Hello my fellow travelers and passionate lovers of Caribbean | Debbie's Caribbean Resort Reviews Forums

I prefer to speak franklly now and spell out exactly why I bowed out of this forum. There was a mini revival here quite a while back. Perhaps some of you remember that. Many of the past forum members, who I assume,occasionally check in to see if things have changed, started to post again, spoke up on why they had left and what they felt had to change. It all seemed very hopeful for a bit. But then it went back to posts disappearing, posts moved to other threads, deemed "off topic, etc. More of the same. Everyone quickly made a hasty retreat. sssnakesalive I am here to listen and make changes. People who used to be quiet and was afraid to speak their minds out can say now anything they wish to say.I want this community to be home for everyone who love to travel to Cuba and other countries and not to be afraid to ask any questions related to traveling!! Most of us know answers on questions that newbie might have and we should not delete that questions but help them out and answer it for them. So you as member of Debbies Forum here you are protected by me to speak your mind out! Nobody will be deleted! Spam will be deleted and mods have to fight spam and not our members!

This seems a good spot for me to add my thoughts.

I think some moderation is necessary, but not to the point of censoring ideas that the moderator disagrees with.

Thanks cubajack for posting. Yes we must fight spam but not our members.

That doesn’t answer my question, all the query required was a simple yes or no.

If the answer is no, the moderating staff is no longer involved on any level then you have a chance. If the answer is yes, you’re keeping a few of the old moderators on, then the new forum is still doomed.

Good luck, Zee.Cheers,Terry

Lots of mods on other sites, that are pretty quick to delete things on the other site that i have noticed.Can we try and be positive here about this change?!I for one was happy to see today that this site was staying open.

Things change, nothing stays the same as it was……this site may never be as popular as it was years ago, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be still useful and enjoyable for some of us.

	Lots of mods on other sites, that are pretty quick to delete things on the other site that i have noticed. Exactly. That’s why most of us are so passionate to get a forum that is free of excessive censorship.Back to work.

"Under the Palapa" was a compromise to give people a chance at off topic threads without having them deleted or moved to a general off topic section. Personally I think that due to the current low volume of participants it would be wise to consolidate all Cuba related (even vaguely related) subjects under the general Cuba heading, and let people post what they will. It would be a step back towards having a lively forum again. Threads stray off topic, that is the nature of forums everywhere I have looked. A little leeway makes for happy members and a bit of parry and thrust, providing it doesn’t get nasty, keeps people coming back. Outright attacks on other members obviously need some intervention, but often if things are left alone other members will step in. On another board, a canine one, when things got heated someone chimed in with the comment "Down, girls!" and the thread dissolved in laughter. The tension went away. I do think it’s paramount that if a post is deleted the poster must be contacted and the reason for the removal explained. That’s just good manners! And yes, some sort of explanation should be put in place of the deleted post if that occurs. Perhaps something like "this post was deleted because it was contrary to the guidelines and if you want to know the content of the post PM the moderator and we will discuss this particular post specifically." That way people wouldn’t wonder what the heck they missed, and would be given an opportunity to see that the removal was warranted.

I’d like to add (says she, using the edit function) that perhaps an unacceptable post could be pointed out to the poster and an opportunity given for that person to modify his/her own post rather than have it disappear!

The answer was YES but I had to get grasp of other things so pretty much I had to buy some time here!! All of you can speak your mind out !! We have no mods anymore on this forum and I will be accepting applications. If you, loyal members of Debbies have suggestions for MODs please give suggestions tell me who would deserve to be MOD and who respect others. If you are member who love this forum and willing to spend some time removing spam and being nice with our members than please PM me as I would like to talk with you and possibly give you MOD stats so that you can help me bring this forum to the glory it used to have! There will be NEW RULES about who is deleted and what is deleted. Thank you allZee

Personally I think that due to the current low volume of participants it would be wise to consolidate all Cuba related (even vaguely related) subjects under the general Cuba heading, and let people post what they will. It would be a step back towards having a lively forum again. Threads stray off topic, that is the nature of forums everywhere I have looked. A little leeway makes for happy members and a bit of parry and thrust, providing it doesn’t get nasty, keeps people coming back. Outright attacks on other members obviously need some intervention, but often if things are left alone other members will step in. I’d like to add (says she, using the edit function) that perhaps an unacceptable post could be pointed out to the poster and an opportunity given for that person to modify his/her own post rather than have it disappear! I agree wholeheartedly with that.Also, I’m glad to see Terry asking his pointed questions. The more I see here, the more firmly convinced I become that the previous moderating was a big part of the problem. I was not always directly affected, but as I mentioned before, it sure made some threads not make too much sense.I may be repeating, but the key things I think a moderator needs to do are:Know when to intervene if the discussion gets argumentative and nasty.Know how to intervene (i.e., not necessarily just deleting comments.)Know how and when to help the discussion along, including encouraging the members to express their opinions, ask their questions, and encouraging self-moderation when possible.

Be diplomatic while doing all of the above.

I have sometimes watched the discussions on TripAdvisor degenerate into arguments, and then gone back to see where it started. It was often a case of someone just misinterpreting what someone else said. I like to hope that when I pointed this out that it may have helped someone to open their thoughts to the other person’s point of view.

