Damn Interesting: Join Us

I don’t know, a trumpet full of pencils is pretty fun …

Not as fun as a bag of hot dogs, though.

I don’t know… I sense a government conspiracy. Damn Bush cronies must be in the final stages of preparing to carpet bomb Amsterdam…

…carpet bomb Amsterdam…

Tsk, you say that like it’s a bad thing…

Just curious, do the writers come up with the article ideas themselves, or is there some Damn Interesting Research Team* somewhere that finds damn interesting things and then has the authors write about them?

*I had no idea that that abbreviated to D.I.R.T. before I wrote it.

or you could just switch to LCD’s………..

MJSkia1 said: “Just curious, do the writers come up with the article ideas themselves, or is there some Damn Interesting Research Team* somewhere that finds damn interesting things and then has the authors write about them?”

We all select our own topics, but we do have some super-secret tools to help us collaborate on ideas and share potential story ideas with each other.

scottmcl said: “or you could just switch to LCD’s………..”

Get off my lawn, whipper-snapper!

Wikipedia isn’t all that super secret.

Would we have to change our screen-nicknames to our real names? it seems likely, but still a little curious. Is there anyone that currently writes for the article by one name, writes in the comments section by another?? Like some sort of superhero.

Also, how often would we be expected to come up with stories? As long as there is no sense of time-constraint, I’d totally like to give writing for this a shot!

Misfit7707 said: “Would we have to change our screen-nicknames to our real names? it seems likely, but still a little curious. Is there anyone that currently writes for the article by one name, writes in the comments section by another?? Like some sort of superhero.”

It has to be a realish name… real name is preferred, but pseudonyms are OK too.

Misfit7707 said: “Also, how often would we be expected to come up with stories? As long as there is no sense of time-constraint, I’d totally like to give writing for this a shot!”

This question is addressed on the linked-to submission page, but I should have included it here… we’re looking for someone who can write a minimum of two stories every three weeks.

blademonki said: “Wikipedia isn’t all that super secret.”

Ixnay on the Ikipediaway.

Haha one more thing: I don’t think I’ve seen this so far, but… would we have to be really anal about siting all of our sources in proper MLA format? I HATE THE MLA FORMAT…. Not that I support misquoting sources, there’s just so much work in doing all that… Do you guys just usually type the website the article was derived from, along with related articles and other websites with info? Or is there some secret database full of MLA citations that strikes terror into anyone who sees it?

How much work is put into an article here, anyway?

I’d definitely join if I had more refinement in my writing skills.

Funner? I’m guessing that good grammar, spelling, and a good vocabulary isn’t a requirement.

NeverReturnKid said: “Funner? I’m guessing that good grammar, spelling, and a good vocabulary isn’t a requirement.”

Language evolves through misuse, or so they say.

I like to read you. Not sure I’d like to write you.

I have no love for writing, but I can suggest loads of topics and articles to write about if that could help.

blademonki said: “Wikipedia isn’t all that super secret.”

Wikiwhatia? Never heard of it. Honest.

Misfit7707 said: “How much work is put into an article here, anyway?”

I’m sure that this varies between authors, and even between articles. For instance, some of my articles take only a few hours to put together, much of which is spent gathering good sources and images. Others, thankfully just a few, have taken me upwards of 15 hours.

You just have to remember that in excess of 20,000 people might read your article–that’s all I need to motivate me to produce quality over quantity. You also have to remember that writing is a very personal thing. Even after having passed through the filter of a very thorough editor, the words to be published are your own.

Abu Ibrahim said: “I have no love for writing, but I can suggest loads of topics and articles to write about if that could help.”

Go to our suggestions page and fire away, I regularly browse it!

Ok, I’m definately interested in trying, but I’m in need of a topic. I had thought to do a story on the Flat Earth Society, but reading their web page made me nauseous. I’ll check out the suggestions page.

Oops, can we mere mortals access the suggestions page?

Marius said: “Oops, can we mere mortals access the suggestions page?”

http://www.damninteresting.com/?page_id=350

…or under the ‘About’ menu at the top.

icenine said: “http://www.damninteresting.com/?page_id=350

…or under the ‘About’ menu at the top.”

Umm…I think he meant the actual suggestions, not the submit-a-suggestion page. I don’t think we can though.

