Rethinking the Monthly Group Read Poll Concept

[Dan]

We have picked three Peter F. Hamilton books previously as BOTM reads. Here are the discussions those three Hamilton book picks generated:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Are you as unimpressed by the quantity of participants in these discussions as I was? If Hamilton is this unread by most of us, why is he now poised to win a fourth poll? Is there any real doubt the same non-interest in actually reading him will prevail as it has in the past? Must we waste a BOTM choice this way, gaining nothing from the experience?

I have a theory as to why unread Hamilton books keep being voted in. We're supposed to like him. His books are big. Bigger is better. People who have no intention of reading the book of the month frequently participate in the poll. It's the only participating the majority of members in this group do. So who do these lazy lurkers vote for? The one author they might have heard of! The dullness or unreadability of the book in question matters not. They have no intention of reading it anyway. They're just showing off their erudition to themselves by voting for the one name they might recognize, or the one name their smart friend mentioned once to them. What a great feeling it is to be participating in this book reading group while never actually cracking a book!

The democracy of every vote being the equal of every other vote is a really lousy system of deciding anything. One only need look at our last presidential election if proof is required. Equal vote democracy often results in undesirable outcomes for those to whom it matters most as well as to those who have sounder judgement.

What's the alternative you ask? I'm so glad you did. I propose weighted votes! Those who actually average 500 words or more per month in this group have a weighted vote of let's say 10. Silent lurkers who vote only in the polls but otherwise never participate get a weighted vote of one. You can do gradations between the two extremes to arrive at a complete weighted poll system.

Now you have my less than perfectly democratic proposal. I realize it has little chance of success. The masses will likely declare it unfair. We are firmly rooted in belief as a culture to subjecting ourselves to the tyranny of the majority.

Feel free to vote in and then not read the next Peter Hamilton book. I won't. Seeya in September!

[Lena]

Agreed.

[Rafael]

I do not participate in the group reads because my library have not the choosen books bu this group, but as a non-active member of the group I agree with the weights. I do not vote if I will not be able to participate, so it's not fair someone who do not participate to vote (the GR do not allow to block a specific member to vote so the only way to make things a bit fairer is to use weights).

[[deleted user]]

I don't participate in group reads either, because my reading is sporadic, crammed in between real life and writing my own stuff. When I do read, it's mostly the classics, or maybe a new author I've become interested in. Sorry to say, I'm rarely interested in the group reads.

On the other hand, I don't vote in these polls, either, so I'm okay with weighting votes, giving more priority to those who do participate. Seems fair.

[Teresa]

I only vote in the polls if there is a book that I would be willing to read or reread. If none of the choices appeal to me, then I don't vote, but I don't read or discuss the book either. I read a LOT of books but I'm picky.

[Dawn]

Thank you for sharing. It was interesting to read. Your stories always fascinate me. How do you manage to write all these stories? I have troubles with writing assignments and that's why I ask the educational resource https://www.the-essays.com/ for help occasionally.

[C. John]

Rafael wrote: "I do not participate in the group reads because my library have not the choosen books bu this group, but as a non-active member of the group I agree with the weights. I do not vote if I will not be..."

As far as not participating go a person can have very valid reasons for not participating
1. They not be interested in the book chosen. Most of us have so many books that reading a book you are not interested in is taking away from a book you are.
2. You may not have the book chosen and the library might not get it for you in time for the group read.
3. You may not be able to use the library for some reason.
If I thought longer about it I can probably come up with more reasons why someone might vote but not read the book chosen.

[C. John]

Just for the record I seldom vote for the reasons I elucidated above. As an example the only SF writer I know named Hamilton is Edmond, not Peter, and going by Dan's comment that is likely to remain the case. That should indicate where my tastes are, sort of the older the better.