New K1 subforums?

[no name 1]

It certainly could be true that people simply don't have the time or interest to contribute any more, but I suspect that isn't true, based on my observations about "how" people will spend their VJ time when left without guidance. Timelines, daisy paths, fancy siggy images, 'gathering threads' etc..

I wonder if it's not a part of active moderation to strongly encourage people to write up THEIR interview experience, medical appt experience, etc---maybe have a format to help the non-writers flesh it out?. My observation has been that people LOVE to read these stories and LOVE writing up their own.. and it's *those* details where we get valuable consulate-specific tips etc. Perhaps our collective error has been in trying to capture this data into Guides and checklists and 'how to's'? Maybe if we went back to a more stripped down format and encouraged this kind of post writing, the rest would solve itself?

I stongly believe that a member-generated site is best at keeping up with changes in the Service and keeps everyone on the 'right' side of the line by encouraging people to reach their own decisions and conclusions about their cases instead of having the answer supplied. Seasoned members can help with the translation of legalese-->humanspeak so that when people DO read source material or Guides they have a better understanding of what the words mean in Immigrationlandia.

<shrug> It's a culture thing. We can talk all we want, but if the culture is not decided from the top and enforced, you get the Wild West, which is what I think VJ has been for awhile.

I couldn't agree more Meaux.

When I started here I read all I could. Then after our interview, I updated the UK embassy info. I was all about reading past experiences. Now, I've come to not like VJ much. I get yelled at for my siggie - which I've had forever, I get yelled at for telling someone to read guides & posting links, I get yelled at if I don't agree. Moderation could definitely help, if the name-callers & whatever were actually told to tone it down.

I know I'm not a most sunshine & rainbow-y person & I will not apologize for that. I have led teams in my career & personal life, I've accomplished a fair bit. I think I come across harsher on here than I am. I'm also pretty sure I've helped a good many poeple on here.

I was shaking with anger & almost in tears yesterday after that thread in AOS where I was continually mocked & yet no one says anything...?! Yeah, that makes me not want to be a part of VJ.

Edited March 28, 2007 by devilette

[no name 1]

Seriously - where does this thread end?

There are legitimate issues raised here that have spawned from the original suggestion. That's the nature of debate. You have the option not to read it if you think it's beneath your dignity.

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

Well, .....

You've got to be kidding, right?!

I think we've reached, or are reaching, a number of conclusions that go rather beyond giving a handful of members the right to move posts around. First there has to be somewhere to move them to if they're in a bad place rather than just a wrong one, second there are issues of structure, thirds there are issues of direction, purpose and control..... are we to have no progress on those, or are the concerns raised here not worthy of consideration?

This was just something in general I have been wanting to do. I think a year and a half ago I added ten people or so that could move threads and overall in all forums (not this issue) organization was improved. So by adding new people this should likely help in that regard. Regarding this thread my question was likely off topic. I am not adding people with the hopes that they will move the "congrats" threads or similar. I should have made that clear. I just got the feeling that overall organization needed some tending to when people post in the wrong forum.

[rebeccajo 14]

It does Captain.

IMO though moved threads don't need to show in the forum they were incorrectly placed in. A PM to the OP will let them know where their question went.

And a 'good news' sub-forum is where many of those threads should go. I can't see us making much progress without it.

And we need to know what to do with intensely time-driven threads. Kill them? Drop them down another page? What is the appropriate behavior?

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

Can someone correct me if I am wrong... the general nature of this topic started off discussing a feeling that in the K1 forums people post too many congratulatory statements and declarations of successful and rapid NOA2's (and in so doing made it painful for members who had to wait a lot longer)?

If the above is the case then I am not sure that any conclusions on fixing that have been agreed to or seem ideal (creating another forums may or may not help).

After this was discussed then the issue of new members tending to post questions and not read the guides was raised. I am not sure any conclusions were reached on that as well.

Also the issue of people being a little "loose at the hip" and the need for more moderation was raised. The conclusion was proposed that more moderation be done to remind people that this site is supposed to be more family like and less crazy. I agree and I would volunteer to help step up the moderation if I can also get some feedback from everyone on on where you think things need it the most, and also on what types of events seem the most disruptive to the site. I have a hard time when the only feedback I get is specific posts. I then only moderate those and possibly miss a larger trend.

The issue of organizing some lose and misplaced threads was raised in the thread as well. My solution to help overall is to add more members that can move threads to assist in organization as a lot of times those misplaced threads are not reported to me and I then can not move them.

Thoughts?

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

It does Captain.

IMO though moved threads don't need to show in the forum they were incorrectly placed in. A PM to the OP will let them know where their question went.

And a 'good news' sub-forum is where many of those threads should go. I can't see us making much progress without it.

