I think I'll take some time off of here...

"Flavien Vidal" (flyingfrenchy) 10/26/2014 at 19:24 • Filed to: None

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... At least trying to, and making effort to offer proper articles to readers... Oppo is awesome and has lots of really interesting stuff, but it's just too tiring writing articles and offering extended photo reports for almost nobody... It's a total lottery whether or not something I write gets shared or not on FP to quite a bite wider audience and it's extremely frustrating when it's not. It's even more frustrating when what gets shared is, I feel, not worth sharing (ie: articles with crappy cellphone pics for exemple), but what I spend a good amount of time doing, with proper photography and so on, gets ignored... Seing more an more article about "the 10 best/worst whatever" or similar click-bait stuff like "You'll be amazed this guy makes it out alive!!", while so many other proper great stuff gets ignored is a bit depressing.

Especially when proper articles done by Oppo members often get more views on FP than those click bait things...

I admire the courage some of you have to pull up with that kind of stuff (Das Wauto especially, who keeps on pushing Oppo as much as he can for quite some time now), but I guess it's just not for me.

I'll keep posting funny/interesting stuff and cars I see in Japan on Oppo, but I think I'll try and look for another website when it comes to full length article/photo reports...

I have lots of project here in the upcomming months, like a full review of almost unknown japanese racetracks, with full length on and off track video which will require me spending lots of time/money on it and I don't want to "hopefully" get some readers on those...

I do this because I love sharing what I see and enjoy in the car world, and when I get more readers on a downhill skateboarding website than on Oppo, I feel that I should start looking for other solutions to share my stories...

Cheers,

Flavien

Steve in Manhattan > Flavien Vidal 10/26/2014 at 19:29

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You can always post a piece in more than one place.

Nibby > Flavien Vidal 10/26/2014 at 19:31

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I rarely write long posts... I find that unless it is very informative, short and concise does it for me.

But I try to be efficient with almost everything I do, so... that's just me.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Flavien Vidal 10/26/2014 at 19:33

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I felt the same way a while back when I was actually being a bit productive on here. Eventually there came a point when so much bullshit was on the FP and I couldn't get on there with a post I spent hours on that I went somewhat inactive for a while. Anyways, I really enjoy the stuff you post and I'm sure if you tweeted it at a FP ed. you'd be FP'd in an instant. That's how it happens for anyone. The stuff you see in Japan is certainly interesting to anyone who has vision!

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Flavien Vidal 10/26/2014 at 19:38

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Oppo has always been off topic, not a clear cut route to the FP. If you're on here to advance with journalism in any way you're guna have a bad time. Clickbait rules on the FP for obvious reasons. The only people who stick on the FP with regularity are already writers in some capacity.

desertdog5051 > Flavien Vidal 10/26/2014 at 19:49

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I can sympathize with your frustration, Falvien. Oppo is a tough/different audience to gain any fame and fortune from. Your posts/articles have been very good. IMO.

I am not a writer and do not post with any fame or fortune in mind. If it gets shared, I shiver because I know I will be inundated with FP people who the post was really not intended for. I guess, what I am saying is that adaptability to the market is key. You learn what each blog likes and post what they are looking for. They are all different. Your posts that don't do well here will do much better on another blog with a bit different focus. Don't give up on Oppo. Just realize what this blog reads and post accordingly. You are doing a great job so don't quit now.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Flavien Vidal 10/26/2014 at 19:56

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Flavien, your articles are really good, and I thoroughly enjoy reading through them when they're up. I'm glad you've decided to share your writing with us! :)
You should stick around for the fun stuff, but you don't need to post all your serious articles here!

Wish you all the best with your future writing man! :)
come back and visit when you can!!!

Leadbull > Flavien Vidal 10/26/2014 at 19:58

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I don't like how seriously people take Oppo, now.

It's great that our stuff gets FP'd occasionally, but that's not the main reason this place exists.

Posting stuff for the enjoyment of almost nobody a tight-knit community is why this place exists.

Flavien Vidal > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 10/26/2014 at 19:59

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i don't think it is a route to anything... i don't really care about journalism either, if i did, i would write more often... it's just that great stuff gets ignored here, and i find this extremely frustrating... when some of my stuff gets shared, it's often the wrong stuff, things done in 5 minutes for the sole pleasure of oppo.

