Do you venture into the Regional Forums?

[CarolineM 0]

I always read the Australian one - which is found in the Asia: East and Pacific (except China) and the MENA because I can't resist...

Have also read and participated in the UK forum and found them all to be very nice and welcoming - but maybe cause I know so many of them?

Yeah...I'm totally with Lisa and Alex on the Russia one - those were some fun times

[PlatyPius 5]

I only read one thread on my regional forum (the Brazilian thread), and only occasionally. I most often go into the UK forum because I think the folks there are nice but I don't often post. I never would ever go into the Russian forums because they're really not into "intruders."

."..................and STAY out!!........" That's just silly.

But seriously....maybe it's just you. ............

Sorry, J-S, I gotta agree with Alex on that one.

I think it's the only place the word 'interloper' was used

Meanwhile, I can't believe 9 peeps said the UK forum is unfriendly! I think we're really quite friendly, and tbh, I don't ever recall any 'this isn't your forum' nonsense in there....

I remember entering the Russian forum via the "recent posts" thing and being in a topic where Russian women were discussed as if they were a product at the local market. "My woman dumped me!" "Well, go get another. Here are some phone numbers." "Cheating on a Russian woman is ok. If they don't like it, I can always get another." etc.

I made the mistake of commenting on that. I was told to leave "their" forum and not return. Damn interloper.

[Otto 83]

2-Cents...

Regional Discussion Forums are not broken out properly - rendering them pretty much useless for the described intent; unless it is one of the 'favored'/'power-house' countries, entire groups of not-necessarily-related countries are puddled together, relegating most country-specific topics/discussion to single (often 100s of pages long) threads.

[KarenCee 3]

As far as I know, all of us in the Canada Forum have always been kind and friendly to everyone who stopped by to post a comment or whatever. I have never seen anyone treated unfairly or told to "get out".

[Alex+R 0]

I'm surprised at how many people feel the Canada forum is unapproachable. Maybe it's because it's so popular with the Canucks and the folks who love them that it's its own little self-contained forum.

I think I'll go post over there now.

[chri'stina 190]

Someone mentioned using the recent posts feature...it's funny b/c I never use it. I just look at threads or sections that I am interested in reading and I am too lazy to sort through all new posts.

I look at my regional section(Asia: south) and sometimes one other. But I just look every couple days, not every day usually. I very rarely look at any other regional sections.

[trailmix 77]

I can see how someone might feel unwelcome in the Canada forum. If you go to regional forum and take a swipe at the country or the topic, you are likely to get some protest (hopefully not impolite). I think that is normal

[no name 1]

Meanwhile, I can't believe 9 peeps said the UK forum is unfriendly! I think we're really quite friendly, and tbh, I don't ever recall any 'this isn't your forum' nonsense in there....

9 said Canada was unfriendly too!

[~*Maria*~ 1]

I usually only venture into the UK regional forum, but i have once in a blue moon popped into the Canada forum to see what's been happening with my friend BH45 whom i've been friends with from Yahoo.

[rebeccajo 14]

2-Cents...

Regional Discussion Forums are not broken out properly - rendering them pretty much useless for the described intent; unless it is one of the 'favored'/'power-house' countries, entire groups of not-necessarily-related countries are puddled together, relegating most country-specific topics/discussion to single (often 100s of pages long) threads.

I think this occurs because loads of peeps use the Regional Forums in a manner in which they weren't really intended for.

I would like to see Regional Forums as a sub-forum to Consulates. I think it would help people find the type of information you speak of more readily. Many readers are of the impression that if they need to know something about their consulate, they can best get that answer in Regionals. While some things are consulate specific, the basic working foundation of the process isn't that varied. I'm convinced readers would have a better grasp of the consulate phase of the process if they weren't looking for their answers in our current Regional Forums.

[doodlebugg 10]

I always stay in the mena forum for the regionals but lately I've been going to the subsahara one because they're wicked funny over there with a great sense of humor!!! I guess I don't venture out much because mena has immigration problems that really are specific to the area so I don't think I'd be much help in say the Canadian forum or the Asian forum.

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Well, I did not find my Alla at the local market! Nor do I know many of the folks I routinely talk to that feel this way.

I only read one thread on my regional forum (the Brazilian thread), and only occasionally. I most often go into the UK forum because I think the folks there are nice but I don't often post. I never would ever go into the Russian forums because they're really not into "intruders."

."..................and STAY out!!........" That's just silly.

But seriously....maybe it's just you. ............

Sorry, J-S, I gotta agree with Alex on that one.

I think it's the only place the word 'interloper' was used

Meanwhile, I can't believe 9 peeps said the UK forum is unfriendly! I think we're really quite friendly, and tbh, I don't ever recall any 'this isn't your forum' nonsense in there....

I remember entering the Russian forum via the "recent posts" thing and being in a topic where Russian women were discussed as if they were a product at the local market. "My woman dumped me!" "Well, go get another. Here are some phone numbers." "Cheating on a Russian woman is ok. If they don't like it, I can always get another." etc.

I made the mistake of commenting on that. I was told to leave "their" forum and not return. Damn interloper.

[Cassie 8]

2-Cents...

Regional Discussion Forums are not broken out properly - rendering them pretty much useless for the described intent; unless it is one of the 'favored'/'power-house' countries, entire groups of not-necessarily-related countries are puddled together, relegating most country-specific topics/discussion to single (often 100s of pages long) threads.

I think this occurs because loads of peeps use the Regional Forums in a manner in which they weren't really intended for.

I would like to see Regional Forums as a sub-forum to Consulates. I think it would help people find the type of information you speak of more readily. Many readers are of the impression that if they need to know something about their consulate, they can best get that answer in Regionals. While some things are consulate specific, the basic working foundation of the process isn't that varied. I'm convinced readers would have a better grasp of the consulate phase of the process if they weren't looking for their answers in our current Regional Forums.

I agree and disagree with the statement I have bolded above. In the Canada forum, that assumption proves true, as the best and most specific information for our two Consulates / interview preparation has been well documented within its confines. But for other countries/regions, this is not the case and I can see Karin's point very well. Not sure how to solve it, other than some major re-arranging.

I take a gander at other forums if a topic I see on the "view new posts" screen perks my interest, but for the most part I stick with Canada.

I can see why sometimes people don't participate in other forums, as they may feel intimidated by the group that seems to already know each other quite well and may not seem to welcome newcomers or "intelopers" from other forums.

[Alex+R 0]

Wow, Canada's forum is great! Check out my new avatar.

[Alex+R 0]

well ####### it's not showing up. Hm.