"Fifty Shames of Earl Grey"

Yulie · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 1045 Location: Elsewhere

My two cents, as this thread has veered into OT territory, making my comment relevant:

I have not posted here in several months, for much the same reasons that Eliza, Kristie and Rosario have articulated. I thought that in many ways my silence, and that of others, spoke for itself; but I'm no longer sure it has - so let me be very clear:

1. AAR has been a tremendous resource and community in the past. At the moment, I feel it is going in the wrong direction in both respects. This is not irreversible.

2. However, AAR cannot be improved if management continues to be so completely uninterested and non-receptive to feedback, suggestions and criticism. Sandy's contributions to this thread are an example of this. The blog post some months ago asking for feedback and "how AAR is doing' is another. Any comment that is not of the "AAR is the bestest" variety is either ignored or shot down; there was never any followup to that blog post, for instance, despite people taking the time to make some very good suggestions.

3. Yes, it is your website to do with as you see fit. But if your goal - as per Sandy's comment in the past - is not to develop content, and the forums have become narrow in focus and enjoyable to few, what exactly is AAR management trying to accomplish? More page views?

4. I'm not surprised that Kristie and Rosario have weighed in. Both are successful and interesting bloggers, and AAR, especially the forums, has had a distinct anti-blog vibe for some time. It's unpleasant for bloggers, and it's unpleasant for blog readers. Not all of us view AAR as a one-stop place for romance news and views.

5. I'm a regular on other forums, and I know snark when I see it. The problem with the AAR forums is not that they've become snarky; at least snark can be funny. What's going on here is a small number of people who choose to be unpleasant to others and take over the discussion, which is not at all the same thing. I also feel that the forums are not moderated as well as they could be.

6. The use of the word flounce conjures drama queens and two year olds having a tantrum. The people who have expressed critical views in this thread are neither. It would be much easier to just ignore AAR, but many of us are long-time readers and posters who are concerned about where this website is heading. This sort of involvement should be welcomed, not dismissed.

7. AAR has done a lot of good work over the years, and has been a gateway to the romance community for many of us. AAR management was given a great brand and resource when Laurie Gold left. Don't throw it away.

If my post is tl;dr for anyone, I understand. But I feel this needed to be said.

Sandy AAR · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 443

Yulie,

Where have I said that AAR does not want to develop new content? That is certainly not true and I am most sorry that you have gotten that impression.

And I am happy to be the whipping girl for "what's wrong with AAR," but, honestly, all three of us work full-time in addition to AAR so we do all we do in our spare time. I can assure you that suggestions are certainly taken seriously and plans for new content are underway, as are plans to update the Special Title Lists. It just takes time. More time than you would like, obviously, but there it is. We all have jobs.

I am sorry that the word "flounce" offended you, but we certainly have our share of drama queens at AAR and I thought the word apt.
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Sandy AAR
Publisher and Senior Editor

Anne_Gresley · Joined: 31 May 2010 Posts: 40

What you actually said was:

Sandy AAR · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 443

Linda in sw va · Joined: 27 Mar 2007 Posts: 4707

Ok, if you saw my last reply I've deleted it to comply with Sandy's request to move on.

Linda
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Yulie · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 1045 Location: Elsewhere

Sandy AAR · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 443

Yes, as one of the site owners, I do not feel as if this thread is the appropriate place for a discussion about what's wrong with AAR.

Let's get back on topic.

Edited to add: I just started a new thread on Potpourri for anyone with suggestions on how AAR could work better.

http://www.likesbooks.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=10484
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Sandy AAR
Publisher and Senior Editor

janet w · Joined: 11 May 2007 Posts: 363

I'm not sure where to post, here, in the new Potpourri thread or over at the 50Shades thread.

Here goes nothing -- just some random thoughts --

1. The complaints about the endless 50Shades threads at the top of the board. Let's be fair: it's hard to find a blog or a website or an anything anywhere that isn't talking about 50Shades. Yesterday NBC talked about the Australian women's swim team reading the books, before switching to Victoria Beckham mentioning she had given the book to her mum. Heroes and Heartbreakers, Happily Ever After ... fill in the blank and insert the Big Box Blog you read most frequently, they all have a 50Shades article or post or mention every day or so.

2. AAR has had an occasional 50Shades blog but the comments are written by users, me included. Has anyone forgotten the Suz Brockmann thread that went to 168 pages? The only reason AAR keeps chopping up the thread is to make it more manageable.

3. AAR has a variety of folks who manage the site and write the reviews. I've been slapped down (that is a METAPHOR!) a few times. So what -- I pulled up my big girl panties, attempted to understand what I had done wrong--or what I had done that wasn't in accordance with how things work--and moved on.

4. Censorship is something I don't like and telling people what they can continue to talk about and write about is not something I like (other than fire in a crowded buildling). Obviously tons of people are interested in the 50Shades phenom--I know I am. Who will direct, who will star, blah blah blah. I'm interested in other things too. But I like the comments and I read them.

5. So what's the problem?

Edited to fix spelling mistake

Eliza · Joined: 21 Aug 2011 Posts: 718

Linda in sw va · Joined: 27 Mar 2007 Posts: 4707

[quote="Eliza"]

xina · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 6628 Location: minneapolis

Thanks for your post Janet. You've given us food for thought.
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Kristie(J) · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 10:52 am Post subject:

Lea AAR · Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 403 Location: Oklahoma

I'm locking this thread as well since we have long ceased talking about Fifty Shames of Earl Grey. Please start a new thread if you want to discuss the book.
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Lea AAR

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