Ideas to Improve VJ? Outside of the forums :).

[david'sgirl 134]

Though I agree with getting the +1 removed, I do think there needs to be something in place that does let others be aware of the poster's reputation on the site. A "Was this helpful?" button, or something, that's kept track of for users.

I like the 1+ button simply because it allows me to show I agree with what someone else said rather than needing to quote the previous post and say, Yeah, do what she said! If you do decide to remove it I agree you should replace it with something else maybe similar to the tool used on Trip Advisor to show if it is helpful.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Make VJ more user-centered, where other members can know who you are. Have the homepage either imitate or link to a person's Facebook or other social network, while allowing users to choose whether to post anonymously or using their identity. This is the era where people are openly sharing with the rest of the world who they are. Too often, this site has been infiltrated by outside individuals and groups with ulterior motives and/or malicious intent. While there is no full proof way to prevent it, linking their account to a social network would bean effective deterrent. It would also make this place a lot more personable.

Not trying to shoot you down Steven, but the real identity concept doesn't always make people more personable. If somebody decides they want to be nasty, they aren't going to care if their VJ profile is linked to Facebook. Especially if they are hateful in real life on Facebook.

I do think linkage to Facebook is probably something VJ should consider, but only because it's being done so much by other sites. But I just don't think it would "personalize" VJ.

[LeftCoastLady 441]

The Facebook login option should only be used once VJ ups its security settings and offers a secure version of the site (https://). Linking the site up to integrate with another means making sure you're not also opening up the site to additional vulnerabilities.

[웃 910]

While there is no full proof foolproof way to prevent it, linking their account to a social network would bean effective deterrent.

.....

[TBoneTX 45,308]

Here's a specific correction, to go with the many good general suggestions above.

See the bottom of the page of this link, and the two pie-charts:

http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php?cnty=Ecuador&cty=&dfilter=5

You (the Admiral) not long ago finally made the Guayaquil consulate the proper venue of interviewing, si man.

The Quito embassy has never been involved with family-based-visa interviews, no man, but people had to rate it because "Quito" was the only choice before the Admiral's correction.

Can the pie-charts (and the associated ratings and other figures) be combined under the one heading of "Guayaquil," huh man?

[TBoneTX 45,308]

Another suggestion (general), si man:

Can the consulate rating-scale be altered to include an actual ZERO instead of just the 1 to 5, huh man?

-------

Edited to add:

There's a desperate need for a pinned thread or very obvious Wiki or Guide section that talks about a VERY often-asked question: "Should I, the petitioner, be at the consular interview with my fiance/e?"

The thread should ideally be pinned, should include a range of eclectic (previous) answers that cover the spectrum of consulates from "powderpuff" to "#######," and should be locked to further comment (unless new, meaningful information comes to light that should be added, by special request of and action by the Admiral or the moderators).

There are plenty of good answers already in the fora, but they're spread amongst the zillion individual threads of inquiry from petitioners who wonder if they should attend. Slurp out these answers, combine them, and pin it, see man.

Edited June 7, 2012 by TBoneTX

[photomile 101]

Why exactly do we need facebook integration? Having the option to login via facebook / openID is a plus for some but personally I don't want to be completely identified by anyone other than people in this community.

[SMOKE 1,426]

Why exactly do we need facebook integration? Having the option to login via facebook / openID is a plus for some but personally I don't want to be completely identified by anyone other than people in this community.

we don't. its a terrible idea, that will prevent new people from joining. VJ was created & is maintained due to the goodness of one man's heart, to help people through the visa process that can not afford a lawyer or prefer to be more hands on. a couple of forums have developed into a quase social networking site...by the choice of those forums regular participants. most VJ members would prefer anonymity, or they'd already have a link to their FB or other social networking site in their siggy here on VJ. forcing people to link to their VJ account to their FB account would be an asinine error & would kill this site....i don't know photomile's real name, where they live, what they look like,.etc. and i shouldn't, unless they want me to.

[LeftCoastLady 441]

Why exactly do we need facebook integration? Having the option to login via facebook / openID is a plus for some but personally I don't want to be completely identified by anyone other than people in this community.

We don't, absolutely. However, Mister Fancypants has posted about this FB integration a number of times with the thought that if we can see someone's real name, it will reduce some of the riff-raff. I don't agree with that theory at all and don't care if the FB login is provided as an option or not. However, if it were to be offered, it would be ideal to make sure the site's security is ready to handle any issues.

[photomile 101]

We don't, absolutely. However, Mister Fancypants has posted about this FB integration a number of times with the thought that if we can see someone's real name, it will reduce some of the riff-raff. I don't agree with that theory at all and don't care if the FB login is provided as an option or not. However, if it were to be offered, it would be ideal to make sure the site's security is ready to handle any issues.

From a security standpoint so long as IPB is updated I believe the latest version has a number of plugins to support gravatar, openID, facebook and google integration. It depends what the site is running on as well.

Can't say I think forcing people to use FB is a sensible idea at all considering even on there you don't have to use any real names. Facebook privacy options would also mean that you could hide everything from the forum and just use facebook as an authentication token. So pretty moot.

If anyone is interested in JUST what IPB can do, go check out http://www.modaco.com - The whole thing, frontpage et al runs on IPB. It's a little too OTT for here, but could be interesting if people wanted to scan for ideas?

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

huh man?

Since we're on the subject of making improvements, has it ever occurred to you just how nauseatingly asinine that ongoing schtick of you adding the word, "man' to the end of sentences? I mean, do you really think it's humorous? Are you amused by it? You're like a guy who wears the same fvcking gag tie everyday to work and annoys his coworkers by forcing the same stupid gag on them over and over nonstop. Well, I'm here to break you of your affliction. Please stop. It's neither funny nor amusing and certainly not clever.

Edited June 7, 2012 by Mister Fancypants

[sara..... 371]

I think linking with face book as an option is a good idea but i personally would not like to be forced to use face book to be able to use this forum.....at this point in time i would delete my account here if that happened

i use my first name here and im sure if there was someone that was really determined to find out who i am they would be able to by the ip adress or something...but i like my privacy....i was stalked once its no fun.....i think it would leave this forum open to a lot of abuse from others that have nothing to do with immigration.....

just my opinion

sara

[LeftCoastLady 441]

Since we're on the subject of making improvements, has it ever occurred to you just how nauseatingly asinine that ongoing schtick of you adding the word, "man' to the end of sentences? I mean, do you really think it's humorous? Are you amused by it? You're like a guy who wears the same fvcking gag tie everyday to work and annoys his coworkers by forcing the same stupid gag on them over and over nonstop. Well, I'm here to break you of your affliction. Please stop. It's neither funny nor amusing and certainly not clever.

Make VJ more user-centered, where other members can know who you are. Have the homepage either imitate or link to a person's Facebook or other social network, while allowing users to choose whether to post anonymously or using their identity. This is the era where people are openly sharing with the rest of the world who they are. Too often, this site has been infiltrated by outside individuals and groups with ulterior motives and/or malicious intent. While there is no full proof way to prevent it, linking their account to a social network would bean effective deterrent. It would also make this place a lot more personable.

[^_^ 5,021]

oh snap.

[photomile 101]

SO anyway

Can we have a discounts section? Free donuts? VJ sponsored "Welcome to America, here's a philly cheese steak"? kinda thing?

On a serious note, I'm wondering if it's worth putting a small emergency page up "What to do if you're..." kind of thing. There are a LOT of posts from people who have been victims of fraud etc?