue with one another as has been clearly stated.``

Let us give it a try.. At least now editor has a face and not a god like creature hidden somehwere on seventh level.

Dead editor sahiba,
Here are some suggestions. Will wait for your response.
0. Avoid trying to solve Indo-Pak issues on this forum. Chowk has become a playground of arm chair experts who have not been able to achieve anything in their life other than writing 5000+ posts on chowk. For one year, DO NOT publish anything on contemporary Indo-pak relations. Chowkies are not mature enough to participate in such discussion.
1. Publish lots of short stories and literature - if you do not get good stuff than atleast publish translations of old stories
2. Get some material on real history - history of people as written by real people. Check http://historytalking.com for how they are doing it.
3. Publish more travelogues - about every coner of sub-continent and beyond.
4. Do not write editorial unless you can write some quality unbiased material. Check http://www.weeklyholiday.net for a sample of good editorial.
5. Make dost-mitter and Nazar Hyat Khan ``ombudsman`` of chowk.

Re: # 31

Scout, quite obviously I used the word democracy in a different sense. Chowk is a democratic forum--the design encourages two way dialogue and other elements of what constitutes. The publishing industry has a different way of finding an editor than a government. Over time as the size of a publishing house grows, the methods also changes. Anyway, I am sure you understand. I am wholeheartedly grateful to Chowk publishers who have provided a wonderful service to all of us. This space is for suggestions--so I will go back to a relevant comment.

Chowk Staff, you don`t get too many thank yous. We are all so spoilt. But I just wanted to say thanks for carrying on inspite of it all; thanks for unflinching idealism.

Regards
Saima