Hmmm . . . ya'll are probably utterly right, we probably should have something in writing to help scribes in how they oversee hood development. One thing I keep waiting for - it hasn't happened yet to my knowledge, but it COULD - is, you get a great volunteer who wants to work on Freedonia (thanks, Julilla ;) He, let's say, has shown graphics talent and has earned a reputation as dependable, and he can't wait to develop Freedonia. Then he drops you a proud note about having 'finished' his hood. When you go by, it's all black-light-whirling-gifs-animated graphic hell with rock music blaring out at you. You try to find something good to say, and you really CAN'T, because although it may be a fun design, it's as far from appropriate for an ancient history site as having blaring punk music at highest decibels when you click the site.

LOL - I'm sorry, that's my nightmare. Without guidelines, how could we gently suggest that perhaps something a little more - er - non-21st-century might do better? If it hasn't happened yet, it will. (don't worry, I'm not saying we have to do it all in white columns and Roman typeface either)

The other thing I'm waiting to happen is a power play by the Decurion, Shah, Emperor, or whatever of a given 'hood who then sets it up all her way and won't make it welcoming and accessible to other people and other ideas. In THAT case (again, to my knowledge, it has not yet happened), we all need to remind ourselves that we don't "own" the hoods. If you drop back by Ashmolia, where you did good work a year ago, and find it's been completely changed, the best you can do is shrug philosophically. 'hoods are living and changing places, just like every group and thread at AW, and none of us "own" them.

I'll visit with the other demis about how we can help put together some guidelines for future reference!