Dear Zee,Most importantly, are any of the Debbies moderating staff remaining on board or having anything whatsoever to do with the administration of this new forum?Thank you.Cheers,

Terry

So NO is the answer!!ALL MODS ARE DELETED We do not have moderators anymore. I have heard stories that this thread went all the way to TA. I wanted to go and see and I could not see anything so looks like TA removed it fast!? We will not remove treads here we have new rules here. Members of the forum have their words to say I will listen. Ok folks I am waiting .. give me suggestions for new MODs.. What about you Terry do you have suggestion? Have you ever wished to be MOD? Lets build better community here together.

I think one issue is that most of the members on Debbies are very knowledgeable and like to get deep into discussions that often get passionate and go way off into crazy directions. That’s a great attribute that TA does not allow and Debbies should cater to. It makes for great reading. Great reading means more clicks which keeps the forum alive.I’m deep into a drawn out thread on the problems of gov’t rebates/incentives for solar panels on another forum. It started out with some idiot claiming that he could get all the energy he needed for his home off solar panels in Anchorage Alaska, even in winter. Yup, even when there is no sun. The discussion finally is getting around to the gov’t role in spending billions of our tax money to flog an industry that has just now begun to get past the toddler stage. A restrictive mod would have stopped the thread a few days ago but it is finally reaching a point of interest. Just takes awhile sometimes.I would like to install solar panels for a cost of $30K and I would like all of you who live in Ontario to pay me $50K so I can make a profit of $20K doing it. That’s passion! AKA insanity.

OK, off topic again.

1.) "… The more I see here, the more firmly convinced I become that the previous moderating was a big part of the problem…"In my opinion it was 90% of the problem… but when coupled with an owner who didn’t care it quickly became 100% of the problem… and the forum was predictably destroyed. What an absolute shame and a horrible waste.

2.) "… So NO is the answer!!ALL MODS ARE DELETED…"

Thanks for clearing that up, Zee.

3.) "… Ok folks I am waiting .. give me suggestions for new MODs.. What about you Terry do you have suggestion? Have you ever wished to be MOD?…"

Frankly I would be a horrible moderator because I would never delete/edit or screw with any posting unless it was spam or a personal attack that did nothing to further the discussion. In my opinion some people richly deserve to be mocked and scorned and yes the discussion can still be advanced, but I know that’s not the general consensus… most people want more civility than that.

Good luck with your search for common sense moderators who won’t constantly interfere with their own bias, agenda and ego.===================And I agree with everything that sssnakesalive, madrugada, dax, eeeefarm and the many, many others here who simply want a forum with rational and reasonable adult discussion that is not constantly cut off at the knees.All the best to everyone.Cheers,

Terry

Thanks SharonAnn, The "Under the Palapa" Forum area was my idea to try to keep members from leaving. It worked for a while and, I think, would work well under this new Administration. Even under the old Admins, we were able to talk about almost anything there.Hey Zee, Put all the posts on one page and leave them alone unless they are illegal.The membership will fix the Abuser.and here is a story:I remember the first time I talked about bringing rolls and bread to the beach to attract fish.. My ears are still burning. Thanks eeeefarm!Don’t do it .. or go to a Dolphin excursion. Ever.Will Terry delete this?BTW, the Moderator tag that was under my name is Honorary, I have no powers here except variable-good judgment.

And .. Now it’s gone. No small "m"

	I would like to install solar panels for a cost of $30K and I would like all of you who live in Ontario to pay me $50K so I can make a profit of $20K doing it. That’s passion! AKA insanity. That’s been done already. Come up with a new idea.

	I would like to install solar panels for a cost of $30K and I would like all of you who live in Ontario to pay me $50K so I can make a profit of $20K doing it. That’s passion! AKA insanity. That’s been done already. Come up with a new idea. Was his name Dalton??

"… "Under the Palapa" was a compromise to give people a chance at off topic threads without having them deleted or moved to a general off topic section…"=================================A better move would have been to fire the megalomaniac moderator who forced the formation of that ridiculous "off the grid" forum in the first place. Honestly… think about it… let’s make a differently moderated sub forum within the main forum because the main forum is being destroyed by a nutbar?!?!… That was a sad, pathetic move and the final nail in the coffin.Cheers,

Terry

But what do you really think??

Well Zee – it looks like this may work – there’s been more posts on this forum in the last two days than there has been in months!!

While perhaps not the place to raise this but …….. can you please get rid of the pinned posts or at least move the travel related ones to one folder ….find it very annoying that you have to go to almost the bottom of the first page to see a new thread!! Thanks – rant over

Haha… you beat me to the punch! I second that "e"motion!GG 😉

"Under the Palapa" was a compromise to give people a chance at off topic threads without having them deleted or moved to a general off topic section. Personally I think that due to the current low volume of participants it would be wise to consolidate all Cuba related (even vaguely related) subjects under the general Cuba heading, and let people post what they will. It would be a step back towards having a lively forum again. Threads stray off topic, that is the nature of forums everywhere I have looked. A little leeway makes for happy members and a bit of parry and thrust, providing it doesn’t get nasty, keeps people coming back.
Hello eeeefarm your suggestion was right and I took actions and fixed that. Now all threads that were in "Under the Palapa" section are moved to main Cuba Forum or to "Off Topic" if the were not related to traveling to Cuba. "Under the Palapa" part of the forum is deleted.I am telling everyone now we are building this new house together and we are all friends. Lets love each other and make nice loving community where we can share information about traveling to beautiful countries.So far I love you all and I just started with all of this. I find all of you cute and I see different characters but all of you and myself have something in common and that is we are addicts to traveling and enjoying our free time in Mexico, Cuba, Panama, Dominican Republic etc … so that is the reason we are here to exchange tips, tricks and to help others who want to know more about this addiction.KissZee

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