I love California but my family are in the UK
Dec 31st 2008, 1:47 am
#331
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Bouncing between Canada and US
Posts: 2,512
Re: I love California but my family are in the UK
Dec 31st 2008, 10:35 am
#332
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: NW Chicago suburbs
Posts: 11,253
Re: I love California but my family are in the UK
Ray already sorta answered this but my take on it includes the fact that *those people* just don't want to do ANY research other than asking the first person they bump into "How do I move to Florida?". And by first person they bump into, I mean, first forum they bump into.
There used to be some protocol for talking to each other.. oh yeah, that is what you are referring to! Well, there is a protocol for using the internet, but no one wants to pay attention to it anymore.
If I want advice on a topic, I search around, find a forum (I like forums) and read for a little while. If it looks like the place that has the info I want, I spend a few minutes figuring out the best way to get that info. If I am going to be a n00b, I'm at least going to play by the rules that group has set out (usually found in sticky or pinned posts, FAQs, site rules etc).
We don't OWE anyone our information, and people like yourself who come in with a little bit of humility, humor, sincere desire etc usually get a better response than the ones who go off after hearing that they don't have a chance in hell at moving to Mickey.
There have been a lot of complaints about the tone around here lately. I'm not sure what to make of it, but there it is.
There used to be some protocol for talking to each other.. oh yeah, that is what you are referring to! Well, there is a protocol for using the internet, but no one wants to pay attention to it anymore.
If I want advice on a topic, I search around, find a forum (I like forums) and read for a little while. If it looks like the place that has the info I want, I spend a few minutes figuring out the best way to get that info. If I am going to be a n00b, I'm at least going to play by the rules that group has set out (usually found in sticky or pinned posts, FAQs, site rules etc).
We don't OWE anyone our information, and people like yourself who come in with a little bit of humility, humor, sincere desire etc usually get a better response than the ones who go off after hearing that they don't have a chance in hell at moving to Mickey.
There have been a lot of complaints about the tone around here lately. I'm not sure what to make of it, but there it is.
Sure, it's annoying to see "I wanna come to the US, how do I do it?".
But I'm also reminded of that old saying "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all". Noone is obligated to respond.
But I have seen responses, and I believe at times from you, to the effect of "Read around the forum, here are some places to start (Pulaski's Ways) etc. and then come back with some specific questions". Works pretty well generally.
But for some, it seems to be more entertaining to see what a good put-down they can come up with. Not something people would generally do in real life (because they might get their lights punched out) nor imo very admirable. But it somehow seems to be acceptable by some on here. I think that is one of the things being commented on.
Sure, some people aren't the brightest bulbs in the box, aren't good at internet research, or made really really dumb decisions. But does that really mean they should be targets for ridicule and abuse? And I'm sure that's how some of them feel.
Sure - it's only pixels. And most of it doesn't really matter in real life. But in the immigration parts of the forum - people often do have real problems and turn to the forum for help. Which is, after all, why I suspect the immigration parts of the forum were created.
Dec 31st 2008, 10:39 am
#333
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 113
Re: I love California but my family are in the UK
I do agree that rude comments are uncalled for at any time, but I must admit that if I did have a situation that was taking me to breaking point and I needed to talk about it, here would be one of the last places I'd choose - given that I know the kind of response that I'm likely to get.
There are one of several ways to maybe not attract attention that might be suitable material for the piss takers:
1. Don't pour your heart out! They thrive on that.
2. Don't attack them! They'll call on their gang to help defend them if you're too much for one to handle. (See my recent forays).
3. Don't make posts like this.
There are one of several ways to maybe not attract attention that might be suitable material for the piss takers:
1. Don't pour your heart out! They thrive on that.
2. Don't attack them! They'll call on their gang to help defend them if you're too much for one to handle. (See my recent forays).
3. Don't make posts like this.
Dec 31st 2008, 10:46 am
#334
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 113
Re: I love California but my family are in the UK
IMHO....
Dec 31st 2008, 10:52 am
#335
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 113
Re: I love California but my family are in the UK
will keep my mouth shut and will make sure I do research before posting any comments in the future....so as not to duplicate.
Dec 31st 2008, 11:10 am
#336
Sursum corda
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: Richmond Hill, GA USA
Posts: 38,860
Re: I love California but my family are in the UK
PS A sense of the ridiculous helps, well at least it did in Catch 22, but that's another story.
Dec 31st 2008, 1:30 pm
#337
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Re: I love California but my family are in the UK
they cannot do two thing at once it seems.. seems it affects you ..
And your right, I am ...
Dec 31st 2008, 4:53 pm
#338
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 35,082
Re: I love California but my family are in the UK
We just unhooked from Usenet last year.
Dec 31st 2008, 5:13 pm
#339
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 13,164
Re: I love California but my family are in the UK
I've become accustomed to the forum at this point, but I do feel it would be a whole lot more useful if people would stay 'on topic' in the 'core' forums - eg, in the main 'USA' forum, especially when it comes to newbie posts.
Take this old thread as an example - happens to be one of the first threads I contributed to after joining BE. Perfectly reasonable question, but what is the first response? a sophomoric bit of 'humor' from you-know-who that I found offensive. After that bit of 'humor', people then started challenging the posters right to come here, even though he said he had a visa. Only after disposing of the 'humor', and 'proving' he was legit, did a real discussion start - maybe 3 pages into the thread. I personally think the humor, the banter, the clever shit should be reserved for the Trailer Park, etc - and/or, be used in response to seasoned posters who are already used to it. Looking back at that thread now, I see that Ray hasn't changed... even 5 pages into the thread he was still insisting his comment was 'truthful'.
Take this old thread as an example - happens to be one of the first threads I contributed to after joining BE. Perfectly reasonable question, but what is the first response? a sophomoric bit of 'humor' from you-know-who that I found offensive. After that bit of 'humor', people then started challenging the posters right to come here, even though he said he had a visa. Only after disposing of the 'humor', and 'proving' he was legit, did a real discussion start - maybe 3 pages into the thread. I personally think the humor, the banter, the clever shit should be reserved for the Trailer Park, etc - and/or, be used in response to seasoned posters who are already used to it. Looking back at that thread now, I see that Ray hasn't changed... even 5 pages into the thread he was still insisting his comment was 'truthful'
.
Dec 31st 2008, 5:15 pm
#340
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 13,164
Re: I love California but my family are in the UK
... Usenet had serious protocols about OT posts because they wanted threads to be a useful resource and not get diluted
Dec 31st 2008, 6:07 pm
#341
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,039
Re: I love California but my family are in the UK
Is this Get at Ray Week...also known as you-know-who?
Dec 31st 2008, 6:08 pm
#342
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Bouncing between Canada and US
Posts: 2,512
Dec 31st 2008, 6:22 pm
#344
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: NW Chicago suburbs
Posts: 11,253