Message from GR : Let's discuss this together as a Group

[Benedicte, Bookmark First, Ask Later]

danielle wrote: "What about using google forms for those bigger team challenges and get an email address from them. That would allow you to have another way of reaching people?"

That is a great idea! Thank you 😊 We'll discuss it with the other mods

[. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁steph. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁]

Amanda wrote: "I just saw someone made a petition lol here's the link if you want to sign.

https://c.org/mk4HtTP75K"

omg i came here to promote this lol 😂 everyone please share this with your friends if you can!

people also made a couple groups for this exact thing lol, you can literally search in the groups bar and join

[Jessica]

After a rubbish response to my complaint, I sent GR the link to the petition and asked them to explain their reasoning.

The new response is

Hi Jessica,

Thank you for contacting us. We're looking into the issue, we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

🤞I'm not that hopeful but still it sounds like they are starting to take us seriously.

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

At least they see the petition. It may be making a difference. Not sure how much of one, but it is catching their attention. Keep it up, folks. Keep passing that petition around. Keep hounding them. We may be getting through in some small way.

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

That is something at least!

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

Does anyone know how many signatures we are up to?

Edit: 1090... we can do better than that. There are more of us than that.

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

Ashley... can you hop on the moderator group and talk the other moderators into broadcasting the link to their groups? We need that link circulating while we can circulate links.

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

I will start working on a broadcast for our group...

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Donna wrote: "Ashley... can you hop on the moderator group and talk the other moderators into broadcasting the link to their groups? We need that link circulating while we can circulate links."

Yes!

[Vicki]

Donna's message she sent out regarding the petition is spot on! It's very well-written and it speaks my exact sentiments. I am SO hoping and praying that "they" do the right thing and do not remove our ability to DM each other and make close connections. If I wanted just books and talking about books and nothing more, I would find a library and talk to the librarian or I would text somebody...it just is not the same. :(

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

We are sharing everything that we learn with all of you. So in that spirit... I have seen a post on the moderator support group. One of the mods there got a response back that is not good.

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

We do have a plan. I know how to break a link to post it. We add an asterisk (*) followed by a space. Then you (our faithful members) would just copy the link information into a browser and remove the asterisk. It would unbreak the link.

So for example. We would post something like
Link: h* ttps://docs.google* .com/spreadsheets/d/1gwXWtkpSEojP0gIDfAy1Q9Cs2i0dY2474DqkMmGhJ54/edit?gid=690067869#gid=690067869

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

Something else that I thought of... this will affect our collectors. Badges won't be able to be posted on our threads. I have thought about this a little. We could create them and put them in a document or in the SS for our challenges. However, that leaves the dilemma of where do you store your badges that you collect? You could start a Word document of your own to save your badges in. Again, the only way you can post any of this on GR is with a broken link, or you can just store it on your PC. Kind of defeats the idea of showing off your badges earned.

Any thoughts on this?

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

I still am not reading that as saying thread images are going away, but ones in the inbox as they stated. I will back up my badges somewhere just in case within next few weeks though.

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "I still am not reading that as saying thread images are going away, but ones in the inbox as they stated. I will back up my badges somewhere just in case within next few weeks though."

Look at the label on your post. It is called a message not a comment or post. Yours is message 64.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

They will really douse enthusiasm in groups without images, badges, challenge flair, Giphys, etc, if so. The news worsens.

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

I know that, but it doesn't change the fact that these are group messages. They are labeled as messages, and this is a group.

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

We have spent the entire day trying to come up with alternatives instead of denying the facts.

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

We have to be prepared for this. Sign the petition and hope they change their minds. In the meantime, come up with solutions that will work. We have workable solutions, not the best, but workable, for everything but the images. We need ideas.

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

I don't like the idea of scrapping badges; we have collectors here in HOB. I will do everything in my power to come up with a workable idea. I don't know what that idea is yet. I posted an idea in message 63, but it is flawed. I know it. I don't have a better idea.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Donna wrote: "We have spent the entire day trying to come up with alternatives instead of denying the facts."

No reason to fly off the handle there.

I don't see most interpreting it to mean thread messages, but as I stated above in another post, I agree it's a good idea to back up badges elsewhere in case for group members who have collected them.

