Moved threads in the UK forum

[Fandango 1,439]

Perhaps taking the titles away from folks and making it a bit secretive would knock out the "who is moving my thread" stuff. We all know there has always been folks with the ability to move around, but sticking them out there for the world to see may not be a good idea. *shrug* The calling out and pointing fingers just isn't going to cut it.

I don't think that TD made this thread as a 'calling out' thing. I think there are just too many organizers, so where do you start? PM all of them 'did you move this thread?'

It's easier with a thread, kills all the birds with one stone.

You know, I'm torn, I really don't know where the actual issue is. Yes, the title does invite questions, but in the past, even though there were no titles, there wasn't this amount of thread moving. I don't think it needs to be a 'secretive' thing...but if it's so not a big deal, why it needs to be made into one with formal titles? Back in the day, a thread was moved & it was no big deal, barely even noticed (cept the odd question here and there)...I think an organizer is doing a good job when the job is done without anyone noticing.

It's prolly a combination of many factors. Gah, who knows.

But I don't think this thread was made to be inflammatory.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

But I don't think this thread was made to be inflammatory.

awww man and i brought marshmallows and it's almost lunchtime

[Tim and Bethanie 1]

Perhaps taking the titles away from folks and making it a bit secretive would knock out the "who is moving my thread" stuff. We all know there has always been folks with the ability to move around, but sticking them out there for the world to see may not be a good idea. *shrug* The calling out and pointing fingers just isn't going to cut it.

I don't think that TD made this thread as a 'calling out' thing. I think there are just too many organizers, so where do you start? PM all of them 'did you move this thread?'

It's easier with a thread, kills all the birds with one stone.

You know, I'm torn, I really don't know where the actual issue is. Yes, the title does invite questions, but in the past, even though there were no titles, there wasn't this amount of thread moving. I don't think it needs to be a 'secretive' thing...but if it's so not a big deal, why it needs to be made into one with formal titles? Back in the day, a thread was moved & it was no big deal, barely even noticed (cept the odd question here and there)...I think an organizer is doing a good job when the job is done without anyone noticing.

It's prolly a combination of many factors. Gah, who knows.

But I don't think this thread was made to be inflammatory.

I doubt that too, but imagine how those with the powers to move a thread must feel. Either they are moving things that shouldn't be or there is just such a fine line you can cross with all of this. If the person moving the thread has a good understanding of the rules behind doing so, they should not have to explain why the topic was moved. Perhaps a brief statement "this was moved because of.......whatever rule applies" might be in order.

Sure secretive might not be the best word, but as you point out why the need for a formal title. It just seems it brings a lot of hastle/accountability whatever you want to call it down on the "organizers". Doubtful any of these guys and gals took on the position to instigate or specifically target one person, they volunteered to help solve some issues within the board.

These things should be taken up in pm with ewok, or within site issues???!!! IOWNO

Back in our day I frequented the CR-1, K-3 and embassy threads first and foremost. I came here for "regional discussions", support friendship and the occasional embassy specific question be it directions price whatever. I also linked my topics into here if I was not getting the answers in one of the other forums.

Maybe over time there will be a better understanding of where things need to go, this is all so new at this point and mistakes will be made and lessons learned to help make this a better place to be.

[Aniomaman 0]

Edited May 24, 2007 by Justchillin

[no name 1]

But I don't think this thread was made to be inflammatory.

From VJ:

Regional Discussion

This Forum is dedicated to discussion on the major regions around the world. Topics of discussion may include travel, moving, what to eat and any other experience you may wish to share or inquire about. Have fun!

Is this offered to support the moving of items or just as general information?

btw: you're an "organizer" - are you doing most of the moving lately?

And you have not answered my question: have you been doing the moving lately?

#1 in that thread - says LEAVE IT BE unless it is clearly in the wrong place.

So if you aren't moving it, I'd love to know who is and I'd love to know why they feel things are inappropriately posted here.

Oh D, just fess up. Either you've moved a bunch lately or not.

But since you're kinda indicating that you've been moving more lately (or at least not denying it at all), then I think you should re-read the guidelines that you linked to. I think the moving has been inappropriate lately.

