#106244 - Mon Feb 04 2008 05:49 AM
Re: Quiz Queues .. waiting time
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Explorer
Registered: Mon May 28 2007
Posts: 54
Loc: Ayr Scotland UK
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Is there "better" times to submit a quiz, or try just avoid holidays/weekends etc?
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#106246 - Mon Feb 04 2008 04:34 PM
Re: Quiz Queues .. waiting time
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Mainstay
Registered: Sat Nov 03 2007
Posts: 506
Loc: Tyrone
Northern Ireland UK
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Just out of curiosity, is there a preferred time for editors to put quizzes online? Most of mine seem to go on in the wee small hours of the morning (UK time).
Not that I am complaining, I hasten to add...I am only too pleased to see them there and I value the hard work of our dedicated, fragrant and very erudite editors (crawl, crawl)
_________________________
There are just two types of people in this world, those who hear the music and those who don't.
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#106247 - Mon Feb 04 2008 04:43 PM
Re: Quiz Queues .. waiting time
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Multiloquent
Registered: Sat Feb 12 2000
Posts: 4894
Loc: Seattle
Washington USA
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There is no site-wide preferred time for editors to do their work. But individual editors have time frames that work better with their schedules, and time frames that don't. The net effect is a bit unpredictable, since we have editors hailing from a variety of different places.
The small hours of the morning (UK time) sounds to me like evening in the US, where we have a lot of editors. I think many editors find themselves with a little more time in the evenings, after work and supper. Others are able to edit occasionally during working hours (I can do this myself sometimes, while waiting for code to compile or data to accumulate), and still others prefer the mornings -- unless their schedules change one week! So, basically, it's all in the air. And even if you somehow carefully calibrate the timing of your submission, there may still be 10 other quizzes in the queue ahead of yours when the editor gets online!
CellarDoor
Editor (Religion, Music, Humanities)
Edited by CellarDoor (Mon Feb 04 2008 04:44 PM)
_________________________
Just because there's twilight doesn't mean we can't tell the difference between night and day
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#106249 - Wed Mar 26 2008 01:36 PM
Re: Quiz Queues .. waiting time
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Prolific
Registered: Fri Aug 20 2004
Posts: 1302
Loc: Omaha Nebraska USA
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Quote:
Just some general questions about this subject. To wit:
Why can a quiz writer only submit one quiz at a time? I don't mean, say, six quizzes in one category, but one quiz in several categories?
If the queues are so long, why not bring more editors online for those categories with longer waiting times? As the editors are all volunteers, I should think monetary concerns are not at play here. However, at this time, no one can even fill out an application to be an editor.
I've had a music quiz waiting now for about 10 days (which may not seem like long to some), but have other quizzes waiting to submit, because I love to write them and think I do a pretty good job of it!
Just wondering.
WOBoogie
Well, Ms. Boogie, the major reason for the one-quiz-at-a-time rule is to keep the categories from being pelted with lots of quizzes from folks who may not put a great deal of energy into their efforts or whose grasp of the guidelines is a trifle tenuous. After an author has "proven themselves" by consistently writing good quizzes that require very little editing and being appropriately responsive to criticism, this stricture may be relaxed - though it cannot be overemphasized that really very few authors do reach this level. In other words, if your wait times are too long, you may want to double-check your work to make sure everything is according to Hoyle - nothing will slow down your work more than the necessity of many correction notices.
As far as more editors are concerned: becoming an editor around here is kind of like being selected for Special Forces in the US military. Many are called; few are chosen.
_________________________
Peace,
Stu
Editor, Sports
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#106250 - Wed Mar 26 2008 01:48 PM
Re: Quiz Queues .. waiting time
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Moderator
Registered: Mon Jul 09 2007
Posts: 41461
Loc: Ottawa Ontario Canada
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And I believe it has been said before that it's not as easy as a lot of people think it is to get more editors. It's a matter of finding people who are qualified to do it AND who are willing to put in the work, and there aren't that many people like that out there.
_________________________
Editor: Television and Animals
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#106251 - Wed Mar 26 2008 02:35 PM
Re: Quiz Queues .. waiting time
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Explorer
Registered: Wed Mar 26 2008
Posts: 55
Loc: Bay City
Michigan USA
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Dear Stu...,
Well, I did spend more than 25 years as a writer and editor, so I do my utmost to clear any quizzes I write of grammatical, stylistic and punctuation errors (and, of course, factual ones).
I have eight quizzes online and none of them have taken this long. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you seem to be 'talking down' a bit to me, and I find that sad (correct me if I'm wrong). I'm a long-time, dedicated professional with three communications degrees. In fact, I put a great deal of time and energy into each quiz I create. They are THAT important to me.
My suggestions were simply my thoughts on making waiting times shorter and the search for new editors easier.
But typos and other 'blips' do happen. Sure, I'd like to be a 'Quizzyland' editor, but if that never happens, c'est la vie.
BTW, why do you think I'm a "Ms." Boogie? After all, Dr. Winston O'Boogie was a man (John Lennon). And, no, my waiting music quiz is not a Beatles quiz. There are far too many of those already.
Cheers,
WOBoogie
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#106256 - Wed Mar 26 2008 06:04 PM
Re: Quiz Queues .. waiting time
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Forum Champion
Registered: Tue Apr 17 2007
Posts: 5097
Loc: Ohio USA
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Well put, jon, and a good example of what the Editors put up with out of love for the site, condescending quiz writers. Just my opinion, but that's how it comes across.
_________________________
The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof.-- Richard Bach [i]Illusions
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#106257 - Wed Mar 26 2008 06:44 PM
Re: Quiz Queues .. waiting time
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Multiloquent
Registered: Wed Jun 06 2001
Posts: 4515
Loc: Texas USA
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Well Stu, I have to admit that was extremely well said. And it is not a matter of having more editors, it is a matter of having better authors who have read and understand the Quiz Creation Guidelines completely, and most importantly, understands the big picture of Quizzyland. Until this happens, some will never get the entire picture of the intent of a quality site. Btw Stu, I didn't think that you were talking down to anyone. This may be another of many cases that a member just doesn't get the entire picture of the site again. It really doesn't matter what any member's occupation is, unemployed or working at a fast food establishment, to being a rocket scientist, no one occupation qualifies a member to be a better writer than anyone else. The issue was brought up of this person being a writer and editor. This would have no bearing on the qualifications to understand the site's Quiz Creation Guidelines. When newspaper or magazine writers/editors do articles, they are written for that day or that month. That is time-stamped, meaning "at the time of the article". Time-stamped issues are not allowed in the site because after one day, the newspaper gets thrown out, and some statements in those articles will change. Quizzyland questions are structured to go on and on and on and on, like an un-named gum. It sticks to you and hangs in there forever. There are many little issues within the Quiz Guidelines that makes quizzes last forever, but this is just one of them that makes Quizzyland so credible. I have seen quizzes from members with down-syndrome to all types of handicaps, including authors using Polaris and JAWS. Those members take the extra step to try and understand the big picture of FunTrivia, and I have seen nothing but quality quizzes from them. I wish that everyone would really (sincerely) take the time to understand the whole picture of the site. Those who never get it, oh well. :-)
Edited by Nightmare (Wed Mar 26 2008 07:18 PM)
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#106258 - Wed Mar 26 2008 08:12 PM
Re: Quiz Queues .. waiting time
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Explorer
Registered: Wed Mar 26 2008
Posts: 55
Loc: Bay City
Michigan USA
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Dear Nightmare,
I think I get the 'lay of the land' here at Quizzyland very well. Is the fact that I was asking logical, legitimate questions and making suggestions somehow offensive to you?
If so, I am sorry. That was not my intent. Also, my intent in explaining my background was NOT to express any feelings of 'superiority'; I was simply defending myself against what I saw as an unnecessary explanation of Quizzyland SOP.
No, it doesn't matter what a quiz writer's occupation is, but when it comes to editing and reviewing them, it should.
Personally, I won't apologize for my talents and attributes, but neither should anyone expect me to. Nor should anyone else apologize for the same set of qualities. I simply love what this site imparts and wanted to be part of it.
Certainly the rules should apply to everyone, me, you and anyone else who writes a quiz.
For the record, I've read quiz submission guidelines for each and every category listed--so why have I been painted as not doing so--when you really know so little about me except for what I've mentioned in this forum?
Some rather unfriendly things have been said, or implied, about me that are unwarranted. Is that being able to get along? For God's sake, I'm a nice, decent person who's not trying to condescend or insult anyone.
Cheers!
woboogie
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#106259 - Wed Mar 26 2008 08:55 PM
Re: Quiz Queues .. waiting time
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Moderator
Registered: Mon Jul 09 2007
Posts: 41461
Loc: Ottawa Ontario Canada
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I think you're taking some of the answers a little too personally, WOBoogie. I don't think Nightmare or Stu were trying to say that you personally haven't read the guidelines, they were answering your question as to why authors can only submit one quiz at a time: because many of them don't read the guidelines, and it would be a waste of time for 4 different editors in 4 different categories to correct the same mistakes in 4 different quizzes. And, I think, pointing out that it is irrelevant that you are a writer/editor wasn't to be mean in any way, but just to say that it really doesn't make a difference here. Yes, it means that you might have better spelling and grammar skills that many other people, but how does it help you to know that you can't use punctuation in FITB or that you can't time-stamp your questions? Again, I am not trying to imply you didn't know that; good for you for reading all the guidelines, but again: many people don't.
As Stu said above, eventually authors who have really proven their ability to submit consistently good quizzes that do not need much editing are allowed to submit more than one quiz at a time (but I don't know you can ever submit more than two; I've never tried), but it takes more than 8 quizzes online to achieve that status, even if those 8 were very well-received.
