Times, they are a-changin'

[Mapguy]

Well, some of people of a certain age know the song, not just famous in America!

 

If you look at the count of posts compared to other regional ThaiVisa fora, you will find that Chiang Mai by far leads the regional pack over time in the number of posts, but what is going on now?  Why is that?  Yes, I know there are multiple ways of sharing information. Few old timers are left, not that some of them are missed, but there are still a few familiar voices out there there who post occasionally.

 

The early days of internet listservs was exciting, and there was a lot of playing around with this new cyber toy.  Now, unfortunately, with manipulation by governments, social communication tools can be insidious weapons targeting the lazy and ignorant, even pretty smart people.  But, in the "old days," not terribly long after CERN and DARPA for their reasons launched this sort of communication, casual uses have changed.  For the better?  For the worse?

 

Now, Why can't more Chiang Mai-specific information, ideas and fun be posted on a site dedicate to Chiang Mai? 

 

It IS important, and it should be on ThaiVisa Chiang Mai.  Look at the Chiang Mai Immigration office topic!!  Is that relevant?!  When were the last substantive posts? Take a look at the past several weeks of intense concern!  Now, that certainly should be current and informative if you work with that office!

 

Not long ago, CharlieH (a moderator and most probably a CM resident) asked locals to help other locals regarding health service.  That's not at all easy to organize and monitor.  Health care experience, after all, is subjective in many ways.  But over time, not that long ago, a TV Chiang Mai denizen spent time working on it, and a certain consensus was reached on many services.  He is gone. Things have changed. I offered CharlieH suggestions on how to organize it better since the healthcare landscape has changed significantly here in Chiang Mai. 

 

Back to the old days!  Never mind the endless bulls**t posts of years past about where to find the best hamburger in Chiang Mai or what used to go on on Loi Khroh. Maybe it still does!  Yes, really, you newcomers!  There IS something useful to post about Chiang Mai.  There is some useful information these days! Why not more?

 

Never mind posts missing some relevant detail, for example, when dealing with Immigration.  Just ask for more detail, if needed.  And never mind mindless posts. Just learn to ignore them, and hope those posters wise up!

 

Anyway, for old times sake, even though I haven't been around that long, but long enough, I raise a glass to those who have been here longer.  To your health!

 

 

Edited April 28, 2020 by Mapguy
clarity and grammar

[thaibeachlovers]

9 hours ago, Mapguy said:

Few old timers are left,

I can perhaps shed light on one reason for that.

In MY opinion ( I can't speak for all ) TVF used to be a forum where almost anything was OK to write about, whether ladyboys, sex industry, scams etc, but for reasons I can't discus on the open forum it's become bland and perhaps boring, and the interesting posters have for the most part left. Some of us long time posters still carry on, for various reasons, but it's just not the same on line community it used to be.

I doubt many posters are only interested in only the C M sub forum, so if they get bored with the rest of the forum they are also lost to the C M sub forum.

[Lacessit]

I left Chiang Mai for Chiang Rai at the end of February. Quieter, closer to my GF, less expensive living costs. Chiang Rai Immigration is light years away from the shambles at CM.

Downsides are smaller range of restaurants and hospitals. Whatever floats your boat, I don't regret moving here.

[ramrod711]

I was in Chiang Mai for 5 years before I became a member although I used it frequently. When I wanted information about travel or accommodation within Thailand Thai Visa popped up on Google when I entered a search. I was a consumer because of the accumulated knowledge that so many were willing to share. Still, today I like the topics that share photos and advice regarding road trips or vacations that members have enjoyed. Thank you to the people that take the time to do so.

[dingdongrb]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

In MY opinion ( I can't speak for all ) TVF used to be a forum where almost anything was OK to write about, whether ladyboys, sex industry, scams etc, but for reasons I can't discus on the open forum it's become bland and perhaps boring, and the interesting posters have for the most part left.

Anyone remember 'Mango Sauce' forum? That was truly a forum where anything could be said. Very entertaining to say the least.

[Antonymous]

I'm not quite sure what you are trying to say OP. Is it that there are fewer Chiang Mai specific posts than in years past and you are wondering why that is?

 

I haven't seen the Thaivisa CM forum stats. What do they show?

