2015 Reading Challenge [Closed] discussion
2016 Challenge Suggestions
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Same group or not for 2016
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Brittany (tinsel hoarding bookdragon)
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Jun 08, 2015 04:25AM
Hello everyone! I was just curious if we are keeping this same group for the reading challenge next year and just changing the name and grouping all current folders into like a 2015 thread, or if we are going to start a completely different group!!
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Mod
Agreed - I think it would be a lot easier to update the group name rather than have all the members join a whole new group. That and the fact that the basic infrastructure of the group in terms of the folders is already set up - it would be fairly easy for the moderators to clear out all the old posts/topics, but leave the bones of the folders in place and fill them in with next year's topics rather than starting from scratch.
I'd prefer a new group, only because I get a bit prickly about opt-out situations rather than opt-in, if that makes any sense.
I don't understand what you mean about opt-out/opt-in. How is this an opt-out/opt-in situation? You're already a part of the group. There is no plan for any changes to the structure or purpose of the group, the only difference will be new topics, voted and decided on by this group. It doesn't make sense to make a new group because the people here are making the list. It isn't a new group choosing a list from an outside party like this one. It is entirely an internal decision making process and making a new group would end up creating a separation between the community this group has turned into and the choices we make for topics next year. I get that the option for leaving the group would technically be "opting out", but it's not like there is an ongoing membership fee you have to worry about increasing or changing. You're a part of the decisions the group has made so far just as much as anyone else here, so don't you want the input and time you've put in here to stay a part of this community rather than start from scratch?I also don't see the point in creating all the extra work for the mods/creators just to format and set up all the folders again. The basic infrastructure of the group already exists and it would be a lot of work to redo it all for exactly the same thing.
This is a 2015 group, and people may not want to continue the challenge next year, or they may not like the suggestions the group decides on. Everyone joined this group because they wanted to. I feel that the onus should be on the people who want to continue with the new challenge to opt in, rather than those who don't to opt out of the group. Surely there would be just as much work clearing out all of the existing topics, as creating new folders, given that new weekly topics would have to be created anyway.
In any case, I'm allowed to have a preference, regardless of whether it goes along with the majority.
I think it's totally up to the group creator to make that decision, but maybe a poll could be set up to see how the majority feels about this?
To clarify, I wasn't saying you're not allowed to have a preference.I just don't really understand or see how this is an opt-in/opt-out situation. I totally agree with you when it comes to opting in or out of things like information being shared, ongoing membership fees or changes in level of service provided. Changes to things like that bother me when they are included as opt out options because they are often done without any input from the people the changes affect, and often not noticeable when they come into effect.
Just because there will be some different topics doesn't make it something new in my eyes, especially when the new topics and changes are being decided upon by the people in this group. To me, creating a new group essentially invalidates all the work people are putting into this group and means any discussion on what we want to do as a community in the future would be pointless because any decisions and work done here would end up in a new group completely separate from where the work and decisions were made.
I don't think it is fair to the people willing to put the time and effort into discussing, designing, and planning the new topics to have to create and join a new group to save a few people from leaving the group if they don't want to be a part of it anymore.
I think there are pros and cons no matter what you decide. Zaz and Camilla both mention asking the group creators. I don't mean to offend them (I think they have done an excellent job creating the group), but since they haven't really been visible the last couple of months, maybe they aren't interested in keeping this group going and therefore it would be a good idea to start a new group and let somebody else take over, if anybody is willing of course?
We will have to agree to disagree. It doesn't really matter if you can understand the reasons behind my preference - it's mine, not yours. :) As Marina says (and as I said, with regards to the work involved) there are pros & cons both ways, and there is work involved both ways. I don't agree that the work done here is pointless if a new group is started. The work will still be done, and the end result will be the same. It doesn't matter where it happened.
I would prefer a fresh start for the new year - and as Marina mentioned, the group creator/s haven't actually participated in the group for quite some time. I feel that if the group decides to stay 'here', that they should be asked if they are ok with that, but I also believe that the decision should be left up to the members - a majority decision. I know that I'm in the minority, but I don't particularly care about that. I'll go along with whatever the group decision is - assuming I like the new challenges & want to participate again, that is!
I personaly don't care if we use this group or create another for next year, it changes nothing for me, I'll just have to change my browser favorites. For me the most important thing to consider is how much work both solutions give to the mods, because they freely give up time for us, so we shouldn't choose the solution that takes them more time.
