Outbursts
Posted By Mike Orren in Square Pegs on August 26, 2009
I've been referencing our impending site redesign for a while -- Frankly, we thought we'd be done by now. But you know how it is: You move the couch, and that uncovers the big stain on the wall. You repaint, and now the carpet doesn't match. And damned if that wasn't a load-bearing wall after all.
While you wait, we thought we'd go ahead and leak one of our favorite new features, one that will hopefully make the site better for you -- even in the unlikely case that you don't use it.
Meet Outbursts -- It's our new compendium of everything worth talking about in Dallas / Fort Worth. And when I say "our," I mean it literally -- it's a news and tips feed where anyone can post. We're going to take responsibility for keeping it populated with the stuff you have to know about. But all of our verified users have the right to post there.
You'll see three kinds of posts. Newsier items posted by our staff look like this:
Video posts look like this:
User posts and recommendations/raves from our staff look like this:
Most items have links to sources from all over town -- but this is not a robotic feed. We're handpicking the best items and sending you on your way. (We know you'll come back.) We'll even post breaking news and previews of stories yet to be published. We're also using sources that most traditional news aggregators wouldn't: friends' Tweets; Facebook posts; overheard remarks about town -- anything we think you might find interesting. And you can use the section picker at the top of the page to zero in on topics you care about.
This is going to change the way we do "watercooler news" -- the things that everyone else in town is already covering. We've always said we don't want to use our small staff to replicate what others are doing, and have covered those with short items we've affectionately referred to as "lead n' links." Outbursts take a lot less time and cut to the chase, getting you straight to the source. That means we can post a lot more of them, making our roundup of local news much more comprehensive. If you use the Daily You, it means that we'll more quickly learn some of your likes and dislikes.
It also means that instead of letting our plucky team get buried re-hashing news others have reported, we'll be able to spend more of our time writing, recording and filming our own stories -- hopefully cool local stuff that no one else has. So you'll be seeing more original content here.
And, finally, it means that you can quickly post local news, links and recommendations. For now, we are requiring you to become a verified user, posting under your real name. It's an easy process that you only have to go through once, but understand that it might take 24 hours the to get it done. (We'll be quicker if we can.)
The posting interface is intentionally simple. One tip: If you post a video link (Link, not embed code) from YouTube, MySpace, Vimeo, Veoh or NBCDFW, it'll automagically put the video in your post.
All we ask is that you keep it local and clean and don't spam everybody. It's like any party-- if all the chatter is coming from one person it gets boring fast.
You can find Outbursts via the new yellow tab at the top of every page and a "Latest Outbursts" feed on the side rail of each page.
For those of you who use such things, there are ways to get Outbursts off-site:
- RSS
- Twitter: @dfwoutbursts
As always, hit us with comments, suggestions, etc. below. We've already got some additional features (post via Twitter) on the drawing board, but we thought it would be good to get everyone playing with Outbursts as soon as we could.
jtmbls, says:
Yay! This looks awesome! Although...I have one question...
Will there ever be a day when I can become verified, using my real name, but still maintain my user name or am I just fighting a losing battle?
I'll never make it as a kitten, dang it!
Anonymous
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Jesus Valadez, says:
That's cool. I'll now be able to share with the Dallas area what jtmbls is up to.
Verified
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Orren, says:
jtmbls, I'm not sure I understand: Even if your real name shows up as verified, your username for login doesn't change.
Staff
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
jtmbls, says:
You can already do that if you follow me on Twitter. But honestly, it's not all that exciting. I mostly just retweet interesting tidbits from mashable and the like.
Anonymous
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Jesus Valadez, says:
I'm guessing she wants her name to remain private?
Verified
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
jtmbls, says:
So then does my username (jtmbls) still show up by my comments? I guess what I am saying is that I don't want to lose the association with my username but I am not opposed to making my real name available to, as you say, validate my comments.
Does that make sense?
Anonymous
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
jtmbls, says:
No Jesus, I don't have an issue with that. There are several people here who know my real name and I don't mind registering at all. I just don't want to lose the association to jtmbls. That's all.
