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Text Mega-zine

Posted In: Mega-Zine Chat. Reading This Thread:

Insane Jam Sow

| 443 posts

9^th Aug 2005 at 3:24 pm

Bill Bryson is my God

So, what's everyone's opinion on this latest development? Will anyone be texting in their comments? And will anyone be able to get a full page letter into a text message?

For those who can't be arsed to look, the details are: text MEGA and your message to 07624 809 849. It'll cost the same as a normal SMS.

Edited by Insane Jam Sow Aug 2005

http://www.freewebs.com/megazine

Yes, my website still exists. Just about.

John Cage Bubblegum

| 6,555 posts

9^th Aug 2005 at 3:37 pm

This is a really, really bad idea. Backchat Mark II, here we come.

Cheers, Teletext.

Peter Kenyon has a medal

Topper

| 6,773 posts

9^th Aug 2005 at 4:17 pm

Dismantling a person is sometimes necessary...

That's pretty much the final straw for me. I've now had 50 Stuttercut prints so I'm definitely done. Backchat mark 2 indeed.

I hope some day, for some reason, David Duchovny is investigated by the FBI. Because that would make a great story.

http://www.myspace.com/toppercutter

Dark Grey Wolf of Norbex

| 514 posts

9^th Aug 2005 at 4:31 pm

Eh? I've not seen this number. Since when has this been going on?

Hideous Defunct Creation

Chris Kamara

| 24,049 posts

9^th Aug 2005 at 5:59 pm

oh dear.

JM

| 8,289 posts

9^th Aug 2005 at 6:04 pm

hmm i'm not too sure about it. Does this mean that there will be a few pages full of page one type letters, i wonder?

I think it's been done because they are seriously running low on letters now. 7 pages somedays, even 6 pages! It only take a few days to get anything printed also.

Freshly Squeezed Cynic

| 6,189 posts

9^th Aug 2005 at 6:32 pm

apparently the big pink bastard is me

I could barely get my name in a text message.

Filled with existential dread and toast.

Freshly Squeezed Cynic

| 6,189 posts

9^th Aug 2005 at 6:32 pm

apparently the big pink bastard is me

Anyway, who's copying up the new stuff?

Filled with existential dread and toast.

ANBY v3.0

| 7,728 posts

9^th Aug 2005 at 8:23 pm

Officially female according to Pamplemeese Decree.

Quote: Dark_Grey_Wolf_

Eh? I've not seen this number. Since when has this been going on?

Since about half three this afternoon.

Do you reckon calls to this number can be done, or would they be barred? Not that I've programmed it into my mobile that is...

Rupert didn't win the Best Signature Award. He does not exist.

Claire

| 15,814 posts

9^th Aug 2005 at 8:39 pm

Darren is most certainly not my god!

F*cking what?! What a bloody stupid idea. Mostly due to there only being 160 characters in a text message, leading to lots of vowel deficient Page 1 messages unless WLW cleans them up...Ohhh the idiocy.

Coloured Lilac And Insults Rarely E(Anymore)

Quote: Claire, Jun 2005

Basically, I'm just mangling and regurgitating what everyone's already said.

I’m really glad that the quote in my signature is a teenager.
Joint best Mod 2009. Officials.

Winner of most longstanding mod in the history of the internet. Or at least most resillient/lifelacking VR staff member 2012.

satansrubberduck

| 7,520 posts

9^th Aug 2005 at 8:39 pm

Quote: Tabitha_

Oh f*ck a duck.

Well, at the very least we can send abusive texts via online text and not be discovered...

You called?

Calls probably won't work, as the number is likely hooked directly into a computer. (That's how the radio station text lines work, afaik.)

Claire

| 15,814 posts

9^th Aug 2005 at 8:48 pm

Darren is most certainly not my god!

"The number you have called is not recognised. Please check the number. If you need help, you could call the Manx Telecom Directory Enquiries operator on 192".

I won't if it's all the same...

Coloured Lilac And Insults Rarely E(Anymore)

Quote: Claire, Jun 2005

Basically, I'm just mangling and regurgitating what everyone's already said.