I agree, Sophie - but the thing is, everyone has a different idea of what takes more time. For me, I find it quicker & easier to start something like this from scratch, rather than trying to edit & amend existing content. As an example, I'm in the process of redoing my business website, and for me it's much easier to start new, rather than try to change what's already there. But others find it the other way around.
Mod
There's a policy on Goodreads for the fact of removing a mod or a creator when he's not interested in a group anymore, if someone is ready to take the place. So except if the creators are not ok to let the group opened, I think it won't be difficult to stay here :)
A poll could be a nice idea, if there is a real participation (for the moment, we have less than 100 votes per poll).
wow, I didn't mean to start a war with this question lol. I was just trying to figure out if I will need to actively seek out the new group for 2016 or if I can be lazy and just stay seated here! but it seems like a poll may be the best idea if we can get enough people to participate.
Creating a new group could maybe help to have more involved people in the group. It is sad to have less than 100 answers to polls when the group has more than 2500 members...
that's true Sophie, but there is no guaranteeing that when we open the new group the same thing wont happen.
Sophie wrote: "Creating a new group could maybe help to have more involved people in the group. It is sad to have less than 100 answers to polls when the group has more than 2500 members..."Out of the 2500 members less than 750 has actually participated in the group.
I think the poll is the best idea. It is sad that there is such a small amount of participation (considering the large amount of group members) but if those people aren't participating at all then the decision probably doesn't completely affect them. If people feel really adamant about the group continuing one way or the other than they should make the effort to vote in the poll. I know that probably sounds a bit harsh but I just think that if they were that fussed about the group then they would participate in some way.
Creating a new group would also help to "clear out" those who aren't interested in the challenge. I guess some people joined the group and then forgot about it/lost interest or maybe they've given up on GR completely. I like the idea of a new group for a fresh start and if we stay here I agree that the old topics should not be removed.Kicking out the mods and stay here sounds a bit rude (unless they agree!) since they were the ones who started all this.
As Zaz said, the amount of work would be the same. The best option is to talk to the mods (to know if they're ok with us staying) and then create a poll. I guess that everyone who wants to continue will vote (even if that number is away below the number of members).
Adriana wrote: "Creating a new group would also help to "clear out" those who aren't interested in the challenge. I guess some people joined the group and then forgot about it/lost interest or maybe they've given ..."I agree with all of this. We should wait to hear from the mods first and see what they think and then do the poll. I think that's the best way forward.
Mod
(if they keep the group to do a 2016 Popsug, I hope they'll find another person with motivation/time to run it all the year, because it won't be me :p)
I sent a MP some days ago to the creator to see if she'll be ok with the fact we'll eventually keep and change the group in 2016. I'll tell you if I receive an answer.
I agree with the "clear out the ghost members" but with a new group, there will also be plenty of ghost members, so I'm not sure it's really a point that matters.
Zaz, is there any way to actually make it a "closed group" on here so you have to request permission to join? or is everything classified the same way?
Mod
For members, they have to log in with their Goodreads password before posting in the group, so it can be pretty annoying if you're often active.
Ahh, that would be annoying! but it might also deter people from just aimlessly joining our group and becoming "ghost members"...just a thought, but if it is way too much work then it wouldn't be worth it.
Who really cares about ghost members? Like it was said above, you'll get ghost members in any group, open or closed. Creating a closed group doesn't seem very inclusive to me, and I feel like this is a pretty friendly community - a lot of posts are to complete strangers about how much someone enjoyed reading a book another member is just starting, or recommendations for other good books. I really like that. As I've stated above, I'd prefer to stay with this group, but if it's decided a new group is the best option, I think it should be open for anyone who wants to try it out. If they choose not to continue with the challenge, it doesn't really affect anyone other than themselves.
You have to also assume that a portion of those ghost members are lurking participators, as well.
Mod
110 out of the 2500 odd members we have is really not that many and is more indicative of a lot of ghost members. All I meant was that the non participation of members doesn't alter anything for the participating ones. The only effect ghost members have on the group, whether they are lurkers following along on their own or not, is the number of people associated to the group. But other than that, there is no effect on the group itself, so I see no need to take measures (like creating a closed group) to try and eliminate ghost members - it just seems like wasted effort that won't actually change anything.That said, I'm glad there are people taking part in the survey! It's good to know there are more than just a handful of people interested in keeping it going!
Mod
I added a poll to see what everyone prefers for the 2016 reading challenge, so we'll have a better idea if we stay here or move to a new group!
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...
Mod
I hope it will be ok for those who preferred to stay here (it's a little complicated for us to organize when the creator is not there and as the new group is created by a team, it will be easier to make changes and take decisions).
