-------------------------------------------------------------------------- UPDATED APRIL 28, 1998 This has been updated taking into account site changes, new pages, and any changes in procedure. I will post updates as necessary or, given the influx of new fans to the lists, when requested. If anyone has additional information or changes that I haven't noticed, please send them to me so I can make the appropriate changes. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- BUFFY FANS, ONE AND ALL!!! THIS IS A POST ON KEEPING. PLEASE READ THIS IF YOU HAVE EVER HAD A QUESTION ABOUT SAID SUBJECT!!! WHAT IS KEEPING?: Keeping is for fun. It's a way of showing our love for the show and for our favorite characters. That's it. It's not a contest. It's not a status thing. It's just plain old fashioned leisurely recreation. KEEPING allows all us fans a forum to display our fevered addiction in an orderly fashion. When you are the KEEPER of something, for all intensive purposes, you have the claimed the right to watch over that specific item or situation. Sound kind of weird? Remember this IS the virtual world. An easier way of looking at it....if you like it when you see it on the show....you should try to be the KEEPER of it. WHAT DO I DO WITH IT ONCE I'M THE KEEPER?: Personally, I'd love to have all KEEPER's make sashes and badges. Like Girl Scouts....or Klingons....so we can show our KEEPERSHIPS to each other at conventions and such. Plus, we'd be easily recognizable by all other fandoms. Wouldn't that be great?!?! O.K., maybe that's just me. Actually being the KEEPER of something gives you the right to add that item/situation to the signature line of your messages. WHY? Because you can and it's a badge of pride. You can always tell a veteran list member by the size of their....signature. Many people not only put their KEEPERSHIPS but also any clubs they belong to, catch phrases, even political views at the bottom of their messages. It's sort of a way of defining who you are. KEEPING is done for no other reason than the giddy joy it fills you with. Treat it that way. Don't just KEEP for KEEPINGS sake. KEEP only when YOU find something worth KEEPING. These Tips have been passed down through the ages to make your journey run a little more smoothly. Enjoy.... TIPS ON KEEPING: 1. Don't Do It Onlist (Xmission, PlanetX): In all honesty no one cares. There are quite a few Buffy E-Mail Lists and they all have Keepers of things. The Official Keeper sites are shared by all groups. The rules that have been established are simple and are there for everyone. They're not written in stone, we're all friends here, so if you have a question ask a Keeper list owner. It may take a little while but they'll get back to you OR contact me (my addy's below). I'm a veteran of the "First Season Keeper Wars" and am more than willing to lend a hand. 2. Check the Keeper Pages First: This is a big one for all you rookies out there. Buffy fans are compulsive to say the least. Obvious things get picked off in a heartbeat. Don't hold your breath on popular things from first season. Your best bet is to go to Lisa's Keeper Index page. It has all the current links to all the Keeper pages. If you bookmark any page for Keeping, this is the one. Scan the lists for what it is you want, if you don't see it, CLAIM it. 3. Send Requests Directly to List Owners: After the first two, this one should be pretty obvious. Send your claim to the List Owner via their web pages or directly through E-mail. But DON'T, I repeat, DO NOT send requests through their guestbooks. It'll just fall on deaf ears. 4. Don't Fight or Flame: I know it's hard sometimes. You claim something, then turn around and see someone on list praising there good fortune for claiming the same thing or worse yet see it in their sig. line. It happens. It's no big deal. I haven't seen any KEEPING related flames in a long time. That's a good thing. But I'm sure in those deep dark corners of the virtual world....it still happens. If this does unfortunately happen to you, you can do one of three things. 