1pajarita
Hello, Folks.
This group has been started as a first guess.
I feel that Goodreads Refugees need a discussion location separate from the Goodreads site, separate from other Goodreads Groups(which understandably have the need to discuss the books, etc. for which that group was intended). We need a place to fully air out our feelings and plans.
What is needed, I feel, is a place for us to collect our thoughts, share our strategies, lick our wounds, plan our futures, share ideas, build blogs, share links,....etc.
In other words, with a clear, expressed gratitude and respect for our hosts here at LibraryThing, we need a place to brainstorm together what it is we truly want to build.
There will be much here at LibraryThing that we will admire and value. Many of us will become active committed members. I, for one, am certain to use the Catalogue here with deep gratitude. But it is not impossible that many of us will be looking to other solutions. And we do not want to rudely start changing our hosts established home into our own image. There is much we will find to value here.
But it is not unlikely that many of us will be seeking other flavors.
This is, I hope, a good place for us to brainstorm freely.
*******************************************************************************************************************************
At first, I am establishing this as a totally open forum. But we may later feel, as a group, that privacy and common decency would indicate a more selective group, in respect to the established LibraryThing community. We do not want to appear elitist. Nor do we want to potentially insult our host community with any expressed feelings of Goodreads "nostalgia". LibraryThing has more than earned the right to maintain its own integrity and ways--as well as our deep respect. Perhaps we will need privacy so as not to appear insulting. Time will help us to decide.
But some of us may be seeking other "Cuisines".
This could be the place to plan our meals, design our homes, build our gardens, and share our food.
********************************************************************************************************************************
My moniker here at LibraryThing is pajarita; but at Goodreads you know me as Mosca.
Welcome to our refugee camp. Over among the broken cinder blocks is a small fire with a coffee pot. Please....have a cup.
This group has been started as a first guess.
I feel that Goodreads Refugees need a discussion location separate from the Goodreads site, separate from other Goodreads Groups(which understandably have the need to discuss the books, etc. for which that group was intended). We need a place to fully air out our feelings and plans.
What is needed, I feel, is a place for us to collect our thoughts, share our strategies, lick our wounds, plan our futures, share ideas, build blogs, share links,....etc.
In other words, with a clear, expressed gratitude and respect for our hosts here at LibraryThing, we need a place to brainstorm together what it is we truly want to build.
There will be much here at LibraryThing that we will admire and value. Many of us will become active committed members. I, for one, am certain to use the Catalogue here with deep gratitude. But it is not impossible that many of us will be looking to other solutions. And we do not want to rudely start changing our hosts established home into our own image. There is much we will find to value here.
But it is not unlikely that many of us will be seeking other flavors.
This is, I hope, a good place for us to brainstorm freely.
*******************************************************************************************************************************
At first, I am establishing this as a totally open forum. But we may later feel, as a group, that privacy and common decency would indicate a more selective group, in respect to the established LibraryThing community. We do not want to appear elitist. Nor do we want to potentially insult our host community with any expressed feelings of Goodreads "nostalgia". LibraryThing has more than earned the right to maintain its own integrity and ways--as well as our deep respect. Perhaps we will need privacy so as not to appear insulting. Time will help us to decide.
But some of us may be seeking other "Cuisines".
This could be the place to plan our meals, design our homes, build our gardens, and share our food.
********************************************************************************************************************************
My moniker here at LibraryThing is pajarita; but at Goodreads you know me as Mosca.
Welcome to our refugee camp. Over among the broken cinder blocks is a small fire with a coffee pot. Please....have a cup.
3CJH2
I would like to ask a very basic practical question, if I may. I am currently halting my import of books, because, even though I have been importing them shelf by shelf, and adding the required shelf and tags in the blocks provided, the books end up on my shelves tagless, and I have to add the tags manually one by one. As we know, over at GR, one can do batch edits. Is there anything like that here? Adding tags and sorting into shelves around 2660 books, is going to end up being extremely tedious...
4lilithcat
> 3
Here it's called "power edit". In the tool bar above your catalogue, you'll see a little lightning bolt icon. Click on that and you'll be in "power edit". From there you can add tags to, or remove them from, selected books; delete them; add them to, or remove them from, collections; and do a variety of other useful things.
Here it's called "power edit". In the tool bar above your catalogue, you'll see a little lightning bolt icon. Click on that and you'll be in "power edit". From there you can add tags to, or remove them from, selected books; delete them; add them to, or remove them from, collections; and do a variety of other useful things.
5pajarita
Welcome, Traveller and lillithcat.
My expectations are that there will be slow stumbling growth here as we all get our bearings over here at LT.
But I was seeing too many threads over at Goodreads becoming inadvertently hijacked by folks (like myself) who were desperate to talk, share links, etc. And the emotions at Goodreads are very, very mixed and very, very raw--understandably so.
Over here we will be folks already committed to a first step at least. A goodly number of us may likely be moving on to other habitats (or building other habitats); but will need a predictable spot to trade gossip and info.
My only request is that we all make an extra effort to remain mindful of our shared gratitude to the community here at LibraryThing. Many of us will likely remain as paid members--dual memberships at least.
lilithcat, thanks for the tech help. Many of us are mostly lost on that front. I started 3-4 months ago; and am still adjusting tags and manually importing the small remaining detritus. For me it will be an ongoing work, but worth it.
My expectations are that there will be slow stumbling growth here as we all get our bearings over here at LT.
But I was seeing too many threads over at Goodreads becoming inadvertently hijacked by folks (like myself) who were desperate to talk, share links, etc. And the emotions at Goodreads are very, very mixed and very, very raw--understandably so.
