What Is the Topic?

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

If I can use the PI subforum as an example. There seems to be a prevailing reputation as of late, of several of the Filipinas who post as being catty and nasty towards non-Filipino members. They in turn feel they've been subjected to harassment and ridicule.

This is certainly an item that I would love to help with. I did have one off the cuff idea, but maybe I am just being silly. We have the VJ News Section (http://www.visajourney.com/news) which actually gets quite a few reads. I would love it if on a monthly (or something like that) basis we could get a guest column from members of various ethnic backgrounds where people talk about their particular culture and how US Immigration has been for them and people from their country. I would suspect that people from say the Philippines would have a completely different story to tell on their immigration experience versus the UK. I would bet that this would be a terrific thing to share with the community and would certainly help raise awareness of many stereotypes as well as struggles people have to go through that are often not seen by many people.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Oh oh can we have a few of those bars I keep hearing about in the PI forum?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I just caught up on the new posts and had an interesting thought. Having been to many big cities with strong multi-ethnic backgrounds there are always communities such as "Filipino town", "Korea Town", "China Town", etc.. In general the larger community embraces these regional areas as a place where local ethnic groups can find a sanctuary of friends and culture similar to their own. It is also a source of pride for many people to show of their cultures and to be proud of their heritage. The communities often encourage (although not always) people to visit and share in their culture. Members of these communities also understand that they are a part of the larger city culture and you will find a beautiful blend of their particular culture and the traditional "American" city scape.

Now I think in the Regional Forums on this site the analogy is not quite perfect however it is similar. I think that people in these forums should be welcoming of all members. I also think that just like in the real world, people should be willing to visit outside these areas and learn more about other cultures and the diverse membership around the site. I would encourage people to meet other members from all kinds of backgrounds around the site -- diversity and being open to other cultures and ideas is certainly a wonderful thing.

I see your points and they are good ones. There certainly are benefits to members here who can mingle with other members from the same country, but IMO, the negatives (isolation, indifference, intolerance) outweigh the positives. Using your comparison, even if you live in "Korea Town", your children attend an integrated school and most likely your neighborhood is somewhat integrated. You probably commute outside of your area to work and your office is integrated. Without those avenues of integration, there'd be a good chance our country would be deeply divided ethnically. And if there was no institutionalized integration, you'd have little reason to ever step outside of your town.

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

I agree we should encourage all members to venture out in the site and meet the diverse membership here . I am open to ideas to help make this easier for people.

[Besame Mucho 1]

Oh oh can we have a few of those bars I keep hearing about in the PI forum?

We don't jabber about bars in the PI forum .... It's you and a$$holes like you ... and the phantoms, mobs and Filipino bashers that deliberate on bars.

Edited September 26, 2008 by Besame Mucho

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Oh oh can we have a few of those bars I keep hearing about in the PI forum?

We don't jabber about bars in the PI forum .... It's you and a$$holes like you ... and the phantoms, mobs and Filipino bashers that deliberate on bars.

Wait, VJ has phantoms now?

[Otto 83]

Wait, VJ has phantoms now?

phan·tom /ˈfæntəm/ [fan-tuhm]

1) a person or thing of merely illusory power, status, etc.:

Can think of a few

[Ban Hammer 13,293]

Oh oh can we have a few of those bars I keep hearing about in the PI forum?

We don't jabber about bars in the PI forum .... It's you and a$$holes like you ... and the phantoms, mobs and Filipino bashers that deliberate on bars.

Edited September 27, 2008 by charles!

[mox 298]

Russian forum will now begin liberation of other regional forums. Please to form line for RU forum passports.

[EricC 0]

I have to agree now that the regional subforums should be removed. At least thats how I feel about the Philippine subforum. We have quite a few people that constantly post in tagalog, and refuse to even compromise instead they said I should learn Tagalog. I don't think its proper etiquette to speak another language on an english based forum. We are here to discuss and learn things for the most part. When there is something that might be helpful to a member, it won't do any good if they can't read it. It also makes a lot of members, like me, feel excluded. Thoughts?

[DARUMA07 25]

I have to agree now that the regional subforums should be removed. At least thats how I feel about the Philippine subforum. We have quite a few people that constantly post in tagalog, and refuse to even compromise instead they said I should learn Tagalog. I don't think its proper etiquette to speak another language on an english based forum. We are here to discuss and learn things for the most part. When there is something that might be helpful to a member, it won't do any good if they can't read it. It also makes a lot of members, like me, feel excluded. Thoughts?

I would have to agree with you Eric. This has been an ongoing problem in the Forum. I personally have lost alot of interest in the Philippine Forum. Can't communicate with anyone anymore.

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

Are there members here that are from that country that only speak Tagalog? If so then I can understand them wanting to post there and only in Tagalog. That said if people can speak English well enough it is probably much easier to communicate with the broader community that way.

[Ban Hammer 13,293]

I have to agree now that the regional subforums should be removed. At least thats how I feel about the Philippine subforum. We have quite a few people that constantly post in tagalog, and refuse to even compromise instead they said I should learn Tagalog. I don't think its proper etiquette to speak another language on an english based forum. We are here to discuss and learn things for the most part. When there is something that might be helpful to a member, it won't do any good if they can't read it. It also makes a lot of members, like me, feel excluded. Thoughts?

the regional forums are not restricted to english only, just the forums other than the regionals are. as for a solution to this, i cannot think of any that would not inhibit those who are more comfortable speaking a language other than english.

[mox 298]

I have to agree now that the regional subforums should be removed. At least thats how I feel about the Philippine subforum. We have quite a few people that constantly post in tagalog, and refuse to even compromise instead they said I should learn Tagalog. I don't think its proper etiquette to speak another language on an english based forum. We are here to discuss and learn things for the most part. When there is something that might be helpful to a member, it won't do any good if they can't read it. It also makes a lot of members, like me, feel excluded. Thoughts?

I don't see the problem here. With the refusal to speak English, I can see one of 2 reasons:

1) That the poster's English skills are such that they either don't feel comfortable with English, or they're incapable of English. In this case, it's very fortunate they've got a resource such as the PI regional forum to participate in.

2) They refuse to post in English because they refuse to post in English. In this case, it would be cutting off your nose to spite your face to eliminate the regional forums. There will always be people who want to be different. If they only want to post in Tag, then they're limiting only themelves, if indeed it could be said to be limiting.

I'd also like to point out that the specific issue you cite is local to the PI forum. So why would we remove ALL of the regional forums because of a problem in the PI forum?

There might be legitimate reasons to remove the regional forums, but I don't think this is one of them. (and being a supporter of the regional forums, I've yet to hear a good reason to eliminate them, so you should note my bias. )

Oh and hey, it's good to see you again Eric! We tend to run in different circles these days, so I don't often run across you. Hope all is well!

[PlatyPius 5]

I can only think that it must really suck for a guy who's engaged to a Pinay, and wants to join in in the PI forum, but doesn't speak Tagalog. I mean, not being ethnocentric, but if someone is going to move to the US, they'd better know English, or at least be learning it. Ergo, doesn't it make sense to practice your English on a forum where there are a lot of people from your area that are ALSO learning/practicing English? Proficiency comes with practice. I know that if I were moving to France, I would be using French as much as possible so that I could understand what the locals are saying, and so that I could function in my adopted society.

Yes, some of the PI husbands learn Tagalog. But not all of them have, or even can. Languages are just really difficult for some people. Doesn't it make sense that they should be able to participate in the PI forum as well?