Check what kind of article gets the most readers... it's not the click bait stuff. Jalopnik is not going the right way and i feel that it's getting worse and worse. Sad really, i enjoyed the FP a couple years ago.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Flavien Vidal 10/26/2014 at 19:59

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I have tried very hard on getting some articles I worked hard on displayed on the FP and nothing. So I know your feeling but you shouldn't give up.

Flavien Vidal > desertdog5051 10/26/2014 at 20:02

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I'm definitely not looking for any fame and fortune here... i would definitely accept to get my pics shared without any form of credit... i just want to share the great and interesting things i see here, that's all. And when my crap stuff gets shared but not the good stuff, it sorts of makes me feel that Jalopnik just does not care that much after all....

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Flavien Vidal 10/26/2014 at 20:08

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It's just the way it goes. Honestly, as much as I appreciate the well thought out material, I come on here for a bit of discussion and short light hearted stuff to fill time. When I want a longer read I usually pick up a book.

I've never checked page views but all I know is the clickbait gets attention and a lot of comments so that's probably desirable. Plus it's much easier for the FP writers to glance over a "top 10 —" post and share it, than to pick over a proper article. They seem to share oppo stuff to fill dead space when they have nothing to post, especially on weekends.

BigBlock440 > Flavien Vidal 10/26/2014 at 20:47

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If you're posting something in one place, how hard is ctrl+c than ctrl+v, then click "publish"? You say you do it because you like sharing, that seems like an easy way to share to even more people.

Flavien Vidal > BigBlock440 10/26/2014 at 20:59

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Because it's not a correct thing to do to the website that i use to write these articles. I don't like this "spread it as much as you can" way of doing things. It's particulary inefficient and time consuming... it also make it hard to follow, answering to comments and questions. I write at one specific place (here), and in theory, if it's good, it goes to the FP... problem is when my good stuff does not go there and my crappy stuff does... just frustrating and feels useless.

BigBlock440 > Flavien Vidal 10/26/2014 at 21:13

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I guess I just don't see the problem. Are you getting paid to write the article? No? Than put it wherever you damn well please, it's yours. I also don't find it too difficult to click the address bar and type in a different website. Say, the other one that I posted on maybe?

*I'm not trying to tell you what to do, I just don't see the problem if you're sharing for the sake of sharing.

Flavien Vidal > BigBlock440 10/26/2014 at 21:56

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i just don't think it's up to me to share an article... i write it. In theory, if its good it ends up on the FP. In theory of course... posting your own stuff everywhere seems a bit weird to me... i do share other people's articles to people who would not find it here otherwise, but not my own... not to mention that it normally does not help the main website you wrote it in as it spreads readership between different websites.

DasWauto > Flavien Vidal 10/26/2014 at 22:33

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Hey, thanks for the appreciation, I put in time when I can.

I won't comment too much on your opinion on Jalopnik content. It varies, tastes evolve (both yours and that of the site), I don't read it all either.

As I'm sure you know, Oppo is a random place, sometimes a post is very popular, other times great posts get lost in the ether. Just a fact of life, I guess.

I've just got a couple of tips to maximize the audience and exposure your posts reach:

- choose your post time carefully. Now that you're in Japan your posts seem to mostly occur in the wee hours of the morning US time when the least people are on. Try scheduling posts during more opportune times (late morning or mid afternoon are good) and/or resharing the post through the day.

- Reach out to the site editors when you've put a lot of effort into a post. Michael and Kat on weekends, Matt and co during the week. They're easiest to reach and quite responsive on Twitter.

I hope that helps and that you continue to post on Oppo. I always enjoy reading your posts and stories from Japan.

Cheers.

BigBlock440 > Flavien Vidal 10/26/2014 at 22:46

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I guess we just have different views. You wrote something to post on website A, why couldn't you also write something to post on website B (even if it's the same thing)? I read different websites every day, as I'm sure most people also do. If I see the same thing on another website, oh well, whichever I see first gets my click. Not everybody reads every website though, so things can get missed. Unless you're getting paid for the article, I don't see what obligation you have to keep it exclusive to that website. Whatever views they get from your volunteered effort is something they didn't plan on or pay for. It's a bonus to wherever you post to. If you're sharing to give as many people entertainment as possible, it's not weird to show it to different groups of people. Like pulling out your cellphone and showing a few friends pictures from a hike or car show you took this weekend. The first friend doesn't have exclusive rights to show the other friends, you do.

