Attention

[c-m-i.livejournal.com]

Davis Square currently not on fire. The sun will set at 4:41pm this afternoon. McDonalds is currently open. Post of email sent by alderman to follow, at length, behind cut.

Seriously, do we really need a constant Davis Square update here? Occasional updates of a big nature are fine, but lately it feels like this community exists to support a horde of OCD change police who spend their entire days patroling Davis on the look out for anything new/slightly different so they can post about it before anyone else can.

Comments

[ron_newman]

do you think we need two separate communities, one for news/announcements and the other for discussion?

[rosiewoodboat.livejournal.com]

Maybe you just need your own community. Or a tin can with a string....

[miss-chance.livejournal.com]

Maybe you just need your own community. Or a tin can with a string....

Do you need to be so nasty?

[bridgesyoucross.livejournal.com]

definitely not.

[c-m-i.livejournal.com]

Given the replies to Komos's post above, it looks like the tide is against me, but since there have been a few replies to my post that boiled down to "So what's the alternative you'd offer?" I'd suggest that many, many of the posts that promoted my ire would have been better served in a wiki.

I see this group as a great source of information about Davis, but a source that is best targeted at pulled information rather than pushed. This means that we're great at offering suggestions of Things To Do in the square, opinions on local businesses, and so on. I'm much more in favor of subjective information over factual on this list. This means that we can discuss whether or no Diva's menu is worth the price, but not feel the need to list the menu in its entirety. The information provided on this, a community discussion group, imo should be primarily of a pull (ie, we asked for it) not push (here you go!) variety.

Of the pushing-1000 members of this group, how many read it on a constant basis that up-to-the-minute information on openings, offerings, and window status are actually useful? Information that we post in regards to the current status of business/project X is not useful when it comes to searching the archives a few months later. Instant updates are only of use to those that mange to catch them and I fear that their use may be lost in the long run.

A wiki, on the other hand, could become a premier Davis Square attraction. Imagine a one-stop-shop for information regarding local businesses (their operating status, special offers, links to their menus if online/or actual copies if not), ongoing civic matters, and even an archive of past alderperson/taskforce/whatever minutes/mass emails. Such a site could be a reference for the discussions/questions born on this list, which I think is better suited towards soliciting the advice and opinions of a vibrant community.

Bottom line? I think this community is a great place to ask about housing/rental prices, wonder where to get a haircut, and complain about the lack of traffic lights at a certain intersection. It is not the best forum to keep people constantly updated about the status of current Davis features. That would be best served not in another lj-community, but in a wiki that we all can work to keep up to date and accurate. Most free wiki programs have status updates so those that enjoy being in-the-know to the minute can get an RSS feed and be satisfied. Factual information at one easy location.

Of course, this post has since been dropped into the dim past of forgetfulness now that everyone, including me, has got their snark on, so I expect things to continue apace rather than set a standard of online, grassroots community building.

[cos]

A wiki could be useful but it would not be a replacement for these sorts of posts here in this community. Posts are timely updates, and each one becomes a forum for discussion, where we each can see what others have to say about it. A wiki would not serve that purpose.

[ron_newman]

I like the idea of a Wiki. If you create one, I'll be happy to contribute to it, and I bet many other folks here would do so as well. Go for it, and let us know the URL.

[ron_newman]

Adding to the above: have you considered talking to the Davis Area Resident-Business Initiative about putting your wiki on their web site? They are pretty new and they don't yet have anything to really drive traffic to their site. A wiki could be just the thing for them.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

but lately it feels like this community exists to support a horde of OCD change police who spend their entire days patroling Davis on the look out for anything new/slightly different so they can post about it before anyone else can.

As Winston Churchill wisely observed, "Any idiot can see what is wrong with something, but can you see what's right?"

[watchamacallit.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry but that is not the approved Davis Square Community font. It offends the eyes. Please contact your local alderman for the approved list of fonts.

[ron_newman]

this better?

[watchamacallit.livejournal.com]

You should be banned for offending everyone's eyes with the horror that is Comis Sans MS.

