This isn't a technical question, per se, but it's one that I feel is pretty important.
In reading the GNS and various character profiles, I've noticed something rather irritating. The lack of good grammar and the inability to spell.
I think it would better the quality of the GNS if a copyeditor was hired. For those who don't know what a copyeditor is; it is a person who reads over what is to be printed (usually for a newspaper), to catch grammatical mistakes and spelling errors. I have several years of experience with this particular job, and I would offer my services to the GNS.
I'm sure that I am not the only person who gets frustrated by the lack of good grammar.
Part of the issue is that a lot of people here don't speak English as their first language, so mocking a GNS made by a person who spent the last 30 years of their life speaking Portuguese seems unfair. I agree though, it is annoying to try and read changing tenses, misspelled words and the ilk...but part of it is just to remember that they're not allowed to post in their own language.
Part of a solution might be making the "Can Edit GNS Postings" privilege mean exactly that, they can edit GNS postings, but then you have the issue of hacked posts, and whether you'd have to hack in the changes.
Edited By: Teniel Djo on Year 6 Day 107 12:06 ____________
Keir, unfortunately it's not just non-English speakers who use horrible grammar and poor spelling. I've seen Americans, Canadians and even the English butcher the language on the GNS.
I agree that some sort of editor is needed at the very least to enforce existing rules.
What if it was possible for "the editor" to edit each post once, which he would do keeping the exact storyline, etc but to fix grammar/tone/image...and the faction leader and the person who posted it, both get a "Revert" button they can hit if they feel the edits changed the post too much or think "the editor" did something wrong. Then it's automatically flipped back to the original post, and the situation can be looked at if either the editor or the author complain that the other was blatantly wrong.
Alasse, if a player is that interested in proper grammar and spelling, they can type it up in a copy of Word and use the spellcheck there. Alternately, ezboards offer a spellcheck.
Seeing how much difficulty there is finding someone to moderate the GNS and enforce the rules, it would only be that much worse to include a 'copy editor' (Veynom has apparently stated that no one should be editing the GNS unless they are not a player). And the first is of higher priority..
If a player wanting to post on the GNS is too lazy or otherwise incapable of using a spellcheck, naturally they can submit their post to a faction member or other friend for proofreading.
I suppose it didn't occur to me that some of the posters have English as a second (or third!) language. As a speaker of three, I can understand the problem.
I also agree that there should be an option to go back and edit the post made.
If any offense was taken by non-English speakers, I didn't mean it! No offense meant by my post. It was just a suggestion.