Over here we will be folks already committed to a first step at least. A goodly number of us may likely be moving on to other habitats (or building other habitats); but will need a predictable spot to trade gossip and info.
My only request is that we all make an extra effort to remain mindful of our shared gratitude to the community here at LibraryThing. Many of us will likely remain as paid members--dual memberships at least.
lilithcat, thanks for the tech help. Many of us are mostly lost on that front. I started 3-4 months ago; and am still adjusting tags and manually importing the small remaining detritus. For me it will be an ongoing work, but worth it.
6richardderus
My big suggestion, M/p, is to set a status with a link to this thread so as to make Goodreaders on the fence aware that there's a welcome here.
7pajarita
Welcome, Richard, glad to see you here.
"...set a status with a link..."
My understanding is limited; but my assumption is that you are referring to a Goodreads status; but I am not sure.. I've been at Goodreads for 5+ years and have always had user-combat with the entire "status" software.
However, Richard, it is my humble observation that you are the Status King. I would be honored if you would put out an invite link in one of your famed status posts.
This Group belongs to all of us IMHO.
Anything you choose to say that welcomes all "fence-sitting" Goodreaders (and other types, too) would certainly have my gratitude and agreement.
:)
"...set a status with a link..."
My understanding is limited; but my assumption is that you are referring to a Goodreads status; but I am not sure.. I've been at Goodreads for 5+ years and have always had user-combat with the entire "status" software.
However, Richard, it is my humble observation that you are the Status King. I would be honored if you would put out an invite link in one of your famed status posts.
This Group belongs to all of us IMHO.
Anything you choose to say that welcomes all "fence-sitting" Goodreaders (and other types, too) would certainly have my gratitude and agreement.
:)
8richardderus
I'll do that, certainly, but the overlap in our friend circles is not that large. Both of us doing so, and Trav and a few more high-profile people, would get the message out efficiently.
9pajarita
I'll follow yours, Richard.
I've screwed up status posts before. But I will certainly give it a go.
I've screwed up status posts before. But I will certainly give it a go.
12pajarita
One of the gifts we can give one another is to link to other reading sites, other discussions, other blogs, etc.
A new friend over on Goodreads, Fionnula, has written a " Book Review"--intentionally satirical on April 1.
But in reality this "Book Review" has become a Goodreads location for conspiring and grousing. I am particularly grateful because folks there are beginning to post links.
So here's the first link posted by the Refugees:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/472067430
The conversation there is already rambunctious. Many folks like neither GR nor LT. But discussions are beginning to surround the topic "What next?", and however fanciful, are serious. And intelligent, capable, angry, but talented people are gathered and involved.
In time, as a Group, with allotted server space for more prolonged, detailed, and committed collaborations, we can in this location follow these ideas and brainstorms through to developed conclusions, hopefully.
Thank you, Fionnula.
A new friend over on Goodreads, Fionnula, has written a " Book Review"--intentionally satirical on April 1.
But in reality this "Book Review" has become a Goodreads location for conspiring and grousing. I am particularly grateful because folks there are beginning to post links.
So here's the first link posted by the Refugees:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/472067430
The conversation there is already rambunctious. Many folks like neither GR nor LT. But discussions are beginning to surround the topic "What next?", and however fanciful, are serious. And intelligent, capable, angry, but talented people are gathered and involved.
In time, as a Group, with allotted server space for more prolonged, detailed, and committed collaborations, we can in this location follow these ideas and brainstorms through to developed conclusions, hopefully.
Thank you, Fionnula.
13richardderus
>12 pajarita: M/p, Fionnula's review is very trenchant. I've joined http://www.booklikes.com/ to see if it can be the same sort of conversation-generating place that GR is, only without Amazon goldmining my data and anaconda-ing my reviews.
Unless one belongs to a group here at LT, conversation is nil, and even belonging to a group it's slower-paced than GR at 2am on Saturday.
Unless one belongs to a group here at LT, conversation is nil, and even belonging to a group it's slower-paced than GR at 2am on Saturday.
14richardderus
Speaking of book conversations, I start a weekly thread called What Are You Reading Now? and have for several years. That group is a big one numerically on the site, but that thread is usually its most active one in any given week.
The noisiest group here is 75 Books in 2013 Challenge, fifth annual forum for folks to share reviews and generally chat it up with each other. Always the top post-making group, ~700 people on average join it yearly. LOTS of group reads originate there. Worth a look.
The noisiest group here is 75 Books in 2013 Challenge, fifth annual forum for folks to share reviews and generally chat it up with each other. Always the top post-making group, ~700 people on average join it yearly. LOTS of group reads originate there. Worth a look.
15KalliopeMuse
How to join the group?
Sorry, found how. I hope I am in.
Thank you for setting this up.
Sorry, found how. I hope I am in.
Thank you for setting this up.
16richardderus
>15 KalliopeMuse: You are in. I checked.
17In2
Hello everyone. I was in the process of checking out alternatives to GR when I found this group. I hope you don't mind if I join. Thanks.
18pajarita
Welcome, KalliopeMuse and In2.
I hope that both of you have found the coffee pot already. We are grateful to have you here.
I hope that both of you have found the coffee pot already. We are grateful to have you here.
20pajarita
"What specifically do those other sites have that LibraryThing doesn't?"
Welcome to the Group, deniro. We are happy you are here. I hope that you found the coffee.
All book sites are different from one another; and each provide its own flavor of services. Each site provides services not found at other sites.
We did not become members of LT in order to diminish any of its admirable attributes. We are grateful to be here.
We are refugees, by definition, from another established site that sold us to a large corporate conglomerate. We are not pleased with that sale. We are disoriented. And we are in unaccustomed surroundings. We are grateful to LibraryThing for our new home. And we did not set up this Group in order that we may disparage whatever aspects of LibraryThing that any one of us may find different from our expectations.
