Well that got your attention, didn't it?
:mrgreen:
1. Throwdown Duration:
Shagdog and I have been thinking a lot about the current Throwdown format, specifically the weekly TD's. One complaint over the years that has been consistent is that the weekly format is too short, and doesn't give folks enough time to plan or prep their entries. Moving FW, starting in July, we are going to change the weekly TD's to bi-weekly, or two every month if you prefer to look at it that way. Nothing will change other than that, and the monthly Special TD's will continue as they have.
2. What Happened to the Off-Topic/Whackadoodle-thread?
Some of you may have noticed about a month ago, I stopped posting the off topic thread. I noticed the past few times I did that there were only a few regulars making whackadoodlry of sorts, and just thought I would stop them for a while to see what happens. Other than a single PM from a concerned regular, no one has brought it up, so I'm going to leave this as is for now. The biggest reason we started these off topic threads is they became cluttered with whackadoodle chatter that would sometimes go for 7 or more pages before a TD even began, and it was a deterrent for some folks who didn't feel like they understood or felt a part of that culture. Given that a number of old timers moved on, and we now have a new generation of TD participants, I don't see a reason at this time to keep the off topic threads.
That of course, brings up the obvious question: "Can I still make off topic banter in the entry threads"? Shagdog and I don't have a hard and fast rule here. The most important thing is that people have FUN here, so some lighthearted play and humor is always appreciated. We just don't want the entry threads to spin out of control the way they did several years ago, so just use your discretion.
3. How Can I Support The Throwdowns?
I think most of us would like to see not only more participants, but more participants becoming regulars. The best way to do that is if you see a cook thread in QT that is appropriate for one or more TD's that are running is to comment on their cook thread encouraging them to enter with a link to that particular Throwdown. This is the single most effective way of promoting the TD's in QT I know of, besides the weekly promo I do in QT.
Another way to promote the TD's some of you are already doing, and that is to mention the specific Throwdown your QT cook is for, with a link to the TD.
Finally, I post a Throwdown Promo thread in QT about once a week. If you see this leave page 1, please bump that thread! The last one I did brought us quite a few entries in the Noob Showcase Throwdown.
If you have any constructive comments to add or contribute, please feel free to do so!
:mrgreen:
1. Throwdown Duration:
Shagdog and I have been thinking a lot about the current Throwdown format, specifically the weekly TD's. One complaint over the years that has been consistent is that the weekly format is too short, and doesn't give folks enough time to plan or prep their entries. Moving FW, starting in July, we are going to change the weekly TD's to bi-weekly, or two every month if you prefer to look at it that way. Nothing will change other than that, and the monthly Special TD's will continue as they have.
2. What Happened to the Off-Topic/Whackadoodle-thread?
Some of you may have noticed about a month ago, I stopped posting the off topic thread. I noticed the past few times I did that there were only a few regulars making whackadoodlry of sorts, and just thought I would stop them for a while to see what happens. Other than a single PM from a concerned regular, no one has brought it up, so I'm going to leave this as is for now. The biggest reason we started these off topic threads is they became cluttered with whackadoodle chatter that would sometimes go for 7 or more pages before a TD even began, and it was a deterrent for some folks who didn't feel like they understood or felt a part of that culture. Given that a number of old timers moved on, and we now have a new generation of TD participants, I don't see a reason at this time to keep the off topic threads.
That of course, brings up the obvious question: "Can I still make off topic banter in the entry threads"? Shagdog and I don't have a hard and fast rule here. The most important thing is that people have FUN here, so some lighthearted play and humor is always appreciated. We just don't want the entry threads to spin out of control the way they did several years ago, so just use your discretion.
3. How Can I Support The Throwdowns?
I think most of us would like to see not only more participants, but more participants becoming regulars. The best way to do that is if you see a cook thread in QT that is appropriate for one or more TD's that are running is to comment on their cook thread encouraging them to enter with a link to that particular Throwdown. This is the single most effective way of promoting the TD's in QT I know of, besides the weekly promo I do in QT.
Another way to promote the TD's some of you are already doing, and that is to mention the specific Throwdown your QT cook is for, with a link to the TD.
Finally, I post a Throwdown Promo thread in QT about once a week. If you see this leave page 1, please bump that thread! The last one I did brought us quite a few entries in the Noob Showcase Throwdown.
If you have any constructive comments to add or contribute, please feel free to do so!
I see them around still but they don’t seem to enter or post much anymore. They helped (forced) me to get better at both my cooking / plating skills as well as the photography part of it. It would be great to get more new members to join but also get some the past regulars to start entering again as well. 
