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Plastic.com
Plastic or plastic.com is a popular community-driven message board, very similar to a weblog, whose website title bills itself as a discussion site for Politics, Culture, Points of View.
The site
 was launched in January 2001 under Automatic Media, the web-culture conglomerate that included snarky editorial darling suck.com. In following with Automatic's model of small, low-cost boutique websites, there were only 4 members of Plastic's initial staff. Plastic won a Webby award in its first six months. When Automatic Media folded in June of that year, several of the editors remained on, working pro bono. Despite heavy server problems and downtime in the months following Automatic's collapse, Carl Steadman, one of Suck's original founders, announced his intentions to buy Plastic, and moved the entire board onto new servers. Since then, Carl has served as the primary operator of Plastic, with the aid of a group of moderators, who help choose the stories.
It does not feature any banner or pop-up ads of any kind, and is run entirely on user donations through Paypal. As it licenses the SlashCode engine, it is almost entirely member-driven. As of June 1, 2004, there are 41,710 accounts, with several thousand being active members.
Content
Although the site's topics include "etcetera", "media", "filmtv", "scitech" and "work", the topics covered on the board are primarily related to current events and politics. Plastic's content is entirely driven by user-submitted stories. A typical Plastic story selects a topic based around a story found on an external link, with the Plastic user providing a larger context for that article with supporting links and some editorial comment. The stories are often written in a way that frames a discussion for the other readers to post comments within. Readers are invited to post their comments in the stories, which can be moderated by other users. New submissions will appear in the Sumissions Queue (subQ), which is visible to all users, and can be voted on by users with 50 "karma" or higher. Each voter can give the sub 0, .5, or 1 points, and high-ranking subs will eventually become full-fledged stories that can be commented upon. In addition to voting on the submissions, users are given a 255 character text field to suggest changes to the story, post helpful links to exterior sites or previous Plastic stories, or suggest alternate headlines for the story itself. One of Plastic's editors will then properly format the story for running on "the front page". Some complain that as Plastic.com was intentionally targeted at Generation X, the moderators in the queue have a liberal bias.
Karma and moderation
Plastic's moderation system is very similar to the one seen on Slashdot. Plastic members are randomly awarded moderation points which can be given out as they see fit. In any discussion thread, a person with moderation points can mod a post up or down, based upon the content, with a descriptive tag, such as 'compelling', 'scholarly', 'astute', 'disingenuous', 'obnoxious', etc. It costs one point to mod a post up, and two to mod a post down. A given comment can have any integer score between -1 and 5 inclusive, and Plastic users can set a personal threshold where no comments with a lesser score are displayed. (For example, a person with a score threshold of 1 will not see comments with a score of -1 or 0 but will see all others.)
- 0 karma or higher is required to post comments in stories and submit stories to the subQ
- 5 karma or higher is required to post QuickLinks
- 50 karma or higher is required to vote in the subQ
If a user wants to be able to post obnoxious or controversial messages without fear of losing karma, they can post their messages as "AnonymousIdiot", though they will not gain any karma if the message is up-modded. Also, these posts automatically start at 0 karma, which is below the mod filter for most readers.
QuickLinks
A member can also post QuickLinks, which appear on the sidebar. Users cannot comment on these links, but they can mod the link up or down. If a link is popular, the submitter can receive up to 1.5 karma. QuickLinks are appropriate for follow-ups or humorous stories with little discussion potential.
External links
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Discuss Listings
Taipei Duct Industries Corp.
Manufacturer of packaging, building, construction and industrial materials.
http://www.shantsen.com/
FP International Packaging Products
Manufacturers of protective packaging products and materials. Air cushions, loosefill, polyethylene foam, polystyrene packaging, packing peanuts, and material handling equipment.
http://www.fpintl.com/
Atlantic Poly
Polyethylene products including poly bags, shrink wrap, bubble wrap and shrink film.
http://www.atlanticpoly.com
Danco Industries, Inc.
Manufacturers and distributors of poly bags, zip locks, shipping and packing materials, tubing, tape, and related products.
http://www.dancoindustries.com/
Conductive Containers, Inc.