Whatever changes any member of LibraryThing may want to make should be suggested through standard LibraryThing processes--in other threads.
So I, personally, do not feel comfortable in answering, specifically, what aspects of LibraryThing might be better at other sites.
My intent, in setting up this Group, was to provide safe discussion space for Refugees--not to inventory whatever may need change at LibraryThing. My observations are that one of LibraryThings many admirable attributes is the numerous discussions, already in place, long-term members are having concerning their own suggestions.
This thread has other more, immediate purposes.
We are looking for a home. Some of us are likely to fine one here at LibraryThing. Some of us may seek other choices.
We are still confused and unsettled.
Welcome to the Group, deniro. We are happy you are here. I hope that you found the coffee.
All book sites are different from one another; and each provide its own flavor of services. Each site provides services not found at other sites.
We did not become members of LT in order to diminish any of its admirable attributes. We are grateful to be here.
We are refugees, by definition, from another established site that sold us to a large corporate conglomerate. We are not pleased with that sale. We are disoriented. And we are in unaccustomed surroundings. We are grateful to LibraryThing for our new home. And we did not set up this Group in order that we may disparage whatever aspects of LibraryThing that any one of us may find different from our expectations.
Whatever changes any member of LibraryThing may want to make should be suggested through standard LibraryThing processes--in other threads.
So I, personally, do not feel comfortable in answering, specifically, what aspects of LibraryThing might be better at other sites.
My intent, in setting up this Group, was to provide safe discussion space for Refugees--not to inventory whatever may need change at LibraryThing. My observations are that one of LibraryThings many admirable attributes is the numerous discussions, already in place, long-term members are having concerning their own suggestions.
This thread has other more, immediate purposes.
We are looking for a home. Some of us are likely to fine one here at LibraryThing. Some of us may seek other choices.
We are still confused and unsettled.
21the_red_shoes
Man, I just wish I knew what to do with my content on GR. I don't want to delete my reviews, or comment, or account, because a lot of those are precious records of friendships made and wonderful insights from others. But I wrote what I did for the GR community. I didn't write it so Amazon could profit from what I wrote without my consent.
22pajarita
Moira,
Good to see you here!
I know it is a lot of work; but can't a whole lot of that be copied (or moved) over to the cataloging system here?
That's what I've done (am doing).
Good to see you here!
I know it is a lot of work; but can't a whole lot of that be copied (or moved) over to the cataloging system here?
That's what I've done (am doing).
23barney67
20 -- Ok. I doubt you will offend anyone here with any questions or comments, certainly not me.
24stellarexplorer
I just wanted to say that I imagine it must be tremendously difficult and painful to leave a community that meant so much to so many. I applaud your resolve and your efforts to find solutions.
25KRutherford
Thankfully, I was never a big part of the community in GR -- I always intended to but found it a bit overwhelming. From a short look, LT's community seems to be more about my speed, to be honest, haha. Short story: I came to LT from one PMaranci who's been posting a lot in the comments for the GRAmazon acquisition blog post at GR.
As a Nook owner I felt pretty depressed by the acquisition but it hasn't exactly outraged me as such. I'm still coming to terms with it. I don't think I'll go as far as deleting my GR account, but I'm not sure what I want to do with the reviews and whatnot.
I can't imagine how it must be for those who've made lots of friends there. It really leaves one depressed all around. Anyway I'll definitely poke around here some more and try to be social. Already joined a couple of groups, including this one!
As a Nook owner I felt pretty depressed by the acquisition but it hasn't exactly outraged me as such. I'm still coming to terms with it. I don't think I'll go as far as deleting my GR account, but I'm not sure what I want to do with the reviews and whatnot.
I can't imagine how it must be for those who've made lots of friends there. It really leaves one depressed all around. Anyway I'll definitely poke around here some more and try to be social. Already joined a couple of groups, including this one!
26pajarita
I appreciate your understanding, deniro, that is certainly our intent.
Thank you for your empathy, stellarexplorer, much appreciated.
KRutherford, many of us have been deeply committed to our friends at GR. And this Amazon Anschluss has so many of us "depressed all around".
Myself, I can only deal with my anger and depression by looking for alternatives. I've seen this coming for a little more than a year because of earlier tacky Goodreads changes-for-the-worse that were clearly foreshadowing financial greed. Hence my earlier entry into LibraryThing. Most of my database is already here; and....I remain a member at Goodreads primarily for the social features. I see my Goodreads friends are, like me, pretty addicted to that social side.
My guess is that a combination of site memberships may resolve some of the disorientations. At least in the short term.
Things are still boiling over at Goodreads. And members have very conflicted intents. It will take time to determine rational solutions. And there will probably be false starts. We are human.
Thank you for your empathy, stellarexplorer, much appreciated.
KRutherford, many of us have been deeply committed to our friends at GR. And this Amazon Anschluss has so many of us "depressed all around".
Myself, I can only deal with my anger and depression by looking for alternatives. I've seen this coming for a little more than a year because of earlier tacky Goodreads changes-for-the-worse that were clearly foreshadowing financial greed. Hence my earlier entry into LibraryThing. Most of my database is already here; and....I remain a member at Goodreads primarily for the social features. I see my Goodreads friends are, like me, pretty addicted to that social side.
My guess is that a combination of site memberships may resolve some of the disorientations. At least in the short term.
Things are still boiling over at Goodreads. And members have very conflicted intents. It will take time to determine rational solutions. And there will probably be false starts. We are human.
