Science and Inquiry discussion

David and I would like some feedback on the Science and Inquiry Group. We have more than 1,000 members, but there seems to be a core group that participates in discussions. Some months are better than others, but it rarely exceeds 100. And the most active are probably much fewer.

Are you getting what you want? Are you content with the level of activity? If not, what would you like to see? More science news? More variety in the book club reads? More discussion of current science issues? Are you happy with the book discussions?

We welcome any ideas, but if you want more, you may need to participate more. It's not so much that we're dissatisfied with the way things are going, we just want to make sure you're not unhappy.

I will just say that my participation has been very limited lately just due to life getting in the way. I don't have any needs or wants but am following along.

Thanks, Kenny. I hope people don't think I'm criticizing the lack of participation. I know all of you have lives and many of you have jobs that take time. And I do not think there's anything wrong with just lurking/monitoring if that's what you want.

We just want to make sure we're doing all that we can for the group members.

I didn't take it that way at all Betsy, I'm just embarrassed that I don't have more time to dedicate.

I love the books that have been chosen for the group reads, I just haven't had the time lately to join in. I'm finishing up a Masters Degree (full time internship) and teaching at the local Uni. so my time is in very short supply. After graduation I hope to participate more.

I am in a similar boat to Catherine. I'm currently dealing with grad school full time and that doesn't leave me a lot of time to participate in many groups. So I wind up only looking at a few things in the differing groups I'm in, but don't participate as much in any of them.

Betsy wrote: "David and I would like some feedback on the Science and Inquiry Group. We have more than 1,000 members, but there seems to be a core group that participates in discussions. Some months are better..."

Hi Betsy & David! I do not always post, nor do I read each and every month's read, but I do read everybody else's posts on a daily basis and make decisions about what to next read based on that. I do feel that I get a lot out of the group and like its present direction and liveliness.

I might add that reading more science (and less junky fiction) is one of my goals, but I also enjoy reading a lot of history and I spend a lot of time on other pursuits such as my family, friends, travel and playing chamber music. I am fortunate to be retired and can pretty much do what I want when I want. Some months I'm more into reading science than others.

I almost always do the group reads, but I'm more of an observer than an active participant. Having said that, I have gotten great responses and lots of help the few times that I have posted a question/comment. I do read almost all of the posts whether I comment on them or not. I love being a part of this group, and my only complaint, (and it's not so much of a complaint really as a comment,) is that sometimes I feel a little "intimidated" to join in some of the discussions because I love science, but I am also very religious, and I feel like some of the discussions are difficult for a "religious" person to participate in without being labeled as a "mindless" follower. As I said, it's not really a complaint, because I understand that this type of discussion is bound to take place in a science forum, but it might just be something to be aware of. (And let me reiterate that I really do enjoy being a member of this group, so I apologize if I offend anyone with this post.)

I've been watching this discussion from a distance, but I couldn't help not participating and posting something after I read Eric's comment.

Eric, first of all, I'm far from being religious. I'm very critical of religion, but I still think it's so fascinating and profound. If a certain discussion in this forum seems to you to contain religious or theological aspects, please jump in and comment. We need that dialectical nature (thesis/anti-thesis) to characterize our discussions in order to gain any benefit.

I don't see how anyone would be offended by your comment above. There's no need to apologize, man! If our readings/discussions of books and science don't open our minds to welcome different opposing opinions, then why do we read? Thank you.

Thank you Ali. I appreciate your reply, and it encourages me to be more responsive in the future.

Ditto, Ali. I too am not religious. I'm and atheist, an agnostic and a secular humanist (yes, they are not mutually exclusive). I would hope that in a scientific forum we can be respectful of everyone's beliefs whether we agree with them or not. So, Eric, I think it is great that you are part of this group and it is more likely that one of us is going to say something that offends you. By that I mean in the way we say it, not what we say, and in that regard I apologize if I ever say anything disrespecful of your beliefs. Please do join in the discussion whenever you feel like it.

As for Betsy and David's question, I love this group. it is by far the most active of the GoodReads groups that I belong to. I am not a scientist and unfortunately do not have any friends with a strong interest in science so this is about the only place I can ask questions and express my opinions with a group of people with similar interests.

Like Sandra I am retired and have lots of free time to read and participate in the discussions, perhaps more than some of you would like!