Bellatrixa

| 6,342 posts

9^th Aug 2005 at 8:55 pm

Bitches Love Cannons

Quote: Lilac_Leopard_

Mostly due to there only being 160 characters in a text message

Unless you have a phone like mine where you can keep typing and it just tells you how many messages it'll be on the side. But yeah, I don't like the idea of messages being devoid of letters.

[http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/retardedlyweird/cbmb.jpg]

Matthew Bellamy is ADONIS Love

Claire

| 15,814 posts

9^th Aug 2005 at 9:01 pm

Darren is most certainly not my god!

I have one of those too but when I type one character over 160 I just go into a blind panic and start removing random words so it fits in one text.

Coloured Lilac And Insults Rarely E(Anymore)

Quote: Claire, Jun 2005

Basically, I'm just mangling and regurgitating what everyone's already said.

Colin

| 10,038 posts

10^th Aug 2005 at 5:54 am

Quote: Lilac_Leopard_

I have one of those too but when I type one character over 160 I just go into a blind panic and start removing random words so it fits in one text.

Ialwaysdothat&itmakesthingshardtoreadlikethis

http://www.myspace.com/papertruth
[http://www.vegetablerevolution.co.uk/resources/uploads/gerrard.jpg]

Bob Flapper

| 5,002 posts

10^th Aug 2005 at 8:02 am

Me?!

Well, at least we can live in our memories of when 'Zine was good

Insane Jam Sow

| 443 posts

10^th Aug 2005 at 8:54 am

Bill Bryson is my God

Quote: Lilac_Leopard_

I have one of those too but when I type one character over 160 I just go into a blind panic and start removing random words so it fits in one text.

As a pedant who refuses to use text speak in any way, I enjoy the challenge of making whatever it is I need to say fit into 160 characters - finding synonyms for words that have fewer letters in them etc. It's surprising how many unnecessary words we use when we have no constraints.

Sigh, my text messages must be fun for the people receiving them...

http://www.freewebs.com/megazine

Yes, my website still exists. Just about.

Πανδώρα

| 15,327 posts

10^th Aug 2005 at 9:34 am

i just pay for the extra message

easy.

*burp*

Gary

| 3,774 posts

10^th Aug 2005 at 11:27 am

I is not evil.

Text speak is evil. Even in text messages I use proper sentences. If what I need to say spans 2 messages, so be it - O2 give me 300 texts each month and I barely use half of them...

But I'm sure this means the coming of text speak on Zine. Most of the people here don't like it either - looks like Zine is getting a new audience.

[http://imagegen.last.fm/Apnet/recenttracks/3/se_osiris.gif]

I like an escalator because an escalator can never break, it can only become stairs. There would never be an "Escalator temporarily out of order" sign, only an "Escalator temporarily stairs. Sorry for the convenience."
- Mitch Hedberg

Chris Kamara

| 24,049 posts

10^th Aug 2005 at 11:29 am

I feel the need to retire before the new breed come in...

satansrubberduck

| 7,520 posts

10^th Aug 2005 at 12:45 pm

Don't Backchat expand the text messages that they print, apart from a few abbreviations like 2 and b? Mind you, it's been as long since I've read that as it has since I've read Zine, but I'd guess they worked the same way...

Colin

| 10,038 posts

10^th Aug 2005 at 1:23 pm

I avoid textspeak, more often I give shorter synonyms/remove obvious words/just remove spaces/put apostrophes or full stops to show abbrev's.

http://www.myspace.com/papertruth
[http://www.vegetablerevolution.co.uk/resources/uploads/gerrard.jpg]

John Cage Bubblegum

| 6,555 posts

10^th Aug 2005 at 3:12 pm

Getting back on topic, this is pretty much the end for 'Zine in my opinion - not only has it been in terminal decline for a good couple of years anyway, but it's looked especially out of place since Ace was created.

It'll either end up as a Backchat clone or it'll just be taken down altogether.

Peter Kenyon has a medal

Mark Brogan

| 7,648 posts

10^th Aug 2005 at 3:33 pm

WHO CAN BE BOTHERED TO WASTE CREDIT ON TEXTS TO MEGAZINE??????????

Not me!

Colin

| 10,038 posts

10^th Aug 2005 at 4:02 pm

What's the betting all the witty 'Ziners will soon enough send a message which ends like this "I mean, how am I supposed to fit a 'Zine letter on a text mes"?

http://www.myspace.com/papertruth
[http://www.vegetablerevolution.co.uk/resources/uploads/gerrard.jpg]

John Cage Bubblegum

| 6,555 posts

10^th Aug 2005 at 4:34 pm

I really, really hope nobody actually sends that in.

