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Originally Posted by issybird
It's kind of the point of a book club, isn't it? To discuss books you've read? ...
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I would say it is a point, it is not necessarily the point. That would depend on what the members of the particular book club want. IMO, I like the MR Book Club the way it is: Nominating, voting, no dictatorship (just about everything is decided by poles); and there is also a thread for discussing the book chosen for a particular month, which is nice for those who like that sort of thing. I like that there is no bias in the process for "active members".
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... But to respond to the first sentence in your post, I've got two related reasons. I'm going to adapt a popular slogan of my youth, and ask, "What if you gave a book club and nobody came?" Sometimes I think we get perilously close to the point where people nominate and vote, but nobody comes to the discussion. I admit I get a little frustrated by this at times. There can be good reasons for a poster not to show up in a particular month (and I don't always show up myself and sometimes my reason isn't good, or even perceivable to me, The Man Who Would Be King being a case in point). The problem, as I see it, is that if few enough people show up most months, even the semi-regulars will be less inclined to bother. Because if there's not going to be a real discussion, again, what's the point? ...
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And I don't see this as a problem ("if nobody comes" (to the discussion)). So what? We would still get a lot of great books, people can still nominate, discuss during the nomination, vote, and have discussions during the vote.
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... The second reason is courtesy. If I nominate/vote for a book or books and I'd like other people to read and discuss them if they win, then I feel a certain obligation to follow through in turn even if my choices lose. Otherwise, it smacks to me of the kid who won't play if he doesn't get his way in every particular. Granted, the slate can seem like pretty dire reading at times to people of certain tastes, and this is why I'm glad of the new slate for next year, so that people who have felt disaffected by the current topics will get the book club they want. This sense of obligation is why lately I haven't nominated or voted in months when I think I'm unlikely to read the choice. By my lights, it's not fair of me to try to influence the outcome if I'm not likely to participate. The people who are going to discuss the book should determine the choice. Again, I fully acknowledge that I don't always follow through, despite sterling intentions. Sometimes the selection is a book I know I can't stand or not good enough to reread or it's just too long - these are my usual reasons. ...
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IMO, I disagree (with the bolded/italics part). I value all the participants nominations and/or votes and/or discussion.
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... I think this is perfect as a welcoming message. It can be daunting to join in and voting or nominating can be a great way to stick your toe in. I'd like to see a few of those newbies convert to participants, however, most especially when a book they've voted for wins. Ultimately, and this is, again, just my opinion, a book club is participation and not a performance, where the few discuss the books selected by the many. Tom can boot me for saying this if he wants. I'm not agitating for a change in the rules, but I am pointing to the elephant in the corner. ...
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To me, the elephant in the room is that some people want to steer the MR Book Club in a direction that the Club doesn't want based on a couple of vocal participants.
Tom isn't going to boot anyone for expressing their opinion. The problem, IMO, is
thinking he will, and people continuing to want him to make unilateral decisions. It is going to be very interesting (for me) to see the direction the club will take when Tom quits and a new Club administrator is "chosen".
How many times does Tom need to say "let the nominations/voting decide" before people get the message.
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...  To employ another overused phrase, "it is what it is." I know I'm free to participate or not along with everyone else to the extent that works for me and that's fine.
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I agree completely.