ROBUST discussion

http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/4...

I've started a group on Goodreads for intellectual conversation. I'm just bored with gatekeepers on Amazon demanding that we dumb down everything to their level, with moderators elsewhere rushing around protecting drive-by shooters who should be put down for their own edification and everyone else's entertainment. Let's have some robust discussion.

ROBUST has no rules, none. Perhaps you won't like everything that happens there. But you'll like the space in which you expand yourself, and perhaps learn a little from others also expanding their personalities. ROBUST, in short, is a throwback to the time when authors and readers were all intellectuals, and together mighty, and fear did not stalk the creators.

Come join me at ROBUST and share the mind-food.

http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/4...

Pass this invitation on to your social network, blare it abroad on the fora and groups.

Sounds interesting. I've joined and I'm here.

As someone who's had some 'robust' discussions with yourself previously Andre, I'm definitely in...!

Seriously, good idea for a group. I like the idea about it being a "throwback to the time when authors and readers were all intellectuals".

I'll look around here a bit more when I've more time.

I know you are but what am I? Oh, sorry. Wrong group.

Great idea, Andre!

Thanks for setting up the cafe for us, Andre. But how intellectual do we have to be? I'm not sure I'm up to the standards you're setting. I fall more into the semi-conscious category.

Patricia Sierra wrote: "Thanks for setting up the cafe for us, Andre. But how intellectual do we have to be? I'm not sure I'm up to the standards you're setting. I fall more into the semi-conscious category."

I'm right there with you, Patricia!

Sjm, maybe we could be the audience.

But I do have credentials. I stayed at the Algonquin once.

Great idea! And growing quickly. Looking forward to interesting discussions.

I've got an idea for a topic, so I'll search for the best place here to post it.

Best wishes

Seb

We have to be intellectual to be here? Damn, my brain cells are currently inebriated. Not too much intellect there.

Reading this while I sit at my desk taking my blood pressure, I laughed so much, my blood pressure shot up. The moment is now recorded on the meter's electronic brain!

Nah, I was thinking not so much of high standards - I'd soon get caught out - but of making space for the potential which clearly exist to expand, without having to consider the snarks and the dumbers-down voting down your posts, or worse.

What I have in mind is a forum where we won't see too much of this sort of idiot (from a books discussion forum on Amazon!):

***
Jute said “It’s driving me nuts trying to think of the other two words I could have used that an educated person might have to look up.”

Wow. Now I know you’re going on my ignore list.
***

WTF is up with some of these larger than life websites with their censorship!

Virgoddes and I (amongst others) met online on a parenting website that split from one of the biggest a good few years ago due to unnecessary censorship and shutting down of "undesirable" threads. Then the new site went the same way. Since starting her own likeminded parenting / open topic website 2 years ago, it's been a catharsis of the online type. No more mother grundies standing behind you with a wooden slat to bash your fingers into submission because you actually have an opinion that makes more sense than the drivel spouted by everyone else.

A parenting website where non-standard views are welcomed? Just tell me where to click!

SJM you can find us here - http://themamasonline.com/

A bit of history there, we migrated from Babycenter to Pregnancy.org to TheMamas. If you follow parenting websites that is.

James wrote: "As someone who's had some 'robust' discussions with yourself previously Andre, I'm definitely in...!

Seriously, good idea for a group. I like the idea about it being a "throwback to the time when ..."

Nah, James, that was a limp squib. You and I were both looking over our shoulders at the moderators, who in fact shut that discussion down shortly afterwards. I rather liked the fellow who wrote in to say, a bit forlornly, that he was disappointed that we bugged out just when it was getting interesting.

The interesting thing was how much vicious mail arrived in my private mailbox from people who didn't have the balls to stand up and be counted, or who perhaps knew better how the moderators would react than you and I.

But, any time you want to discuss global warming, ROBUST is the place. There's a classicifation, "Rants", for exactly this sort of off-topic and over the top discussion.

Andre Jute wrote: But, any time you want to discuss global warming, ROBUST is the place. There's a classicifation, "Rants", for exactly this sort of off-topic and over the top discussion.

Ooooh global warming! Now that is a great topic to start off the day with!

I think I need to sharpen my arguments before we have a rematch on that particular one!

Maybe we should tackle something less controversial next time, like abortion or the Middle East?

James wrote: "I think I need to sharpen my arguments before we have a rematch on that particular one!

Maybe we should tackle something less controversial next time, like abortion or the Middle East?"

I think I am really going to like this group :D

James wrote: "I think I need to sharpen my arguments before we have a rematch on that particular one!

Maybe we should tackle something less controversial next time, like abortion or the Middle East?"

