Proposed Book Club Improvements

GWC Community GWC Book Club
#1

All,

Now that I have seen the book club run from an administrative perspective I have a couple of questions I would like to pose in the spirit of continuous improvement as well as my observations. If there is overwhelming concensus here we will incorporate the changes into the next round.

Thoughts

  1. How do you feel about having 20 books to choose from? Should we have less? Should we have more?

  2. Should we have a period at the beginning of the month where the slate is presented but is not open for voting?

  3. Should we make the votes public?

Observations

  1. I personally feel that 20 books is too many. It dilutes the pool by making the choices too numerous. Having 5 or 10 books would focus the conversation

  2. I have noticed in myself the tendancy to vote for books I simply know of rather than books I think would be good for the club. For example, if there are 14 books on the list that I am aware of out of 20, I will probably vote for those 14 books. It makes more sense to me to have a period where people can actively lobby for a specific book/books and start conversations about them. After the period we open up the voting and allow people to vote given the opportunity to discuss the books prior

  3. I am a strong advocate for public voting. It isn’t to make people defend their votes, it is to have the dual purpose of allowing people to discuss a book with someone they didn’t know liked the book ("I saw you voted for “Time Travelers Wife, I love that book!” and ensuring people are thoughtful about their votes. Like it or not, people will take more time and take the process more seriously if they have even their votes are public.

What are your thoughts? What are your observations and suggestions? Share them here!

#2

To Question 1: I think we should have fewer, or if we were to have this many, restrict the number of books one can vote for (say, if we have 20 books, you can only vote for 5), so people are in some way forced to choose books they’d like to read/re-read as opposed to all the books that they recognize.

  1. I think that’s a really good idea, and again could help us be more purposefully thoughtful about the choice than perhaps we have been in the past.

  2. I’m not sure. I don’t think it hurts anyone to have them public, and you make a good point about it allowing people to connect with other people who vote for the book. But maybe some people wouldn’t feel comfortable voting in a public poll? I still would, but I’m trying to think of a down side.

#3

I’m a strong advocate of non-public voting. I’d say people generally feel more comfortable in voting what they really want to vote for when they’re not being watched by anyone.
It probably doesn’t make much of a difference this month, but should we ever have, like, a really silly book under consideration, I don’t know, something like “100 ways to make love to a Wookie”, then it’s certainly more advisable to have non-public voting system established.
Plus, it’s way more fun if it turns out that 95 out of 112 people voted for the Wookie love book even though nobody is willing to admit it.

#4

I agree with all your observations. I wanted to speak to this one specifically as I was not sure about whether we were able to do this. The two options for setting up any poll are:
a. Multiple choice allowed?
b. Votes public?
I personally think if we limit the number of books to 5 or 10 and allow people to only vote for one it would make the process more meaningful. I know some view that as draconian, but I know that people will give real thought as to the book they are voting for and overall will make the whole process that much more exciting.

#5

If we ever have a book called, “100 ways to make love to a Wookie” and there is only one vote I think we will all know where to turn. :stuck_out_tongue:

Although I understand what you are saying, adding a layer of accountability can only add meaning to a vote. Having secret voting isn’t really in the spirit of this forum, don’t you agree?

#6

FWIW, I’m a big fan of the multiple-vote concept – though I could totally accept doing it another way if that really turns everyone one. (The concept here is, after all, to get everyone reading and having a good time!) What’s nice about the multiple-vote method is that it allows what you might call “built-in runoffs.” In other words, if your most favorite book doesn’t win, your votes still matter. I haven’t looked recently to see if the software allows us to limit to a given number of votes – I bet Solai has, though – and if it’s possible, it wouldn’t matter to me to, say, limit to five votes from 20 books. IMHO, my issue is still addressed at that point.

I’m also pro anonymous vote, though I feel less strongly about this one than multiple votes. GR expressed perfectly why I feel that way.

#7

I think every book nominated (since the last poll, including bumps) should go up there. (Alternatively, you could do the ten or so with the most ‘seconded’ posts, but that’s more work.)

We DEFINATELY need a ‘lobby’ period. I was wondering if there wasn’t a way to put the post after all the messages. Otherwise you vote and then see a good reason to vote for a different book.

