& we do have a new Moderator!

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Thank you Jenny for stepping up! :)

[Abigail]

Yay!

[Barb in Maryland]

Thank you, Jenny!

[sabagrey]

Abigail wrote: "Yay!"

and one more: "Yay!"

[QNPoohBear]

Hooray! Thank you Jenny!

[Lesley]

And I'll say "Yay!" too!
Thank you, Jenny.:)

[Susan in NC]

Thank you, Jenny!

[Jenny]

I shall need a lot of instruction in how to do things, and have no idea of what I'm letting myself in for, but I would hate to see the group fizzle out and I shall do my best :-)

[Susan in NC]

Seems to me you’re there on your knowledge of the books and plots, your comments and insights leave me in the dust! My memory is a sieve, but still - you know your Heyer stuff! ;)

[sabagrey]

Jenny wrote: "I shall need a lot of instruction in how to do things, and have no idea of what I'm letting myself in for, but I would hate to see the group fizzle out and I shall do my best :-)"

No worries! We will all be VERY nice and patient - but I am sure you will do just fine! thank you!

[Nick]

Thank you Jenny!

[Susan in Perthshire]

Well done Jenny - I'm sure we'll all do our best to ensure that it's not too onerous. Congratulations and thanks for stepping up. and thanks to Critterbee and Carol for all their fabulous work over the years. You've made this group what it is today, a friendly, tolerant and polite group - even when we're vehemently opposed - such a great group and an enjoyable arena to discuss Heyer's books.

[Michaela]

Thank you Jenny! You´ll do well, I´m sure. :)

[Mary]

Agree ~ Many Thanks to Critterbee & Carol for ALL their work, and appreciation to Jenny for her willingness to fill the void.

[Teresa]

I'm only seeing these messages now! I too would like to thank Critterbee and Carol for all their work. I have always loved reading Heyer but have enjoyed it so much more since I joined this group. I too would hate to see it fizzle out. Best of luck Jenny.

[Crazy About Love 💕]

Thank you, Jenny! This is one of my favorite GR groups, so glad you’re able to help out keeping it going 👍

[Elizabeth]

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Thank you Jenny for stepping up! :)"

Thank you so much, Jenny!

[GreyGirl]

Thank you! Hope it goes well!

[Cynthia]

Thank you, Jenny! And thank you to both Carol and Critterbee for your work and guidance of this group. I am fairly new but have been consistently impressed whenever I pop in, although I must say I am still confused by the way Goodreads' threads work ;-).

[Jackie]

thank you so much, Jenny!!!!

[Barbara]

Jenny wrote: "I shall need a lot of instruction in how to do things, and have no idea of what I'm letting myself in for, but I would hate to see the group fizzle out and I shall do my best :-)"

Hi Jenny, well done you stepping up! Everyone at Fans of NL wishes you well (and hopes not to lose any of your input there of course)

[Abigail]

I sought to send a message to the moderator privately but find that her profile is set to not accept messages. So I’m writing here.

A conflict arose between me and another member during a recent discussion. I thought (and still think) the member was mischaracterizing the opinions of others in order to press her point, and I called her on that behavior, which I considered a violation of this group’s civility rules. She made no attempt at apology or conciliation, but merely pressed her point (again recharacterizing other people’s views in her own terms).

To my mind, this was a situation that required the moderator’s, well, moderation, but it was left unaddressed. As a result, this has come to be a group I don’t feel comfortable in, so after a decade of participation, I’m leaving.

I mention this as a caution about the duties of both moderator and participants, in the hope it will be taken to heart by all.

[Teresa]

Oh Abigail I for one will be sorry to see you go! You always have such great insight into Heyer's novels and I learn a lot from reading the comments. I see things I missed on first readings. I know the incident you're talking about. Please reconsider you're decision to leave. I too felt from time to time I was being put in my place when I made comments but I learned to just make my own comments and only reply to ones I felt happy about, if that makes any sense!

[Susan in Perthshire]

As I think I was the person who Abigail accused of ‘mischaracterising others comments’, (as she used those words in a response to me on the thread), I really feel the need to respond and to defend myself.

I am really hurt by her comments above. I wholeheartedly reject her accusations of ‘mischaracterising’.

I responded to her accusation on the thread, by quoting the posts which I had used after she said, she hadn’t seen anything in other comments to justify what I’d said.

I am at a loss as to know what it is that Abigail expected me to apologise for. I did not lie, I did not make things up and I don’t think I mischaracterised other people’s views.

I have been a member of this group for nearly a decade and have always, (or so I thought), got on with everyone here, even when we have disagreed on issues in the books.

I am horrified at the suggestion that I have ever tried to ‘put someone in their place’, or indeed that my behaviour is in any way unacceptable. I cannot express how deeply hurt I am at this public accusation of bad behaviour and a judgement which finds my behaviour wanting.

I felt Abigail’s response to me then was unkind and inaccurate but I did not comment publicly. I don’t feel I have any option now but to defend myself. I really am at a loss to understand her accusation.

[Jackie]

Abigail, it made me sad when you posted that you'd stopped hanging out in this group and recently remembered "this is why". I considered posting at the time and now regret I didn't: I always find your posts worth reading and you leaving is a huge loss to the group.

so I hope you don't.

ETA: not sure what Jenny can do as a mod, but maybe she would have to accept private messages at least from group members? not sure if that is possible.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Could I ask everyone not to comment in this thread until I get hold of Jenny? I am no longer a moderator so I can't close it.

[Jenny]

I'm sorry to be late to this conversation - I don't use a smart phone so don't see notifications until I open up my laptop and come here to look for them, and I haven't been online much today.

I have no idea why Abigail's message to me didn't get through - I get messages from other people all right and I certainly haven't done anything to stop them. I don't even know how to! I will try to find some Settings to check that this hasn't somehow happened automatically, though.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Jenny wrote: "I'm sorry to be late to this conversation - I don't use a smart phone so don't see notifications until I open up my laptop and come here to look for them, and I haven't been online much today.

I h..."

Sent you some instructions in the moderator group, Jenny.

[Jenny]

I refrained from action at the time because I thought to say anything would exacerbate the situation and that it was a case of 'least said, soonest mended'.
However, since that has obviously not been the case, and I am being called upon to take a side in this dispute, I think I had better contact both members personally, if possible, and temporarily close this thread until that's happened.

[Jenny]

Firstly, thanks to Carol for discussing this with me, since this isn't her job any more; but we are agreed that Susan has committed no breach of group rules and has nothing to apologise for.

*Susan in Perthshire originally said that she did not like Lady Denville, but agreed to differ with those who did.
*Abigail then asked whether anybody had said in the discussion that they liked Lady Denville, because she had not seen that they had.
*Susan in Perthshire answered that question by providing reference numbers to posts where members had said exactly that.

Both Carol and I are at a loss to understand why Abigail should take exception to this, or regard it as being 'put in her place'. It may have come across as a little abrupt, perhaps, but that is hardly a breach of group rules; and if it was, then to imply (as Abigail did) that another member has wilfully mischaracterised others' views to make a point would be a greater one.

I'm sorry that Abigail has felt obliged to leave over this, but Susan iP is in no way to blame for it.

I would just ask that we all (me included) remember that what comes across as offensive from somebody else may have been misunderstood, and it's better to seek clarification before responding in anger.

I don't think this thread now serves any useful purpose, so I'm closing it again. I have checked my settings and I should definitely be receiving messages.