Way to Russia Talk Lounge

WayToRussia · Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:01 pm Post subject: New Moderators

Hello, I'd like to welcome the new moderators to our team:

danbrew
and
nikir

and I'd like to thank 5_Zvehzda for continuing moderating the forum alone for some time... I hope now it will become much easier...

They will ensure the forum stays relevant and interesting to read, and if they like, they will introduce themselves later in this thread or elsewhere on the forum.

Also, to moderators: I'm posting a thread in Recycling Bin (visible to moderators only), with some suggestions regarding coordinating the efforts.

nikir · Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:36 pm Post subject:

Thank you for your confidence! I can only hope that efforts continue to maintain WTR's standing as the premier site for Russian tourism.

DITTRICH · Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:11 pm Post subject:

Dimitri, you have PM
Les

danbrew · Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:34 pm Post subject:

Hello everyone - I'm danbrew and an avid traveler and enthusiastic visitor to Russia.

I first visited Russia in January 2004, came back in December 2005, again in January 2007, and was gonna make a trip in August 2007 but it was foiled by circumstances and I went to China and Vietnam instead.

I'm probably gonna come back in the next few months, not quite sure when - but before the end of the summer. I'm for sure gonna complete the Trans-Siberian one day. And also plan on riding a motorcycle around the world when my kids are in college. How cool would that be?

My moderation style is somewhat moderate... Dmitri and the others have created a great thing here with Way To Russia - most of us who travel without the benefit of family in Russia have been helped immensely over the years by the site. I'd like to help continue to make this a valuable resource for years to come. And I know the regulars here want the same thing. I generally will not delete posts unless they're spam or the topic has devolved into rubbish - and even then it's sometimes more valuable to lock the thread so that everybody else can reflect upon how childish some folks were acting. If something does get deleted or locked, know that we're doing it with the best interests of the site in mind and that moderating decisions are not open for debate or conversation. Sounds harsh, I know. Good thing we don't have a constitution to follow. Just good old common sense.

I hope you enjoy your visit to WTR and I hope you're able to plan a visit to see Russia in person... (just do it...!).

danbrew

Paul Holmes · VIP Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 971

For almost two years, I sat back have posted very little, but read much. I have seen the worst it has been and the best it was. I even remember when Dmitri even posted as a person, not just as an owner. I think I am longest poster besides Dmitri of course and I have created some messes that I regret.

No offense Nikir, but I place you many times in the same category as the ones banned. Although you do not instigate the fights, but in general I thought you added fuel to the fire. You are very very intelligent and have many resources that can help newbies or a person like myself who has been there several times visiting Russia. I think without distraction, you are excellent and one of the most intelligent people on this forum, but I think you cannot resist a chance to slam someone or insult them. All you have to do is see how you insulted Jo jo and the others when the person asked for help to introduce himself to his GF's parents. Even when these members were temporarily banned ( I am not justifying their posts), you had to have another dig at them. Why inflame the issue? Dmitri has done his job and made his decision.

It is just my opinion, you have the skills to be one of greatest assets this forum has, but you willingness to get in a pi$$ fight with skunk like BCbud is amazing. You are too intelligent to be in an insult fight with people who are looking for a quick entertainment at the cost of your good image. I can say that I did the same thing with Winston Wu and Penderghast as you are doing ( although more degrading nature I was) with BCbud. I came looking like hell, arrogant, and bully.
I hope you choose to execute your duties professionally.

If after this post, you decide to ban me, then please do so permanently.

nikir · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 2:19 am Post subject:

Paul, thank you for your feedback, compliments and criticisms. I take it all on board.

My interest in Russia is her people and culture from the tourism perspective. Not her internal politics.

The first time I went there the internet was in its infancy and valuable resources such as WTR were not around, I did it the hard way. This is why I appreciate this site so much and try to give advice where I can, based solely on first hand experience.

True I have sometimes succumbed to the lunacy that has gone on here and got involved in some stupid situations. I will try and minimise my sarcasm from now on but that is my style, so a little is bound to slip in now and again. Incidentally I was not having a dig at the banned 3 yesterday, my views on these posters have been very public for a long time and all I was doing was expressing satisfaction that some action was finally taken.

This is the start of a new era for WTR so let's all try to keep it positive and interesting for all contributors and give everyone equity. I will not be banning anyone, that is not my role. I will however be steering posts in the right direction and consulting with the other mods to ensure that discussions and contributions stay pretty well on track.

I would like to see more Russians become involved in the site, after all these are the people who are on the spot and can give the best current advice to prospective travelers.

Hopefully this goes some way in addressing your concerns.

DITTRICH · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 2:11 pm Post subject: Another Moderator

Dimitri has kindly upgraded me to Moderator status in order to assist regulate the forum. This only happened yesterday so for me its very early days. and I will try to tread carefully as I have never done this sort of thing before. I suspect I am quite alot older than many of you - when I started work a hard disk was the size of a washing machine and it lived in an airconditioned room. My contribution to WTR has mainly been on transport issues - cars mostly. I travel to Russia almost every year and am married to a russian. I'm based in London, UK.
Rgds
Les

jo jo 7 · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 3:07 pm Post subject: Good Job!

Wow, somebody did their job this morning getting rid of the phishing scam that posted in the talklounge. I am impressed. That was fast. Smile

Miami · WayToRussified Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 332