by William M.
Member since:
July 31, 2006

Too many groups?

September 05, 2006 09:07 AM UTC
views: 0 | comments: 34

Are we getting too many groups or is more better?

I will join any group which I share an interest in. The main thing that concerns me is when someone I like starts a group I have no interest in. I do not want to hurt anyones feelings, especially someone I like. I don't feel right joining groups I have no interest in.

 

Comments: 34

Janet B. Sep 5, 2006, 9:17am UTC
Just join what interest you. For instance I like Maxine. You may not. Don't feel like you have to join my group. I understand.
But at 1st I was joining all for the same reason as you. Not to hurt feelings. Well now I pick the ones I like and go from there.
I wish we could delete groups also. So we could eliminate some.
Thats another group lol
Lori Cee Sep 5, 2006, 9:21am UTC
its hard to believe that groups are still being started as there is already an overabundance of groups available for every topic imaginable. i wonder how many of these groups were started just on the basis that there was a comment or image published in a member's previous group that they didnt agree with....
Vikki M. Sep 5, 2006, 9:25am UTC
I think having a wide variety of groups is a good thing but I also think that there can be an overload of them as well. I started one group and that's it. I didn't invite anyone to it at all and figured that if people wanted to find it, they could. I also feel bad about declining on group invites but I've gotten so many lately that are topics that I have no interest in. So I decline and try not to worry about hurting someone's feelings.
Janet B. Sep 5, 2006, 9:27am UTC
I think its because everyone wants to have there very own Group to post and tend to everyday. They look forward to it. Joining is fine to but when you have a favorite interest you want to share your thoughts first and have people respond to you and share your thoughts first.
I don't see why its that hard to believe since new members are coming every day. They jump right in making Groups and tags that interest them
Anyway That's why I think there are so many of the same groups.
William M. Sep 5, 2006, 9:32am UTC
Thanks for the great comments. I guess I'll see what everyone has to say and decide on each group itself. No Jacob, I was not talking about you.
Kathryn Flynn Sep 5, 2006, 10:00am UTC
Tom Gerace said a week ago there are 3,000 groups on Gather..Whew ! I must have about 200, most of which I actually have never published too. I, too, don't like to decline, but sometimes I know I will never have the opportunity to take advantage of what the group offers...

It is OK not to accept.
Barbara F. Sep 5, 2006, 10:03am UTC
I'd like to know the advantage of starting a group...I'd like to know the advantage of a lot of things here on the site...so much of it makes me confused
Donald H. Sep 5, 2006, 10:06am UTC
Gather cannot have too many groups...but....a Gather memebr can belong to too many....! Periodically I wedd thru my groups. if I have not been to the group in 45 days or more it goes by the wayside. Some groups I join observe for a few days then leave.
Marianne R. Sep 5, 2006, 10:11am UTC
There are a ton of topics that have no group at all and then multiple groups that are too much alike they should be merged.

As an example, I read about 2 novels a week. None of the book groups even mention any of the autthors I read, including the pop fiction. So IMO, there should be another group for those types of books.

I'm sure this applies to other areas as well.
William M. Sep 5, 2006, 10:33am UTC
Kathryn, thanks.

Barbara, I'm still fairly new and don't have all the answers. I think you get some points for starting a group.

Donald, you might have the best answer.

I agree with you, Marianne. Most of the things I have seen on books are not about books I read. After joining Gather I don't read as much.
Selene N. Sep 5, 2006, 11:04am UTC
Donald - Sorry but a little disagreement there.... I think Gather.com 'can' have too many groups. Sometimes I am a little .... I don't know, frustrated, maybe? At how many duplicate groups there are. I think there are a few possibilities for that. One being members jump right into creating groups without searching for existing groups. Two being members trying to earn more points for themselves so they did not care if there is already an existing group. I don't see why we need so many duplicate groups. Unfortunately there isn't a way (or a good way) to restrict group creation. Otherwise I think all the duplicate groups should be consolidated. I myself have only created 2 groups so far, and I always searched with multiple key words and make sure there isn't a group already there on the same topic.
William M. Sep 5, 2006, 11:08am UTC
A good comment, Selene. Thanks.
Robin B. Sep 5, 2006, 11:22am UTC
I am new to Gather and I am still trying to learn how to access the different groups. I started my group out of an inspiration and need to have an outlet to express myself. It is wonderful to be able to share with others with the same interests. I didn't realize how large this site is.
William M. Sep 5, 2006, 11:28am UTC
I appreciate the comment Alicia.

