THE WRITER Dec, 1951 – Enid Blyton

[Moonraker]

But I do find it odd when members here, who post frequently and often very knowledgeably, do not subscribe.

Of course, we don't know who doesn't subscribe as not all members have this in their signature. However, it would be interesting to hear the reasons why some do not subscribe. Come on folks, don't be shy!

[Boatbuilder]

As the admin have access to all areas of the forum including editing of profiles, signatures etc., maybe they should be the ones to add the 'Society Member' words to the signature of those forum members who do subscribe.

[Bertie]

TBH, a lot of this had bypassed me with being quite a new member. I guess with every group or society there's often factions, levels of seniority, a sense of does and dont's, etc.
But I didn't realise until seeing this thread that there was annoyance from some about others not signing up to some sections, or about them liking to join in with the light hearted threads, etc.
I just joined up to the forums, saw there was a mix of threads available - some about Enid, some general / light hearted ones - and joined in posting on a variety of them. That seemed fine and I've thoroughly enjoyed it and didn't really need anything else from the site.
However, having been made aware by this thread that that might in some ways be seen by some to be 'not enough', or 'not showing enough appreciation' for the work done by others, then I've followed the link and signed up to be a society member in the last couple of days. I also hadn't realised you were meant to add a 'society member' signature or something to prove that. But I have signed up, anyway.
As for why I hadn't done it before? Well, mainly because I wasn't really too aware of it all, or that it was seen as a big deal, or seen as being ungrateful in some way if you didn't. I'm not a big team member / socialiser. I just joined to have a little informal chat with fellow fans about one of my favourite authors, and the forums were providing enough of that for me so I wasn't really looking for anything extra. And didn't realise more was expected.
But, as I say, now I'm aware that it annoys some if you don't sign up as a full society member then I've done so.

[pete9012S]

Bertie, I for one always enjoy your knowledgeable Blyton & non Blyton posts along with your great sense of humour and banter.

It feels like you've been a member of the forums with us here for ages and ages and ages (in a good way of course!).

*Here's hoping this will make me another fiver from this thread!*

[Bertie]

Thanks, Pete. Very kind of you to say so.
And I've very much enjoyed your posts and jokes as well. And the same with many other of the regular posters.

I hope my post didn't sound like I was complaining or anything? Having read it back, I think it does read a little like that.

But I was really just explaining, in response to Moonraker's general query, that, in my case, my lack of signing up to being a society member (until now!) was more through me not really knowing much about it, and certainly not knowing it was seen as an important thing, or that it annoyed / puzzled people that some didn't do it. That part of the society had mostly gone by me. I was just so much enjoying the forums and the cave of books and hadn't really looked, or felt the need to look, beyond those.

[Katharine]

That's very interesting Bertie.

Maybe we need to somehow advertise the Journal a little more?

I have to admit I 'lurked' around the forums for quite a while before actually joining in with various topics, and the first journal I bought was a back issue from E-Bay for £1, as I wasn't sure it was 'worth' buying a full priced current one. Mainly because I assumed it was probably just about a dozen flimsy pages. Obviously I got a very pleasant surprise when I saw what good a good quality publication it is.

[Anita Bensoussane]

Interesting posts, Bertie. The Journal came into being some years before the website (the first issue was published in the summer of 1996), so those of us who have subscribed for a long time are used to the idea that subscribing to the Journal constitutes becoming a member of the Enid Blyton Society. In effect, Society membership and a Journal subscription are the same thing. The Enid Blyton Society website was set up as an extra, serving to document Enid Blyton's work (in the Cave of Books), answer questions and promote discussion. But of course, over the years a lot of people may have stumbled upon the website and become part of the online community without (initially, at least) being aware of the Journal or understanding how Society membership worked.

I do hope you enjoy the Journal, Bertie. The content is really varied, informative and beautifully presented, and whenever a new issue comes out I'm always impatient to read it straightaway.

As the admin have access to all areas of the forum including editing of profiles, signatures etc., maybe they should be the ones to add the 'Society Member' words to the signature of those forum members who do subscribe.

I must admit I'm hesitant to do that as I assume that those members who don't add the words have chosen not to for whatever reason. However, if any Society members would like me to add 'Society Member' to their signature, just let me know.