All quiz authors know that it can be a bit frustrating waiting for a quiz that you've put so much work into, but the fact is that it just sometimes takes a bit longer. It might not even be that there are more submissions than usual this week, but maybe one or two of the editors have not been able to get online as much they would like for whatever reason. And as agony said, if you happened to go in and look at your quiz template, and then re-save it, then your time in queue re-sets. So for example, if you re-saved the quiz yesterday, the system will show that you only submitted it yesterday, not 10 days ago.
_________________________
Editor: Television and Animals
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#106262 - Thu Mar 27 2008 04:17 AM
Re: Quiz Queues .. waiting time
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Explorer
Registered: Wed Mar 26 2008
Posts: 55
Loc: Bay City
Michigan USA
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For the record, I do believe that things have gotten a bit beyond what I was trying to say initially. And, all that I was trying to do is ask a few questions and make some suggestions (that I don't think were made out of ignorance or anything else...they were just suggestions. I'm afraid this will probably always keep me from ever having a chance at becoming an editor, no matter how much I know about the site, the mechanics or anything relative to communication. I was simply trying to help. Also, i agree, I don't think ALL the respondents were trying to belittle or impugn my background and abilities (save for one, which is sad, as I see much negativity in their post). Is it not a good thing to try and be helpful and want to be useful in someway to something you truly care about? I don't think so. Oh, and Agony, I think you're right. I didn't know that going in and editing a waiting quiz zips it back to the bottom. That would be a good point to make clear!  wob
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#106263 - Thu Mar 27 2008 05:05 AM
Re: Quiz Queues .. waiting time
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Forum Champion
Registered: Sun Sep 09 2001
Posts: 5400
Loc: South Philadelphia PA USA
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For the record I have 138 quizzes online, and am an editor, and when I create and submit quizzes, they too have to sit in the queue just like every other quiz author.
The fact that editors have a red star next to their names means absolutely nothing in the scheme of having an editor review the quiz and hopefully place it online (even in the categories that we edit in).
Once our quizzes our in the queue, and we re-save it, the same thing happens, as with every other quiz author...the re-save trips it back to start (bottom), and we have to wait yet again.
The only thing that red star proves is that our quizzes are consistently good and that we know the guidelines...that's it.
_________________________
Agnes (JTJ)
"Whoever said, "Diamonds are a girl's best friend", never had a dog." --Anonymous
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#106265 - Thu Mar 27 2008 06:54 AM
Re: Quiz Queues .. waiting time
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Administrator
Registered: Sun Dec 26 1999
Posts: 54484
Loc: Sydney
oz downunder
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>> Why can a quiz writer only submit one quiz at a time? I don't mean, say, six quizzes
>> in one category, but one quiz in several categories? The ban on multiple quizzes is not permanent .. see this post by Terry from July 06, when he amended the system: Submit More Than One Quiz >> If the queues are so long, why not bring more editors online for those categories with longer waiting
>> times? As the editors are all volunteers, I should think monetary concerns are not at play here.
>> However, at this time, no one can even fill out an application to be an editor.
>>
>> I've had a music quiz waiting now for about 10 days (which may not seem like long to some), but have
>> other quizzes waiting to submit, because I love to write them and think I do a pretty good job of it! The number of editors in this place are sufficient for the volume of quizzes submitted, and we don't consider that wait an unreasonable length of time. See also this post from last year re waiting times (in response to a query from another new author): How many submissions a week?I've had a look at your quizzes. These were your turnaround times between submission and rejection\online: o 3˝ hours
o 6˝ hours
o almost a day (22˝ hours), and then 13˝ hours after resubmission
o 4 hours, 18 hours, 21 hours, 18 hours, and then 2˝ hours
o one hour short of 3 days, 22 minutes, then 2˝ hours
o 4 days 12 hours
o 1Ľ hours
o 2 days plus ˝ hour, then 1 day 19˝ hours
o 10 days plus ľ hour, then 11 minutes Your waiting times haven't been that bad!
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#106267 - Thu Mar 27 2008 02:08 PM
Re: Quiz Queues .. waiting time
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Explorer
Registered: Wed Mar 26 2008
Posts: 55
Loc: Bay City
Michigan USA
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gtho4,
Thanks for your super response. I didn't know you could look at wait times (unless that's an 'editor' privilege).
To be honest, I generally don't think the wait times are that long, but when you look at the queues list and see an approximate wait time of, say, 51-332 days (or some such), it's a bit shocking. So my original post was, as I explained, simply some suggestions to improve wait times (that didn't seem to be taken very well.)
But I'm really curious as to why there (seems to be) such a negative response to the suggestion of having a few more editors? I'm not being uppity (and try not to be), just genuinely curious.
Another thing to remember is, that while there are some hard and fast rules for grammar, style, syntax,etc., many are also judged according to an editor's personal taste. That can also take more time, but usually isn't worth quibbling about. (Spelling is something else entirely!)
Cheers!
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