The only thing I would suggest is that new topics such as this one, and the poll for the next book of the month be given a priority asterisk so that they pop up on the group's discussion board summary. Sometimes you don't have the time when you first receive an email notification about a new topic or poll to immediately go check it out. If you, like I do, periodically check the discussion board summary, topics like this one are not shown unless given priority by the moderators. Perhaps we would get more votes on the monthly book selection if it were thus listed. This was being done before, but the last poll that pops up is the one from February.

Other than that minor suggestion, I think it's a wonderful group and I am thankful to be allowed to participate.

Thanks for the comments everyone. Steve, the reminder to "asterisk" certain discussions is a good one; I sometimes forget to do this. Going now to check.

As for the polls, I asterisk the actual poll so that it show up at the top on the "polls" page. However, I haven't been doing a separate thread in the polls discussion folder. I don't think that has been typical. But, I could do that if people would prefer.

Eric wrote: "I almost always do the group reads, but I'm more of an observer than an active participant. Having said that, I have gotten great responses and lots of help the few times that I have posted a ques..."

Eric, I too am very religious and have shared your feelings on some of the threads. I appreciate the positive comments made by those of us that are not religious, and I actually feel more welcomed now.

Hi Betsy/David

Like many people I don't always get time to post/engage deeply, but I do follow what's going on and find the general set up is fine. Thanks for spending the time to keep the group going.

I'm interested in science-related books, but I have so many other books to read that I haven't yet had a chance to participate in a group read. In most of my book groups (all on Goodreads), my participation in a group read depends on what book is being read--if it's a book I want to read, and if I can fit it into my reading schedule, then I'll join in. Otherwise, I just read what others say, and if the book seems interesting, add it to my to-read list for later (much later).

As for the other discussions in the group, I read them, but don't really feel like I have anything to add, so I just lurk :)

Tiffany, I hear you. I have trouble keeping up with the group reads. There are so many books I want to read and these days I seem to have trouble finding reading time. But I don't feel like I have to read every group read. Even as a moderator.

Lurking is fine, just don't limit yourself unnecessarily if you do have something to add.

Eric and Kathy,
Please feel free to join the discussions. Many books have little or nothing to say on religion, like this month's book. Others like February's The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values would be great for you to comment on. Having a different take or different opinion about a book is the whole point of a book club. This agnostic-atheist would like to hear yours.

I read varying genres, so I only pop in when I'm reading science books. Since I pop into so many other forums, I often don't get notifications of response to my posts. I usually contribute to groups that are active in general banter, since I developed a friendship with those people. For example, I don't always read horror, but I often pop in there to chitchat and to tell them about my non-horror books. Sometimes someone have read the same non-horror book, and we'll end up with a mini-discussion. I noticed that groups that are more relaxed with a great sense of humor usually have active, enthusiastic people. Not that I'm saying that this group is uptight or anything....LOL.

After a brief hiatus due to a total breakdown of my kindle and end of school year chaos I am trying to get caught back up. I have a galaxy tab now and am reading (finally) the book about mitochondria.

I enjoy the discussions whether I participate or not and appreciate David's and Betsy's shepherding of the group. I'm sure at times they must feel like they are herding cats. Lots of meandering, but that's not a bad thing.

Yes, but I love cats.

Thomas Tipton O'Neil the Third:
http://kacweb.com/images/tipton.jpg

I'm a computer nerd, and my current interests lie heavily in that area, so perhaps a lot of the discussion here is fairly off-topic for me, but I enjoy it anyway, especially when it veers towards math/physics. There's a wealth of knowledge and good books here, and that's great. Keep doing what you do. :)

Don't get a lot of time to participate in the discussions but this is a great resource for finding books I want to read. If only I had the time to read them!

Glynn wrote: "Don't get a lot of time to participate in the discussions but this is a great resource for finding books I want to read. If only I had the time to read them!"

Now that is the problem! I try to read with the group every couple of months.

Glynn wrote: "Don't get a lot of time to participate in the discussions but this is a great resource for finding books I want to read. If only I had the time to read them!"

I'm with you, Glynn & Kathy. I count myself lucky if I'm able to join 3 or four of the group reads a year. But there are just so many things I want to read and I can't keep up with all of them.