Hooked on Books discussion
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Message from GR : Let's discuss this together as a Group
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However, it shouldn't affect spreadsheets or other external links too much. There just won't be links in the actual message, but a body of text that you'll have to manually copy and paste into your browser
Does that mean that you all can still post pictures, etc. in the threads? Just not in direct messages?
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They list three things together:
Private messages gone
Images not allowed in messages
Links not allowed in messages
So, I'm inclined to believe it's all related to direct messages (and in the case of images/links - for BROADCAST messages - what mod/group send out), but we may have to wait and see.
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"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. All other public interactions, such as writing and responding to book reviews, remains unchanged."
I think they just mean images in messages for the inbox. I don't read it as any of these changes applying to threads or reviews.It is frustrating individual messages are being turned off. No more side commenting with friends, checking on people who disappeared from challenges, nudging them.
At least group mods will still be able to broadcast, but I suppose members cannot write back.
Whyyyyyyyyy can't we just leave things alone? 🤨
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That’s rubbish about direct messaging as I’m friends with a few people who I do buddy reads with
I shared this in the Romance Audiobooks group...'It just seems like a lazy decision. I'm grateful for the free access of GR, and that's why I'm here rather than storygraph or other reading trackers, but from the GR standpoint, if it's a matter of long-term memory, then set duration parameters for image storage and/or messaging. After a few years, images are auto-deleted, leaving members/groups MODs responsible for content management.
if it's TB (terabytes) economics, then option "premium" levels for those members who wish to include external images.
Removing external links is a security/hacking concern that could be offset by the buy in of subscriptions. So many groups rely on spreadsheets to log info, something the GR doesn't offer internally.'
I just messaged goodreads to complain about it lmaooo like why are they taking it away? That's so annoying
Amanda wrote: "I just saw someone made a petition lol here's the link if you want to sign.https://c.org/mk4HtTP75K"
I'm glad someone's done this so quickly. Will share in my groups
This is probably being rolled out to curb spamming - and I get that. But I also feel like they could have gone about this another way - restrict DMs to friends ONLY, rather than anyone who accepts messages? I mean, how does one stay friends with someone they can't contact on GR!? Ridiculous!
I guess this is why I haven't been able to respond to messages on mobile? I have to open in browser to respond to anything. I wonder if this is goodreads way of moving more towards the app vs the website (not a good thing imo). So much doesn't work on the app as it is.
No more images?NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! 😭😭😭
My whole purpose on GR is providing pretty things for people to look at when they need a break from reading. 😂
Also, the "no external links" thing is concerning...
Sammy wrote: "No more images?NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! 😭😭😭
My whole purpose on GR is providing pretty things for people to look at when they need a break from reading. 😂"
Again, this seems to apply to messages in the inbox, not threads and other spots of Goodreads. I think these are changes for that section only. One would hope so anyway.
"• Images and external links will no longer be supported in messages"
It still worries me that they could at any time make changes that do impact challenges in a big way, and there would be nothing we can do about it. Amazon have made it very clear they only care about selling books and not about the people who use and love this platform 🥲
Amanda wrote: "I just saw someone made a petition lol here's the link if you want to sign.https://c.org/mk4HtTP75K"
Thanks. I signed and shared!
I am someone who is NOT good with technology, Spreadsheets, and I OFTEN either don't get or miss notifications. I have a few friends on Goodreads who have been kind enough to help me through issues I have had and we share by messaging each other. I am very upset about this being removed. I like the idea of Goodreads having an auto-delete of the private messages after a couple months or something. PLEASE do not totally remove it from us. I know in my heart of hearts that I WILL miss out on challenge and buddy reads if this happens. I'm so very frustrated!
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It seems like they could just auto delete messages in the inbox after 90 days or send out an DM requesting that we all go and delete old messages in our inbox rather than this. I agree Amazon doesn't care about us who use this platform
I was combing through Reddit and found a thread discussing this topic. Lots of women complaining about being harassed by men on their DMs. https://www.reddit.com/r/goodreads/co...Maybe this is the real reason - but again, why not change it to DMs between friends only??
