Just a little rant. First off, this is about the people that write in, not the mailbag. I’d like to make it VERY clear (hint hint) that this is NOT to be a mailbag bashing thread. And second, this is not directed at anybody but at people in general.
Recently, I asked people to write in to the mailbag, and every time, I got “Not interested”.
There were a variety of reasons. The mailbag’s not funny. The topic’s boring. My replies are rejected often. I don’t feel like it.
The mailbag might not be funny because the jokes can’t work with the replies. A serious reply is fine, but don’t expect them to create stand up comedy when you send in a crappy reply. Their job as hosts isn’t to produce gold from lead. They can’t be expected to have a punchline without a set-up. I’m not saying that you should try to make spots for jokes, but don’t expect it to be the epitomy of hilarity when you don’t. Either help them or get off their case.
Speaking of unfunny, I’d like to bring up entrances and other fluff. Personally, and I speak only for myself when I say this, I’ve never found entrances or stuff dealing with sidekicks funny in the least. I’ve always found it to be extraneous and worthless lines of text so I always skipped past it. It seems to me that the only people who would enjoy reading those are the people who do it themselves. Or maybe just themselves and not all the people who do them. Anyway, the point is more about content. The replies seem to be filled with fluff simply to take up space and often have very little to do with the real topic as the writers will sometimes get sidetracked and start to write about other things. Or sometimes they’re two line pieces of crap that wouldn’t make it into the mailbag if there were enough replies. And two line replies are often what some replies can be slimmed down to. And some replies are absolutely horrible. While entrances and guest starring yourself seem to be to feed egos, some replies are so ridiculously over the top it’s disgusting. Don’t think you’re higher than them and ESPECIALLY don’t say it to them. They don’t even have to do it and are wasting a good deal of their time to give you a source of entertainment. Don’t make them put up with your shit. Now this is by no means directed at everyone or one person in particular. There are some excellent replies to the mailbag, but I won’t name names since somebody’ll get mad that I left them off.
And as for complaints, since I’m certain I’ll get some, nobody on the mailbag team put me up to this. But on the same note, don’t complain to Kagon about the mailbag. He’s not in charge of it. When you have something to say about the mailbag, say it constructively if you want to be acknowledged. I’ve seen some of the complaints, and they can be downright rude. But more importantly, do not praise the mailbag when you know a mailbagger’s there and then go insult it when you think they’re away, you god damn hypocrite. You know who you are.
If you don’t want to write in because you think topics are boring, SUGGEST ONE. If you think you have something interesting, go ahead and submit it. They can’t do a good mailbag if they don’t have a good topic, and it’s very hard for 3 people to come up with fresh topics week after week when compared to what a much larger group could do.
Basically, what it comes down to is: it’s not a one way street. Don’t expect to be able to send in crap, have it get accepted and come out as gold. It doesn’t work that way. If you don’t like how the mailbag is, do something besides bitch about it. Send in a quality reply if you want a quality mailbag.
Oh yeah. Another thing. DON’T BOTHER KAGON. Hell, send your mailbag complaints to me, and I’ll tell you what I think of them.
I hope you like it.
I wasn’t aware there had BEEN any recent updates, so yeah.
I read it because I enjoy seeing other people’s ideas on how to improve games or elements from games, etc etc. I don’t go to read it because it’s funny.
… Did you frickin’ use “Maylbag” as the subject of the E-mail!?