Le plus on est de fous, le plus on rit [French] You have the right to join any group you like.
However, discussions about specific issues will take place only on the correct groups – and not on another group.
There are clearly two sides to this issue. Both sides claim to be legitimate and acceptable. Jewish Groups maintains the policy that discussions must remain on topic, and they are shifted to the appropriate group when the topic changes.
Let us first evaluate the reasoning behind it.
The policy can be explained best by understanding the reason for setting up so many groups in the first place. Would it not be more convenient to create a single, very active forum for discussions about all issues relating to Jewish topics?
That single group would certainly make life much easier for the poor, overworked (and unpaid) moderator, who spends up to 70 hours per week to maintain these groups.
But there's more:
A single group may also make life easier for some subscribers. Discussions on any topic could be initiated in that group, and they could continue unhindered, and on a freewheeling basis, among the original participants.
Although that suggestion does seem to be enticing, it may not work that well in practice. One of the main reasons is the many demands made by the participants in these groups. Most of these demands are justified, and we try to make everybody happy.
It would thus seem beneficial to have only one group. However, there are other and more compelling reasons in this section that prevent us from having only one group.
It's like a person who wants to buy cottage cheese in a pharmacy. He tells the pharmacist, "But I want to buy it here. It's not fair. I don't want to go to another store. I'm here now and this is where I want to buy it." The frustrated pharmacist says, "But we don't offer cottage cheese here." And the man throws a temper tantrum saying, "But I want to buy it here. I'm here now and this is where I want to buy it. I don't want to go to a grocery store. I want to buy it here. I want to buy it now."
The more merrymakers, the more fun
[The more the merrier]
Why make a fuss?
Find out more about remaining on topic
Find out more guidelines for our Jewish groups
Find out about other Jewish and Hebrew groups
Third Son will help you decide which group is best for you
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