27pajarita
Just today, in a Goodreads thread, a friend provided a link to an article in the Atlantic magazine (website), concerning the Amazon take-over:
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/04/the-simple-reason-why-goodre...
This article has provided new insight, for me, as to what I really want from a book website, as well as, what I was only slightly familiar with concerning my own relationship to Goodreads.
To me, this is very important background data, as I examine my own "addiction" to the"social" aspects of Goodreads.
As I seek a new home, that article will not leave my mind.
Reading is primary to me. It always has been. And the social aspect is very nice.
However, I must remain mindful of the not-so-obvious marketing aspects of the "social" website.
Hmmmmmmm.
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/04/the-simple-reason-why-goodre...
This article has provided new insight, for me, as to what I really want from a book website, as well as, what I was only slightly familiar with concerning my own relationship to Goodreads.
To me, this is very important background data, as I examine my own "addiction" to the"social" aspects of Goodreads.
As I seek a new home, that article will not leave my mind.
Reading is primary to me. It always has been. And the social aspect is very nice.
However, I must remain mindful of the not-so-obvious marketing aspects of the "social" website.
Hmmmmmmm.
28richardderus
Wow. Out of ~130MM readers from 1 to infinity titles a year, 43MM are more than ice-cream readers. Selling to 10% of them would explain why there are some huge-number sales for fairly fancy books, eg Foster Wallace or Franzen.
29Sarah_loves_books
Hi all! I'm another refugee from GR. I have kind of started to like it here, and it's good to know I have this home, if Amazon spoils things at GR (which I'm afraid it'll do). I'm keeping my GR account for now, though, and I'll just see what happens. But I do like this site, too!
30pajarita
Something, ain't it, Richard. And the US is low percentages compared to European countries. It is also clear that Amazon/Goodreads may be seriously tempted (already?) to mine the social networks by buying off the review "leaders"
;) "Hey, Richard, haven't you read that 50 Shades of Grey" yet, it's just the kind of book you'd like!" ;)
****************
Sarah_loves_books, welcome, its good to have you here. I do hope you found the coffee.
Many, many of us refugees are choosing the "dual citizenship" option. We're copying our databases over to LibraryThing (Some of us have moved then completely). But we're keeping a toe-hold at Goodreads--mostly for the friends we developed there.
Dual citizenship gives us many longer term choices and access to a larger population of rumor mills. Most of us are still pretty unsettled; and will need time to digest this new reality.
Strategies will change as reality changes.
;) "Hey, Richard, haven't you read that 50 Shades of Grey" yet, it's just the kind of book you'd like!" ;)
****************
Sarah_loves_books, welcome, its good to have you here. I do hope you found the coffee.
Many, many of us refugees are choosing the "dual citizenship" option. We're copying our databases over to LibraryThing (Some of us have moved then completely). But we're keeping a toe-hold at Goodreads--mostly for the friends we developed there.
Dual citizenship gives us many longer term choices and access to a larger population of rumor mills. Most of us are still pretty unsettled; and will need time to digest this new reality.
Strategies will change as reality changes.
31richardderus
Heh "dual citizenship" heh very apt phrase that.
32richardderus
A new blog post about what LibraryThing thinks it is. Very instructive!
33Sarah_loves_books
That blog post was interesting, thanks richardderus!
I would like to ask if anyone has learned how to give half stars yet?
I would like to ask if anyone has learned how to give half stars yet?
34Sarah_loves_books
LOL, I figured it out myself!
35richardderus
Ha! Well, it took me a year and several shamefaced requests for help to do the same.
36Sarah_loves_books
Ah, well, I must be good at something!
37SamJehanzeb
Hi!
Another refugee here. ;-)
I am on LT since saturday (I guess) and doesn't really feel "at home" yet. It is a very good site by its structure and functions, some are even better than I found them on GR. The only thing that really stitches me is the design of this site. I feel like blown back to 1995 or something like that. :-/ Someone earlier asked what the other sites have that LT doesn't – for me it is this.
I know the appearance isn't all and I am grateful to at least have a place where I can keep my books listed, but it really takes the joy off of me and makes the loss of GR even bigger. I am a designer and such things matter to me. But hopefully I will find my way around here in a while and forget all about its appearance. ;-)
Just in case: I really don't mean to offend anyone here at LT nor did I want to be unthankful. It's just melancholy about the loss of a place I really felt comfortable with.
But anyway, I am thankful to be here, just ordered a T-Shirt yesterday to at least give something back for now.
Another refugee here. ;-)
I am on LT since saturday (I guess) and doesn't really feel "at home" yet. It is a very good site by its structure and functions, some are even better than I found them on GR. The only thing that really stitches me is the design of this site. I feel like blown back to 1995 or something like that. :-/ Someone earlier asked what the other sites have that LT doesn't – for me it is this.
I know the appearance isn't all and I am grateful to at least have a place where I can keep my books listed, but it really takes the joy off of me and makes the loss of GR even bigger. I am a designer and such things matter to me. But hopefully I will find my way around here in a while and forget all about its appearance. ;-)
Just in case: I really don't mean to offend anyone here at LT nor did I want to be unthankful. It's just melancholy about the loss of a place I really felt comfortable with.
But anyway, I am thankful to be here, just ordered a T-Shirt yesterday to at least give something back for now.
39SamJehanzeb
Who could resist such a nice welcome? Thank you, cyderry. :-)
Already I feel comfortable as the community is so nice with its warm greetings and helpfulness (is that a real word? helpfulness? – I am from germany so I might sound odd at times … sorry!).
Already I feel comfortable as the community is so nice with its warm greetings and helpfulness (is that a real word? helpfulness? – I am from germany so I might sound odd at times … sorry!).