To geek out: with power comes responsibility. So either directly deny that you have been a big mover and shaker these days, or just say "yes, I have and this is why," and then we, as a regional forum, can better understand...Whoever is moving stuff should step up.

From an organizer:

Sub-titling a thread "Will the Organizer please stand up?" is a bit much. If you feel it was wrong why the need to make a topic about it? Surely you could PM an Organizer who has links to the UK forum (or Ewok), explain to them why you felt the topic should be moved back to the UK forum and, more than likely, they would assent to move it back.

From another organizer:

ETA: and further, I think it's a bit ridiculous to expect whoever *did* move them to stand up and say "OK, I did it, now go ahead and jump all over me, specifically. If they want to do it, then fine...but I don't think you should expect anyone to answer just because you decided to demand one.M.

It didn't start as an attack (it started as a riff on the Slim Shady song lyric), but once and Organizer appeared and was dodgy or incomplete in an explanation, I got even more tired of the practice than I was at first.

Obviously several organizers did feel it was inflammatory, or at the least accusatory.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

now it's in Site Related Discussion - Updates, Ideas, etc.

[no name 1]

now it's in Site Related Discussion - Updates, Ideas, etc.

And guess what, I didn't move it!

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

now it's in Site Related Discussion - Updates, Ideas, etc.

And guess what, I didn't move it!

don't worry, you'll be blamed anyways

[rebeccajo 14]

Actually, Embassy questions haven't always been here because HERE didn't always exist.

And when HERE was created, its original intent was a place of cultural exchange.

It has been said before and it's worthy of saying again. Establish regional sub-forums in the Consulate section because that's the ONLY POINT in an immigration journey wherein regional differences matter.

If that is done, the General Discussion area Regional Forums can be abolished. In their place I personally would love to see an 'Around the Globe' forum where we can all learn about the WHOLE world.

Edited May 24, 2007 by rebeccajo

[no name 1]

now it's in Site Related Discussion - Updates, Ideas, etc.

And guess what, I didn't move it!

don't worry, you'll be blamed anyways

true.

[TimsDaisy 0]

But I don't think this thread was made to be inflammatory.

From VJ:

Regional Discussion

This Forum is dedicated to discussion on the major regions around the world. Topics of discussion may include travel, moving, what to eat and any other experience you may wish to share or inquire about. Have fun!

Is this offered to support the moving of items or just as general information?

btw: you're an "organizer" - are you doing most of the moving lately?

And you have not answered my question: have you been doing the moving lately?

#1 in that thread - says LEAVE IT BE unless it is clearly in the wrong place.

So if you aren't moving it, I'd love to know who is and I'd love to know why they feel things are inappropriately posted here.

Oh D, just fess up. Either you've moved a bunch lately or not.

But since you're kinda indicating that you've been moving more lately (or at least not denying it at all), then I think you should re-read the guidelines that you linked to. I think the moving has been inappropriate lately.

To geek out: with power comes responsibility. So either directly deny that you have been a big mover and shaker these days, or just say "yes, I have and this is why," and then we, as a regional forum, can better understand...Whoever is moving stuff should step up.

From an organizer:

Sub-titling a thread "Will the Organizer please stand up?" is a bit much. If you feel it was wrong why the need to make a topic about it? Surely you could PM an Organizer who has links to the UK forum (or Ewok), explain to them why you felt the topic should be moved back to the UK forum and, more than likely, they would assent to move it back.

From another organizer:

ETA: and further, I think it's a bit ridiculous to expect whoever *did* move them to stand up and say "OK, I did it, now go ahead and jump all over me, specifically. If they want to do it, then fine...but I don't think you should expect anyone to answer just because you decided to demand one.M.

It didn't start as an attack (it started as a riff on the Slim Shady song lyric), but once and Organizer appeared and was dodgy or incomplete in an explanation, I got even more tired of the practice than I was at first.

Obviously several organizers did feel it was inflammatory, or at the least accusatory.

So, your point is that the organizers feel attacked? That doesn't prove that I started this thread to flame anyone. I certainly didn't start it to flame you, d. But you were the organizer who cryptically answered by citing guidelines that seemed to support my wish to have information remain in the UK regional forum with no other comment, so I asked if you were the one moving things. And then all holy hell breaks loose because . . . well, why, exactly? Probably because the organizers are smarting over that controversy awhile back. Which is neither here nor there to the discussion here that is particular to the UK regional forum.

