No need for informal chat to make it fun in my opinion—ideally it should all be serious analysis and discussion. It’s more about the quality of the essay: its significance, influence, style, how deep or intellectually exciting it is.
EDIT: In a nutshell what I’m saying is that I think I know best the kind of essays that will work on TPF and I’m a control freak and don’t want anyone else to decide what goes in the shortlists. 
As you say, the focus should be on the essay; how well the writing is structured, understood, or not. Also the sharing of thoughts (dare I say ‘feelings’?) between participants. Some will have read the paper before, others (like me) will have never set eyes on it.
Looking at some previous RGs, there seems to have already been a deep understanding from members. Perhaps I’m mistaken.
For me, the speed of discussion is something I would find discouraging. Only about a week was needed/taken to focus on the paper before it was all over.
Whatever happened to slow exploration…?
Like eating, I can feast greedily, hungrily but the digestion prefers relaxed and slow with a patient touch…
Yes, knowing how things work or don’t work is key to success.
10 yrs experience should be enough, huh?
The new TPF is starting so very well. Thanks!
22 votes! This is fab. Better than the Eurovision Song Contest. Leader board - 2 at top position with 8 each. Australia, can we have your vote? 
I have not read this book, but I have it on Nook. 3rd edition. The table of contents does not have a chapter with that title.
Well, I didn’t really mean that. I meant whether the discussion is fun or not depends on the essay.
Otherwise 
Currently three of the essays are tied in first place. Finally I have a use for that three-sided coin gathering dust in a cranny in a forgotten corner of my basement.
Cue a new short story 
There is something about 3’s, isn’t there…
Truss, but verify. Beware of threesomes. Notify Aesop.
As it stands at the moment, there are 24 voters providing 40 votes.
That means that some number of voters are only picking one rather than two choices. By the logic of ranked choices, should those votes be divided by two?
Just curious. Whatever result is fine by me.
No, I think it’s fine.
UPDATE: I’ll close this poll on March 25th. Following that—on or before April 1st—I’ll create the discussion topic.
That’s why I voted for “Death of the Author.” You did a good job putting that word first in the marketing material as well.
Yes. I too voted for ‘Death of the Author’. Intrigued by the subject matter and relieved at its length. At 5 pages, it is short but substantial and nicely challenging.
I experienced fascinating issues of intention and interpretation in the TPF Short Story and Poetry events. I enjoyed the sometimes heated exchanges between author, reader and comments. Worthwhile.
…
Perhaps sharing the links to each online pdf, not being anonymous, giving a few reasons, would be helpful?
I don’t know.
I printed off ‘The Will to Believe’(1896). At 17 pages - it is a bit of a sermon on faith and its justification.
The poll with 26 voters and 44 votes, shows it is now in first place.
…
I don’t know how this works or if it is a fair method. How does it skew the results… 
I should not have brought it up.
Voting for two items dilutes the power of each choice. If one votes for only one, there is no second contender being supported.
But this is an interest poll, not an election for dog catcher…
Why not? It is interesting to consider for future strategic voting.
Yes, I voted for 2. Diluting the power, as you say.
And I suppose they were given equal weighting even though I had a preference.
Excusez-moi, monsieur!
Les histoires sont plus importantes que de capturer des chiens, n’est-ce pas ? Peut-être pas
The vote has been stable for a day or two now, and it’s already the 26th in Pago Pago, so I feel justified enough in closing the poll now.
Congratulations to William James! I just know he would have been overjoyed.
I’ll open the discussion soon with an introductory post, and once that’s done, you’re free to start posting. But first: time to get reading!
EDIT: Here’s the discussion