1: FLAME!!! FLAME!!! FLAME!!! This is not the preferred method & in all honesty is pretty petty & childish. Besides from that, your not gonna make any new friends of other list members or owners that way. 2: Share. Yes Share!!! There's quite a few CO-KEEPERS. So if your real horked about Keeping something and can't imagine living without it....ask to share it. This pretty much refers to new things though, people who've been Keeping an item since WTTHM aren't gonna be all that willing but you can always try. And 3: Defer Keeper problems to the Individual List Owners. Just tell them your boggle and they'll make an Official ruling. But keep in mind, when you do this the List Owners decision is like the word of God. It's final. If two people can't agree on something....someone else will decide for you. You've got to be willing to accept that. 5. Speed is of the Essence: Whatever your preferred method of claiming, do it fast. The Keeper List Owners get flooded with mail the second after an episode ends. Once again, don't waste time sending claiming messages onlist. While your doing that, someone else is claiming it directly. If you claim something right after a NEW episode you don't have to check the Keeper Pages to see if what you want is already taken....it's a NEW EP, of course it's not Kept yet. Send your message promptly, even time tag if you want for extra validity cuz' it's FIRST COME....FIRST SERVE. 6. Be Polite: Another obvious one. Being nice is always appreciated by everyone and no one likes a jerk. It's as simple as that.... 7. Make Requests at the Appropriate Time: DON'T EVEN TRY to claim items that haven't even appeared yet. Just because you see something on a preview or hear about something onlist does not make it legal to claim or keep until that given episode actually airs. Now, I know some of you are saying, "But ARCHANGEL....what about time zones? If I live in Cali. I'm gonna see the new ep hours after the Bostonians. What up?" Well, there's no real answer to this except....move to the East Coast for Buffy's sake. The different airing times of the episode is just a fact of life. Just get your requests in as soon as possible. 8. Be PATIENT: This comes after your request has been made. Don't expect to hear from the Site Owner an hour after you've made a claim. It doesn't work that way. In fact, don't expect to hear from them at all. Some will write you back, some won't. Your best bet is to check their respected sites at LEAST a week AFTER the request. I know that kind of seems like a long time but the Site Owners have to sift through a plethora of claims. Its a time consuming pain stakingly drudgerous deed. Give them a break. If you don't see your request posted, chances are you didn't get it. Don't fret....there's always next week. Now....I know how it goes. You see something really cool....you claim it....you follow all the tips....your positive you sent it in first....why didn't you get it? KEEPING is like "gunfighting"....there's always someone faster. If you've really got a bug to find out what happened, write the Site Owner after the "no-fly week" I mentioned before. The best is to do it on Monday, the day BEFORE the new ep. By this time most Site Owners have gone through all the previous weeks requests and are experiencing a brief moment of solace. They'll be better able to give you the skinny then. But no matter the response....whether your feeling elation or depression....just take several deep cleansing breathes....and be patient. Remember the old adage, "GOOD THINGS COME, TO THOSE WHO WAIT." 9. Imagination is a splendorous thing: This is a personal tip. It is by no means a requirement, just a suggestion. Be imaginative. Be creative. Be dirty. JUST BE!!! To often, as I scan the lists, I cringe at the lack of stimulating Keeperships. "Buffy's Red Shoe" "Xander's Brown Belt" "Gile's Pencil" Yawn.... Come on people. Tap into the recesses of your brain and get the hamsters running. KEEPING is for fun....SO HAVE FUN!!! "Buffy's Red Shoe of Vengeful Retribution" "Xander's *Whip 'em Like a Red Headed Step Child* Brown Belt" "Giles #2 Pencil of Love" O.K. Forget about that last one....but the point is....well....use your head. When you request an item, think about what it was used for? What was it's significance? Was there any quip attached to it? Use those to expand on the duldrum. I know the Site Owners get a kick out of clever claims. Oh, you don't have to turn every request into complex metaphor. Just do it once in awhile. It'll spice up your Keeperships and bring a smile to everyone else. Another quick note. KEEPERSHIP of any of the