I checked Help on Goodreads and see people bringing up the DM's there as well. So far it doesn't seem others have interpretation it will be group messages, but if they learn of that, there will be more outrage coming I'm sure.

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

It wasn't meant that way. I am just tired. Lots of people have interpreted both ways.

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

Their actions are indicative of a company looking to shut down a website. Did you ever ask yourself why they are allowing you to message authors, BUT the author can't respond to you because your DMs will be turned off? It is because they most likely plan to shut the website down in the near future. They just laid people off in June.

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

I am hoping I am wrong, BUT it adds up. The bot responses from tech support. The layoffs in June. The fact that they take away feature after feature and don't give us any new ones.

My husband works in web administration (IT), and he says this is typically how they slow down traffic before shutting things down.

[Vicki]

I sincerely hope and pray that is not the case, Donna!

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

Oh, Vicki. I am hoping I am wrong, but think about it.

Amazon laid off 27000 people since 2022. That is their money maker. That is where they make their money.

GR is the red line in their books. We aren't paying for services here. They are losing money here. Eventually, they had to see that.

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

I put a lot of thought into why they would do this. This is the only thing that makes sense. I am not happy about it. Not even a little.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

I knew of the staff layoff and think that may be a reason they are shutting this down, less work to moderate DM's.

This change has been brought up in Goodreads Reddit and there are a lot of people happy about this change because apparently a lot of people get inappropriate DM's from men on here, as well as other spam. That's not an issue I've had but it seems like they report a lot of DM's. While I don't think this is a reason to take away DM"s for all, it could be more due to that and them not having the staff to keep reviewing and figured to just shut this down. Hopefully not because of them wanting to shut down Goodreads completely.

Here is the thread in case anyone is curious - https://www.reddit.com/r/goodreads/co...

It seems there are a lot of people there happy on the removal, or never even knew we had DM's and don't care --- from us here, we obviously use groups and challenges, so we're a different audience with this.

I have no clue how much is reported to mods on Goodreads now and know there's not many of them anymore.

I don't anticipate Amazon wanting to delete Goodreads in near future. I hope not at any rate. They have already spent the money on it years ago, it does bring in some "advertising", and they still use it in their E-ink line integrated into the software. They care more about their E-Ink Reader and Fire tablet line than they do Goodreads, and to remove Goodreads from the software there would cost money and upset users with their tech market, so I don't see them doing that as there's little reason. Let's hope so anyway.

[Kelly (Maybedog)]

It would make sense. They don't need to waste resources because they have reviews on their own sites. They can do those reviews with AI now so they can steer traffic. Here they are faced with negative reviews. They have their own way of recommending books.

I think we should come up with thorough ideas on how to migrate our games/challenges to some other solution before it's too late and we're left scrambling. We need solutions that don't require exposed email addresses.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

On the Reddit Goodreads group, another thread where most members commenting they are happy to see DM's gone- how bizarre. Apparently the sex DM's are a big deal for a lot of members.
https://www.reddit.com/r/goodreads/co...

It really could be because it's become too much of a moderating headache for Goodreads.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

I have been DMing a buddy for two months where we are in a group challenge together. Not a solution for everyone, but she and I are moving our DM's off Goodreads to Discord for now just for the private DM part since we both use that also. This way I won't be cut off from private strategizing with her completely with our group challenge.

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

Kelly (Maybedog) wrote: "It would make sense. They don't need to waste resources because they have reviews on their own sites. They can do those reviews with AI now so they can steer traffic. Here they are faced with negat..."

Exactly what we are trying to do. Thank you, Kelly.

1. Someone suggested Google Forms for signups. We are implementing that and requiring email addresses.
2. We are going to do broken links with asterisks (*) followed by a space. You will have to copy the link, paste it in a browser and remove those to unbreak the link. You will have the Google Form (or Spreadsheet)
3. We are still working on a solution for the badges.

[Amanda]

Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "I knew of the staff layoff and think that may be a reason they are shutting this down, less work to moderate DM's.

This change has been brought up in Goodreads Reddit and there are a lot of peopl..."

