why moderators allow sarcastic replies?

[Misha'sgirl 44]

I'm sure B_J will understand. First, because it was joke. Second because he is is one of the easiest going folks on here.

It's no wonder why some of you people feel you're being harassed, you have no sense of humor.

Try getting to know some of the folks here who spend their free time helping out other people before you so quickly jump to judge them.

Oh it was just my opinion about some Christians. I'm not offended...I don't even know what I could be offended about. I have gotten to know a lot of people on here and yes there are some nice and some rude. That's to be expected on a public forum. But it shouldn't be tolerated.

[Misha'sgirl 44]

You're lucky I don't beat you up with my Bible.

ETA: By the way, that was a joke also.

He he you're funny. And just to show those who've doubted my sense if humor... Oh is that what the Bible is for, beating people up? Damn and here all along I thought its purpose was to brainwash humans with parables.

[Novembro 1,763]

Try getting to know some of the folks here who spend their free time helping out other people before you so quickly jump to judge them.

But that takes effort and I really just want someone to hold my hand and quickly drag me through the process!

[B_J 2,752]

He he you're funny. And just to show those who've doubted my sense if humor... Oh is that what the Bible is for, beating people up? Damn and here all along I thought its purpose was to brainwash humans with parables.

I studied Theology for a while and I stole that from a Professor. He was talking about how we have so many different denominations, but we still have a lot in common. And instead of focusing on what we agree on, we just argue about our differences and pretty soon we're just beating each other up with our Bibles.

I also hated parables; probably because I wasn't smart enough to figure them out. Seriously, just tell me what you want me to know. Sheesh.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Oh it was just my opinion about some Christians. I'm not offended...I don't even know what I could be offended about. I have gotten to know a lot of people on here and yes there are some nice and some rude. That's to be expected on a public forum. But it shouldn't be tolerated.

I never asserted that you were offended.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

I never asserted that you were offended.

I'm offended that you think that you never asserted she was offended, because I assert that you assert you that she was offended, and frankly this site is all about ME.

[Teddy B 17,252]

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Guys, its FREE immigration advice from some super knowledgeable folks. Sometimes those folks see patterns and point them out. They're right to do so as so many posts on a daily basis are veiled attempts to circumvent the law, complete emotional exaggeration, or questions lacking any substance for a real directional response. If the OP and others in this thread would spend years on here answering the same questions over and over (many of which are ridiculous attempts to expedite a visa due to "emotional hardship") for free, they might be a little suspicious as well.

Stop complaining that people are not giving you free advice in a nice enough tone or that there are not enough volunteer moderators combing the site to make it "less offensive" to your delicate sensibilities.

That wasn't very nice. Other people have feelings too.

[LizzieBee 25]

I'd like to add my two cents. I came here with a sincere desire to find some support and direction. The first time I posted, I was shocked by the insensitive and judgmental replies. Nothing constructive was said. Since then, I have tentatively tried to post a few constructive things on other threads to be helpful to others or give them encouragement. Tonight the judgmental attitude reared its head again and I think there should be no place for that on a forum like this.

Before judging people as thin-skinned or ignorant about the process, please consider that this process SUCKS. It's the most emotionally taxing thing I've ever been through and I'm a single mom of four kids, have recently left the my religion and been subsequently ostracized by my entire social network, and have had two failed businesses. Yet this crappy, crappy process is the hardest thing I think I've ever been through. I'm not thin-skinned. I'm not ignorant. I'm just a human being who is totally overwhelmed by a situation that is 95% out of my control. I think human decency requires us to at least try not to be total d-bags to each other on a site like this.

But sure, hey, it's the internet so d-baggery doesn't count here, right?

[TBoneTX 45,155]

One post removed for dismissive, antagonistic tone. Any similar posting behavior will result in administrative action.

TBoneTX

VJ Moderation

[Hollyday 122]

While i feel your pain for the injustice of this universe as an ex-mod of a chat room for adults (not 'adult', just for 18+) i have to say 'Suck it up'. This is exactly why i resigned from being a moderator: most of the people were older than i was at the time and they couldn't manage themselves without fights and other childish #######.

The mods here are volunteers. They can't be expected to read every thread. Do your homework with the guides and advanced search and then come and ask your question if it wasn't asked before. Not 'OMG can i visit the US while waiting for NOA2? Yes? No? Anyone???'.

This forum has been my main source of information on the subject for the last year and a half. Worked out great for me. You do know there's also the "Ignore" option, yes?

[Soloenta 2,218]

Did you report the sarcastic posts? We have few moderators and they are all volunteers, we cannot read every post on Visajourney. We rely on members to alert us when something is against our TOS (http://www.visajourney.com/content/terms). The way to do that is to click on "report" at the bottom right of each post, and give a short explanation of why you think the post is a problem. The next moderator online will look at it.

How do we become a Moderator I've been one at a few forums and since there are very few of you I would like to help out.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

How do we become a Moderator I've been one at a few forums and since there are very few of you I would like to help out.

Thank you, Soloenta. It's always good when people want to help keep Visa Journey a productive and useful site.

Becoming a Moderator, unfortunately, isn't a matter of volunteering nor even of wanting to be a moderator. Moderators do a variety of jobs from keeping the peace, removing inappropriate comments, issuing cautions and warnings to members who are posting inappropriately or whose posts are causing problems, making difficult decisions about members who fail to comply with moderator's requests or whose violations of the Terms of Service are so egregious that their account needs to be suspended temporarily for a 'cooling off' period, or in some cases permanently banned.