Designs and manufactures static protective packaging for a wide range of the electronics market including the automotive, medical, commercial and defense industries.
http://www.corstat.com/
Unipac.
Manufactures seals for the bottling industry for liquids, dry goods and pharmaceuticals.
http://www.unipac.ca
Storopack
Manufacturer, converter and recycler of EPS (expanded polystyrene) with primary activities that include the conversion of EPS, natural starch, and paper cushioning materials.
http://www.storopackinc.com/
Shrink Labels pvt.
Manufacturing unit of eco-friendly PVC Shrink labels, films and bus-bar sleeves, from Haryana, India.
http://www.shrink-labels.com
Napco Manufacturing
Manufactures and distributes display hangers, hang tabs, reinforcers, J-hooks, saddle hangers, Perfoswift hangers and semi-automatic packaging machinery.
http://www.napcomfg.com/
Reliable Cap and Closure, Inc.
Manufacturer of plastic caps and closures.
http://www.reliablecap.com
Carton Edge Ltd
Manufacturers of cutting edges for cartons and packaging. UK.
http://www.cartonedge.com
Safepack
Packaging solutions and supplies.
http://www.safepack.com/
Lamerholm Fleming
Active indicator labels for shock, impact and tilt form
http://www.lamerholm.com
Fabrifoil, Inc.
Manufactures brand identification products such as printing foil, coated label tapes, printed labels, and woven labels.
http://www.fabrifoil.com/
Packaging Unlimited of NC, Inc
Stretch wrap, bubble wrap, boxes, and peanuts.
http://www.netpackaging.com
Paper Thermometer Company
Developed and manufactures stick-on temperature indicators. Manufactures and markets direct to all industries a variety of adhesive temperature labels.
http://www.paperthermometer.com/
Easypack
Paper based cushion packaging and air pillow packing systems for protection of goods in transit.
http://www.easypack-ltd.co.uk/
ABC Plastic Manufacturing
Custom order for various plastic products (polybag, PVC shrink, HDPE, LDPE, bottles.)
http://www.eastjava.com/manufacturing/abcplastic
Celwa
Manufacturer of custom protective package systems and customized components.
http://www.celwa.com
Kuwer Industries Ltd.
Manufacturing holographic films, metallised plastic films, and embossing plastic.
http://www.kuwer.com/
Penn-Wheeling Closures
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http://www.penn-wheeling.com/
Knox Pak, Inc
Bags, corrosion inhibitors, corrugated boxes, janatorial supplies, labels, polyethylene sheeting and tubing, ribbon, shrink and stretch film, tape and tape dispensers.
http://www.knoxpak.com/
Closures Bouchons MAC
Closures manufacturer. Develops, manufactures, design, and supplies plastic closures.
http://www.mac.qc.ca/
SurePak Container & Display
Offers corrugated boxes, flexographic printing, cushioning materials, and packaging related products.
http://www.surepakcontainers.com/
Reddipak Ltd.
Plastic bags and packaging supplies are made to order.
http://www.reddipak.com/
Imperial Bag and Paper, Inc.
Supplying paper and plastic packaging supplies and products, janitorial supplies, and shipping room supplies.
http://www.imperialbag.com
Yazoo Mills Inc.
Manufacturer of custom made spirally wound paper tubes and cores, blade-cut label cores, converting cores and mailing tubes.
http://www.yazoomills.com
3M Canada
Manufactures products for a wide variety of industrial packaging applications.
http://international.3m.com/intl/CA/english/market/general/psd/index.html
FlexFilm, Ltd
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http://www.flexfilm.co.uk/
Badger Plug
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http://www.badgerplug.net/
Anders Bendt A/S
Manufactures dry bag desiccant for cargo shipping. Includes products for shippers and consumers, technical information, and profile.
http://www.desiccant.com/
Northern Technologies International Corporation
Develops, manufactures, and markets proprietary corrosion-inhibiting products under the brand name Zerust for the packaging and metal processing industries.
http://www.ntic.com/
Canada Mayer Sealing Devices
Manufacturer of security seals. Seals used by airlines, banks, armored car companies, utilities, railroads, road haul transports. Worldwide distribution.
http://www.canadamayer.com/
New Tree Group
Makes metal packaging: canisters, drums, metal boxes. A variety of metals can be slit, sheared, coated, or printed to customer specifications. Products, capabilities, contacts in mainland China and on Taiwan. Site in English and Chinese.
http://www.newtreegroup.com/
Bedford Products
Manufacture and distribute vinyl plastic envelopes with brass grommets.
http://www.bedfordproducts.com
I.C.S. Dry-Ice Express B.V.
