Improving the Archive

[bella (imported)]

I read the archive most days and have submitted 1 story

[Paolo]

There are three problems that I have with attached PDF files.

1. Database size for backup/restores

2. PDF can't be edited once posted, and the requests for changes would require deletion and reuploads. Members would also be able to delete posts later. If what we had had been in PDF form already, the nightmare that it's been for reposting would have been even worse.

3. Adobe itself. Every time I launch PDF reader here, there's drama. Always has been.

We're going to discuss this in more depth at the MOM.

[timyellow (imported)]

How useful is the Fiction Archive to me? First I have to admit that The Fiction Archive is what brought me to the full site. I was just a reader, until I decided to go ahead to finally submit a multi-part story, recently posted.

Utility: Being straight I tend to read straight stories, but don't ignore ones identified as gay if the description interests me. The Archive provides multiple ways to sort the existing stories: Alpha by title, Alpha by author, Index two sorts by audience theme and index three sorts by general story theme. For me this is helpful in narrowing down to topics and stories I like.

New stories: I understand the limitations of the posting process in its current state. I am not qualified to offer input on how to make it better. The process is clearly outlined and the human element adds value to the archive. The responsibility taken on by the moderator is a huge one for a volunteer position. The results are fewer new stories published in a range of time. But the benefits are clear: the stories are formatted well for reading and having a human moderator keeps stuff that would otherwise violate the rules of the board and potentially the law from getting out and wrecking the archive for everyone.

Regarding some of the suggestions in this thread:

* A keyword search might be something I would try to use, but the current indexing fits my needs.

* There are other options on this site for sharing stories. The forum could have a section called stories. But it would have drawbacks: it would still need a moderator and the formatting would suffer. There is a current 'comments' section for stories but in the forum version the story posting could get feedback from readers in a way that is more intuitive. I am not sure why people don't use the comments on story option but reply to forum posts is more natural. If it were multiple 'chapters' then they would be separated by comments, making the reading a challenge, also there would be no practical way to organize the stories. There is a 'fictitious story' forum on the LPSG that allows the author to post directly to the forum, take a visit to see the limitations I stated above. (link if interested: http://www.lpsg.com/fictitious-stories/)

My input:

* I like the ability to 'favorite' stories for easy access to re-read. I have starred many stories, I would like to be able to see/find the stories I starred. It would be similar to the "Top Rated' link on the main page, just MY ratings as opposed to the entire site's. So a link might be called 'My Top Rated Stories'. But that might be the same as Favorites, so redundant.

Those are my simple thoughts. I know that this site is maintained by people who don't get paid for it and get that the resources don't always exist (time, skill set, etc.)to do everything in the world. For me, the site and the archive provide an outlet and would rather have it as is then not at all.

[devi (imported)]

Originally I joined the archive despite the fiction stories. I thought they were totally stupid at the time. I joined because I was a eunuch (though not 100% so) and I wanted to be with others like me. And then I was taken aback by how many weren't actual eunuchs here. Initially it disappointed me. But I've gotten used to it all and even like this place it's people after all. -Can't do without as a matter of fact. And desperately want to go to a MOM someday. So as far as the stories go I've hardly ever read them yet. Someday I will and I really do like the idea that they do exist for several reasons. And when I have time I will write one of my own too.

[gandalf (imported)]

I don't read the stories as much as I did but I just might attribute it to "getting older". I still enjoy some I have selected (or earmarked or listed) when not busy with other things. I am not a lover of the violent stories or some that are bretty bizarre. I like the funny ones and the ones where the one being operated on is happy with what is happening. Biology Class comes to mind ans well as many of the Simon stories.

Often I read one when on a day when I need a "pick me up" . Not for sexual release or anything but to life my spirits. I guess that is why I really love the ones with happy outcomes or make me laugh. Life is full of enough things to make one squirm without reading that type of story.

[Peter47-NL (imported)]

In a further attempt to understand and improve the Eunuch Archive, we have a question for both authors and readers of the FICTION Archive. In your answer, please indicate whether you are an author of any stories or if you only read the stories.

How is the Fiction Archive useful to you?

The Fiction Archive was very important as a reader, and is still important too. I was surfing on the net with the search terms "castration" and "ball busting" I came on the site of BME, where I read some stories about men who were or got castrated or had their testicles seriously damaged. They were written in the first person and I read them as a report of their personal experience. Maybe they were, maybe not, but for me went a door open to a subject I was struggling with and made find the Eunuch Archive. They made believe there are other real persons like me struggling with the same subject and the Eunuch Archive proofed there are such real people. As a member of the EA with real men and eunuchs, the function of the Fiction Archive changed to me. By reading the fiction of others I could safely follow them in their fantasy and find what I liked or not. It opened safely the door to my repressed subconsciousness. Fears, pain, friendship, pleasure, fun, punishment, staying a boy, castrated as a boy, castrated as an adult, eunuch friendships, self castrating as a boy or as an adults, projecting castration to the past or future, to an other, real or fictive culture, identifying with the castration of animals, absurdism like fishing with testicles of boy scouts, miraculous vanishing body parts, selling penises as hotdogs. This made my struggle more bearable, lighter. The factor "If this or If that." in the stories, to explore fantasy and subconsciousness, is very important.

It learned me too that castration and penectomy are not only a desire for an new and own identity or a funny play, but has much to do with a culture of repressed sexuality = a boy masturbates or has sex with a girl and has to loose his balls. What is wrong with masturbating and exploring sexuality? Why this feeling of guild?

It learned me that I hate incest. Meeting a castrated boy in the story who is happy to get fucked by his father or uncle, is the end of the story, I can't read any further.

It learned me that Identify myself with the men and boys who get or are castrated and that I like to be comforted in that situation. This says a lot about me also as an intact man.

The quality of the stories is very different, but that doesn't matter. I have printed many stories and later discarded because of the fear someone would see them and because I thought this whole subject was sick.

As a writer: I have two stories in Dutch in the initial phase and don't know whether I shall finish them. - one about friended happy castrated adults and a second about friended happy castrated boys.

Today I read less stories and still like them. There are less contributions in the department "Story Reviews & Author Feedback". In the old system I used the email address of the authors to write them how I liked their story and some friendly reactions and with someone an email correspondence. For me has the star rating replaced that. Recently I used for the first time the possebily to leave a comment which is only related to the story you just read at that moment.

[nonconsensual (imported)]

Well I stil check nearly day to see if more stories are posted. I miss Bboy and the frequent postings but that was the past. It was an unexpected thrill to see the large batch that was posted. There waw one even by Nathan included. NC

[kristoff]

Well I stil check nearly day to see if more stories are posted. I miss Bboy and the frequent postings but that was the past. It was an unexpected thrill to see the large batch that was posted. There waw one even by Nathan included. NC

You can thank Paolo for those past posts of stories, not Brian. He slaved his ass off running stories for folks for years. We will be visiting this issue at the MoM next week. The stories will survive one way or another.