Your settings for private messages

[Sandy, Moderator Emeritus]

GR has changed private message settings to only allow PMs from friends. When I heard about this, I checked my own settings and sure enough, it was set to only accept PMs from friends. I changed it back to "anyone."

If you ever want to have a task or nominate group reads books, you are going to have to either change your setting or friend all of the mods.
That is how we reach you for these things.

[Marie (UK)]

Thanks Sandy mine had been changed to Friends only too - have just changed it back

[Sandy, Moderator Emeritus]

I think it's pretty annoying that they didn't even make an announcement about this to let people know - just changed everyone's settings.

[Rebecca NJ]

Thanks Sandy for the heads up.

[Cat]

Sandy wrote: "I think it's pretty annoying that they didn't even make an announcement about this to let people know - just changed everyone's settings."

GRs, demonstrating effective user-driven communication?! I think I'd fall over in shock if that ever happened ;-P

[Sandy, Moderator Emeritus]

Unfortunately, it appears that they're doing their best to kill off groups. This latest business, the way they've disallowed links to outside sources, the prohibition on setting up more than 3 threads in an hour - all of these things require us to spend a ridiculous amount of time trying to devise workarounds. We can't even edit any threads that include links, unless we want to eliminate those links.

Right now, the links that are already there are usable - but I don't know if the next step will be to eliminate those as well. This includes links to things like google docs - so if those are eliminated, the various approval threads are going to be.......um.........complicated!

[Cat]

agree - and I feel your pain! I get the theory behind trying to reduce spam, but there are better ways of implementing than this - have a verification for mods who are then allowed to set up as many threads as they like within their own group for a start!
and it's not like their "no tidy weblinks" stops the use of "ugly" links as I have termed them. Ugly links being as likely to lead to spam/phishing sites as the href ones. especially as you can use a link shortener to hide the end destination.

Really, better prevent of the creation of spam accounts would be the best step! (and has the benefit of not p*ssing off current users!)

[Book Concierge]

Cat wrote: "agree - ... and it's not like their "no tidy weblinks" stops the use of "ugly" links as I have termed them. Ugly links being as likely to lead .."

Actually, Cat, Goodreads has disabled ALL external links. So I can't send a "ugly" link to the amazon or worldcat page to ask a librarian to correct a Goodread's book page for page number, for example. Or to ask a librarian to include the print copy that is available, although GR shows only an e-book or audiobook edition.

And a task creator won't be able to include a link to a Wikipedia page to show - for example - the accepted list of characters in a particular TV show when the challenge task calls for matching an author name with a character name.

[Book Concierge]

I strongly suggest that everyone who is impacted by the decision to eliminate external links entirely contact the Goodreads support team via the "contact us" form:
https://www.goodreads.com/about/conta...

Let them know how badly these changes adversely impact us.

[Robin P]

Here are the steps if anyone needs these

September 21: Goodreads Changes!

Goodreads made a default change to every person's account, and if you would like to continue receiving messages from groups (such as a monthly newsletter), as well as notifications from the mods, you must go change your setting.

On the desktop:
Click your picture on the top right of the toolbar, then go to Account Settings. From there, click the Settings tab.

Scroll a bit down, and you will see this setting:

Who Can Send Me Private Messages:
anyone just my friends

Change it to "anyone".

[TraceyL]

Sandy wrote: "Unfortunately, it appears that they're doing their best to kill off groups. This latest business, the way they've disallowed links to outside sources, the prohibition on setting up more than 3 thre..."

I hate that they are making it harder for groups. The only reason why I haven't changed from GR to another platform is because I don't want to have to keep up with two different websites, and I need GR to participate in this group.

[TraceyL]

Book Concierge wrote: "I strongly suggest that everyone who is impacted by the decision to eliminate external links entirely contact the Goodreads support team via the "contact us" form:
https://www.goodreads.com/about/c..."

I used the form to submit a complaint about the links. I don't know if the moderators are already working on a backup plan, but the new updates plus the fact that at some point the new Beta version of the website will become the only version, maybe we need to brainstorm other options for the group or how we operate?

[Fly]

If they are killing off groups intentionally, rather than as a byproduct of misguided spam prevention efforts, we might wake up to find the whole group thing gone *poof* in the night. Group owners might want to start transferring stuff to an offsite message board.

[Sandy, Moderator Emeritus]

Book Concierge wrote: "Cat wrote: "agree - ... and it's not like their "no tidy weblinks" stops the use of "ugly" links as I have termed them. Ugly links being as likely to lead .."

Actually, Cat, Goodreads has disabled..."

well, I can still post an "ugly" link - I just tried in my private group. The same link was disallowed when I tried to make it "pretty," but I could post it bare.

[Aprilleigh]

Thanks for the heads-up - I fixed my email settings so all the mods should be able to contact me again.

[Robin P]

The link to outside websites issue appears to be fixed, at least for now.

[Marie (UK)]

Robin P wrote: "The link to outside websites issue appears to be fixed, at least for now."

i emailed them a couple of days ago about it said they were unfairly damaging groups

[Sue]

Thanks for the heads up.

[Dee]

apparently this got tweaked and now moderators can send messages to groups even if not friends - per Rivka in the moderator support group

[Sandy, Moderator Emeritus]

Dee wrote: "apparently this got tweaked and now moderators can send messages to groups even if not friends - per Rivka in the moderator support group"

yep, I saw that. Don't know how much help that will be for us, since we don't send out newsletters and such.

[Book Concierge]

Sandy wrote: "Dee wrote: "apparently this got tweaked and now moderators can send messages to groups even if not friends - per Rivka in the moderator support group"

yep, I saw that. Don't know how much help tha..."

But you could send out a blast message to all SRC members alerting them to the issue and letting them know how to change their settings back to "anyone" ....