Peter Kenyon has a medal

Chris Kamara

| 24,049 posts

10^th Aug 2005 at 4:36 pm

same here, thomas. same here.

Insane Jam Sow

| 443 posts

11^th Aug 2005 at 3:02 pm

Bill Bryson is my God

Judging by today, looks like Page 2 is the new Page 1... down to five full-size letters a day.

http://www.freewebs.com/megazine

Yes, my website still exists. Just about.

Graham

| 5,553 posts

11^th Aug 2005 at 4:03 pm

It's on it's last legs...

Quote: Barry Duffman, Aug 2008

it still doesnt make sense! He's talking about putting potatoes in cement to cook them!!

Chris Kamara

| 24,049 posts

11^th Aug 2005 at 4:18 pm

f*ck me, i just put mega-zine on the tv and i just thought 'Backchat II'

well im glad i sent my retirement letter, but all i can think about is how zine is going to look in 6 months from now. i can see the title and subtitle being: "EMAIL OR TEXT MEGAZINE! KEEP YOUR COMMENTS SHORT AND SNAPPY!"

f*cking.

JM

| 8,289 posts

11^th Aug 2005 at 6:43 pm

Ah wonderful now i have to alter my templates for copying them up

I'm sure a collective 'we don't want this' to 'Zine would stop it if anyone could be bothered?

Chris Kamara

| 24,049 posts

11^th Aug 2005 at 6:48 pm

i doubt it
they'll be making money from this i presume
money rules the world

ANBY v3.0

| 7,728 posts

11^th Aug 2005 at 7:08 pm

Officially female according to Pamplemeese Decree.

My guess would be that it's a trial to see whether or not txtzine takes off, as I can't really see them going back on one of their most fundamental prinicples just for the sake of looking trendier.

Yes, I can.

Rupert didn't win the Best Signature Award. He does not exist.

Dark Grey Wolf of Norbex

| 514 posts

12^th Aug 2005 at 1:59 pm

I'm not really up for abbreviating in texts so doubt I'd bother. I'm just getting sick of it now anyway. Can't really think of much else to say on there anymore anyway. Think I'll follow suit and retire. Ina few months it will probably consist of Emma the lil Angel and

Hideous Defunct Creation

Colin

| 10,038 posts

12^th Aug 2005 at 2:52 pm

Three pages of short letters.
/me retires.
Just in case it gets edited, here's my resignation letter:

Dear, dear, dear.

Look at yourself, WLW.
You're a disgrace.
You've become everything you've always hated.
I am leaving MegaZine (or, should I call it Zinechat? or Backzine? Or Backchat?).
I know it doesn't make a huge difference, but I am. So nyah.
Nyah.
Howard has feathers.

Vigilante Maelstrom

http://www.myspace.com/papertruth
[http://www.vegetablerevolution.co.uk/resources/uploads/gerrard.jpg]

Little Blue Fox.

| 4,256 posts

12^th Aug 2005 at 3:41 pm

Hope is important.

Oh gosh , oh no!

Why is everyone retiring?

All your letters will be printed if they are better than all the bad letters.

You should not complain if you do not try at-all.

:-[

It hurts too much not to try.
I will see you in another life when we are both cats.
Quod perditum est, in venietur.*Facebook.

Colin

| 10,038 posts

12^th Aug 2005 at 3:47 pm

It's easy to adopt a new alias.
And I think that Zine is really worth giving up on.
Two days into the text messages era, someone wants to start a debate.
Back. Chat.
Bye,Zine.

http://www.myspace.com/papertruth
[http://www.vegetablerevolution.co.uk/resources/uploads/gerrard.jpg]

Chris Kamara

| 24,049 posts

12^th Aug 2005 at 3:59 pm

Quote: Little_Blue_Fox_

Oh gosh , oh no!

Why is everyone retiring?

All your letters will be printed if they are better than all the bad letters.

You should not complain if you do not try at-all.