Offers dry-ice shipments worldwide. Company profile, service details, and contact details.
http://www.ics-droogijsexpress.nl
Johnston Tapes and Packaging
Tapes, bags, dispensers, twines, and other supplies offered.
http://www.johnston-tapesandpackaging.co.uk
ECO AIR Packaging
Environmentally safe protective, inexpensive flotation suspension, patented air packaging system. ECO AIR Packaging is ecological, economical, folding corrugated suspension packaging, without foam or dunnage. 100% recyclable.
http://www.ecoairpack.com/
VIV Kwaliteit Verpakkingen
Dutch producer and supplier of packaging.
http://www.viv.nl/verpakkingen.html
Sierra Self Storage
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http://www.sierrastorage.com/
Superior Packaging Company
Dunnage materials and void fillers for the transportation industry.
http://www.voidfillers.com/
Allied Packaging
Packaging equipment, systems, and supplies.
http://www.alliedpackaging.com/
Trinity Packaging, Inc.
Packaging materials and equipment used in plants and warehouses everyday.
http://www.tripack.com/
TruSnap Reels, Inc.
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http://www.trusnap.com/
Storopack Hans Reichenecker
Manufacturers of packaging materials and technical molded components.
http://www.storopack.com
Spirolfil
Flowable paper packaging peanut produced on-demand, for all void fill applications. Manufactured in Cuyahoga falls, Ohio
http://www.spirofil.com/
Sheboygan Paper Box Company
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http://www.spbox.com/
Packco, Inc.
Poly bag sealers and packaging products including heat, bag, and impulse sealers. Also shrink film and sealers, PVC shrink bands, and tamper evident seals.
http://www.packcoinc.com/
Universal Plastic Bags Manufacturing
Manufacturer of plastic bags, poly bags, merchandise bags, tubing, food and medical industry bags.
http://www.universalplastic.com/
Wholesale Packaging
Distributor and manufacturer of industrial packing and shipping materials.
http://www.wholesalepackaging.com
Geami Protective Packaging Systems
Provides automated, online production of packaging materials for parcel shipping. Cushioning, wrapping, block and brace, voidfill. Recyclable materials.
http://www.geami.com/
Coda Plastics Limited
Manufacturers of injection and blow moulding of plastic packaging components.
http://www.coda-plastics.co.uk/
Jinggong Packing Co., Ltd.
Packaging for light industrial products; garments, food, chemical products, handicrafts, leather products, and medicines.
http://www.jinggongplastic.com/
Proxy Packaging
Product manufactured to replace wet ice and dry ice for shipping perishable products.
http://proxypackaging.com
King Label, Ltd
China. Paper and film based, adhesive labeling materials and tapes. Also, advertisement and decoration materials. English and Chinese.
http://www.kinglabel.com.cn/
MES Co.
Manufactures and distributes of standard and custom bubble wrap, foam packaging materials and the new bubble corner protector.
http://www.mes-co.com/
More Tech Corp.
Anti slip products for pallet load unitizing and tile.
http://www.slip-stop.co.kr/
Shree RubberPlast Co.
Manufacturers and exporters of plastic packing material for the chemical, oil, pharmaceutical, pesticides, cosmetic, and diagnostic industries.
http://www.shreerubberplast.com
Ambassador Packaging
Online distributor and converter of protective packaging products. UK.
http://www.ambassador-packaging.co.uk
Spektar
Manufacturer of poliamide barrier casings for meat converting industry.
http://www.spektar.com
Incom Manufacturing Group
Commercial printing of labels, tapes and decals. Includes anti slip, no slip grit tape products and commercial metal stamping and fabrication.
http://www.incom-group.com
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