Thread Removed

[Jenn! 918]

I believe the thread in question was actually removed, not simply made invisible, by Captain Ewok.

Also, keep in mind that members are able to have threads they started made invisible and/or removed by a request to the admin or mod team. In such cases, we would not notify the community.

[mox 298]

I'm a big believer/supporter of the Regional forums so I try not to ever rock the boat in those places.

You sweet talker you!

[rebeccajo 14]

I'm a big believer/supporter of the Regional forums so I try not to ever rock the boat in those places.

You sweet talker you!

Heaven forbid the boat should be rocked in the Regionals. Wouldn't want to upset the natives.

Ya'll need to get out of your comfort zone and realize there's a big, brave world out there.

[Ban Hammer 13,336]

I'm a big believer/supporter of the Regional forums so I try not to ever rock the boat in those places.

You sweet talker you!

Heaven forbid the boat should be rocked in the Regionals. Wouldn't want to upset the natives.

Ya'll need to get out of your comfort zone and realize there's a big, brave world out there.

[Sinergy 3]

I'm a big believer/supporter of the Regional forums so I try not to ever rock the boat in those places.

You sweet talker you!

Heaven forbid the boat should be rocked in the Regionals. Wouldn't want to upset the natives.

Ya'll need to get out of your comfort zone and realize there's a big, brave world out there.

Regionals is no more special than the rest of the board, if we need to move threads anywhere else, we will, same with regionals

[Marilyn. 340]

nm

Edited November 28, 2008 by *Marilyn*

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

nuke the regionals!

[Big Papa Zone 93]

Heaven forbid the boat should be rocked in the Regionals. Wouldn't want to upset the natives.

Ya'll need to get out of your comfort zone and realize there's a big, brave world out there.

Would it be remiss of me to suggest that the same advice could conceivably be directed at those that populate the Off Topic forum?

[rebeccajo 14]

Heaven forbid the boat should be rocked in the Regionals. Wouldn't want to upset the natives.

Ya'll need to get out of your comfort zone and realize there's a big, brave world out there.

Would it be remiss of me to suggest that the same advice could conceivably be directed at those that populate the Off Topic forum?

Not sure what you are saying, Damien. Maybe you could expound.

I think a lot of the OT readers are in other forums.

As for those who aren't - well four years ago when I joined this community there were people who you saw in Off Topic but not elsewhere. They consisted mostly of individuals who were 'done' or at some 'in-between' stage of the process. OT was then (and still is) a good place to gather to talk to your friends from all over the world.

[Ban Hammer 13,336]

nuke the regionals!

nuke the trolls!

[mox 298]

I'm a big believer/supporter of the Regional forums so I try not to ever rock the boat in those places.

You sweet talker you!

Heaven forbid the boat should be rocked in the Regionals. Wouldn't want to upset the natives.

Ya'll need to get out of your comfort zone and realize there's a big, brave world out there.

Oh I feel pretty darned uncomfortable hanging out in my own regional tyvm.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I lurk quite a bit in a lot of forums. But I really only feel the need to post in a couple of them, my chosen regional being the main one. Sure, I could drive-by the K-1, Foreign Embassy, and AOS forums handing out nuggets of my own experience and wisdom, but I rarely see a need. 10 minutes after I would have posted something there are usually answers a-plenty, most of them more or less accurate.

Once you reach a certain point in the process, you start to see the same topics being revisited over and over again. Now if that's something you still being a part of, please enjoy, and please accept my thanks for being someone who the nuggets can count on for advice. And if I ever see a question go unanswered that I can be of help with, yes of course you can expect me to pipe up and offer a hand. But for the most part all of the same discussions that I've been watching over the last couple years don't interest me anymore. So I hang out in my regional because I find it fun and enjoyable. Why on earth people would want to take that away from me based simply on this idea that I don't get out enough is just beyond me. I don't say that snarkily, I say it with genuine confusion. These forums are very popular and a lot of solid friendships have developed because of them. There are a few problems that need to be addressed, but they are the exception that proves the rule.