In addition to this they also do basic 'housekeeping' activities, like moving posts and threads to the correct locations (along with Organizers who also do this job), removing duplicate threads, merging duplicate threads that have answers so all of the information is in one place, removing posts that members wish removed, keeping an eye out for sensitive personal information that needs to be edited out for security reasons (done by lead Mod or Administrator), removing spam and spammers, reviewing reported threads and responding appropriately, keeping all of the documentation and 'paperwork' about these activities, interacting with the other mods and administration about these activities, and participating in Moderator meetings. They also assist with technical site issues, if necessary.

Moderators are generally chosen from a list of potential moderators who have been identified by other moderators or site administration and sometimes recommended by other members for their general knowledge of the immigration processes, their familiarity with all of the different parts of the Visa Journey site including the Terms of Service, the level-headedness of their own responses when posting, their ability to remain outside of any disputes or controversies that develop in the forums (important as they will be the ones who have to adjudicate or moderate site controversies), their integrity (demonstrated through their posting history) and their demonstrated ability to deal with people from many different cultures, and address many different concerns, with a sensitivity to the needs of other posters. They are also selected from members who have been active and participating on Visa Journey for several years.

The Moderation Team consists of the Lead Moderator, 6 or 7 Global Moderators, and generally 1 or 2 General or Regional Moderators, along with about 15 to 20 organizers. That is 25 to 30 volunteers actively involved in making sure Visa Journey runs smoothly for its members.

Visa Journey is a large forum web-site with over 100,000 members so while the Moderation Team is 'small' in reference to the number of members, it is large enough to do the work of a 'report-driven' site where members report problems and the next Moderator who reads the report responds. All Moderators are volunteers and have their own personal lives, which often involve their own Visa Journey, along with their family, careers, etc. so a team of this size works well together while ensuring that most of the reports are addressed in a reasonable amount of time, even overnight. We would require hundreds of moderators if we were expected to read and moderate every single post that makes it to the forums. That is just too overwhelming and a moderation team that size becomes unmanageable and would soon lead to chaos. So, while this process isn't perfect, it works, especially when we consider that the members of Visa Journey are generally responsible adults and the majority of them never cause or create or become the focus of any sort of moderation 'issue'.

I hope this helps:-).

Edited September 11, 2014 by Kathryn41

[Soloenta 2,218]

Thank you, Soloenta. It's always good when people want to help keep Visa Journey a productive and useful site.

Becoming a Moderator, unfortunately, isn't a matter of volunteering nor even of wanting to be a moderator. Moderators do a variety of jobs from keeping the peace, removing inappropriate comments, issuing cautions and warnings to members who are posting inappropriately or whose posts are causing problems, making difficult decisions about members who fail to comply with moderator's requests or whose violations of the Terms of Service are so egregious that their account needs to be suspended temporarily for a 'cooling off' period, or in some cases permanently banned.

In addition to this they also do basic 'housekeeping' activities, like moving posts and threads to the correct locations (along with Organizers who also do this job), removing duplicate threads, merging duplicate threads that have answers so all of the information is in one place, removing posts that members wish removed, keeping an eye out for sensitive personal information that needs to be edited out for security reasons (done by lead Mod or Administrator), removing spam and spammers, reviewing reported threads and responding appropriately, keeping all of the documentation and 'paperwork' about these activities, interacting with the other mods and administration about these activities, and participating in Moderator meetings. They also assist with technical site issues, if necessary.

Moderators are generally chosen from a list of potential moderators who have been identified by other moderators or site administration and sometimes recommended by other members for their general knowledge of the immigration processes, their familiarity with all of the different parts of the Visa Journey site including the Terms of Service, the level-headedness of their own responses when posting, their ability to remain outside of any disputes or controversies that develop in the forums (important as they will be the ones who have to adjudicate or moderate site controversies), their integrity (demonstrated through their posting history) and their demonstrated ability to deal with people from many different cultures, and address many different concerns, with a sensitivity to the needs of other posters. They are also selected from members who have been active and participating on Visa Journey for several years.

The Moderation Team consists of the Lead Moderator, 6 or 7 Global Moderators, and generally 1 or 2 General or Regional Moderators, along with about 15 to 20 organizers. That is 25 to 30 volunteers actively involved in making sure Visa Journey runs smoothly for its members.

Visa Journey is a large forum web-site with over 100,000 members so while the Moderation Team is 'small' in reference to the number of members, it is large enough to do the work of a 'report-driven' site where members report problems and the next Moderator who reads the report responds. All Moderators are volunteers and have their own personal lives, which often involve their own Visa Journey, along with their family, careers, etc. so a team of this size works well together while ensuring that most of the reports are addressed in a reasonable amount of time, even overnight. We would require hundreds of moderators if we were expected to read and moderate every single post that makes it to the forums. That is just too overwhelming and a moderation team that size becomes unmanageable and would soon lead to chaos. So, while this process isn't perfect, it works, especially when we consider that the members of Visa Journey are generally responsible adults and the majority of them never cause or create or become the focus of any sort of moderation 'issue'.

I hope this helps:-).

Thank you very much Kathryn41 very informative how very kind of you.

[MyLittlePony 340]

You have to treat VJ a sensitive place you will find out quick on what your allowed to say and what not to say.