Sadly, this is the case on every single social media platform (men sending unwanted messages). There are so many things they could do, such as making the default so that you can only send messages to friends, and if people want to change it to public, they can—that way, staff wouldn't really be needed to monitor anything.

I haven't received any spam messages on here either though.
I've only ever gotten one annoying "hi beautiful how are you?" message (🙄) but that's it. I get more spam messages on LinkedIn than on here lol

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

Yes, there are some other issues we will have to work out. Maybe for certain challenges, we will have private GR groups created, but the mod will have to be invited. This will allow private strategizing for those challenges.

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

Erin, you can create a private group here on GR. Anyone can. I think it was Sammy who did just to track her challenges and badges.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Donna wrote: "Erin, you can create a private group here on GR. Anyone can. I think it was Sammy who did just to track her challenges and badges."

I actually have one with another friend who I have challenged with for years and we have backup badges there. This second friend though we just do quick Dm's to each other so I don't think we'd want a full private group. Since we had Discord, it's working well as a solution just for the DM part right now fortunately. But thanks for the idea!

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

Hey, a few of us hijacked an old private team thread after everyone else exited, and we use it as a private chat space. So it is always an idea.

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

So we have

1. Someone suggested Google Forms for signups. We are implementing that and requiring email addresses.
2. We are going to do broken links with asterisks (*) followed by a space. You will have to copy the link, paste it in a browser and remove those to unbreak the link. You will then have the unbroken Google Form (or Spreadsheet)
3. We are still working on a solution for the badges.
4. Private groups for strategizing on team challenges with mod invite / personal private spaces for member use

[Kelly (Maybedog)]

Thank you for doing this Donna.

I don't get the bad messages. You can set it up to only get messages from friends or not at all.

[Kelly (Maybedog)]

We also have a problem creating private groups. You can only invite someone to a private group who is a friend or you need to DM them.

But those will probably go away soon, too.

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

Do we have any collectors in this thread? I don't collect badges. I would like some input from someone who actually collects badges. It would be helpful to hear from their perspective. What do you do with your badges? I know that we have several who post theirs in the Collector's Corner. I mean, obviously, it is a collection of all the badges you have earned from the challenges you have completed. The purpose is to show them to your friends? Share them with other members, right? You have bragging rights. You defeated the challenge masters. Yes, I totally made that up. It sounded good. LOL!

So how do we accomplish that without being able to actually post the images themselves?

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

Kelly (Maybedog) wrote: "We also have a problem creating private groups. You can only invite someone to a private group who is a friend or you need to DM them.

But those will probably go away soon, too."

So, that is an issue. They will have broken a major feature of the private groups. I know when we invite new mods... we send an invite link, but DMs won't be working.

[Kelly (Maybedog)]

If anyone has someone they DM on Goodreads regularly, or if there is someone you want to be able to privately talk to in the future, exchange email addresses ASAP.

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

Actually, Kelly... Ashley has a message from the help desk that says this:

While sending direct messages between individual members are no longer available, you can still access your past messages from your inbox, Group moderators can still send broadcast messages to their group members, and you can still send group invitations to your Goodreads friends.

So we may be okay with the private groups.

[Kelly (Maybedog)]

I was just starting to collect badges so it's no big deal if I can't have them anymore. But they haven't yet said you can't have images in threads right?

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

That is the million-dollar question. The debate is whether these are "Group Messages" or not. Look at the labels. Your post is message 95, NOT comment 95 or post 95. If they are considered group messages, they could be subjected to that new rule.

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

Your private messages are not "group messages" and they didn't say "broadcast message" which is what they are labeled when we send a message to the group. This area here is actually in the group itself and it is labeled messages. Notice in Ashley's response above, they actually mentioned broadcast messages.

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

They are breaking my brain. Either way, we either have to come up with a solution for the badges or be prepared to do away with them.

[Donna, Curator of Challenge Terrors]

I am tired of refreshing every time I post. I am done for the night. Maybe I will dream up a solution...

[Kelly (Maybedog)]

The Reddit people are idiots. If you don't like the messages you're receiving and don't know the tools to limit them, don't read them. They're happy it's being controlled for everyone.

But we know that's not the reason. It's money.