Communities vs. Fora

So now DW has a population of over 1000. The average age seems quite a bit higher than on LJ.

ONTD on LJ has over 90,000 members. Man... Now that's a huge comm.

Speaking of comms, I was thinking that LJ comms are basically group blogs, but a group blog is not always what a community needs. It all depends what the topic of a community is. For things that are time dependent, or where the object of the discussion is to comment on the OP's post, group blogs work fairly well. Examples of this are gossip, and to some extent groups dedicated to sharing creative works (although there are downsides to the blogging format, and often such groups would also be well served by a non-time dependent CMS/gallery format), links sharing sites like mefi, news discussion groups, anything where there is quick obsolescence.

However... for a group designed for discussion, is that really the best format? If we're discussing a book series, where there is not frequent new information, isn't a forum in some was a better format? That way topics are bumped up to the top of the list depending on how many people reply to them, and older topics can retain their prominence on the forum if people find them relevant enough to keep posting to them. I think this format also helps newbies find older important discussions more easily. There might also be an end to annoying "hi, introducing myself" tendencies if there was a dedicated forum post for them pinned to the top.

Potential ideas for book clubs

1. Traditional book club model: a book is collectively chosen. Everyone ideally reads it and it is discussed at the next meeting.

2. The opposite: everyone reads whatever books they wish, and posts reviews on them.

3. Bibliophages model

4. Modified bibliophages: Theme, suggestions solicited, everyone reads a book chosen from the compiled list.

5. Free themed reading: A theme is chosen. Members choose a book theoretically relating to the theme. They post their reviews.

6. The idea of posting reviews within the comm is abandoned in favor of weekly posts, or even monthly, posts in which members can comment whatever reviews they have recently posted, which are then incorporated as links within the body of the post. The comm is instead given into book-related activities. Perhaps in a way this is preferable because what's the point of having reviews within the comm, if they cannot be discussed, as most of the other members have not read the book, unless model one is followed.

7. Assuming 6, some activities can include: collectively making lists of books, like a game. People posting requests for recommendations, of the "if I liked this, what other books will I like?" Other types of book related games, etc.

8. People find like... one of those annoying "50 best realist novels about middle aged adultery! Bold the ones you've read!" lists and collectively, the entire group challenges themselves the ones they haven't read, posting reviews in the comm.