I joined an online book club that evolved into a book club that’s following a book series that is halfway through completion. It was fun speaking to other people all over the world who love the series as much (and more!) than I do. I never thought I would ever find anyone out there who cared about the series as much as I did.
However, over time, it quickly turned into everything I dislike about online social networks. There are more submissive personalities, and more domineering personalities, and the domineering personalities have no problem correcting anyone who disagrees with them or seeing themselves as the final say on all topics. People say things they would never say to your faces. Or they dominate conversations with obscure deep dives and details on topics and tangents specific to one theory they are convinced will happen. Or people glom on to the author, elevating them to god like status who is above criticism. Any critique becomes seen as a personal slight and people would go into defense mode. And of course the story now has a stupid love triangle, so everyone is picking sides or pushing for a polycule and highlighting parts of the book to justify their ship. It became the living, breathing definition of making a book your whole personality.
And I was guilty of it too. A conversation with a a most dominanting member went sour (snd if course it was about the damn triangle) and I realized I needed to step away for my mental health. Arguing with strangers on the internet is never a good idea, regardless of the topic and even if the topic is one of your favorite books. It’s a bummer because I love this series but I flew too close to the sun on this one. I would try another similar club in the future, but I think I ultimately learned my lesson. Too much of a good thing is not a good thing.
by moxieroxsox