I started the thread because I was bothered that valuable UK specific information was being moved from an area where it seemed it would do the most good. Questions were moved from a place with the largest audience that might have the best answers. That seemed counterproductive to the point of VJ.

So devilette can read things however she reads them, but the proof she offers in her response is proof of nothing at all other than to reinforce her reaction to my original question, which was clear from the start.

I do not apologize for bringing up the topic. I feel bad that organizers feel so bad about getting flack or potentially getting flack for their voluntary roles here, but thems the breaks. None of this is personal - it's about preserving information in a way that will help the most people as efficiently as possible.

Edited May 24, 2007 by TimsDaisy

[Fandango 1,439]

Sorry, Dev...you and I will once again have to disagree. I think TD is annoyed, yes...but I'm inferring that you don't like being questioned about your organizing. To me, it just comes off as a little defensive. You said you answered her question, but all it was was a link, not 'yes I moved it and here's why' I don't think she was attacking/mocking/etc...I think what she was trying to do was pin you down to get the exact 'yes/no' answer.

I'm certainly not trying to start an argument here, so please take this in the spirit in which it was intended.

[~Nini~ 2]

Can I just input on something here? For one, I really enjoy the Regional Discussion forum - I know it's a good resource for people to share similar cultural values and interests, and it's comforting for those people that are feeling rather fish-out-of-water to know that there are others out there who are going through the same thing. I don't agree that they should be abolished completely; perhaps we should consider adding sub-forums to the Embassy discussion. In that regard it would help us to get more specific answers about the process after Packet 3. I know I've posted about a few general questions in the Foreign Embassy & Consulate forum and unfortunately they seem to get pushed back by other topics that are more directed towards a particular embassy.

Edited May 24, 2007 by Nini & Bee

[no name 1]

Sorry, Dev...you and I will once again have to disagree. I think TD is annoyed, yes...but I'm inferring that you don't like being questioned about your organizing. To me, it just comes off as a little defensive. You said you answered her question, but all it was was a link, not 'yes I moved it and here's why' I don't think she was attacking/mocking/etc...I think what she was trying to do was pin you down to get the exact 'yes/no' answer.

I'm certainly not trying to start an argument here, so please take this in the spirit in which it was intended.

To each his own.

It was certainly not my feeling (not to mention 2 other organizers who felt it OTT as well), when it came up EVERY SINGLE post - DID YOU MOVE IT? ADMIT IT!

And I did answer it, back in post #8:

The 'psho' post stayed in the embassy forum as it is a general Q. The expedited delivery post got moved to UK cuz it is a Q only UKers can answer.

[Fandango 1,439]

Devilette thank you for responding. I think perspective makes a world of difference, cos when you said to TD 'I already answered you X posts ago', I thought to myself 'she did?' Text obviously is difficult sometimes to convey intent, but I will say from the other side that it looked like a politician's answer which would leave people scratching their heads.

And I think with all the hoo ha over organizers and with the negative views expressed as to the need of them (yes, myself included)...I think maybe the organizers seem to be 'banding together'. It would be natural at this point to perhaps be a little defensive and the fact that 'hey 2 other organizers felt the same' doesn't change TDs intent, which was not to attack (IMO). I don't have a dog in this particular fight, so I'm just giving you an outside perspective as neither the OP nor an organizer.

I think it's also a disservice that you all have the label of organizer, and I do think that implies a certain level of accountability from the 'general masses'. Because as I said before, when certain ppl had moving ability in the past, they just moved it and that was that, there was never this outcry of explanation...at the same time, there wasn't this many threads moved.

I think the answer is that we all need to come to some sort of understanding with Ewok. We didn't have these problems before, and I don't understand why we're having them now. YES the regional forums are for silly banter, but I can't for the life of me understand why they can't have embassy information....after all, look at the topics stickied in there! Technically, if we're going to obliterate every topic that veers towards immigration, then that forum's going to be a ghost town.

Newbies aren't morons. They can search around. We all found that forum, and they can too.

I think Ewok needs to redefine what's appropriate in the regional forums. And the answer is NOT to delete them altogether.