Ultimately, it's your decision what and where you post, but I just don't understand why you'd feel a website that didn't pay you (or have some other agreement with you) would have exclusive rights to your thoughts/pictures/whatever. You think people will be interested? Post. You don't? Don't. You're over-thinking it IMO.

Flavien Vidal > DasWauto 10/26/2014 at 23:32

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Hey, thx for the tips... I do send what I write to Kat and to tips@jalopnik... As I said, sometimes I end up getting my posts shared while I specifically mentioned in the message that I didnt feel it worthy of sharing, but just wanted them to check it out, and sometimes, even i feel that its truly interesting and worth sharing, i dont even get an answer...

Its just this lottery that I dont like.

Now that Im in Japan and will try to spend some more time and money in writing or even filming, I want to make sure that what I do is somewhat read/seen... That an article that I spent 2 or 3 hours onto, or that a photoshoot that took me a day gets buried is one thing... But reviewing the local racetracks like I plan on doing in the upcomming months will take me time and money. And honestly, if I do it just to have it ignored, Id rather just enjoy my days at the track driving, rather than setting up cameras, taking pictures, or interviewing the owners...

So well see... I will prospect other websites and see if they are interested in those project I have. Whether I find interest or not with other sites, I ll still post about what I see and drive here though... As I said I enjoy it here a lot... I just wont spend a ton of time doing it. If get by nices places, Ill still share my pics here, I just wont go there specifically for that anymore :)

Thanks for what you are doing though! Really nice and I definitly enjoy the best of oppo kinja ;)

Cheers,

Flavien

DasWauto > Flavien Vidal 10/26/2014 at 23:50

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In response to not getting an answer, I think the editors of the site are quite busy as well so sometimes they miss things; eg. I think Kat had other things going on this weekend (I didn't see her post). Don't hesitate to bug them again after a days or so, or to message someone else.

When I was doing Best of Oppo posts, it varied a fair bit. Sometimes Matt would share a post immediately when I messaged him, others I'd have to remind him a couple of times or message Travis or Patrick. It happens and in general I've found them to be very kind in their sharing of posts.

It is a bit of a lottery, which can be too bad, but c'est la vie. You can do a bit more to help yourself though: If you are planning a serious series of posts like reviewing tracks in Japan, send Matt an email (matt@jalopnik.com) about it to discuss what you are planning so that he's aware of it and so that you can judge his interest and maybe arrange for the posts to be shared. That way you could have some sort of assurances before committing any time and resources to it.

Just don't be too surprised if he takes a day or two to respond, and if he doesn't by then, send him a friendly reminder asking for his insight. :)

Leon711 > Flavien Vidal 10/28/2014 at 10:33

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What you need is the alternate OPPO.

http://oppositeblog.kinja.com/

Flavien Vidal > DasWauto 11/02/2014 at 17:51

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Hey, just to keep you updated, I have tried to reach Matt, sent him a detailed email, then after 4 days with no answer, sent him a reminder, but nope, no luck, no answer....

So as I said I'll be out for quite sometime when it comes to writing here... I just feel that it's too much of a time loss for me. I know I could at least make weekends on Jalopnik a bit more interesting but well... I'll still post pictures of where I will go for your guys to see as it won't take me long to upload them anyway, along with reading and commenting on what goes on in Oppo but other than that, I'm done with articles :)

Cheers,

Flavien

DasWauto > Flavien Vidal 11/02/2014 at 18:11

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Thanks for the update and I'm sorry to hear about your decision. I will still look forward to seeing what you do post.

I think I'll bug Matt just to see if I can get him to respond to you. I'm a bit disappointed to hear that he hasn't done so. I'm sure his inbox is flooded so it won't hurt for me to try.

Flavien Vidal > DasWauto 11/02/2014 at 19:40

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Well i don't know if you have done something or not yet, but i just got an email back from him... i guess you're the man to talk to for any requests hahaha

thanks, I'll keep you updated on what goes on next :)

DasWauto > Flavien Vidal 11/02/2014 at 20:04

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Yeah, I messaged him on Twitter. I'm glad he got back to you. Have a good day (night for me).