I get asked to show up to book clubs, online and offline.

[scalzi@mastodon.social]

I get asked to show up to book clubs, online and offline. Here is why from now on the answer is always "no." If you think this might have something to do with "AI" ruining yet another thing for everyone, you're absolutely 100% correct.

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2026/03/03/indefinite-book-club-hiatus/

[energisch_@troet.cafe]

@scalzi might even be phishing by bots, who knows

[johnhattan@dobbs.town]

@scalzi In "Following The Equator", Twain detailed his long correspondence with "The (some part of) Australia Mark Twain Book Club".

(spoiler) Twain traveled halfway around the world to discover it was just one guy pretending to be about 20 people. Which is only more impressive because it all happened over international mail!

[bigz@ohai.social]

@scalzi Same situation here for predatory science conferences. No way I can go through all the fake invitations. The amount exploded after “AI” became mainstream. There is a set of established ones I pick myself and the only way new ones can get through all the spam is through direct (human) contact. Sad, but true.

[manna@ihan.outo.la]

@scalzi Gotta love this end stage capitalism and all it entails. Not really, no. As a visual artist all Participate in this competition emails went straight to bin. For scientists it is the endless Would you like to pay for us to publish this in our Not a real Publication.

I published a room for rent in an online service. I started getting I am 16 would you like to get to know me in whatsapp answers.

[thenovemberman@bookstodon.com]

@manna @scalzi@mastodon.social