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I've used GR for probably 15 years, and I've NEVER, not one time, been harassed. I've gotten a handful of "Hi, how are you" messages, but I block/delete people who do that, and a couple handfuls of advertising-style spam, which again, I delete...
HOW ARE THESE PEOPLE RECEIVING THIS LEVEL OF HARASSMENT? I don't even have a private profile; it's very public.
My only thought is they have to be just accepting every friend request they get - and if they don't have any media literacy, I don't understand why we should bear the brunt of their problem.
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I get messages occasionally from men who want to "get to know me better", but I just tell them it isn't a dating site and contact me for group-related things only. It is very rare that I get messages, and they are usually from old men in the profiles. I never hear back from them. We have the capability to block them as well.
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Since we're talking about Amazon here, I figure they'll be rolling out a subscription plan next year, where we'll be able to start paying monthly for DMs and other functionality we're already used to.
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Could be - but I have to imagine they get a good amount of click throughs to books from this site, as well as being able to push kindle unlimited. I hope that's not it :(
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I don't even wanna think about that.. 😭 nothing is even close to this site. I use story graph which is okay for cataloging books but group activities are rough.
It would be a bummer that we can't direct message.
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Regarding harassment, I agree with Ashley. I have gotten a spattering of "hi, how are you" or something similar. If I get a friend request, I go directly to that person's page and see when they joined, if they have read and especially reviewed books, and if they're in any challenges and not just in groups. I then simply ignore them.
It's easy to turn off the ability for people to message you. This is going to make it so difficult to be a mod.Mine came up in another language, probably because I had my VPN active so I didn't notice where I could add a comment to amend the petition. Be sure to do that before you click the button.
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Ashley wrote: "No one should have to deal with harassment, but I find this really odd. I've used GR for probably 15 years, and I've NEVER, not one time, been harassed. I've gotten a handful of "Hi, how are you"..."
Same here ~ I've been on here for since 2011 and have never been harassed through messages nor in the threads. I have had random people wish to friend me with no real answer to my challenge question. I just delete their request after I check out their profile to see if we are actually in anything together. Usually, we are not.
I'm sorry this will cause I'm figuring more work for you Mods
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It's not about more work. We enjoy creating challenges for all of you. Our current ghosting policy has us a bit concerned when it comes to these changes. We don't want to single anyone out on a public forum. We are trying to figure out a new policy that works with the new changes and is fair. Any ideas are welcome.
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Donna wrote: "My profile is also very public. We both chose to keep our profiles public due to being moderators. I accept friend requests from ALL of our members. I only block people if they become a problem."Same. I accept every friend invite unless it's wonky looking and have been active on Goodreads over 10 years heavily, including going to their first user base trip in person in San Francisco. I have over 3709 friends recorded on here. I don't get harrassing messages.
Donna wrote: "~Melissa~ wrote: "I'm sorry this will cause I'm figuring more work for you Mods"It's not about more work. We enjoy creating challenges for all of you. Our current ghosting policy has us a bit con..."
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?
Donna wrote: "I'm sorry, Vicki. The notifications were not perfect with the email notifications, by any means, BUT I miss a whole lot more with the current system. Goodreads doesn't seem to care. Has anyone seen..."I agree. I was saying something similar in another group. In theory Amazon and GRs sounds like a good partnership, due to books being something they sell, KU and audible. Instead with get a platform that sells books seemingly destroying a social book platform.
Make it make sense.
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You know what.... that is a really good idea. I haven't used Google Forms in a while. I completely forgot about them. It is the perfect solution. I will bring it up to the other mods.
In the coming weeks, we will be making some updates to how messaging works on Goodreads.
What's Changing?
• Direct messages between individual members will no longer be available
• Images and external links will no longer be supported in messages
While 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. All other public interactions, such as writing and responding to book reviews, remains unchanged.
-The Goodreads Team"