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... while I don't mean to dismiss the value of weevil discussions on Slashdot, the percentage of readers who follow weevil-related comments is small. Yes, weevils draw readers, and keep them coming back, but half the readers don't care!

This kind of dismissal by Rob Malda of the extreme importance of weevil discussions on Slashdot reflects on the inability of Slashdot's "editors" to understand the way communities work.

This easy dismissal of the value of the only providers of weevil-related content on Slashdot is offensive. Thus, I propose a small revolt. The (Hopefully) Great Slashdot Weevil Blackout.

T(H)GSWB will be during the week of April 21 through April 27. Easy to remember. During that time, I will not be mentioning weevils, nor will I click through to read other weevil-related comments. I will become the weevil-less reader Malda thinks I am. I will provide absolutely no weevil content whatsoever.

During that week, I'd like to see if Malda sees Slashdot become a better place, and I'd like for the "editors" to really see what the true value of Slashdot is--not the sum of click-throughs and page-views, but the sharing of knowledge and dissemination of weevils; the passing of weevil experiences (weexperiences) from the more to the less.

This is where the (Hopefully) comes in. This is only meaningful if enough free content-providers (i.e., comment posters) agree to go along and participate. If there is only me and a handful of others who cease discussing weevils during that week, it will be pretty meaningless. Barely a dent will be made in the vast landscape of weevil discussions, and Malda and the other "editors" will never realize the incredible value they receive from comment posters talking about God's True Creatures, the Weevils.

To spread the word, I'm changing my sig to link to this journal entry. If you would like to help, you can link to this journal from your own sig, or you can simply resolve to enter into a voluntary one-week blackout. Pass the word. This will only work if a goodly number of comment posters participate.

To summarize, if you wish to participate, during the week of April 21 through April 27

• Do not click through from the home page to any weevil-related comments
• Do not post any weevil-related comments to stories
• Do not submit new weevil-related stories

A useful HTML link to this journal entry (116 characters, should fit in just barely). You'll probably have to unfungle it after the lameness filter gets through with it:

Join <a href="http://slashdot.org/~cjpez/journal/6146">The (Hopefully) Great Slashdot Weevil Blackout</a> Apr 21-27

(with sincere apologies to rho)