41pajarita
Sam Jehanzeb, cderry, and Sushelle welcome home.
And especially thank you, cderry, for decorating our digs.
We are certainly home here now. Sniff. Sob. :O
And especially thank you, cderry, for decorating our digs.
We are certainly home here now. Sniff. Sob. :O
42richardderus
*there there, pat pat* M/p. It's going to be all right.
My latest thread is here, and in my third post I've got links to the specialist threads I'm running this year. Also there are links in that post to the reviews I've posted, and the ones I've posted in other threads are in their own guideposts.
My latest thread is here, and in my third post I've got links to the specialist threads I'm running this year. Also there are links in that post to the reviews I've posted, and the ones I've posted in other threads are in their own guideposts.
43PMaranci
Hi! Another refugee here - or DP, "displaced person", as I believe they used to be called. I had a lot of trouble getting here, and I'm still not sure how happy I'll be. But it can't be as bad as being subject to Amazon!
I was Peter Maranci over on Goodreads. Mostly reviewed old books for children, science fiction, fantasy, and mysteries from prior to 1975 or so (plus a books by a few modern authors that I respect), classics, and some humor. I hope to find some literary friends here, and perhaps re-meet some old ones.
I hope it's not forbidden to say so, but ever since the Goodreads sellout I'm determined not to put my trust in ANY single site. So I'll be posting my reviews simultaneously here, and on BookLikes (I'm PMaranci over there too), and to three of my own personal blogs (on DreamWidth, LiveJournal, and Google Plus).
Speaking of Google Plus, I'm also the moderator of "Escaping Amazon", a new G+ community for Goodreads refugees. We discuss alternatives there; alternatives to Goodreads for book reviews, and to Amazon for shopping. Anyone can join, but I won't post the link here lest that break some rules.
Oh, one last thing: I hadn't been writing that much lately. But I'm going to try to write at least one new review every day. Just my way of supporting my new adopted "countries". And it will give me a small amount of satisfaction to think that by writing reviews for those sites, I'm depriving Amazon of them as well!
Sorry. Still a bit bitter. :D
I was Peter Maranci over on Goodreads. Mostly reviewed old books for children, science fiction, fantasy, and mysteries from prior to 1975 or so (plus a books by a few modern authors that I respect), classics, and some humor. I hope to find some literary friends here, and perhaps re-meet some old ones.
I hope it's not forbidden to say so, but ever since the Goodreads sellout I'm determined not to put my trust in ANY single site. So I'll be posting my reviews simultaneously here, and on BookLikes (I'm PMaranci over there too), and to three of my own personal blogs (on DreamWidth, LiveJournal, and Google Plus).
Speaking of Google Plus, I'm also the moderator of "Escaping Amazon", a new G+ community for Goodreads refugees. We discuss alternatives there; alternatives to Goodreads for book reviews, and to Amazon for shopping. Anyone can join, but I won't post the link here lest that break some rules.
Oh, one last thing: I hadn't been writing that much lately. But I'm going to try to write at least one new review every day. Just my way of supporting my new adopted "countries". And it will give me a small amount of satisfaction to think that by writing reviews for those sites, I'm depriving Amazon of them as well!
Sorry. Still a bit bitter. :D
44bunwat
Welcome Peter!! I'm still a little bitter myself. But people are being very nice to us here, which is helping!!
46pajarita
PMaranci, Welcome to the Refugees. We've all simply decided this is home as a working principle. I hope you have found the coffee. We are all pretty disoriented; and many of us are now members of more than one site, just as you are; and for many of the same reasons. As far as posting links--that is one of the reasons this Group is set up--so that we can share notes. I'm still not strongly familiar with rules here; but it seems to be a friendly and pretty loose place. If someone takes exception, I'm sure we will be asked nicely.
As I said in the intro, if needs be we may set up a Private thread or two so as not to inadvertently give insult; but so far, that is only a thought not an implemented necessity.
I, personally do request that all participants speak with respect for one another, and with gratitude for the LibraryThing community, our hosts. We each may or may not remain here as our permanent home. We each may or may not find that this site meets all our needs or suits our preferences. But we need to respect the established system and site culture here--its been here awhile and has earned its corner.
But we're happy you've arrived. Let's trade notes. Welcome. You've already joined, automatically here by posting.
As I said in the intro, if needs be we may set up a Private thread or two so as not to inadvertently give insult; but so far, that is only a thought not an implemented necessity.
I, personally do request that all participants speak with respect for one another, and with gratitude for the LibraryThing community, our hosts. We each may or may not remain here as our permanent home. We each may or may not find that this site meets all our needs or suits our preferences. But we need to respect the established system and site culture here--its been here awhile and has earned its corner.
But we're happy you've arrived. Let's trade notes. Welcome. You've already joined, automatically here by posting.
47richardderus
>43 PMaranci: Hi Peter! Welcome to the Quieter Side. Since you've been really specific about your reading and reviewing interests, let me suggest some groups for you:
Crime, Thriller, and Mystery pretty self-explanatory
Science Fiction Fans another non-mysterious group name
The Green Dragon SF/F's noisiest group, very community oriented and quite warmly thought of by its denizens
Read YA Lit is maybe older than you're reviewing for? I don't know of any, but I feel sure that there are at least one or two groups for real young-kids stuff. My friend Amber, former professor of classics and mom of a three-year-old, seems determined to read every book ever published by, for, or about anyone under 15, so her various threads might give you some basis for a chat with a like-minded soul. Likewise my friend Linda is a YA/children's lit enthusiast, so again perhaps you can find a kindred spirit there.
When you're looking for Talk threads to monitor, take a look at the Talk page. Down the left side, you'll see a variety of filtering options. "All topics" is just that...most recent post first. "Hot topics" is the most active threads ranked and showed.