Robin, look at the tags on the left of the screen. When you click on the tags, you also get related tags. You can also do a search.
Sonia M. Sep 5, 2006, 1:34pm UTC
I think one reason there are so many groups and some that slightly overlap or are even duplicates is that there is not an index of groups to be found at Gather......At least I haven't found one yet and believe, I have hunted!
William M. Sep 5, 2006, 1:36pm UTC
Maybe that is something Gather will take up, Sonia.
Stephanie A. (On vacation) Sep 5, 2006, 3:03pm UTC
I think people just send an invite to their new group to all of their connections. There is no need to feel bad about not joining. If you have no interest in the group, there is no need to join.
William M. Sep 5, 2006, 3:09pm UTC
Thanks, Stephanie.
Shaunee C. Sep 5, 2006, 5:21pm UTC
I't fine by me.I am the same way.I have 2 groups I started but if someones not interested I understand.
Julie L. Sep 5, 2006, 5:29pm UTC
I think you should join what interests you and decline what doesnt.i mean if everyone of us joined the exact same groups there would be nothing new to read. I started a group for people whose spouses are in Iraq after i searched and could not find one. I don't expect everyone i am connected to to join.and if i invite someone and they don't join then that is fine too, if people get their feelings hurt because you don't want to join a group that you have no interest in then they arent really being your friend. because a true friend would understand that you didnt join because you aren't interested. and if that person gets their feelings hurt then they are taking things too personally.
William M. Sep 5, 2006, 6:33pm UTC
You make good sense, Julie. Thank you.
William M. Sep 5, 2006, 7:13pm UTC
I can understand. Thanks for the comment. It is good to find out what other people think.
Mary R Sep 5, 2006, 7:14pm UTC
there are too many groups because I am getting so much gather mail I can hardly read it all sometimes it takes me all day to get through it and whikle I am reading it it keeps coming. it seems endless
John S. (arizona) Sep 5, 2006, 7:17pm UTC
I don't know how current this is, but you guys might want to check out "groupdirectory.gather.com", it's a list of current(?) groups.
William M. Sep 5, 2006, 7:23pm UTC
Mary, I understand. I try to read comments by everyone connected to me and that alone is hard too do. If and when I have time I go to articles published by the groups I am in.

Thanks for the info, John. I need to do that.
Miz Lynn aka/BooBoo Sep 5, 2006, 10:00pm UTC
I've joined quite a few groups but what bugs me the most is something totally not pertaining to the group..this really turns me off!

Also, I'm thinking if we "decline", I don't think the owner even gets a message that we did. Not sure about that though...thought I read it on here in a "group"...:))
William M. Sep 5, 2006, 11:17pm UTC
I'm not sure either, Lynn. If it a small group they will know anyway.
Selene N. Sep 5, 2006, 11:26pm UTC
Lynn, you are correct. If the invitee declines, there is no message sent back to the inviter. Unless the inviter keeps track of whom has been invited, he/she will never know.
William M. Sep 6, 2006, 12:35am UTC
Thanks for the new information, Selene.
Sonia M. Sep 7, 2006, 12:40pm UTC
Lynn, I feel the same way. Some people will just post the same article to ALL the groups in which they are members, whether it fits in or not. I try to be careful where I place my articles to make sure they fit....I might miss once in a while, and if I do, I hope the group owner will correct me....It will not upset me......but at least I make the effort to post to the proper groups.
ghostie g. Sep 11, 2006, 1:02am UTC
I'm still a beginner trying to make sense of this. But I would not like it if they started restrcting who could start groups.
William M. Sep 11, 2006, 1:05am UTC
I don't believe they will, Ghostie.

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