Anonymous
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Orren, says:
Yes, but unfortunately that's a rare request and would be pretty far down our long to-do list. The idea is for your real name to show beside your posts...
Staff
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
TLS, says:
Why can't we verify our name to you but keep our on-line name? I have a business and if someone googles my name I don't want them to know I commented on Project Runway.
Anonymous
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Orren, says:
Then you need not to be verified, TLS. If other users can't see your real name (and they aren't likely to go clicking through to your profile to do so, then you aren't really "verified."
We have talked about adding another level of "verified but anonymous," but that's not as easy as it sounds. And, as I pointed out at the top, we're a bit behind the eight-ball right now. So that may be a while.
Chances are we'll open up Outbursts to non-verified after a while. We just want to work out the bugs first before opening the floodgates.
Staff
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Jesus Valadez, says:
Yeah, after a while I can start seeing it get filled with spam.
I forgot to mention that I always wondered when we would be able to do something like this on pegasus. There has been a couple of times that I wanted to share something. I don't remember what it was though...
Verified
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
jtmbls, says:
I understand your reasoning behind people being more responsible with their comments when they use their real names. I just believe that you can actually learn more about a person from the name they choose rather than the name they were given. It appears more interesting as well IMO. I also believe that most people would click on a persons profile to find out more about them. But then I must defer to your wise judgement and resign myself to the occasional whine. :) With branding becoming such a major theme in social media these days, it may be something to consider as more and more corporations may want to weigh in on discussions. Just a thought.
Anonymous
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Hathaway, says:
So if I'm understanding this correctly, when we post something on Outburst, it'll get automatically re-sent out through the @dfwoutbursts Twitter account? Or is this where the staff editing comes in?
Either way, will a Outburst posts be sent out via Twitter?
I'm really jazzed about this!
Verified
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Orren, says:
Jtmbls, we'll take under advisement and revisit when we get caught up.
Mike, your posts will go out through the twitter account. As soon as we solve one little glitch.
Staff
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Jason Rice, says:
::I'll now be able to share with the Dallas area what jtmbls is up to.
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/Thi...
Verified
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, says:
Didn't read everything b/c I don't have time atm. But, am I understanding this correctly? Sounds like you're essentially taking the potential of twitter and sifting out updates on when people pooped, eaten a sandwich, moved from the couch to the love seat, etc?
Verified
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
jtmbls, says:
Haha! I totally need to steal that picture! Of course he is much too old to be my new avatar! ;)
Scott there are actually some people doing some really interesting, positive things out there. You do have to weed through some lame ones but I have yet to come across anyone tweeting about their poo. And if I ever do, there is a handy little unfollow button! I recently unfollowed a girl who constantly tweeted about her sick dog. It just takes a little bit of effort to find good content.
Anonymous
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
alexander troup, says:
Monkey Bean you are full of good cheer keep it up....A/T..When it is time to wake up I can smell coffee................
Verified
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
david torres, says:
How do i change my name? I don't want my full name OUT THERE!! I have a reputation to uphold!!<g> Pegusussussuses (say that fast 3 times!) twitter name? dfwoutbursts? </g>
Verified
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
jjdallas, says:
I hope this lame feature is better executed than your newsletter, which featured not one but two grammatical mistakes in the first paragraph. Well done!
Anonymous
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
alexander troup, says:
Well this is lame feature and a lame week with a lame future,while wake up and smell the coffee...Hey monkey bean,..you are in davids jungle now...A/T, WAKE UP TO LIFE...
Verified
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
alexander troup, says:
WELL DAVID, JUST CHANGE YOUR NAME TO CINCO DE MAYO.....
Verified
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
david torres, says:
i would, if i knew how...i have WAY too much time on my hands!!! I like this feature, though. LEAVE IT ALONE !!!
Verified
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Orren, says:
jjdallas again proves my mantra: "There are no citizen journalists; only citizen copy editors."
Although to my grammatical eye, any mistake hinges on whether you are referring to "Outbursts" as a singular feature or as a collection of many Outbursts. We're easy- we can go either way...
