If ita says: No new threads, we can't do that.

Then no new threads.

well uh, ita is not the boss of the board.

If she says load is too heavy and we are gonna crash. Bet your bottom that I will propose closing down several threads so that Natter can stay up.

In terms of technical issues? I think she is.

If she said "I don't want any new threads" that would be different from "The board can't take any more threads."

Or if she decided to say it like Scotty, "The board canna take any more, Captain!"

And what about the argument (though it was in reference to a general tv thread, I think it applies) that general discussions make the conversation unweildy?

I think that this is more on the order of people multitasking in show thread when specific subdiscussions are going on. Like, Poster A is sighing over the angsty hotness of Wes; Posters B and C are arguing about the gender implications of the Wes/Fred romance; Posters D and E are asking the heavens why on earth Spike can't be integrated into the show better, etc.

I'm not actually convinced a book club will be successful, but that's more about the commitment required for people to participate. And if it does work, and/or encourage more in-depth discussion of both assigned and nonassigned books in Literary, then I think that's a success.

I'm speaking up because I, like Consuela and some others, get the distinct impression Literary is being portrayed as something that needs to be left behind for substantive discussion to take place -- and I take issue with that. We've had some regular Lit posters say they *don't* feel comfortable with in-depth analysis, which I entirely support their right to say -- but I'll also say the same thing I say in show threads, which is that I still feel entitled to engage in it.

There's also a set of regular Lit posters who have said they would welcome more substantive discussion taking place.

[edited to clarify what I was responding to]

well uh, ita is not the boss of the board.

No, but I trust her as Chief Engineer about our technical resources.

and letting democracy have its sway are kind of my take on it.

well sure and no one has proposed not taking it to vote.

In terms of technical issues? I think she is.

I'd still say no. She reports things and the whole community decides what to do about it. Now, the fact that most of us do not have the technical skills to code or fix the board, that limits our options.

Oh, and I've been meaning to post : [link]

some thoughts on online book groups as well as some links to some.

I don't think ita is saying that we're facing imminent collapse or even near-future collapse. Just that we may be top-heavy with threads when we switch from a dedicated server, and she's not going to support the creation of any new threads that may contribute to this potential top-heaviness. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Well, I do what she tells me, because she scares me.

I suppose if she got into a technical smackdown with Gud and DX, I'd have to pick. What a terrible thought.

In a show thread we are all working from the same text, so I don't think it's the same thing as your example. Which is why I feel like literary isn't the place for it- not because of the attitudes or preferences, but because it's a general thread.

oh Dana, fight with her, it's fun.