[john & jean 37]

Yeah, it happens ALL the time. People post the weirdest cr@p here... and a lot of it.

It's mostly spam or offensive posts that are made invisible and normally we notify the OP, especially if the person is a regular poster here.

The mods here seem to do a good job of taking care of it pretty quickly and we've got a couple Organizers that also keep an eye out and PM/email us if something needs taking care of.

I'm a big believer/supporter of the Regional forums so I try not to ever rock the boat in those places. If anything I move too many things over there or point the OP there so that people will get a more accurate answer to their Embassy specific questions. Just makes more sense to me as things are so dependent on the Embassy you're dealing with.

In any case, I have no idea where Carla's post is. My guess would be that it was moved to Off topic and not made invisible but I can't seem to find it. Sorry sweetheart, i'll keep an eye out.

MIBC??????

[Big Papa Zone 93]

Not sure what you are saying, Damien. Maybe you could expound.

What I'm saying, Rebecca, is that VJ has many forums in which groups, or "cliques" for want of a better turn of phrase, develop. The regional forums have their cliques, OT has its. Insinuating that those who gather mainly on the regional forums are in some way insular, or cocooning themselves away from the board in general, whilst those who do exactly the same on OT are not, seems a bit silly really. And anyway, if said groups of posters feel comfortable in certain forums, and less so on others, what's the problem with them staying where they are? This is a big forum, with lots of room for everyone.

As for those who aren't - well four years ago when I joined this community there were people who you saw in Off Topic but not elsewhere.

I still looks that way to me now, tbf. But like I say - to each their own.

OT was then (and still is) a good place to gather to talk to your friends from all over the world.

I'm glad that you enjoy it there - just as I (and many others) enjoy the regionals.

Have a great weekend.

Edited November 28, 2008 by Damian P

[rebeccajo 14]

Not sure what you are saying, Damien. Maybe you could expound.

What I'm saying, Rebecca, is that VJ has many forums in which groups, or "cliques" for want of a better turn of phrase, develop. The regional forums have their cliques, OT has its. Insinuating that those who gather mainly on the regional forums are in some way insular, or cocooning themselves away from the board in general, whilst those who do exactly the same on OT are not, seems a bit silly really. And anyway, if said groups of posters feel comfortable in certain forums, and less so on others, what's the problem with them staying where they are? This is a big forum, with lots of room for everyone.

Damian -

IMO it's a bit different because there are friendships in OT that don't hold geographic boundaries. I'm sure it's just my personal opinion, but I find those friendships more fulfilling and enlightening.

At any rate, it doesn't matter what I say about doing away with the Regional Forums. It will never happen. I do find it funny though that many of the proponents of Regional Forums believe they are kept here because they serve a useful purpose. They are kept around solely because they garner traffic and make money for Admin. And the 'isolated problems' that mox refered to in his post - well those are just an added bonus. Arguing, bickering and flame-throwing create drama and drama racks up the till.

Processing of visas for spouses and fiancees/fiances is no longer the main focus of this site. It's a money making venture that doesn't care one way or the other how the money is earned.

[mox 298]

8<...

They are kept around solely because they garner traffic and make money for Admin. And the 'isolated problems' that mox refered to in his post - well those are just an added bonus. Arguing, bickering and flame-throwing create drama and drama racks up the till.

Processing of visas for spouses and fiancees/fiances is no longer the main focus of this site. It's a money making venture that doesn't care one way or the other how the money is earned.

I don't see that these are mutually exclusive goals, and it doesn't bother me in the least if the regionals are kept around because they make money. I'm sure it would be great if this site were run out of the goodness of the owner's heart, but I don't begrudge money being made either, especially when the ads are so unobtrusive. This is still bar none the absolute best resource for anyone going through the visa process.

The alternative would be a subscription based system, which would serve nobody's interests.