Gardener's Group discussion

If anyone is getting a "please put your birthday in your profile to prove you are over 18 before you are able to participate" message when you try to click the link to this thread in my last group message, I did not have anything to do with this apparent new requirement from goodreads! I have no idea why it's doing it but I had to put my bday in my profile and then select "show to no one" before I could even participate in my own group!

Here is the inadequate explanation via the Goodreads Feedback Group re this unannounced change:

"message 15: by Patrick, Community Manager (new) 8 hours, 51 min ago
As you've already noticed, we made a few changes to how 18+ groups work tonight. The new requirement to be a member of an 18+ group is to input your birthday. We are doing this to prevent members who are under the age of 18 from joining groups designated for people 18 and older. Members who have not entered a date of birth proving them to be over 18 will not be able to view the content in the group (discussion boards, images, etc) or join the group.

Additionally, once a group is designated as 18+, only a Goodreads administrator will be able to remove that designation. If you'd like to have your group listed as acceptable for all ages, please let us know and we'll take care of that (provided there's no content unsuitable for under 18 year olds in your group). We will be posting some expanded moderator guidelines that cover all of this tomorrow, at which point we'll message every group moderator letting them know of the change. Sorry this snuck out before we could get the word out about the change. I apologize if it caused any confusion or inconvenience tonight."

I say inadequate because I've never physically put age restrictions on any of the groups I have created and/or moderate whether they are public or private! So this explanation makes no sense as this happened for at least one of my groups (Southern Lit Lovers) that I know of.

The only question really is why anyone is surprised at the inadequacy of the explanation (not slamming you Jo).

There is seldom an explanation, excuse or anything else for the idiotic things GR does. It gets worse every day.

I'm not surprised either, but this is the worst, I feel, so far to date. It's on par with how facebook does things and that disgusts me to no end. Especially because people will automatically think the group moderators made the change! That's why I sent group messages to all of the groups I moderate and posted this thread in those groups as well. I didn't have anything to do with this and I want everyone to know it's not my fault lol! Seriously though, puts us moderators in a very awkward position given we didn't have any prior notification this was going to happen and had to figure it out for ourselves before trying to tell group members what's going on.

I see your point Jo, but truly, it would never occur to me that you would be so, what can I say, stupid, thoughtless, arrogant, etc... You are not any of those and the last person I would blame would be you.

However, as I said on "feedback", anyone who puts in a true birthdate or any personal information is foolish. I always make something up; it's not GR's business.

Lol I do appreciate your faith in me, thank you!

I suppose I could see it via the point of view re liability w/groups that actually have adult content if there are groups like that on here I don't know.

Whole thing was poorly executed, apparently not tested prior to execution and a complete pain in the arse! (Excuse my language).

It was all a silly mistake, so they say on Feedback. Probably true, but to me, what is is just immaturity and lack of experience kicking in. And there's no cure for that except aging and working, I guess. But of course, I was perfect at that age :)

Aren't you now?

No, sadly; I am mature enough now to admit to (a few)(small) intellectual/character flaws. Not many, mind; most people don't even notice them, but I, being so completely self aware and in constant quest for perfection of mind, body, and spirit, am painfully aware of them. But they diminish as time passes and I hope that when I am 100 years of age, I will be completely perfect.

This examined life is all very well, but I think you need some chocolates (few) and maybe a glass of wine (small).

LMAO!!...Asking ladies for their BIRTHDAYS??!! GR had to know there would be Mass Hysteria and Rioting In The Streets!! LMAO!!

MissJessie wrote: "It was all a silly mistake, so they say on Feedback. Probably true, but to me, what is is just immaturity and lack of experience kicking in. And there's no cure for that except aging and working, I..."

Silly mistake my you know what lol!

James wrote: "LMAO!!...Asking ladies for their BIRTHDAYS??!! GR had to know there would be Mass Hysteria and Rioting In The Streets!! LMAO!!"

ROFL! James, you got that right!