I'm laughing too hard to make a proper, outraged reply.

Claudine wrote: "SJM you can find us here - http://themamasonline.com/

A bit of history there, we migrated from Babycenter to Pregnancy.org to TheMamas. If you follow parenting websites that is."

Thanks Claudine. I'm come poke my head in. I'm familiar with Babycenter, but haven't ever participated in discussions there.

The name of this group has my stamp of approval.

I too have been in the line of fire over at Amazon discussion groups. It's not pretty.

Andre, how do you feel about book bloggers (i.e. moi) listing book reviews and interviews here at Robust? Is there a place for that content? If you'd rather I don't promote that sort of thing here, no worries.

Sjm wrote: "Andre, how do you feel about book bloggers (i.e. moi) listing book reviews and interviews here at Robust? Is there a place for that content? If you'd rather I don't promote that sort of thing here, no worries. ."

I feel good about bloggers, Sue, and if they come near enough my zimmer frame, I feel them good too.

Serious? No rules means no rules. I would be delighted if the book bloggers want to post notices with URLs of their reviews and interviews on ROBUST. In fact, when I made the Reviews folder
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/group_...
I had you in mind, Sue, by name and blog. I've been wondering why we've seen nothing from you in there. I'll also immediately make an Interviews folder where you and Christopher and others can post about interviews you conduct, and members can brag about interviews they gave.

Furthermore, you may publish a reference or a full review or interview so people can read it right here on ROBUST. This might also be a convenient place for those members who write only the occasional review or interview to post them.

Welcome to Cookie's Book Blog, the Summer Cottage.

Well, I didn't want to presume, but I figured you'd say that. You are a very accommodating host, Andre.

The Summer Cottage - love that! It conveys the pace of posting on my book blog very well, and I like the relaxing atmosphere that it implies (picture me like a duck - calm on the surface, feet fluttering like mad beneath the surface). - smiley face

Robust you say?

I thought you said "rotund". I was wondering how you knew. My diet has had it's issues lately. ;-)

LOL. Off on my bicycle now...

I think a ROTUND group is guaranteed about a thousand times as many members as a ROBUST group...

I'm a reader and not a very intellectual one at that. I wanted to introduce myself and say that I am looking forward to wandering around the site!

You're going to die laughing. Our number one preoccupation is food.

...and drink.


Hic!

What Katie did-- sorry, I mean said.

Nah. I'm more interested in the meaning of life.

I thought food and drink was the meaning of life. Damn, 51 years wasted!

I agree with you, Katie. And the farmers, loyal, hardworking producers of food and drink, should have special tax privileges. The EU is based on that principle, and is a very civilised place.

The meaning of life is 42.

That's right.

So long, and thanks for all the fish.

Nice to see everyone back at their intellectual pursuits...

Charlene, welcome! We love to see readers! Please join in the discussions.

Patricia wrote: "The meaning of life is 42."

Huh. I'll be finding the meaning of life next year then.

Hi Charlene!

I knew the man who said that. He didn't have the answer either, though he had a lot of fun not admitting it.

Claudine, I've been there, done that, and did not get enlightened.

I'm still looking for my zen moment Patricia. I thought I found it the other day but it was only bad indigestion.

Hmm - I think some of you need to read "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" where the answer to 'Life the Universe and Everything' is 42.

The fourth book in the Trilogy is 'So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!'

I thought y'all were real literary types - y'all haven't read HGG? For SHAME!

8)

My favourite trilogy. Does that mean I'm literate now? :)

Discriminating. Soon "literate" will be a swear-word applied to elitists. Progressive schools will teach thum-rite.

Geeks will always know the strangest greatest works of pop culture.

LOL

I like not having rules to dictate how I have to comport myself. I also like brains.

Not in that zombie way.

Ick.

Mathew wrote: "I like not having rules to dictate how I have to comport myself. I also like brains.

Not in that zombie way.

Ick."

LOL. Not zombies and brains--always a good thing.

Mathew wrote: "I like not having rules to dictate how I have to comport myself. I also like brains."

We had a rule once. But it took one look at us and flew away. People mistook it for a moth from my wallet.

Andre Jute wrote: "Mathew wrote: "I like not having rules to dictate how I have to comport myself. I also like brains."

We had a rule once. But it took one look at us and flew away. People mistook it for a moth from..."

LOL. A moth from your wallet eh? That's rather shiver-inducing image!

Andre Jute wrote: "Mathew wrote: "I like not having rules to dictate how I have to comport myself. I also like brains."

We had a rule once. But it took one look at us and flew away. People mistook it for a moth from..."

We had a rule?? That must have been before I joined.

I wasn't even there when it happened, Constable.