characters themselves, their body parts, their love, hearts, family members, etc.... is strictly forbidden. Also nothing "NASTY" or "PROFANE." Just items/situations that they've used on the show (Buffy's Dance, Angel's Ring). I know you'll see exceptions to this on the lists, so if you want to try your luck go ahead. I.E.: Some Site's also offer GUARDING. In Guarding you ARE allowed to request more intimate and emotional things (that's how it differs from KEEPING). You are NOT THE KEEPER but rather the, as the name implies, GUARDIAN of that specific thing. It is yours to protect and care for. Which ever realm you decide to explore, KEEPING or GUARDING, do it only on the OFFICIAL KEEPING PAGES. Accept no substitutes, mostly because if you do no one else is going to. How do you know if its OFFICIAL? Good question....here's the answer: If it's on Lisa Rose's Index Page OR listed below, it's OFFICIAL. Anything else....is not. This is just kind of General Disclaimer. O.K. There's the tips. Not that hard to understand and you'll find that Keeping becomes less of a chore if you know what to do. Below I've broken down all the Keeper Lists and List Owners. Use them. First is Lisa Rose's Index Page. This has links to *ALL THE CURRENT KEEPER PAGES.* Once again....If your gonna bookmark a page, THIS is the one. KEEPER INDEX PAGE: http://www.wco.com/~cybrpaws/keepindx.html Heres the Break Down of List Owners: Buffy Keeper's: Owner: Nic E-mail: SectionOne@msn.com Site: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Academy/6358 Willow Keeper's: Owner: Brenda E-Mail: creatv@concentric.net Site: http://www.concentric.net/~creatv/willow/index.html Note: Brenda has also compiled a list of unclaimed items. So if your looking to KEEP something check out the list. Xander Keeper's: Owner: Courtney E-Mail: thehalo@hotmail.com Site: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Hills/6383/xclub.html Giles Keeper's: Owner: Sonja Marie E-Mail: GASPers@eskimo.com (This is for all GASP & ASH stuff) Site: http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/7728/gaspers.html Angel Keeper's: Owner: Lori E-Mail: lady_rowan@hotmail.com Site: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Academy/4949/Angel-list.html Cordelia Keeper's: Owner: Mike E-Mail: PalOBuffys@aol.com Site: http://members.aol.com/PalOBuffys/Cordelia.html Ms. Calendars Keeper's (Techno-Pagans): Owner: Sabrina E-Mail: sabrinawww@hotmail.com Site: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Hills/9097/mctp.html Spike & Drusilla Keeper's/Guardian Page: Owner: Miriam and Livia E-Mail: Contact Miriam at Divine1798@aol.com for KEEPING. Contact Livia at audreyb@u.washington.edu for GUARDING. Site: http://www.angelfire.com/wa/SpikesPrincess/angels.com Ethan Keeper's: Owner: Livia E-Mail: audreyb@u.washington.edu Site: http://www.angelfire.com/wa/EthanKeepers/ Kendra Keeper's: Owner: Kimberly E-Mail: krbliss@mindspring.com Site: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/2659/Kendra.html Darla Keeper's: Owner: Lisa Rose E-Mail: cybrpaws@wco.com Site: http:///www.wco.com/~cybrpaws/darla.html Joyce Keeper's: Owner: Lisa Rose E-Mail: cybrpaws@wco.com Site: http://www.wco.com/~cybrpaws/joyce.html Oz Keeper's Owner: Zan E-Mail: sls229@is7.nyu.edu Site: http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/9102 The Bronze's Keeper's: Owner: Cedra E-Mail: Cedra@angelfire.com Site: http://www.angelfire.com/ca/Cedra/Bronze.html Quote Keeper's: Owner: Christine E-Mail: tsbear@aol.com Site: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Boulevard/9977/index.html All Other Keeper's: Note: Just go to Lisa's Index Page, choose "& More...." then pick "Other Folks" or "Places, etc..." Heroes & Innocents: Owner: Alexia Email: alliy@hotmail.com Site: http://www.internet2k.com/innocents/ Monsters and Villains: Owner: WillowSlay Email: WillowSlay@aol.com Site: http://members.aol.com/WillowSlay/keepers.html Places, Songs & Things: Owner: Alexia Email: alliy@hotmail.com Site: http://www.internet2k.com/everything/ Keep in mind that all these people put their time and effort into these pages. They work hard to make sure all us crazed Buffy fans have a place to exhibit our addiction. Treat them well and shower them with thanks. There it is kiddies. Learn it. Love it. Live it. Happy Keeping, THE ARCHANGEL GUARDIAN OF KEEPERSHIP