And we need to know what to do with intensely time-driven threads. Kill them? Drop them down another page? What is the appropriate behavior?

A good news forum is ok with me however I would like to get everyones feelings on this. I am concerned with placement on what topics it covers. Should we place it in the General Discussion Category or some other category?

[Otto 83]

Can someone correct me if I am wrong...

Thoughts?

You're not wrong - was essentially my point

[no name 1]

Can someone correct me if I am wrong... the general nature of this topic started off discussing a feeling that in the K1 forums people post too many congratulatory statements and declarations of successful and rapid NOA2's (and in so doing made it painful for members who had to wait a lot longer)?

If the above is the case then I am not sure that any conclusions on fixing that have been agreed to or seem ideal (creating another forums may or may not help).

Yes, Cap'n. I thought we were doing what Andy said:

How about renaming the existing K-1 forum from 'K-1 Fiance(e) Visa General Discussion' to K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Questions and Help' and then adding a new one underneath called 'K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports'

After this was discussed then the issue of new members tending to post questions and not read the guides was raised. I am not sure any conclusions were reached on that as well.

Nothing was resolved, no.

Also the issue of people being a little "loose at the hip" and the need for more moderation was raised. The conclusion was proposed that more moderation be done to remind people that this site is supposed to be more family like and less crazy. I agree and I would volunteer to help step up the moderation if I can also get some feedback from everyone on on where you think things need it the most, and also on what types of events seem the most disruptive to the site. I have a hard time when the only feedback I get is specific posts. I then only moderate those and possibly miss a larger trend.

Agreed, we need more moderation. Perhaps enabling a select 2 or 3 new mods to help you out.

The issue of organizing some lose and misplaced threads was raised in the thread as well. My solution to help overall is to add more members that can move threads to assist in organization as a lot of times those misplaced threads are not reported to me and I then can not move them.

Yes, we agreed more people need to be thread movers.

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

I should re-emphasize that adding the ability to move threads to member accounts is not moderating nor a moderator role. It is simply a social networking tool that will improve organization.

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

Yes, Cap'n. I thought we were doing what Andy said:

How about renaming the existing K-1 forum from 'K-1 Fiance(e) Visa General Discussion' to K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Questions and Help' and then adding a new one underneath called 'K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports'

Hmm. My only concern is that next people would want this for every other forum, K3, DCF, AOS, etc. Maybe a subforum on each? It would not be on the main page but like the regional forums?

[TracyTN 237]

Can someone correct me if I am wrong... the general nature of this topic started off discussing a feeling that in the K1 forums people post too many congratulatory statements and declarations of successful and rapid NOA2's (and in so doing made it painful for members who had to wait a lot longer)?

I started the topic to see if there was a possibility to create a 'subforum' off the K1 forum. The purpose of that subforum would be to move these timeline related threads to it. I think in the ensuing conversation, we realized that the 'congratulations' and 'I got touched!' type threads may make sense to be in there as well. Mainly because all those various types of threads seem to be 'overtaking' the K1 forum, making it more difficult to weed through and 'find' true K1 related question threads.

As devilette stated, I think Andy's suggestion of renaming the K1 and the name for the subforum is appropriate.

Edited when I saw Captain's last post: I'm not sure on that one. It seems to me like the K1 forum is the one bedraggled by this the most - my thought is to at least start there (maybe even to see how it goes over?). But perhaps I don't frequent those other forums enough to know for sure if it makes sense with those.

Edited March 28, 2007 by TracyTN

[no name 1]

Yes, Cap'n. I thought we were doing what Andy said:

How about renaming the existing K-1 forum from 'K-1 Fiance(e) Visa General Discussion' to K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Questions and Help' and then adding a new one underneath called 'K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports'

Hmm. My only concern is that next people would want this for every other forum, K3, DCF, AOS, etc. Maybe a subforum on each? It would not be on the main page but like the regional forums?

I definitely see some touch/NOA1/2 threads in AOS, but can't say for K3. Makes sense though.

[Andy 2]

Thoughts?

The reason why the topic has spread amongst several divergent issues is because it reflects a number of areas of disquiet with the usage or focus of the site, and it's operability. Some of these are the same issues as were discussed in this area a year or so ago, and which resulted in some members having the power to move threads around, but not in exercising better control of the site in any other respect.

Some issues are undoubtedly related to the explosion of threads in the K-1 area in particular, caused by the disparity of processing times between service centers, meaning there are abundant and regular posts from some announcing approvals or other positive action, while the majority (3/4 of the K-1 membership) have to sit and wait an interminable time by comparison with no action. The frustration of the one group and the insensitivity of the other is palpable, and the solution was thought, I believe, to be a separate area (my suggestion was to place it next to the existing K-1 area on the main forum page and do a bit of renaming for better 'guidance', but others have thought it would be better inside the K-1 area as a sub-group. Not only would creating a place of this sort help the 3/4 membership who are having to wait out the process longer than the 1/4 who don't, but it would also help clean the K-1 area up so that those asking questions or trying to help don't have to wade through an abundance of 'litter'. It would help target the K-1 area better.

I think we all have to admit that the tendency of new users posting instead of reading is a factor we can't really control. In the long term I'd like to see clear and concise guides by issue as downloadable links, perhaps pinned or otherwise made very obvious, but in order to reach the point where that work can be done - getting the guides and other materials up to date and as accurate as possible, there are active moderation issues to be addressed in trying to bring some control and create a more positive atmosphere for posters to work in and help gradually reduce the clutter.

Better moderation is needed everywhere on the site - excepting off topic perhaps which is there for entirely different purposes than the rest of the site. I think we all agree that things are less than ideal and VJ isn't able to effectively function as well as it has in the past for a whole host of reasons, not least being the gradual loss of focus on the question/answer/help/support role of each topic area.

Ultimately, those regulars who are capable of strengthening the informational resources and answering questions competently need to be encouraged and have some investment here other than the frustration of time spent struggling against the tide. Those people are the backbone of the site, and I sense that in many ways they're being discouraged. A couple of the contributions in this very thread, where a somewhat rambling but worthwhile, and for many crucial, discussion of some fundamental VJ issues has been met with derision is a good example.

But of course you're asking for a consensus and like everyone else here I'm just a participant. You know from our prior discussions what I feel is needed, and I don't see my viewpoint as changed in any way.

ON EDIT: regarding the possibility that other areas would want the same additional 'progress' type topic area off the main page if K-1 got it - why not? What's the problem with that if it helps organize the site - and since everyone is interested in progress and success stories, it should do just that. It might then mean the service center topic area could go completely too, plus assistant with a little re-purposing.

Edited March 28, 2007 by Andy

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

Thoughts?

The reason why the topic has spread amongst several divergent issues is because it reflects a number of areas of disquiet with the usage or focus of the site, and it's operability. Some of these are the same issues as were discussed in this area a year or so ago, and which resulted in some members having the power to move threads around, but not in exercising better control of the site in any other respect.

Some issues are undoubtedly related to the explosion of threads in the K-1 area in particular, caused by the disparity of processing times between service centers, meaning there are abundant and regular posts from some announcing approvals or other positive action, while the majority (3/4 of the K-1 membership) have to sit and wait an interminable time by comparison with no action. The frustration of the one group and the insensitivity of the other is palpable, and the solution was thought, I believe, to be a separate area (my suggestion was to place it next to the existing K-1 area on the main forum page and do a bit of renaming for better 'guidance', but others have thought it would be better inside the K-1 area as a sub-group. Not only would creating a place of this sort help the 3/4 membership who are having to wait out the process longer than the 1/4 who don't, but it would also help clean the K-1 area up so that those asking questions or trying to help don't have to wade through an abundance of 'litter'. It would help target the K-1 area better.

I think we all have to admit that the tendency of new users posting instead of reading is a factor we can't really control. In the long term I'd like to see clear and concise guides by issue as downloadable links, perhaps pinned or otherwise made very obvious, but in order to reach the point where that work can be done - getting the guides and other materials up to date and as accurate as possible, there are active moderation issues to be addressed in trying to bring some control and create a more positive atmosphere for posters to work in and help gradually reduce the clutter.

Better moderation is needed everywhere on the site - excepting off topic perhaps which is there for entirely different purposes than the rest of the site. I think we all agree that things are less than ideal and VJ isn't able to effectively function as well as it has in the past for a whole host of reasons, not least being the gradual loss of focus on the question/answer/help/support role of each topic area.

Ultimately, those regulars who are capable of strengthening the informational resources and answering questions competently need to be encouraged and have some investment here other than the frustration of time spent struggling against the tide. Those people are the backbone of the site, and I sense that in many ways they're being discouraged. A couple of the contributions in this very thread, where a somewhat rambling but worthwhile, and for many crucial, discussion of some fundamental VJ issues has been met with derision is a good example.

But of course you're asking for a consensus and like everyone else here I'm just a participant. You know from our prior discussions what I feel is needed, and I don't see my viewpoint as changed in any way.

ON EDIT: regarding the possibility that other areas would want the same additional 'progress' type topic area off the main page if K-1 got it - why not? What's the problem with that if it helps organize the site - and since everyone is interested in progress and success stories, it should do just that. It might then mean the service center topic area could go completely too, plus assistant with a little re-purposing.

I am more than happy to create this sub forum. We can always try it out and worse case it doesn't work and we revert it back and try something different.

[no name 1]

I am more than happy to create this sub forum. We can always try it out and worse case it doesn't work and we revert it back and try something different.