A few things

[a_blackpanther]

Hello all,

I'm sorry I haven't been around much for the past few weeks, but RL does tend to interfere with fandom. Anyway, way back when we had the Friending Meme I also asked for what people would also like to see in this comm more and the majority answer was "more discussion". I've talked it over with my co-mods and they agree that this is a great idea.

As such I'll be instituting Round Table Mondays (eh, I'm open to name suggestions as well) which will consist of someone making a discussion post for a topic of their choice. In order to help the discussion along, I'm looking for volunteers to write a bit of meta (not long - say 100 words or so? - not set in stone) on whatever topic they would like discuss.It's easier to start of a discussion if there's already some information and place from which to start.  So if you'd like to be a topic starter just let me know in a comment here with a date (and maybe a topic). I'm taking sign-ups for every Monday  for the foreseeable future. The topics have to be in some way related to Criminal Minds, but tehy don't necessarily have to involve the characters/events in the show - if you'd like to talk about real serial killers, or the real BAU or death and morality and assisted dying - by all means don't let me stop you.  Of course if you have any suggestions for the improvement of this format, I'm willing to listen to those as well. 

I'm also instituting Friday Rec Day, which will consisted of a post made by me every Friday in which people can rec any piece of fanart (fics, drawings, vids, etc.) they've stumbled upon this week (or well at any time) and think is awesome. People will also be able to make requests for certain kind of rec if they wish to do so. 

November is also NaNoWriMo, so here's a little cheering for those of you who're taking part in it - I hope it's going well!

As usual I'm interesting in what everyone has to say about all this and suggestions are more than welcome. 

Dign-ups for Round Table Monday:

Nov 14th - bluerosefairy

Nov 21st - ficdirectory - JJ character meta
Nov 28th - bowlerhat_girl
Dec 5th
Dec 12th
Dec 19th

Comments

[bluerosefairy.livejournal.com]

I'm willing to do Monday Meta, if you don't have anyone else in mind. I do work full-time, so I hope you line up a few other people to share meta duties with.

[a_blackpanther]

Ideally, it would be a different person every week, but if a couple of people offer to do more than one, I wouldn't mind doing it on a rotational basis. And the mods may do some as well.

Would you like to start next Monday - on the 14th?

[bluerosefairy.livejournal.com]

Sure, I can do that!

[a_blackpanther]

Awesome!

[ficdirectory.livejournal.com]

Super excited about these announcements! I can take a meta Monday!

[a_blackpanther]

Yay! When would you like to do it? And what would the topic of your choice be?

[ficdirectory.livejournal.com]

Downthread, there is a suggestion about character metas...for more focused discussion. I would love to have a meta post about JJ. Is that okay? I can do November 21st.

[a_blackpanther]

Yep - perfect!

[kwerkee.livejournal.com]

I can't do a meta to save my life but I would like to suggest a topic if anyone is interested to take it up.

Real-life BSU/BAU legends - John Douglas, Roy Hazelwood, Rob Ressler (I find it interesting that he genuinely liked Dahmer), etc. I think Gideon and Rossi were created as a nod to these guys.

[a_blackpanther]

Are you sure you don't want to give it a try? It's supposed to be a starting point for a discussion so it doesn't have to be very long at all.

[kwerkee.livejournal.com]

Alright, I'll let you know when I think I can do it.

Btw, I think it's great that you put up the dates and corresponding contributors, so that people will know which slots are available.

[a_blackpanther]

Yay!

Unfortunately there are many slots available. I was expecting a bit more of an enthusiastic reply.

[kwerkee.livejournal.com]

Don't worry about it. Once people see how it's done, they'll volunteer for it.

[full-metal-ox.livejournal.com]

Real-life BSU/BAU legends - John Douglas, Roy Hazelwood, Rob Ressler (I find it interesting that he genuinely liked Dahmer), etc. I think Gideon and Rossi were created as a nod to these guys.

I don't see any question about it; for example, the scene with Hotch, Reid, and Chester Hardwicke in "Damaged" was directly inspired by Ressler's prison encounter with serial killer Ed Kemper.

[kwerkee.livejournal.com]

Directly inspired? Wow, I didn't know about this Kempler interview. Although it did occur to me that Chester did resemble Kemper physically, glasses and all.

[full-metal-ox.livejournal.com]

The entry on Kemper (http://www.members.tripod.com/~VanessaWest/kemper.html) from Vanessa West's website The Criminal Mind ends with an account of the exchange between Kemper and Ressler; note how the CM writers chose to split Ressler's reaction, having Hotch enact the belligerence and Reid the diversionary smokecloud of pedantry.

[kwerkee.livejournal.com]

Thank you for that. I had no idea about the confrontation.

[a_blackpanther]

I'm taking sign-ups for whenever, just pick a Monday and let me know. Except next Monday, cause that's taken. :)

[a_blackpanther]

Perfect!

[a_blackpanther]

Alright! :D

[freddlerabbit.livejournal.com]

I'd be happy to do a Monday meta, and also to take a topic suggestion - I tend to be good at writing once I have an idea, but sometimes I struggle to come up with them! But I can also figure one out myself, too!

[kwerkee.livejournal.com]

May I then suggest character metas? One character at a time, for a more focused discussion.

[ficdirectory.livejournal.com]

I'd love this! I'd take JJ in a second to meta about!

[ficdirectory.livejournal.com]

Ooh! Yay! This excites me.

[full-metal-ox.livejournal.com]

For what it might be worth, the title "Round Table Mondays" would fit perfectly with the show's Arthurian meta.

[a_blackpanther]

Damn, caught me. It's just not terribly catchy.

[kwerkee.livejournal.com]

Meta Minds?
Monday Meta Minds?
Meta Mommas?
Yea, ok, I'll stop now.

[a_blackpanther]

LOL!

[nwjarvis.livejournal.com]

I've been working on an idea that I think might make an interesting Round Table that I'd be willing to mod; I probably can't be ready before Feb 6th, as I'm still re-viewing early eps for material.

Just FYI, the subject is the interesting bit players - I think we used to see a lot more of them than we have recently and I wondered if anyone else has noticed the lack, and whether they agree that this has had a negative impact on the quality of the show.

[a_blackpanther]

Awesome! The sign-up post that i keep up to date is here: http://criminalxminds.livejournal.com/1809276.html

Shall I put you in for feb 13th?

[nwjarvis.livejournal.com]

Sure - I'll be there.