I don’t think it matters much, but I tend to favor anonymous votes. If someone wants to advocate, let them advocate. No reason to out them for their love of the Star Trek Cookbook, or whatever.

#8

FYI: The software’s limited to 20 items in a poll.

#9

Have we come up against that limit? I’m thinking we’ve come close.

#10

To hazard a guess I think this is why Chuck originally went with 20 books…fill up all available slots the system can handle. As far as the system goes I have not seen any availability to limit the number of votes in a multiple vote option.

#11

20 is fine if you can vote for multiple items. If you can only vote for 1, then maybe shorten it to 10?

  1. Should we have a period at the beginning of the month where the slate is presented but is not open for voting?

Yes - that would be good. I must admit, I usually vote for the 1 or 2 books that I actually recognize and know something about. :o

  1. Should we make the votes public?

That’s fine with me! It doesn’t bother me if someone else can see my vote. I mean, every already knows I’m a goober anyway… :slight_smile:

I’m guessing that vote would originate from Jersey, right? :smiley:

#12

I also like the public voting. Beyond just promoting conversation about books you’ve already read, seeing that someone whose opinions you agree with recommended a book could suggest one you may not otherwise have considered. I can’t begin to count the books and movies I’ve enjoyed based solely on the recommendation of someone who shares my tastes.

#13

Okay. The way the conversation is currently shaping up:

  1. Ambivalence about the total number of books (20 is ok, less is ok)

  2. General agreement regarding having a ‘lobby’ period.

  3. Split on the issue regarding whether votes should be public

  4. Pro multiple choice v. single choice

I will setup a non-public poll (to avoid irony) posing the question if votes should be public. We will let that decide whether the next round will be public or private.

Unless there is a tremendous swing in sentiment here, the book selection process for October will be as follows:

  1. 20 books to choose from
  2. A lobby period of 1 week
  3. Voting public/private: TBD
  4. Multiple choice
#14

Although Chuck and GalaxyRanger make compelling arguments for non-public polls, I agree with Poofy. I think public polls spark conversation and ridicule (wanted or unwanted). Like Sean and Chuck I have had experiences where I hated something at first but after consideration grown to love it. That was usually a result of talking about it with a person who loved it.

For example, in this current poll I believe ‘Watchmen’ is winning. I’ve never even heard of it. So it would have been nice to see who voted for it and be able to hear their thots. I mean, wikipedia is nice but personal experience is better.

#15

Just a side note: as much as I like and respect FrakinTalos, I will NOT vote for his upcoming book “100 ways to make love to a Gorn”. That’s where I draw the line, sister.

#16

Hey! How’d you…I haven’t even…I’m only on Chapter 2. This Matrix thing is not what it’s cracked up to be. How could you already know what I’m gonna do? Not fair.

kicks and knocks over draft board Frakkin causality

#17

It’s pretty simple, really. I just go to Amazom.com and in my personal settings set the time and date to 18 months in the future. That way I can read excerpts and reviews of books that haven’t even been written or thot of yet.
And, FT, I have to tell you: The photos in Chapter 5 of your book? You know, the one with the Gorn and Organian and the swing harness? Downright disturbing. You should be ashamed of yourself.:smiley:

#18

I am…will be. Whuteva!!

#19

  1. Personally, since there seems to be some ambivalence, I want to express my belief that 20 books is way too many to choose from. Solai, as the “leader” of the book club, it’s OK for you to choose the 5-10 books we vote on each month. If I’m going to vote for a book, I will stick to things I’ve heard of or just not vote. I don’t have the interest (or time) to research 20 books each month.

  2. Lobby period is good…helps with the research.

  3. Voting…I can see this both ways. Honestly, I don’t care if people know what I voted.

  4. As long as we could only vote one time per book per month, I think this is fair.

FWIW, also, since I don’t know where else to post this…I’d like to add The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova to the list of books to be considered at some future date. (Might make a good October read, as it’s vampire-related.)

#20

WHAT??? Don’t wait for the poll. Go out and read it right now!

You have to be careful around those Organians. They can stop weapons from working… :eek: