Sherre, I feel similarly. I don't know that I have any barriers with Connect. I didn't know about the recommend button either, so I've went and clicked some in here also. I don't see that it raised the post's priority, but I can see if it's been recommended by anyone else. Doesn't feel that useful because that doesn't convey into the email digests. But like you, I would love to be able to quick like something. When I commit to talking, I really start to write. I also like Microsoft Teams! I don't often find others who feel the same. Connect would really pop off if we could easily add in gifs of cat reactions.
For Connect, I read digests within my email. I scan headers and click on any individual posts I want to read. That action doesn't open Connect, but just jumps down the email to the post, which I love. I know what to do if I want to reply within connect. I click a header, login with my prefilled login info. Two clicks and then I'm right at the thread that I was in.
Email digests allow me to quickly scan all conversations I'm a part of to make sure I haven't missed anything. Its flow is very helpful to me and keeping up with conversations takes little of my time. Otherwise I wouldn't do it. Personally, connect feels less formal than list-servs to me. If feels very similar to how I interacted with classmates on discussion boards in a LMS. I like to see my post within a thread instead of just knowing it's out there in people's inboxes. On my list-servs, often emails get sent out of order and it's not as organized. I just don't feel motivated to give my input because of the time that would take, especially not for everyone (lurkers like me) to read on the thread. I most often contact people directly. That's just my speed. I interact on social media the same way. I prefer to have one on one conversations with someone. I feel comfortable to post here to the extent that I post at all. I don't think I would ever post an opinion on the larger ALA group.
I've been following the code of conduct thread, and appreciated when April raised the topic on another thread in here because I felt more open to talking about it with a smaller group. I started a reply and then abandoned it, which is typical for me. I did know about the development of the code of conduct and that they solicited feedback for it. I accepted the code of conduct with the feeling that it was meant to prevent harm. I feel that the very real feelings we have about books being targeted for removal and people claiming harm in those instances is triggering people to respond negatively to the code of conduct. They feel very alert to any thing that feels like censorship. But the steps the conduct committee has taken make sense to me. Someone's desire and impatience to have access to everything while a volunteer committee is reviewing something with the intention of preventing harm to its members isn't reason to forgo a procedure. But I can see how this could feel like waiting for a police department to release body cam footage, like one should speak up and push it along. But it's not like that. I think we can all see that when compared to that very serious situation. We've just been wrecked in so many ways by the things happening in the world and our responses aren't always as nuanced as I think they should be. I still think the code and procedure for reporting and freezing should be reviewed systematically every year just as they intend to. Claiming that real harm from a discussion post doesn't happen in a professional setting such as ALA (as someone did in the code of conduct thread), first I feel is a pretty big blind spot, and second doesn't mean we shouldn't be prepared to stop it immediately for review. If someone can't imagine that scenario and thinks that since they're able to stomach death threats and slurs on another social media forum, that we should be okay with it here, I simply disagree.
April, I appreciate that you make a point to engage. I like seeing your name pop up on the different platforms I follow. I know that you're engaged and watching. I know that if I miss something important, I bet I'll get another chance to catch it from you. Thank you. And congrats on drumming up a little conversation here!
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Jessica Kirk
Arkansas State Library
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