Job Discussion Forums

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

Let me try and explain from where I'm coming:

From what I've read over the past year and a half, we have people from all walks of life: young, old, thin, fat, short, tall, a variety of races, sexual identities, ages, religions, male/female, etc.

People come, people go, people come back again with a different alias. We talk about weather, politics, sex, governments, sports, education, Burger Kings, and a host of other topics.

People ask for help, we give it. People offer advice; sometimes we take it - sometimes we get bent out of shape over it.

In my opinion, new members are always welcome, because a new voice is sometimes like a breath of fresh air. New perspectives keep things interesting.

But then there are others whose first post is to ask if any of us know where they can find a job or what is the cost of living or to complain about a school. All that is fine, of course, that is what these forums are all about. However, many of these new members are never heard from again! I mean, no updates, no "thanks a lot", no opinions or helpful advice on other subjects. Have they been lurking on Dave's for weeks or months or did they stumble across this site, try and get what they needed and go on their way?

Some things (like visas, for example) are discussed ad nauseum here, but every week or two we still get questions or someone is in dire straits due to visa concerns. I'll admit, the search function is a bear, so I understand the repition, but some topics are repeated so much, I just get bored and bypass them completely

So, what's my point? I'm not a snob or anything and I like posting here at Dave's (sometimes I post TOO much!). It gives me something to do when I'm bored and I've gotten a lot of useful information and help here - - I've tried to dispense my own "wisdom" as well (sometimes not so successfully). But I'm just a little leery (weary?) of seeing new posters often coming on here just to get what they need and *poof!* they're gone.

I guess I'm sort of rambling and don't know if I've made myself clear enough so I guess feedback would be helpful here. I'd love to hear from old-timers, newbies, and one-night stands.

go_ABs · Joined: 08 Aug 2004 Posts: 507

Sure. We're an online community. By its very nature the online community is constantly coming and going. Some don't stray very far from the two or three sites they love, and some don't stay very long anywhere. Most are in between.

I do Dave's in spurts. Once in a while I get completely and utterly sick of the repetitive posts here, the trolls, the general *beep*y posters. So I stay away for a while until (usually) boredom drives me back. Then I find it interesting again.

I agree with you, though, if someone asks for advice and gets it, it would be nice to hear how they get on. Sometimes someone is in such a pickle that they demand URGENT advice on crucial things, and we never know whether they get away fine, or are currently behind bars (though, if the latter is the case I'd forgive not updating Dave's regulars, but I suspect it's not).

Cheers,

PS A very clear post, Kev, hardly a ramble in sight.

Volodiya · Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 12:54 pm Post subject:

Community? You bet, we are. We get to know each other through our posts.

I'd bet you have a pretty good idea of my personality, style, interests, etc., as a result of the posts here. You'd know, for example, that I live in Kunming, that I have a partner of ten years, that I'm a "romantic"; that I'm interested in legal subjects, and have fond memories of the former Soviet Union, where I worked for eleven years. You'd know I am a lawyer and an English teacher, and that I like China and the Chinese people. You'd know that I'm an American.

I know you, too, because I pay attention to what you say, and have a good memory.

You'd know that the only time I've ever "flamed" anybody, was when they posted the same questions to 12 forums around the world, which I consider "lazy" research.

You'd know that I'm not willing to get onto "political" threads. You wouldn't necessarily know why. I'll tell you now. It's because I feel too passionately about these subjects to want to get into the "free-for-all" that these become. You'd know that I tend to avoid posting on the "bawdy" threads. But, tastes are different, and I appreciate that we can allow each other a lot of freedom on these forums.

I don't appreciate people correcting others' spelling, grammar, etc. That, frankly, strikes me as "childish", if not snobbish. (I take liberties with punctuation, and the occasional spelling errors will creep in. I appreciate it that others don't bother to point them out, when they occur.)

I miss the posters who've dropped off these forums. There are many. Remember the "Ape"? He was fun, for me. There are others that I miss- all for different reasons.

I hope others come, and the oldsters, return. We were richer, for them.

lagerlout2006 · Joined: 17 Sep 2003 Posts: 985

It is a community...a place to hear from people who are -or were or will be going through the same thing.

What I resent is the idea that the site is for giving "advice" to the innocent. It is more of a Lonely Hearts Club and there's nothing wrong with that.

At risk of going into rant mode why do people need to ask about evrything before going abroad? There was a time when going to teach English was...............(I hate to use the word in 2005)..adventurous.
In 1999-2000 I lined up a job in Korea through a bulletin board. I wanted to go and I would never have posted ---as you see now---How much can I make? Is there a Walmart? Is this city nice? What do I bring ? and all the rest.

People want to talk about everything---except teaching of course---that wouldn't be cool.

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

go_ABs · Joined: 08 Aug 2004 Posts: 507

I'm not trying to nit-pick or hijack the thread, but still:

Zero Hero · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 944

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

Zero Hero · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 944

So, in short, 'go-ABS' is criticising 'tw' for contributing to a discussion forum. How very odd, indeed.

Chris_Crossley

Babala · Joined: 28 Jan 2005 Posts: 1303 Location: Henan

I'd say it's a communinty. There are many posters that I am familiar with and really respect their advice. I guess I am one of the few female posters on the job-related forum (most women seem to stick to the off-topics threads unless they are looking for advice). I do a little fed up with the ignorance of some newbie posters. I'm sorry but before going to another country, you should be doing some research! People who come on and say "I didn't know I needed a Z visa to work and I have no money, what should I do?" I have a hard time not flaming. Oh well, for the most part, I get alot useful information and I hope that I too have provided a few good tips.

Chris_Crossley · Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 4:42 am Post subject: Up from 40th to 39th position!

englishgibson · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 4345

Kev, sure we are a community and after a while we get to know each other better.

The ones that “come and go” sometimes do take what they want from us and leave without either saying “goodbye” or “thank you”. We sometimes do not get their feedback either.

Some of us do get really into it and carry on “typing and typing”. It surely has become a hobby of some of us. But I do not see anything wrong with that, since the forum enjoys and shall enjoy a freedom of speech.

At times it’s not as easy to keep track of all that has been said on the forum and if we have a thought, we bring it out and bring it out without checking whether the same thought has been mentioned before or not on the forum. I do not see anything wrong with that.

However, some of us at times (and I’ve done that) become a bit too confrontational with each other, instead of trying to understand each other and maintain that objectivity. I’ve see guys loosing their cool on the forum and become quite irrational within the “Community” too. Now, this is something that we might want to think about. Many of us that post here are away from their homes and that should bring us more together than away from each other.

Cheers and beers

Zero Hero · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 944

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

If I had to guess (and it's only a guess, mind you), those that were quite prolific here in the past yet have now gone over to greener pastures, probably return here from time to time just to read a few posts, gain some insights or catch up on things. They may not post any longer (or maybe have the same "name"), but I'll bet there are a few still kicking around. And I think that's just swell. Again, I'm no snob - - all are welcome, all welcome - right, Dave?