[Bertie]

That's very interesting Bertie.

Maybe we need to somehow advertise the Journal a little more?

I quickly become aware of the journal itself. So it's not so much that that went under the radar after joining. It's more the importance / expectation placed on signing up for it, and the points being raised here about forum posters v journal subscribers, amount of Enid threads v light hearted threads, etc, that had mostly bypassed me.
Now I know about those debates, I've quickly signed up - but, mostly, to help play my small part in showing gratitude for the hard work done by the society more than anything else.

[Bertie]

Interesting posts, Bertie. The Journal came into being some years before the website (the first issue was published in the summer of 1996), so those of us who have subscribed for a long time are used to the idea that subscribing to the Journal constitutes becoming a member of the Enid Blyton Society. In effect, Society membership and a Journal subscription are the same thing. The Enid Blyton Society website was set up as an extra, serving to document Enid Blyton's work (in the Cave of Books), answer questions and promote discussion. But of course, over the years a lot of people may have stumbled upon the website and become part of the online community without (initially, at least) being aware of the Journal or understanding how Society membership worked.

I do hope you enjoy the Journal, Bertie. The content is really varied, informative and beautifully presented, and whenever a new issue comes out I'm always impatient to read it straightaway.

Thanks, Anita.
Yes, I'm sure I'll enjoy reading the journal and it's certainly very reasonably priced.

[Wolfgang]

As the admin have access to all areas of the forum including editing of profiles, signatures etc., maybe they should be the ones to add the 'Society Member' words to the signature of those forum members who do subscribe.

As it is I am against a compulsory entry of that, those who want to add this entry to their profile are free to do so, those who want to abstain from the right, should feel free to do so. It's a matter of privacy.

[pete9012S]

Thanks, Anita.
Yes, I'm sure I'll enjoy reading the journal and it's certainly very reasonably priced.

Bertie, enjoy this honeymoon period of just being a Journal subscriber and reader - it won't be long with all that Blyton knowledge you posses that we would enjoy an article written for the Journal by you!!!

[Barnard]

I enjoy setting crossword clues, trying to work out Bertie’s ‘only connects’ and having a go at the monthly quiz. In the last two years I have also written a lot of Ern style ‘pomes’, had a few attempts at the caption competition and posted on a few other topics.
However, I am not really interested in subscribing to the journal and hope subscribing will not be made compulsory.

[Bertie]

Bertie, enjoy this honeymoon period of just being a Journal subscriber and reader - it won't be long with all that Blyton knowledge you posses that we would enjoy an article written for the Journal by you!!!

Thanks for that, Pete, but I'm seriously overawed by the level of knowledge shown in many of the threads I've been catching up on since joining. They provide an excellent read, with displays of great insight and knowledge of Enid's works and life from many of the posters.

[Moonraker]

As it is I am against a compulsory entry of that, those who want to add this entry to their profile are free to do so, those who want to abstain from the right, should feel free to do so. It's a matter of privacy.

Hmm, not sure I understand that.

Yes, I agree your email address or phone number shouldn't be revealed, but surely subscribing to the Journal both reminds people of it and shows your support to the Society.

Another point (as has happened) is that when someone doesn't renew their subscription, the Society Member status remains. I am not ashamed or embarrassed to declare my membership and I find it strange that anyone would.

Reading back through my post, I never intended to imply that Society members are in any way superior to those who don't wish to subscribe or have never got around to it.

[pete9012S]

I'm sure it did not come across that way at all Nigel.

I was a subscriber to Michael Rouse's 'Green Hedges' Blyton Magazine around 1999/2000

Then I prowled these forums around 2006/7. I joined the forums here early 2010, but I did not subscribe to the Journal I think for at least twelve months or so after that.

It was reading the extensive feedback about each Journal from the large group of subscribers here on the forums that made me eventually want to subscribe.

I am very glad I did. The Journal has filled so many gaps in my knowledge about Enid Blyton and continues to so with every issue.

I particularly like the Winter/Christmas edition.
Tony always seems to find the most seasonal and enjoyable front cover for that edition every time.

Here are a few examples to whet your appetite: