It also seems to me (I could be remembering my own emotional reactions, rather than actual history) that I don't hear much in way of the anti-proliferationist philosophy, when the proposed thread is one that personally interests the more hardline anti-proliferationists.

Speaking just for myself, I've pretty much given up arguing the anti-proliferationist line in here. If/When I want to commit the energy to it, I'll argue it on principle in B'cy, but in here, it seems to mostly fall on deaf ears, which makes it not worth my time.

On a slightly related note, after more thought, I do think that the Book Club could be integrated successfully with the existing Literary thread, in the same way that the drabbles work within GWW and the Foamies (used to) work within movies. The more I think about it, the more it feels like a project than a new thread.

I think it could be done in-thread, Jess, but I do think the current thread would lose some of what makes it useful now, and I'd rather have both, frankly. Also, given the hubbub last week that sparked this discussion, I'm not really comfortable essentially repurposing that thread (from its actual use, if not its stated mission).

I want to do this. I think there'll need to be quite a bit of discussion and refinement and maybe trial and error to find what set-up works best for us, and that too will work better in the context of a dedicated thread. A few people have noted that online book clubs can be complicated things. I think we'll have a better shot at putting this together in a way that really adds something to the community if it has the space in which to grow and mutate.

Since we have closed threads, currently used threads, threads that people are attached to, in order to grapple with resource issues, I don't see that we're incapable of doing so again if need be. But I also don't see that, with basically every show-thread show off the air, this one would be likely to either cause or solve usage problems.

On a slightly related note, after more thought, I do think that the Book Club could be integrated successfully with the existing Literary thread, in the same way that the drabbles work within GWW and the Foamies (used to) work within movies. The more I think about it, the more it feels like a project than a new thread.

Wolfram, please see the above from Jess. I know you want to work out the thread particulars if and when the thread passes. But I'm wondering what you (and/or Heather) had in mind. Are you thinking of a once a period (month, week, whatever) conversation, only after all the participants are all done with a given book, or an ongoing and weekly-to-daily type of conversation, as we progress through the book?

What if we tried it once in the current Lit thread to actually see what kind of havoc it caused? Then we'd have proof to satisfy the anti-proliferationists. Jessica brings up a good point about the drabbles. They've worked fine in-thread.

What about an agreed-on post heading to distinguish Book Club posts from ordinary Lit thread posts. Something to flag non-club members on by while skimming? Likewise, there could be a post heading for Lit-thread posts, so Club members could bypass, if they're only keeping up with Club posts. Maybe color-coded eye-cues? Everyone would have to agree and remember to use them, though.

Actually, I think it's a rather silly idea, and I think the Book Club thread is the simplest way to go. I think a coda to close the thread for lack of activity is overkill, too. Start it, if it doesn't get traffic, close it.

On a slightly related note, after more thought, I do think that the Book Club could be integrated successfully with the existing Literary thread, in the same way that the drabbles work within GWW and the Foamies (used to) work within movies. The more I think about it, the more it feels like a project than a new thread.

I don't know what the drabbles are, and IIRC the Foamies were a once-a-year thing. Which leads me to...

But I'm wondering what you (and/or Heather) had in mind. Are you thinking of a once a period (month, week, whatever) conversation, only after all the participants are all done with a given book, or an ongoing and weekly-to-daily type of conversation, as we progress through the book?

I can't speak for Heather. What I envisioned was a continuing discussion of a specific work which would mean, for the most part, on any given day there would be a book under discussion as well as a book or books assigned for reading for the next discussion. I don't think the Literary folk would appreciate their thread being hijacked just to hammer out the details of book club, much less, to actually hold book club on a regular basis.

I don't know what the drabbles are

Every week, Teppy suggests a theme to be drabbled (one-hundred-word pieces), and we drabble. The drabbles get drabbled, and regular GWW discussion has gone on unimpaired.

I am aware that this is a rather tactless question, and that it will likely raise some heckles. But I want to know the answer, so I'm going to ask it anyway. If there are any flames, they can fall on me.

The Book Club idea was first floated in the midst of a heated kerfuffle in the Literary thread. It seemed, to me, to be a proposal intended to give each side of the kerfuffle its own discussion space.

What I'm still unclear on is, to put it as bluntly as possible, which side goes where? Did people want to move the litcrit to the Book Club thread and leave Literary to the anti-intellectuals, or the other way around?

It seemed, to me, to be a proposal intended to give each side of the kerfuffle its own discussion space.

I didn't see it that way at all. I saw it as a sidebar to the kerfuffle.

I didn't see it that way at all. I saw it as a sidebar to the kerfuffle.

The WGA would give it an "Inspired by" credit.