Staff
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, says:
Presume jjdallas is just bitter? <a href="http://www.pegasusnews.com/blogs/pegasusnewsblog/2009/feb/17/savordallas/#c46965">Last comment</a> was inquiring about tix, I'm guessing that didn't pan out...
Verified
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
jjdallas, says:
You guessed wrong. I just get tired of seeing all the mistakes on this site and decided to finally speak up. It's sloppy and unprofessional.
Anonymous
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, says:
Then...stop visiting?
Wow, look at my problem solving skills!
Verified
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
jjdallas, says:
I don't know why I do....I guess I just keep hoping to find an alternative to the Morning News. This site has potential; it just seems a little mismanaged to me.
Anonymous
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
david torres, says:
Could jjdallas be for the TED KENNEDY HEALTHCARE BILL?
Verified
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Jason Rice, says:
::I don't know why I do...
It's the warmth of a nurturing and accepting environment.
...or maybe the cookies.
Verified
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
jtmbls, says:
an alternative to the Morning News
Well, when you have standards THAT high, you are just setting yourself up for dissapointment.
You should send in your resume jj. With your management skills and sunny disposition you could really shape things up around here.
Anonymous
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Jason Rice, says:
::an alternative to the Morning News
my cats prefer clay based litter.
Verified
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
David Goodspeed, says:
"You can find Outbursts via the new yellow tab at the top of every page and a "Latest Outbursts" feed on the side rail of each page." I see the yellow tab and the latest outbursts on inside pages but no latest outbursts box on homepage. Is it time for a visit to my optometrist or is my mac being unfaithful to me?
Verified
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Orren, says:
No David, I spoke too soon there. We had some technical difficulties with the homepage box and decided to push ahead...
Staff
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Travis Bush, says:
One suggestion..limit the number of characters for the title of an Outburst..
Verified
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
alexander troup, says:
An Outburst is like a thunderstorm in Texas, wet and humid with a dry enviroment.. rare or frequent...While it could be healing and cleansing...A/T,..Rain and dust..mud talk.
Verified
3 months, 2 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Orren, says:
We do, Travis. 120 chars. Bonus points to anyone who can guess why 120.
Staff
3 months, 1 week agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
jtmbls, says:
Oh! To increase your chances of being re-tweeted!!! Cash...I prefer cash thank you!
Anonymous
3 months, 1 week agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Orren, says:
Bingo.
Staff
3 months, 1 week agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Travis Bush, says:
I only mentioned that because of the way the they Outbursts show up on the Latest Comments. They just "look" too long, but I guess I'm just spoilt..
Verified
3 months, 1 week agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
jtmbls, says:
Limited number of characters...Why, that is brilliant Travis! I don't know why nobody thought of...oh, nevermind! ;b
Anonymous
3 months, 1 week agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Travis Bush, says:
LOL SHUT IT! .
Verified
3 months, 1 week agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Orren, says:
Travis, I think we fixed what you were talking about there.
Staff
3 months, 1 week agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Travis Bush, says:
Just figured I would mention it, in case..now if you can do something about jtmbls..that would be great!
Verified
3 months, 1 week agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
jtmbls, says:
Who me??? :)
Anonymous
3 months, 1 week agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
alexander troup, says:
Sound's more like a cloud burst....A/T..
Verified
3 months, 1 week agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Chris Kidd, says:
BTW Orren, whats the hold up w/ getting people verifed? I like this new feature and id like to be able to use it...if you and the PN gang would verify me LOL....
Verified
3 months, 1 week agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Jeremy Dunck, says:
Hey Chris, sorry we were a little slow there. You're set now.
Staff
3 months, 1 week agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
DC, says:
Youwant an outburst??!? WELL I hate those wipe across ads with the stupid close x on the top then on the bottom in case they can trick you in to clicking on to their crap!@!WFAF Here's some extra periods and pour spellingsince that's...also.popiular..its thedawn of a newage in valeb television..goins to the grizzazch
Anonymous
3 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal