Roll Call of Fallen Commrades

[GandD 5,966]

thediplomat.com

the Hindu.

[mota bhai 2,675]

That too but thediplomat.com is better for China.

[Teddy B 17,252]

That too but thediplomat.com is better for China.

Maybe you could run a pseudo sock puppet through GandD. You could give him commands via pm. That would be a first.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

It doesn't matter. I know you have your reasons for wanting to leave but I personally really liked your posts. We could lose lots of people and it would suck but I really think losing you is a loss of identity for this sub forum.

AJ is VJ. I hope he reconsiders. He is the most prolific poster in VJ history.

And I just got on now for the first time today and I have no clue what happened or what is going on.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Basically what I'm finding out today is there's like me and three other people here (maybe) that aren't AJ. Unless I'm also AJ. Wait......... Am I AJ? Is this real life?

If you're wondering who some is, it's probably AJ.

I am AJ!!!

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

for the record, i didn't report it.

Well it did not violate the TOS, it attacked no one, it was asking you to stay

If you did not ask it to be taken down then what was the Motive ?

Gary and mota bhai co-existed, therefore one is not the other.

I just figured out you are AJ, they keep talking about.

Harpa and AJ are the only two real people on here, everyone else is a sock.

I honestly think Danno and MBD were the same person

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I sure as hell am not making fun of him. People forgot how he could liven this place up. He didn't try to get banned, he was being himself and he wasn't ashamed of that and he shared a lot of his personal life here. He made no excuses or compromises. He told very personal things about himself and didn't hide it or avoid talking about it when the attacks and judging started. He stayed true to himself. I can't help but respect that. He never got mad because people didn't agree with him. He didn't make a sock puppet account to save his real account from getting banned. I think he was a likable guy and I have in no way belittled him.

I just want to weigh in with one aspect of this no one has yet considered. Yes,Kip was popular and enjoyable and could liven up a room with his stories, and what you saw was what you got. People liked him. I liked him. And That this is all perfectly fine in a private and closed environment where everyone is friends and understand the rules of the game and the 'play' doesn't spill over into somewhere else.

Visa Journey, however, is a public forum - a very public forum - that is actively searched and googled every day by individuals seeking advice on immigration. You do not have to be a member to view any of the information posted on Visa Journey. You only have to be a member to post. So, all of the 'fun' that is understood between the members who participate regularly is not something that is understood outside by those not involved. That means thousands - literally thousands of people, sponsors, authority figures, potential members, potential sponsors, etc. all around the world also read what you post. When you google search on specific subject immigration matters and then find posts that are controversial, discuss intimate adult life details with sensationalist 'twists', sound rude or condescending or derogatory on that same site, that causes problems. It can actually put the real focus of Visa Journey - providing useful, supportive and experiential immigration information to those in need - at risk.

So, with each post anyone makes you need to remember that you are not just speaking to best buddy xxx or frenemy yyy, you are speaking to the world - and Visa Journey is being judged by your content and subject matter.

That is why it is a big deal and that is why we have the Terms of Service and that is why moderators try to find that middle ground between allowing you a space in which to play, while at the same time protecting the real reason for this site to exist. It is not about you - it is about ensuring Visa Journey is allowed to continue to fill the very real need that exists for a site like this for those undertaking immigration to the United States.

(This comment wasn't aimed at you, Spooky, I just used your post as an good introduction to my comments)

Edited May 30, 2014 by Kathryn41

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

I just want to weigh in with one aspect of this no one has yet considered. Yes,Kip was popular and enjoyable and could liven up a room with his stories, and what you saw was what you got. People liked him. I liked him. And That this is all perfectly fine in a private and closed environment where everyone is friends and understand the rules of the game and the 'play' doesn't spill over into somewhere else.

Visa Journey, however, is public forum - a very public forum - that is actively searched and googled every day by individuals seeking advice on immigration. You do not have to be a member to view any of the information posted on Visa Journey. You only have to be a member to post. So, all of the 'fun' that is understood between the members who participate regularly is not something that is understood outside by those not involved. That means thousands - literally thousands of people, sponsors, authority figures, potential members, potential sponsors, etc. all around the world also read what you post. When you google search on specific subject immigration matters and then find posts that are controversial, discuss intimate adult life details with sensationalist 'twists', sound rude or condescending or derogatory on that same site, that causes problems. It can actually put the real focus of Visa Journey - providing useful, supportive and experiential immigration information to those in need - at risk.

So, with each post anyone makes you need to remember that you are not just speaking to best buddy xxx or frenemy yyy, you are speaking to the world - and Visa Journey is being judged by your content and subject matter.

That is why it is a big deal and that is why we have the Terms of Service and that is why moderators try to find that middle ground between allowing you a space in which to play, while at the same time protecting the real reason for this site to exist. It is about you - it is about ensuring Visa Journey is allowed to continue to fill the very real need that exists for a site like this for those undertaking immigration to the United States.

(This comment wasn't aimed at you, Spooky, I just used your post as an good introduction to my comments)

I have to agree with her on a lot of this. It was explained very clearly and this should have been said a long time ago. Great post Kathryn

But

Restricting this forum would solve 90% of this or would our foolishness still show up in Goggle searches?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

The posts would still show up on Google.

We have asked about having the forum restricted to view and only accessed by satisfying certain criteria, but there are negative consequences of having hidden forums as well that are detrimental to Visa Journey's well-being. Captain Ewok is doing some investigation of different options. At this point there doesn't seem to be any easy fixes, except for asking everyone to co-operate and post in such a way as does not cause harm to the site.

Edited May 30, 2014 by Kathryn41

[luckytxn 2,264]

Then almost everyone should have earned at least a suspension that posted in the thread. Why was Kip singled out and by a mod that has shown they are biased toward him? I was threatened with suspension by a mod and had my posts deleted for complaining about mods once. I should be on at least a 2nd or 3rd strike now because of this thread.

This thread was alowed to go nuts to let us 'get it out of our system' and a lot of leniency was shown so allowing this helped fuel what happened with Kip. It also didn't help that members were trying to get Kip to expound 'further' and he stupidly obliged. I tried and a few others at times taled to hom here and he was improving as we went along to where by the end of the thread he had pretty much conformed. He made a real effort but al he got was a biased mod acting out on him and sending one of the rudest things I ever read telling him he wasn't wanted here on the site. Screw y'all.

I just want to weigh in with one aspect of this no one has yet considered. Yes,Kip was popular and enjoyable and could liven up a room with his stories, and what you saw was what you got. People liked him. I liked him. And That this is all perfectly fine in a private and closed environment where everyone is friends and understand the rules of the game and the 'play' doesn't spill over into somewhere else.

Visa Journey, however, is a public forum - a very public forum - that is actively searched and googled every day by individuals seeking advice on immigration. You do not have to be a member to view any of the information posted on Visa Journey. You only have to be a member to post. So, all of the 'fun' that is understood between the members who participate regularly is not something that is understood outside by those not involved. That means thousands - literally thousands of people, sponsors, authority figures, potential members, potential sponsors, etc. all around the world also read what you post. When you google search on specific subject immigration matters and then find posts that are controversial, discuss intimate adult life details with sensationalist 'twists', sound rude or condescending or derogatory on that same site, that causes problems. It can actually put the real focus of Visa Journey - providing useful, supportive and experiential immigration information to those in need - at risk.

So, with each post anyone makes you need to remember that you are not just speaking to best buddy xxx or frenemy yyy, you are speaking to the world - and Visa Journey is being judged by your content and subject matter.

That is why it is a big deal and that is why we have the Terms of Service and that is why moderators try to find that middle ground between allowing you a space in which to play, while at the same time protecting the real reason for this site to exist. It is not about you - it is about ensuring Visa Journey is allowed to continue to fill the very real need that exists for a site like this for those undertaking immigration to the United States.

(This comment wasn't aimed at you, Spooky, I just used your post as an good introduction to my comments)

[spookyturtle 9,466]

I just want to weigh in with one aspect of this no one has yet considered. Yes,Kip was popular and enjoyable and could liven up a room with his stories, and what you saw was what you got. People liked him. I liked him. And That this is all perfectly fine in a private and closed environment where everyone is friends and understand the rules of the game and the 'play' doesn't spill over into somewhere else.

Visa Journey, however, is a public forum - a very public forum - that is actively searched and googled every day by individuals seeking advice on immigration. You do not have to be a member to view any of the information posted on Visa Journey. You only have to be a member to post. So, all of the 'fun' that is understood between the members who participate regularly is not something that is understood outside by those not involved. That means thousands - literally thousands of people, sponsors, authority figures, potential members, potential sponsors, etc. all around the world also read what you post. When you google search on specific subject immigration matters and then find posts that are controversial, discuss intimate adult life details with sensationalist 'twists', sound rude or condescending or derogatory on that same site, that causes problems. It can actually put the real focus of Visa Journey - providing useful, supportive and experiential immigration information to those in need - at risk.

So, with each post anyone makes you need to remember that you are not just speaking to best buddy xxx or frenemy yyy, you are speaking to the world - and Visa Journey is being judged by your content and subject matter.

That is why it is a big deal and that is why we have the Terms of Service and that is why moderators try to find that middle ground between allowing you a space in which to play, while at the same time protecting the real reason for this site to exist. It is not about you - it is about ensuring Visa Journey is allowed to continue to fill the very real need that exists for a site like this for those undertaking immigration to the United States.

(This comment wasn't aimed at you, Spooky, I just used your post as an good introduction to my comments)

OK, because I'm pretty sure that I did not bad mouth moderation over Kip's ban. I just tried to explain things a bit to those that weren't here when he was a regular and don't know the back story. And I just wanted all to know, including Kip, that I in no way shape or form bashed him or made fun of him. He and I have had interesting discussions on various subjects in the past, and none of them were about women or immigration. I think that some people thought I was egging him on tell his story and I certainly was not. I wanted to hear it and I wanted him to vent to old friends if he so desired, that's all.

[luckytxn 2,264]

I apologize for saying about the egging on. During the thread I tried a few time to caution about the story telling and was hoping to temper what Kip said as I saw a train wreck coming. I was upset that my warnings came to nothing. I never expected the biased way he was tossed out.

OK, because I'm pretty sure that I did not bad mouth moderation over Kip's ban. I just tried to explain things a bit to those that weren't here when he was a regular and don't know the back story. And I just wanted all to know, including Kip, that I in no way shape or form bashed him or made fun of him. He and I have had interesting discussions on various subjects in the past, and none of them were about women or immigration. I think that some people thought I was egging him on tell his story and I certainly was not. I wanted to hear it and I wanted him to vent to old friends if he so desired, that's all.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Then almost everyone should have earned at least a suspension that posted in the thread. Why was Kip singled out and by a mod that has shown they are biased toward him? I was threatened with suspension by a mod and had my posts deleted for complaining about mods once. I should be on at least a 2nd or 3rd strike now because of this thread.

This thread was alowed to go nuts to let us 'get it out of our system' and a lot of leniency was shown so allowing this helped fuel what happened with Kip. It also didn't help that members were trying to get Kip to expound 'further' and he stupidly obliged. I tried and a few others at times taled to hom here and he was improving as we went along to where by the end of the thread he had pretty much conformed. He made a real effort but al he got was a biased mod acting out on him and sending one of the rudest things I ever read telling him he wasn't wanted here on the site. XXXXXX

Your a good dude. Don't go to far out there I would miss you The part I xxed out was over the line . I am telling you that for your own good, cause I hate to lose another good man here

[Karee 4,190]

I just want to weigh in with one aspect of this no one has yet considered. Yes,Kip was popular and enjoyable and could liven up a room with his stories, and what you saw was what you got. People liked him. I liked him. And That this is all perfectly fine in a private and closed environment where everyone is friends and understand the rules of the game and the 'play' doesn't spill over into somewhere else.

Visa Journey, however, is a public forum - a very public forum - that is actively searched and googled every day by individuals seeking advice on immigration. You do not have to be a member to view any of the information posted on Visa Journey. You only have to be a member to post. So, all of the 'fun' that is understood between the members who participate regularly is not something that is understood outside by those not involved. That means thousands - literally thousands of people, sponsors, authority figures, potential members, potential sponsors, etc. all around the world also read what you post. When you google search on specific subject immigration matters and then find posts that are controversial, discuss intimate adult life details with sensationalist 'twists', sound rude or condescending or derogatory on that same site, that causes problems. It can actually put the real focus of Visa Journey - providing useful, supportive and experiential immigration information to those in need - at risk.

So, with each post anyone makes you need to remember that you are not just speaking to best buddy xxx or frenemy yyy, you are speaking to the world - and Visa Journey is being judged by your content and subject matter.

That is why it is a big deal and that is why we have the Terms of Service and that is why moderators try to find that middle ground between allowing you a space in which to play, while at the same time protecting the real reason for this site to exist. It is not about you - it is about ensuring Visa Journey is allowed to continue to fill the very real need that exists for a site like this for those undertaking immigration to the United States.

(This comment wasn't aimed at you, Spooky, I just used your post as an good introduction to my comments)

That's interesting. I agree that the primary purpose for this place should be immigration. It is called Visa Journey after all. It would be a shame that someone would not come here for immigration help because they might be put off by some of the topics and comments in this section that really have little to do with immigration. I'll always be eternally grateful to this place because of the help I received getting my wife's visa, and later on her citizenship.

That said, a lot of the people here met online because we all (or almost all) went through a lengthy inefficient process and have some sort of "online friendship" (for lack of a better term.) That friendship has continued long after our loved ones have immigrated to the U.S. etc. Most of us here in this particular forum (current events) are probably done with the immigration process or near the end. Maybe another domain would be in order (afterthejourney.com) or something like that. I don't know. Maybe that would solve the search engine issues?

I don't really help much in the upper forums much anymore unless it's related to Thailand. If I had to read "how long until I get my NOA2?" 100 times a day, I may put a pistol in my mouth.

[Pooky 3,786]

That's interesting. I agree that the primary purpose for this place should be immigration. It is called Visa Journey after all. It would be a shame that someone would not come here for immigration help because they might be put off by some of the topics and comments in this section that really have little to do with immigration. I'll always be eternally grateful to this place because of the help I received getting my wife's visa, and later on her citizenship.

That said, a lot of the people here met online because we all (or almost all) went through a lengthy inefficient process and have some sort of "online friendship" (for lack of a better term.) That friendship has continued long after our loved ones have immigrated to the U.S. etc. Most of us here in this particular forum (current events) are probably done with the immigration process or near the end. Maybe another domain would be in order (afterthejourney.com) or something like that. I don't know. Maybe that would solve the search engine issues?

I don't really help much in the upper forums much anymore unless it's related to Thailand. If I had to read "how long until I get my NOA2?" 100 times a day, I may put a pistol in my mouth.

Who/how would you recommend setting this up?