As long as there is no uptight-ed-ness about citing your sources in the “pain-in-the-arse” MLA format (i.e. if we don’t have to go all-out with the time written, the place of publication, the time read, and holy crap, I don’t even want to remember what else…) then I’m all for it!

Now, just to find a good article…

Oh, also… Is the July 15th deadline THE date for getting to write for DI? Should we count on abandoning all hope if we miss the deadline? Not that I plan on it, but for everyone else’s sake…

I would seriously consider contributing for this site. I have some great stories on hand, but I’m anxious if the main authors are interested in all what I have to offer.

Nope.. not much of a writer. All I’d do is bash Canada.

rp2 said: “Nope.. not much of a writer. All I’d do is bash Canada.”

Indeed. As Kyle’s mother said in the South Park Movie, “Blame Canada!”
But seriously. I would become a Damn Interesting writer ‘cept my writing isnt that stupendus and i don’t know about anything interesting. At all. Nothing. Zip. Zilch. …i’m really bored right now…

heres somthing intersting every 238 years neptune and pluto swicth orbits making neptune the furthest plant from the sun

the resaon is due to the fact that Pluto’s orbit is an oval, and Neptune’s is circular. In Pluto’s 248 year circuit of the sun, the inside of the oval is marginally closer to the sun than Neptune’s circular pattern.

Hmm, this sounds like a pretty cool oppurtunity. I’d be keen, only I don’t know if I’d be able to come up with any original ideas…

Dang. TV has sapped all my imagination.

Personally, I think you should dump your no-ads policy. A single Google ads banner in between the article and the comments would pay for your server costs and could compensate writers.

I’m sure there are many excellent writers out there that would be willing to contribute to Damn Interesting that can’t because of the zero compensation. Having an audience isn’t enough to justify many an author’s time.

The only justification I could see is as part of getting your name out there and building a portfolio of work – that way it’s easier to move onto paid work.

Misfit7707 said: “As long as there is no uptight-ed-ness about citing your sources in the “pain-in-the-arse” MLA format (i.e. if we don’t have to go all-out with the time written, the place of publication, the time read, and holy crap, I don’t even want to remember what else…) then I’m all for it!

Where have you ever seen any MLA format stuff on this site? All I ever see is Website references so I am not sure why you would think they use MLA.

Misfit7707 said: “As long as there is no uptight-ed-ness about citing your sources in the “pain-in-the-arse” MLA format (i.e. if we don’t have to go all-out with the time written, the place of publication, the time read, and holy crap, I don’t even want to remember what else…) then I’m all for it!

Nope, no MLA here.

Oh, also… Is the July 15th deadline THE date for getting to write for DI?”

For practical purposes, yes. If one slips in past that date and it is AWESOME, we’d be stupid to ignore it… but we’d prefer to have them all in by then, just so we can get a decision made.

Coneee said: Personally, I think you should dump your no-ads policy. A single Google ads banner in between the article and the comments would pay for your server costs and could compensate writers.

As someone who despises such ads, I cannot in good conscience add them to my own site. I’d sooner shut it down, to be honest.

I’m sure there are many excellent writers out there that would be willing to contribute to Damn Interesting that can’t because of the zero compensation. Having an audience isn’t enough to justify many an author’s time.

If a writer’s only motive for contributing is immediate monetary gain, this isn’t the project for them. I am not condemning those who want to get paid for their writing on-the-spot; it’s just that site doesn’t operate that way. Speaking personally, I love writing, so any excuse to do so is its own reward. And with our current plans, it’s likely that we’ll soon start to get something back for our efforts, without causing any annoyance to our readers… it’s win/win.

Writing has been profitable for a long time without ad-supported revenue, it just takes a little more patience and dedication.

I also really don’t like ads. That the site is ad-free is one of the things that makes me proud to write for it.

radish123 said: “heres somthing intersting every 238 years neptune and pluto swicth orbits making neptune the furthest plant from the sun…the resaon is due to the fact that Pluto’s orbit is an oval, and Neptune’s is circular. In Pluto’s 248 year circuit of the sun, the inside of the oval is marginally closer to the sun than Neptune’s circular pattern.”

It’s neat, isn’t it? The last time this happened ended in ‘99. Pluto’s orbit is also tilted about 17º relative to the ‘plane’ that contains the other planets’ orbits – it’s pretty crazy. Overall it really is a strange case. Hey, there’s an article idea: is Pluto a planet? Man. I think I might have to write about that.