 

I would expect that the numbers have dropped substantially because there are so many other online media sources available. Topics about accommodation, restaurants, nightlife, travel and so forth are covered extensively elsewhere and people who want to know about such things don't want to wade through a forum like TV to find what they are looking for.

 

 

 

[BigStar]

14 hours ago, Mapguy said:

The early days of internet listservs was exciting, and there was a lot of playing around with this new cyber toy.  Now, unfortunately, with manipulation by governments, social communication tools can be insidious weapons targeting the lazy and ignorant, even pretty smart people.  But, in the "old days," not terribly long after CERN and DARPA for their reasons launched this sort of communication, casual uses have changed.  For the better?  For the worse?

 

 

Different breed of poster in them days with far different concerns. But they're alive and well over on the geekier Reddit subforums, none of which concern Chiang Mai. Didn't then, don't now.

 

14 hours ago, Mapguy said:

There IS something useful to post about Chiang Mai.  There is some useful information these days! Why not more?

Glancing at the first 2 pages, I see almost nothing but topics suggesting useful information, or requesting such, for at least one poster, often more, about the practicalities of living in Chiang Mai. Seems quite as it should be. How much more do you need for your entertainment? Personally I think we could use far less of the useless keyboard warrior BIg Ideas and Solutions littering all the forums for virtue signalling or proof of superior intelligence.

 

It's true the forum was once more of a free-for-all, with rampant name-calling and discussions about pussy, allowing so many the exciting opportunity (hee hee! never gets old) to demonstrate their ace expertise and Warnings about The Scene. It's good the rules have tightened up to eliminate all that nonsense.

 

On the other hand, discussions--if they may be so dignified--have turned a lot more political than before. And the mighty TVF Hive Mind has become far more pervasive than before, mercilessly punishing dissent from the anti-Thai party line. Misogyny still runs rampant and bigotry is just as ignored, or even subtly encouraged, as ever. 

 

It may be then that all the negativity here tends to drive away anyone with the sort of positive (I guess) content you may asking for.

 

So I'd say that overall things are better but far from perfect. I don't see the particular imperfection that you do, however, in the Chiang Mai forum. You wanna read a forum with problems, try the Pattaya forum.

Edited April 29, 2020 by BigStar

[thaibeachlovers]

50 minutes ago, BigStar said:

Glancing at the first 2 pages, I see almost nothing but topics suggesting useful information, or requesting such, for at least one poster, often more, about the practicalities of living in Chiang Mai. Seems quite as it should be. How much more do you need for your entertainment?

Such posts are only of use to those actively looking for such information, which IMO is a minority of posters. IMO most of us come on here  for 2 things- a way to pass the time, or entertainment, perhaps both.

Unfortunately, I've found that there are so few posts worth even reading it doesn't pass much time and it's very rarely entertaining. I admit I come on hoping for some gem amongst the dross, but more often than not leave after looking at one or two threads. However, when I lived in C M I often used it to obtain information, and very good for that.

Thing is though, that when I first found TVF it was mainly entertainment and not so much information. The specific sub forums that deal with information are still good value.

I've often thought that TVF would be better if split into information and entertainment parts.

[thaibeachlovers]

58 minutes ago, BigStar said:

You wanna read a forum with problems, try the Pattaya forum.

Pattaya sub forum is way more entertaining than C M one, which is why I spend more time on it. I don't see many "problems" on it.

Perhaps the posters reflect the city, which was/ is rather boring and bereft of anything resembling a good Thai night life.

[dingdongrb]

3 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Pattaya sub forum is way more entertaining than C M one, which is why I spend more time on it.

Pattaya = The he77-hole of Thailand (in my opinion)

[thaibeachlovers]

14 hours ago, dingdongrb said:

Pattaya = The he77-hole of Thailand (in my opinion)

Only since the Chinese invaded, IMO. In the 90s it was paradise for a guy that didn't know there were women that actually enjoyed sex without a life commitment, before arriving on a sunny, happy day.

 

Pattaya is unfortunately ruled by those that faced with a choice always pick the wrong one.

[Dante99]

For old times sake how posting correct information.  Yes there was more freedom in the past but there was also much less totally incorrect information posted. Never felt like I was sharing the forum with a bunch of idiots back 15+years ago.