The "Your World" section customizes the view based on you and your memberships. "Groups and Posts" gives you all the latest posts in the groups you belong to, and also all the threads you've posted in, ranked by the latest post in each thread. This is usually a good option if you're not in the 75Books in 2013 challenge. 675 really chatty people. It overwhelms all the other groups. If you post in some 75er threads, they'll show up in your Talk feed; join the group, and they all do!
The social interface is really different here to GR as you can see. But just ask, someone will always be happy to help.
Crime, Thriller, and Mystery pretty self-explanatory
Science Fiction Fans another non-mysterious group name
The Green Dragon SF/F's noisiest group, very community oriented and quite warmly thought of by its denizens
Read YA Lit is maybe older than you're reviewing for? I don't know of any, but I feel sure that there are at least one or two groups for real young-kids stuff. My friend Amber, former professor of classics and mom of a three-year-old, seems determined to read every book ever published by, for, or about anyone under 15, so her various threads might give you some basis for a chat with a like-minded soul. Likewise my friend Linda is a YA/children's lit enthusiast, so again perhaps you can find a kindred spirit there.
When you're looking for Talk threads to monitor, take a look at the Talk page. Down the left side, you'll see a variety of filtering options. "All topics" is just that...most recent post first. "Hot topics" is the most active threads ranked and showed.
The "Your World" section customizes the view based on you and your memberships. "Groups and Posts" gives you all the latest posts in the groups you belong to, and also all the threads you've posted in, ranked by the latest post in each thread. This is usually a good option if you're not in the 75Books in 2013 challenge. 675 really chatty people. It overwhelms all the other groups. If you post in some 75er threads, they'll show up in your Talk feed; join the group, and they all do!
The social interface is really different here to GR as you can see. But just ask, someone will always be happy to help.
48pajarita
bunwat, welcome. Your's is a name I recognize from the UglyGreenButton Wars. My Goodreads moniker is Mosca; and I participated with you in that bar brawl. You and I agreed, mostly. And we agreed on all the important stuff.
I'll bet that, just like me, you are not at all surprised by the Goodreads sell-off. Pissed off, embittered, but not surprised.
We're happy you're here. We all need to work together.
I'll bet that, just like me, you are not at all surprised by the Goodreads sell-off. Pissed off, embittered, but not surprised.
We're happy you're here. We all need to work together.
49richardderus
>45 PMaranci: Peter, to join a group, go to its main page (click on the bright-blue group name at the top of the page f/ex) and click "join" on the top right hand side of the main page.
51UnrulySun
A big Welcome to all the new LT users. :) I hope you guys can settle in and feel at home. I also look forward to seeing more introductions and getting to know you!
53PMaranci
I've been thinking about what to do about my Goodreads account. Now that I've gotten my books and reviews safely stored here and on BookLikes, it's time to make some decisions.
I don't want to leave my reviews for Otis and Amazon to profit from. At the same time, I don't want to just delete my account, either. There are friends there that I'd lose touch with (they'd never come here - I can't even get them to leave Facebook and try Google Plus!), and there are comment-threads on some of my reviews that I enjoy rereading once in a while. I don't want to lose them! Although I will if I have to.
Luckily last night, I had an idea. It would take me a while, but this is what I think I'm going to do. One by one, I'm going to edit each of my reviews on Goodreads and replace them with canned language. It will start:
"Due to the acquisition of Goodreads by Amazon, this review has been moved to a new home:"
I'd place specific links to that review on LT and BL at this spot.
"If you, like me, object to what Amazon has done to the world of books, booklovers, and book shops, you can find many alternatives to GoodReads (for reviews) and to Amazon (for shopping) at the "Escaping Amazon" community (link which I won't include here because I don't want to be accused of self-promotion). Our free public resource for alternatives is at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AhaXhGep913MdEg5VjJLWE9xTVRmRXVCVDF..."
What do you think? Would they delete me for that?
I don't want to leave my reviews for Otis and Amazon to profit from. At the same time, I don't want to just delete my account, either. There are friends there that I'd lose touch with (they'd never come here - I can't even get them to leave Facebook and try Google Plus!), and there are comment-threads on some of my reviews that I enjoy rereading once in a while. I don't want to lose them! Although I will if I have to.
Luckily last night, I had an idea. It would take me a while, but this is what I think I'm going to do. One by one, I'm going to edit each of my reviews on Goodreads and replace them with canned language. It will start:
"Due to the acquisition of Goodreads by Amazon, this review has been moved to a new home:"
I'd place specific links to that review on LT and BL at this spot.
"If you, like me, object to what Amazon has done to the world of books, booklovers, and book shops, you can find many alternatives to GoodReads (for reviews) and to Amazon (for shopping) at the "Escaping Amazon" community (link which I won't include here because I don't want to be accused of self-promotion). Our free public resource for alternatives is at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AhaXhGep913MdEg5VjJLWE9xTVRmRXVCVDF..."
What do you think? Would they delete me for that?
54pajarita
Peter,
Thank you for the link. I've earlier saved it to an .htm file from another posting in another thread; but yours this morning is updated. Saved.
Very appreciated.
In my own opinion, your Goodreads strategy is spot on. I'm leaving Goodreads. But I going to be leaving effectively empty folders.
Open account. But with miniscule meaningless data.
My account will remain open; I will keep talking on the threads; I will stay in touch with real friends. But my data base will be useless gibberish.
My friends are valuable to me. Goodreads/Amazon is not.