Alan, you should open the site to reader contributions. I’m sure there are a lot of us who have one or two good stories in mind but are too pressed for time to write one on a deadline. That way, if one of the regular writers is having writer’s block, you could browse the reader’s contributions, find a good one, and post it instead.

Just an idea.

ballaerina said: “Alan, you should open the site to reader contributions. I’m sure there are a lot of us who have one or two good stories in mind but are too pressed for time to write one on a deadline. That way, if one of the regular writers is having writer’s block, you could browse the reader’s contributions, find a good one, and post it instead.”

We’ve long had plans to host guest writers on occasion, but that requires a bit more time to set up than I have available right now. Definitely on the to-do list, though.

Question: Not to be picky but wouldn’t it be “the cut of our collective jibs”? My way is definately funnier.

Besides collective jibs sounds a little dirty too. Like you have a big pile of jibs laying around your house somewhere. Or is it lying? English is stupid.

Coneee said: “I’m sure there are many excellent writers out there that would be willing to contribute to Damn Interesting that can’t because of the zero compensation. Having an audience isn’t enough to justify many an author’s time.”

Ha! Reading this site is what I do at work all day. Hell, I’ll write one just to have something to do at work.

We would all love to be paid writers. Heck, if I had a chance to be a full-time writer and earn real money, I wouldn’t hesitate for a moment. But, as it is, the writing is its own reward. Very seriously.

It also may be slightly cheesy to say this, but the reader comments are one of my favorite parts about this site. Yes, occasionally they get a bit bickery, but then along comes a well-thought-out and reasoned response that makes this writing we do a conversation rather than simply written oratory.

The fact that DI is ad-free is what attracted me to the project (aside from the fantastic writing). I’m glad to hear Alan’s commitment to that philosophy is as strong as ever!

white_matter said: “Question: Not to be picky but wouldn’t it be “the cut of our collective jibs”? My way is definately funnier.

Besides collective jibs sounds a little dirty too. Like you have a big pile of jibs laying around your house somewhere. Or is it lying? English is stupid.”

It’s lying.

Laying is the act of putting something down. It’s transitive, meaning it has to take a direct object.
“I lay down the book.” “She is laying down the book.” “He had laid the book on the table.”

Lying is the state of being down. It’s intransitive, meaning it has no direct object.
“The book was lying on the table.” “I am going to lie down.” “I have lain in bed for 2 hours.”
Here’s where it gets confusing though: the past tense of lie is lay.
“The book lay on the table for three weeks.”

Does that clear it up?

PS. “Definately” is spelled “definitely.”

i four 1 would love to rite for dam interesting – I got good stories and real good grammer and definately spell good enought for a job. I have some riting samples for you guys to look at ill send to you soon.

And ballaerina – for your information: “laying” is the act of having sexual intercourse, and “lying” is speaking an untruth. That should clear it up once and for all, I think.

so what do all you think guys? should i sned in a smaple of my riting to be a member of dam intresting?

schuylercat said: “i four 1 would love to rite for dam interesting – I got good stories and real good grammer and definately spell good enought for a job. I have some riting samples for you guys to look at ill send to you soon.

And ballaerina – for your information: “laying” is the act of having sexual intercourse, and “lying” is speaking an untruth. That should clear it up once and for all, I think.

so what do all you think guys? should i sned in a smaple of my riting to be a member of dam intresting?”

yes

rp2 said: “so what do all you think guys? should i sned in a smaple of my riting to be a member of dam intresting?”

yes”

Agreed.

I have some of the biggest smaples in the land!

And it’s true, they are great for sneding in.

P.S. great site!

well thast it the i will sned in my smaples! I got a grate story about saint nicolas tesla!!! he flys aroud on xmas in a sled pulled by raindeer, electrocuting bad boys and grils all over…

They like me…they really LIKE me…

Sigh. I worked for a few years as a motorsports journalist, but I’m just not very damned interesting. Good luck, DI!

Speling iz n tha I ov tha baholeder.

Enough with that. I’m getting a headache already.

General observation: there aren’t many words that ryhme with crevas.

That is all.

Mmmmm… cut jibs and smaples… *drool*