Anarchist & Radical Book Club discussion

I posted this in the thread here, but I didn't want it to get buried in the lively discussion going on.
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Dan wrote: "I think the moderator is in Africa and might have an unreliable Internet connection. Oh no, a bunch of anarchists without a leader!"

That is correct!

Hi all, I am so sorry to have dropped the ball on this but life adventures (+ shitty internet + lack of library access) got in the way of intellectual ones. I am really happy to share the facilitation of this group with other members, though!

I would love to open this space to more people facilitating provocative discussions and group reads. Specifically, I would hope for more facilitators who invite sharing and discussion, who bring in more perspectives and interests, and get more people participating. I admit I'm concerned about people using the admin role to shut others down or dominate conversations. I also am invested in keeping this a space for discussion on topics as defined on the group homepage: "intersecting movements for mutual aid, direct action, and the dismantling of oppressive hierarchies."

Got an idea for a good way to choose admins? I don't have time to moderate the group but I can make a point to check this space and edit the internal workings to pass the reins to someone(s) else.

I have also been massively absent as of late having taken on part-time study and some sporting endeavours.

Given that I have all but ceased reading anything other than textbooks it would be good to bow out to someone capable of steering the group and moderating it.

Bump.

It would be a shame for the group to fall into disrepair because of a lack of someone coming forward. Lots of people who I have befriended from the group are still reading books and posting and its almost no additional extra commitment than that.

If anyone would want to lead off on a particular book, just let me know.

I'll step forward as a moderator. Lay the flat of the blade on my shoulder, my liege.

Duly noted. I will open that for feedback from others and from Tinea.

Running a consensus, prefiguative political bookgroup through an Internet forum is obviously problematic. We could try and mitigate against that by adding a few mods/facilitators, or seeing if we could get a few people keen to take the group forward.

What are the essential tasks for the moderator here, proposing new reads? setting up polls?

The one thing to bear in mind (in my opinion) is that its still just the internet, rather than something real.

Facilitating book choices and discussions while being semi-regularly attentive to the group - in the main. As one of the few radical groups on goodreads it would be a shame to fall semi-dead. We were considerably more active when we were a fraction of our current size.

If there is no yearning for it, then it's no loss, but there is a plethora of people reading radical stuff and it helps to discuss its application in real life. It also fills in your knowledge gaps and sometimes unpicks your assumptions by going over things...

There is also the small matter of trolls and spammers which needs picking up from time to time.

On the understanding that the group continues in the same vein it was setup and has run, I am happy to show goodwill and add the the three of you - if you're interested?

Tinea set the group up, but given the group has expanded considerably since that time it would be great if it had a bit more dynamism and input....