Whether they delete me or not is unimportant to me. Every day more and more of my (always very small, numerically) friends are showing up here, or opening blogs, and we are starting to trade emails. Hopefully those of us who find "better" sites will spread the word. We are mostly all still in contact. Slowly, Goodreads is becoming immaterial--to me anyway.
And I am hoping that there will be population who will start discussing growing our own site, or sites, or collective of sites. This is the internet. There are no good reasons to limit our thinking.
Thank you for the link. I've earlier saved it to an .htm file from another posting in another thread; but yours this morning is updated. Saved.
Very appreciated.
In my own opinion, your Goodreads strategy is spot on. I'm leaving Goodreads. But I going to be leaving effectively empty folders.
Open account. But with miniscule meaningless data.
My account will remain open; I will keep talking on the threads; I will stay in touch with real friends. But my data base will be useless gibberish.
My friends are valuable to me. Goodreads/Amazon is not.
Whether they delete me or not is unimportant to me. Every day more and more of my (always very small, numerically) friends are showing up here, or opening blogs, and we are starting to trade emails. Hopefully those of us who find "better" sites will spread the word. We are mostly all still in contact. Slowly, Goodreads is becoming immaterial--to me anyway.
And I am hoping that there will be population who will start discussing growing our own site, or sites, or collective of sites. This is the internet. There are no good reasons to limit our thinking.
55PMaranci
Actually we've been discussing that a bit on the EA community too (argh! There's no way to mention it without feeling as if I'm promoting it!).
The ideal would have the following qualities, I think:
1. Not subject to censorship, control or sale by any entity. Possibly peer-to-peer. Even a well-disposed "philosopher king" may eventually decide to cash in, or die and be replaced by someone greedier.
2. Allow the creation and maintenance of social connections across websites, independent of those sites. I envision each user being able to choose to enter the connection data for any social website, and having them all aggregated in a single feed. By responding in that feed, their response would be relayed back to the original site - as well as directly to the user via the interface.
Beyond that, there are many book-specific features that would be desirable. But I'll admit that if it were possible, I'd like it to be expandable beyond books and reviews, to any subject at all. If so, it would need some way to organize such topics for convenience.
What do you think?
The ideal would have the following qualities, I think:
1. Not subject to censorship, control or sale by any entity. Possibly peer-to-peer. Even a well-disposed "philosopher king" may eventually decide to cash in, or die and be replaced by someone greedier.
2. Allow the creation and maintenance of social connections across websites, independent of those sites. I envision each user being able to choose to enter the connection data for any social website, and having them all aggregated in a single feed. By responding in that feed, their response would be relayed back to the original site - as well as directly to the user via the interface.
Beyond that, there are many book-specific features that would be desirable. But I'll admit that if it were possible, I'd like it to be expandable beyond books and reviews, to any subject at all. If so, it would need some way to organize such topics for convenience.
What do you think?
56bunwat
I am also maintaining an empty profile on GR for now, to stay in touch until I find out where (and if) my varioius friends and communities are migrating. Personally, I exported my shelves so that I would have all my reviews on my hard drive, and then I deleted my profile, unchecking the box that allows comments to stay. Because I didn't want my comments, recommendations, friend list, author fans and follows to be datamined at a later date. My hope is, if they are off the servers, even the backups will be overwritten by the time Amazon takes possession. Who knows, but I can try.
57bunwat
Also, for those of you who are staying here for at least awhile, I've started a group for Gramazon expats to reconnect and orient to the LT system. Its private for now, when I set it up I wasn't sure how much grumbling about LT there might be, so I set it that way. It hasn't turned out to be much so I may go public, but I've got a heavy work schedule today so it wont happen till later.
Instead its turning into mostly a how to resource for people used to a different system. And some HEY you're here! discussion. Anybody who wants an invite just let me know.
Or I see we have some overlap of membership already, so anybody who is already a member over there can invite people from here if desired.
Instead its turning into mostly a how to resource for people used to a different system. And some HEY you're here! discussion. Anybody who wants an invite just let me know.
Or I see we have some overlap of membership already, so anybody who is already a member over there can invite people from here if desired.
58pajarita
Very good first approximation, Peter.
I, personally, don't see any reason not to link to your site here. It is one of the purposes of this thread. The informal community at LT here seem very supportive so far. Whatever occurs, a substantial population of new LT members will result. I'll probably be here a good while; I've been here a year already, paid prior to the Goodreads Amazon Anschluss. Anybody supported by the Public Library System is my friend and ally.
But I'm a bit of an aging anarchist (think Emma Goldberg); and feel that neither thread, nor any others, should try to supplant one or the other. We are all needed. And we need to share info. Many threads in many places is a good idea.
Whatever solution grows from all this, there will eventually need to be a critical mass for it to have any viability or survivability. I'm guessing that a Community of Websites--a Community of Threads will be an early incarnation of a solution. No one can shut us down that way.
I, personally, don't see any reason not to link to your site here. It is one of the purposes of this thread. The informal community at LT here seem very supportive so far. Whatever occurs, a substantial population of new LT members will result. I'll probably be here a good while; I've been here a year already, paid prior to the Goodreads Amazon Anschluss. Anybody supported by the Public Library System is my friend and ally.
But I'm a bit of an aging anarchist (think Emma Goldberg); and feel that neither thread, nor any others, should try to supplant one or the other. We are all needed. And we need to share info. Many threads in many places is a good idea.
Whatever solution grows from all this, there will eventually need to be a critical mass for it to have any viability or survivability. I'm guessing that a Community of Websites--a Community of Threads will be an early incarnation of a solution. No one can shut us down that way.
59richardderus
>52 PMaranci: Peter, there is no trackback feature in LT's thread system, so clicking "reply" gives no indication of what you're replying to. (Been asking for this since 2008. No joy.) The convention is to right-carat the number you're responding to. The reply feature was put in for convenience of reference when replying to a post in a long thread.
>53 PMaranci: Excellent idea! I'm already on Booklikes (using my name, I'm not that creative when it comes to this stuff). Slowly my reviews will come down over there, leaving a pointer.
>54 pajarita: My friends are valuable to me. Goodreads/Amazon is not. Exactly my sentiments.
>57 bunwat: bunwat, please invite me. Perhaps I can help, or point to help, with problems.
>53 PMaranci: Excellent idea! I'm already on Booklikes (using my name, I'm not that creative when it comes to this stuff). Slowly my reviews will come down over there, leaving a pointer.
>54 pajarita: My friends are valuable to me. Goodreads/Amazon is not. Exactly my sentiments.
>57 bunwat: bunwat, please invite me. Perhaps I can help, or point to help, with problems.
60PMaranci
>57 bunwat: Please invite me too, bunwat!
61pajarita
>57 bunwat: Three invites would be nice. :)
62bunwat
Three invites despatched. As I say, feel free to distribute more invites as needed, as I will be away from my computer some today.
63bunwat
Also if you want to invite people here, ... looks to me like we've got slightly different purposes developing. This group looks like a discuss alternatives and ideas group. The other is more like a find your feet at LT group. So I think we are complementary.
64stellarexplorer
I'm sure their are many satisfied LT users here (like me), who would still be very interested in any conclusions you all come to, always looking for additional book resources and options to complement the present ones!
65pajarita
Certainly complimentary, bunwat. Thanks for the invite
And my own agenda includes a Community of Threads, a Community of Websites.
It appears that we started these two threads within hours of each other--blind to one another. But allies.
And my own agenda includes a Community of Threads, a Community of Websites.
It appears that we started these two threads within hours of each other--blind to one another. But allies.
67richardderus
>68 Sarah_loves_books: Now to make that idea travel. It's rough to get the idea of "different-but-good" spread around.
68Sarah_loves_books
Can I get an invite to the other Gramazon expats group, too, please?
69PMaranci
"Save us all from Amazon!" Otis bellowed in our ears.
And just fifteen months later, "We're all Amazon now, my dears!"
It could scan better and the meter's off, but I'll take what I can get. :-)
And just fifteen months later, "We're all Amazon now, my dears!"
It could scan better and the meter's off, but I'll take what I can get. :-)
70richardderus
*grumble*
71Vivl
Howdy folks, just wanted to pop by and introduce myself (briefly--busy few days coming up in the "real world", unfortunately!) I joined up a few days ago and have (I think!) recovered from most of my bewilderment, largely thanks to the helpful answers given to my endless silly questions in the "Welcome" threads. I'm feeling, in many ways, even more at home here than I did at Goodreads, which is not something I thought I'd be saying a few days ago.
72bunwat
That's excellent Vivl! I'll have to chat with you to cheer up when I start to feel disoriented.
73pajarita
Welcome, Vivl.
You are in an enviable position to feel at home so quickly.
I've always felt in my head, that is the correct attitude. But changes many times shake the soul; and home is redefined.
You are certainly welcome here.
You are in an enviable position to feel at home so quickly.
I've always felt in my head, that is the correct attitude. But changes many times shake the soul; and home is redefined.
You are certainly welcome here.
74Settings
Hello everyone! So far I'm liking LibraryThing much better than Goodreads. There are so many options, and everything is set up so logically. That's hard to do. I also love the Stats/Memes page.
One thing though... does LibraryThing have a Most Popular Books Published in... date page anywhere like Goodreads does? The Zeitgeist: Popularity pages aren't what I'm looking for. Neither is a tag search. (I know, wrong people to ask.)
Edit- I've been poking around in the options, and I just keep getting happier. They let you add common knowledge columns in the 'your books' display! They'll write APA citations! The most controversial (with statistics!) book I've read is Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung. There is a real attempt to branch away from just English, one of the most popular groups is Tea!...
One thing though... does LibraryThing have a Most Popular Books Published in... date page anywhere like Goodreads does? The Zeitgeist: Popularity pages aren't what I'm looking for. Neither is a tag search. (I know, wrong people to ask.)
Edit- I've been poking around in the options, and I just keep getting happier. They let you add common knowledge columns in the 'your books' display! They'll write APA citations! The most controversial (with statistics!) book I've read is Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung. There is a real attempt to branch away from just English, one of the most popular groups is Tea!...
76Settings
Ah, thanks a lot. I couldn't find lists for 2013 and 2012 so I made them. The 2013 one is empty now because I haven't read any 2013 books I could search for.
http://www.librarything.com/list/501/all/Favorite-Books-Published-in-2013
http://www.librarything.com/list/502/all/Favorite-Books-Published-in-2012
http://www.librarything.com/list/501/all/Favorite-Books-Published-in-2013
http://www.librarything.com/list/502/all/Favorite-Books-Published-in-2012
78overlycriticalme
>63 bunwat: bunwat - i'm trying to find my feet and think that your group could probably help this *extremely* unsavvy tech user. invite me if you're still reading this. and thanks!
79Settings
>77 PMaranci: It stands for American Psychological Society. I'm not exactly sure why the APA have their own citation style, but they do. In APA the date goes right after the authors at the beginning of the citation, as opposed to MLA where it goes after the publisher at the end of the citation. It's handy for things like scientific research papers or nonfiction where the date is very important.
80avatiakh
#76: I added a few books to your 2012 list to get it going and will link to both lists in the 75 book challenge group.
81Settings
>80 avatiakh:: You are an excellent person, thanks bunches.
82Scribble.Orca
Lurghying....