:-[

There's no point in bothering with something that is so different from what it started out as. It's bordering on unrecognisable, and while I understand what you mean, it's really at the stage now where as Colin says, its worth giving up on.
In my opinion anyway.
And my final letter hasn't been printed yet. I wouldn't be surprised if nobody got their last letters on zine.

JM

| 8,289 posts

12^th Aug 2005 at 4:14 pm

If everyone emails 'Zine, saying you're p*ssed off, they'll change it.

No use complaining it if we don't try and do something about it...

Chris Kamara

| 24,049 posts

12^th Aug 2005 at 4:17 pm

why would they change it?

why would they be remotely bothered?

they've just set up a line to the entire population, most people have a mobile phone. i'm sure they'll get enough new people to cover a few absences, as well as making some money in the process.

ANBY v3.0

| 7,728 posts

12^th Aug 2005 at 5:32 pm

Officially female according to Pamplemeese Decree.

Not too long ago, I would have argued that leading by example and sending in top-notch letters would help the situation, but I just... I'm just tired of it all now. Martin has explained my sentiments perfectly and spared me writing some excruciatingly long comment.

Rupert didn't win the Best Signature Award. He does not exist.

Mark Brogan

| 7,648 posts

12^th Aug 2005 at 8:30 pm

yeah, it sucks, so why not give up while we're behind?

Freshly Squeezed Cynic

| 6,189 posts

12^th Aug 2005 at 9:08 pm

apparently the big pink bastard is me

I'm not f*cking retiring. They'll prise the last pixels from my cold, dead hands.

Filled with existential dread and toast.

Mark Brogan

| 7,648 posts

12^th Aug 2005 at 9:12 pm

VR is quiet tonight, and I have no emails to reply to, so I thought I'd send an email to 'Zine. It's crap, but you know, meesh, it's an opinion.

Seriously WLW, what's going on?? What is it with this text service? The only people who are using it are people who evidently have too many free texts or have limitless credit. I thought the whole point of 'Zine was that it wasn't Backchat, but it seems you just want to turn it into that. I appreciate you have lots of other Teletexty jobs to do, but this is ridiculous. It's all newbies or letters with no content. What happened to the funny prints? Take it back to the old school, bring back 'Zine.

Satan's Little Helper

Topper

| 6,773 posts

12^th Aug 2005 at 9:19 pm

Dismantling a person is sometimes necessary...

Nicely put, Antonia. Unfortunately, there'll only be about 3 full letter page spaces available to accomodate it

I hope some day, for some reason, David Duchovny is investigated by the FBI. Because that would make a great story.

http://www.myspace.com/toppercutter

Mark Brogan

| 7,648 posts

12^th Aug 2005 at 9:42 pm

Why, thank you Alex. But, you're right.

Hey, I've had an idea, how about I text each sentence in? Bah.

Freshly Squeezed Cynic

| 6,189 posts

12^th Aug 2005 at 9:46 pm

apparently the big pink bastard is me

The unfortunate irony makes me weep.

Filled with existential dread and toast.

Animal

| 32,547 posts

12^th Aug 2005 at 9:59 pm

Quote: Lilac_Leopard_

"The number you have called is not recognised. Please check the number. If you need help, you could call the Manx Telecom Directory Enquiries operator on 192".

I won't if it's all the same...

Isnt 192 out of service now anyway? Replaced by the 188 XXX service.

http://www.dasburros.com

The world isn't run by weapons anymore, or energy, or money. It's run by little rabbits and zeroes, little bits of data. It's all just electrons.

Cycling Antics

Claire

| 15,814 posts

12^th Aug 2005 at 10:12 pm

Darren is most certainly not my god!

I am unsure mate, that's what it said...but then it also says Manx Telecom and the last time I checked I didn't live in the Isle of Man (I think that's Manx, isn't it?).

You can take the Darren out of BT...

Coloured Lilac And Insults Rarely E(Anymore)

Quote: Claire, Jun 2005

Basically, I'm just mangling and regurgitating what everyone's already said.

Animal

| 32,547 posts

12^th Aug 2005 at 10:26 pm

Quote: Lilac_Leopard_

IYou can take the Darren out of BT...

And thank f*ck for that!

http://www.dasburros.com

The world isn't run by weapons anymore, or energy, or money. It's run by little rabbits and zeroes, little bits of data. It's all just electrons.

Cycling Antics

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