Blasts from the past: original jester class and Kim Mohan interview

[Dannager]

Right. And when you go into a magazine store, you must walk out with a stack of ripped out pages, right?

'Cause who wants all those useless pages around the articles you want to read?

Yes, please continue to compare paper media with digital media as though the two are functionally interchangeable.

Because a hyperlinked website is just like walking into a store and ripping pages out of a magazine.

 

[Dannager]

But isn't that really more of an argument for making the individual articles available as well as the compiled issues, rather than instead of?

It's an argument for making an intelligent decision about which formats are most useful in an online environment.

 

[MrGrenadine]

Yes, please continue to compare paper media with digital media as though the two are functionally interchangeable.

Because a hyperlinked website is just like walking into a store and ripping pages out of a magazine.

Doesn't seem to me like anyone is saying digital media and paper media are functionally interchangeable, or that websites are like magazines. Sounds more like folks are saying a paper magazine and digital magazine should resemble...well, magazines.

In other words, the word "magazine" has a definition, which you very well know. And which, by the sound of it, a lot of fans of Dragon Magazine would like Dragon Magazine to resemble.

Gotta wonder why you're so insistent about this.

 

[MrGrenadine]

It's an argument for making an intelligent decision about which formats are most useful in an online environment.

Oh, please. You're now the final arbiter of which formats are more useful for everyone else?

Digital media is a lot of things to a lot of people. Some folks like to read things online, and some folks take their digital magazines and books with them offline to read wherever and whenever they like.

And...<gasp>...some people like to do both!

 

[Dannager]

Doesn't seem to me like anyone is saying digital media and paper media are functionally interchangeable, or that websites are like magazines. Sounds more like folks are saying a paper magazine and digital magazine should resemble...well, magazines.

In other words, the word "magazine" has a definition, which you very well know. And which, by the sound of it, a lot of fans of Dragon Magazine would like Dragon Magazine to resemble.

I haven't said anywhere in this thread that Dragon is still a magazine - in fact, I think I've been pretty clear that you cannot easily reconcile the idea of a traditional print magazine with an online sub-based publication. If you're intent on sticking to the definition of the word, we clearly need a different term to describe Dragon and Dungeon.

 

[Dannager]

Oh, please. You're now the final arbiter of which formats are more useful for everyone else?

Digital media is a lot of things to a lot of people. Some folks like to read things online, and some folks take their digital magazines and books with them offline to read wherever and whenever they like.

And the crux of the issue, of course, is that every day there are more people in the first group and fewer people in the second group. If you have limited resources but need to keep an eye out for the longevity of your brand, which do you hitch your wagon to?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

This is an extra-stupid argument.

If one of the goals of the nostalgia articles was to excite non-subscribers, making at least some of them available to everyone would have been a good idea.

 

[MrGrenadine]

And the crux of the issue, of course, is that every day there are more people in the first group and fewer people in the second group. If you have limited resources but need to keep an eye out for the longevity of your brand, which do you hitch your wagon to?

There is no evidence that your first statement is true. In fact, with over 3 million Kindles sold, over 3 million iPads, and dozens of other e-readers on the market, I would say that digital magazines that can be downloaded and read on the go and offline are a terrific wagon to hitch to.

 

[Dannager]

There is no evidence that your first statement is true. In fact, with over 3 million Kindles sold, over 3 million iPads, and dozens of other e-readers on the market, I would say that digital magazines that can be downloaded and read on the go and offline are a terrific wagon to hitch to.

iPads and many other tablets and e-readers (especially current-gen ones) have 3G or better wireless connectivity, and can access online articles as easily as you would from your desktop.

 

[Aberzanzorax]

You say this:

I haven't said anywhere in this thread that Dragon is still a magazine - in fact, I think I've been pretty clear that you cannot easily reconcile the idea of a traditional print magazine with an online sub-based publication. If you're intent on sticking to the definition of the word, we clearly need a different term to describe Dragon and Dungeon.

But... earlier Mournblade said this:

However this is not the 400th issue of Dragon. Dragon Issues ended sometime around 2008. It is simply a collection of digital information.

To which you (also earlier) snarkily responded:

And what you call Dragon is simply a collection of ink on paper.

We get it. You're super bitter and you want everyone to know.

Your post sure SOUNDED like you were trying to refute it not being a magazine.

Anyone else feel like they're not reading the same thread as Dannager (including his own posts)?