SICK!WILSON NEEDS YOUR HELP :)

[geekygecko.livejournal.com]

We've been maintaining two versions of the Sick!Fics by Diagnoses threads for a couple of months now--one where the diagnoses are listed in alphabetical order, and another where they're grouped by category.

However, updating two different lists takes quite a bit of time, and we're trying to figure out if we're unnecessarily creating a lot of extra work for ourselves.

So, we'd like to get your input.  Which version do you find most helpful, and why?  Or does it depend on whether you're looking for a specific type of fic, just browsing, etc.?

Your responses will help us determine if we want to continue to maintain both lists, or possibly phase one of them out.

Thanks much!


ETA:  We've gotten a couple of very frantic e-mails from people who are worried that we're thinking about getting rid of the spoiler-free alpha order thread.  Fear not, my fellow sick!Wilson addicts!  We're only trying to decide if we need to keep both versions of the Sick!Fics by Diagnosis threads.  Sorry for accidentally causing a minor panic. *hugs*

Update 11-05-08:  We've decided to keep both lists for now.  See follow-up post for additional info.
 

Comments

[srsly-yes.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. Looked at both, and realized that I rely on the old alphabetical categorizing method. Guess I'm a window shopper, and just stroll/scroll down the lists checking stories against diagnoses. I find the dark blue bars distracting. It slows me down more than anything else.

[geekygecko.livejournal.com]

Awesome.  This is exactly the kind of feedback we're looking for. :)

A while back, I was getting a lot of complaints that the alpha thread was too hard to navigate since similar diagnoses were scattered all over the place, especially since the list got so long and I had to break it into 2 parts.

But if no one's really finding the category thread helpful, then maybe we can discontinue it.  It would certainly save your humble mod a lot of time. :)

Thanks!

[asnightbird.livejournal.com]

I much prefer the alphabetical order listing. I think it's easier to find what I'm looking for, and it's more conducive to browsing. I don't find the grouped by category listing to have any advantages for me. Hope this helps you decide what to do. :-)

[geekygecko.livejournal.com]

Thanks much for your comments.  They're greatly appreciated, and very helpful. :)

[chase-austenfan.livejournal.com]

Ummmm... *blush* I actually only use the category listings. I don't necessarily recognise authors' name and I'm not too good at remembering titles. Plus- certain categories I really like and others... not so much.

[geekygecko.livejournal.com]

Cool!  Someone actually uses the category thread! *does Snoopy happy dance*

Okay, one vote goes in the "category" column.  Maybe I'll start keeping score on a whiteboard like Chase did in House vs. God. ;)

Thanks for your input!

[ice-ziggee.livejournal.com]

"I´ve died and gone to diagnostic heaven"

Obviously I haven´t scouted this community well enough, because I find both amazing.

But (there´s always a but) I find the alphabetical order easier to brows through.

[geekygecko.livejournal.com]

*grins*

There's all sort of goodies in the sidebar on the left side of the page.  After all, sick!Wilson is srs biz. ;)

Thanks for the feedback! *rushes off to add another vote to the alphabetical column*

[cy-grl.livejournal.com]

I used to only use the alphabetical listing before the category listing was born. Then I switched over to the categories since I thought the alfabetical one had ceased existance. And today, I read this post and found out that the alphabetical list is still there :p
I think I'm going to use that one again, it had always served me well and somehow it seems more structural.

(I haven't ever posted in this community yet and haven't posted any fics so I'm not sure if it's allowed for me to answer, in that case, I'm sorry!)

[geekygecko.livejournal.com]

Oh, dear.  Sorry for the confusion. *blushes furiously*

But I'm glad you've discovered that the original version is still available, especially if it works better for you.  Both are linked in the sidebar, and cross-referenced on each page. :)

And you're perfectly welcome to respond if you haven't posted any comments or fics to our community before.  Of course, if you'd like to write some sick!Wilson fics to make yourself feel more at home, that's fine, too. *whistles innocently and adjusts tarnished halo* ;)

Thanks!

[sadsloth.livejournal.com]

Listing by category is much more better for me than alpabetical one. I'm just simply obsessed with some of the categories, and it's easier to look through categories than to read comments in brackets as in alphabetical listing

[geekygecko.livejournal.com]

I'm glad the category listing helps you satisfy your obsessive needs. ;)

We try to make it as easy as possible for our fellow sick!Wilson addicts to get their fix, which is why we wanted to get some feedback from our members before we seriously considered phasing anything out.

Thanks bunches for your comments!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I pretty much only use the category listing unless I'm trying to find a specific story

[geekygecko.livejournal.com]

Thanks for letting us know!  Your input is much appreciated. :)

[sscourtney.livejournal.com]

I'm one of those who prefer category listing too since I like knowing what kind of sick Wilson I'd be reading.;)

[geekygecko.livejournal.com]

*grins*

Well, both diagnosis threads let you know what's in store for poor Wilson, but some people have a definite preference for one over the other.

Personally, I use both versions.  It just depends on what I'm looking for at the moment.  For example, if I want to read some fics where Wilson has some kind of head injury, I'll go to the category thread and browse through all of the listings under "Brain/nervous system."  But if I specifically want to read a story where Wilson has amnesia, it's easier for me to find those on the alpha diagnosis thread.  To each his own, or something like that. ;)

Thanks for answering our little survey!

[haruechan.livejournal.com]

I do use both versions... they work equally for me, in the end.

But I do love some categories more than others, and I tend to browse the category list more often, when looking for something new to read...

[geekygecko.livejournal.com]

Hee!  You sound like me. :)

Fortunately, we should have a lot of new stuff to add to the sick!fic threads next month when people start posting their sickwilson_fest stories. *grins*

Thanks oodles for your helpful comments!  As we say here in my neck of the woods, "'Preshate it."

[katie310117.livejournal.com]

I think that the Alpha list is useful when I'm finding a specific fic, but the category list is useful when I'm browsing.

[geekygecko.livejournal.com]

Great. Thanks for helping us out! :)

[kurikim.livejournal.com]

I personally use both all the time. :3 But I understand that it must be a lot of work, so I'm going to have to say that I tend to like the alpha order one more. I still find the by diagnosis really useful though. :3

btw, I just want to take a second to compliment you guys on what an awesome job you do keeping these lists up-to-date. I am a fanfiction junkie, but out of all the many communities I frequent this one is hands down the best organized. It's definitely kept me coming back here more often than I go to other coms. Most coms I go to don't even have a decent comprehensive list, let alone one by alpha order, one by alpha order for type (in this case diagnosis), and one by category! What you do is pretty amazing, and I really appreciate all your hard work. :3

[geekygecko.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your helpful, and incredibly sweet comments!  You've absolutely made my day.  Much nicer to wake up to than a cup of coffee. ;)

[ladybuglara.livejournal.com]

I used the alpha list mostly. I find it harder to find what i want in the category list.

[geekygecko.livejournal.com]

Great!  Thanks :)

Looks like we're going to keep both lists, at least for the time being.