[ad-lib.livejournal.com]

attention! did you know there's a magician living on our street?

and i'm not a stalker, i know where you live because i happened upon starflow one night on your porch. :P

[c-m-i.livejournal.com]

Dude, said magician has been seen rolling around the neighborhood on a unicycle while pushing a stroller! Yeah, so when he and his kid showed up for Halloween treats, you can be sure they got an extra dose of candy.

[spatch]

DAMMIT! I TOLD you I was rushing over to post the time of the sunset today! Thanks for ruining my moment!

[bridgesyoucross.livejournal.com]

What do you consider an "update of a big nature"? OK, the free Au Bon Pain wireless was kind of off-topic, but I consider this new Crepe place to be big news for this community considering its location.

If the community is cluttering your friends page, I'm pretty sure there's a way to make it not appear and then you can just check it manually if it's bothering you.

[ron_newman]

I thought even the Au Bon Pain wireless was on-topic, since it's in Davis and it's new and lots of us have laptops.

[inkscarred.livejournal.com]

I think new wireless spots are relevant.

[dani-namaste.livejournal.com]

I don't. I've been looking for a free wireless location that was closer than Union, and I found the post extremely helpful.

This one, although amusing, not so helpful.

[curiositykt.livejournal.com]

I quite agree.

[dani-namaste.livejournal.com]

I just realized that in my advanced state of tiredness earlier that I thought you said they were irrelevant. Sorry about that. But yes, I did find the wireless spot post to be a very helpful one.

[bridgesyoucross.livejournal.com]

there's an au bon pain in davis?

never mind.

[turil.livejournal.com]

To me this community is for discussion of Davis Square, and that means whatever interests people that is generally related to Davis (or Somerville at large, to some extent).

If I'm not interested in a topic, I don't bother reading it.

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

Exactly!

I like these updates

[arachne8x.livejournal.com]

I work in the square and don't always have a chance to wander around. Knowing that new places are opening up and places I liked are gone is very useful to me.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

I like the constant update. It makes me feel connected. You could just skim over the things you aren't interested in, or take it off your friends page, after all.

[overstim.livejournal.com]

I have no problem with frequent updates ABOUT DAVIS SQUARE.

What I dont need to see is the same exact post 15 times because it was posted to Davis Square, Cambridge, B0st0n, boston eats, boston arts, etc etc etc...

Keep the posts coming, but keep them relevant, dammit. Union square is not davis square. Kenmore is not davis square. Cambridge is not davis square. The south end is not davis square.

[ron_newman]

If you can walk to it in 10 minutes from Davis Square, I'd say it's Greater Davis Square, even if it's in Cambridge. I live right at the city line so perhaps I'm unduly sensitive to this issue.

There is a somervillemass community, which is probably where the Union Square announcements belong, but it's very quiet while we're quite busy.

[ravenword.livejournal.com]

I'm always happy to learn something I didn't already know about my neighborhood. And heck yes I want to find out where to get crepes and free wifi. :P

[magpie-leah.livejournal.com]

I also love the constant updates even about little things!

[spatch]

I do, too, sunset times aside. One person's irrelevant minutiae is someone else's useful news. I'd draw the line at multiple updates; the "Mr. Crepe is open / But only serving coffee / Or maybe crepes / And the windows are clean" thread worked well within its one single post today. If those updates had been sent as wholly new posts, even 20 minutes apart, then I could see people getting annoyed about multiple posts (I'd probably be annoyed too.)

[azores.livejournal.com]

wow. I take it the new posting rules would mean that only things of interest to you personally would be allowed. Fair enough. Let me get crackin'...

[koloratur.livejournal.com]

I like the minutiae. It makes me feel like I'm living in a small town again :)

I lose at the internet.

[aki.livejournal.com]

Actually, I found this post much more irritating than any updates on business hours or requests for hairdresses. You do get bonus points for trolling though. I believe those points come deducted directly from my score since I bothered to reply. Doh!

[cos]

I'm quite happy with the posts about stuff happening in Davis Square and I think it makes this a better and more useful community.