On 5/12/2025 at 11:56 AM, CharlieH said:

 

I totally agree and in an ideal world I would REMOVE them completely, but it was put to a vote more than once, and the membership overwhelmingly wanted their stickers to remain.

However, the forum changed dramatically when they were first introduced. Do you have the date? I was guessing it was somewhere in the 2010 - 2012 time period. A lot of old members looked bad as a result because they had a low reputation (starting from zero) compared to new members who were obsessed with it.

 

In social media in general, it causes a lot of heartache. Some people who don't get likes become genuinely disheartened, depressed and even suicidal. YouTube discontinued displaying downvotes a few years ago, but I see AN just introduced thumbs down again. I would suggest you get rid of all negative reactions. It was a happier place before reputation was introduced. People posted more genuinely and informatively back in the day. Now there is a boatload of trolls who post ony for maximum reactions.

 

I agree with MalcolmB, it is childish as most here are expats, maybe going through their 2nd childhood LOL.

30 minutes ago, JensenZ said:

However, the forum changed dramatically when they were first introduced. Do you have the date? I was guessing it was somewhere in the 2010 - 2012 time period.

 

Turbulent times back in 2012... Thats when the TV Moderator Katabeachbum got arrested for keeping his missus in a wheely bin !

 

 

1 hour ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Turbulent times back in 2012... Thats when the TV Moderator Katabeachbum got arrested for keeping his missus in a wheely bin !

 

 

 

Ah yes, digging up old news — nothing says brilliance like trying to embarrass someone just to prove you know something that maybe others don’t.

On 5/11/2025 at 6:15 PM, Jingthing said:

You're wrong.

The editorital shift is very apparent.

I think all that's happened is the removal of a filter that used to only allow content from the Left. Now others can have a say as well.

10 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

There was no such filter.
You haven't even read my point.

I was talking about the EDITORIAL VOICE of the forum reflected in the SOCIAL MEDIA labeled opinion pieces. Overwhelmingly right wing.

 

There is NO editorial voice of the forum ? We (admin) do not dictate what is posted in the mainstream media. Articles are sourced across the board from a range of sources and yes there may be some articles from one side or another but its by no means a permanent bias and to suggest it is, is unfair, but then thats the nature of the forum members I suppose.

 

On 5/11/2025 at 1:49 PM, MalcolmB said:

I have no figures but it seems to have a lot more members now and more news and information relevant to the expat community.

This is sarcasm right? There seems to be too much biased US politics and extremist nonsense in recent years where none is needed on an ASEAN forum.

7 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

There is NO editorial voice of the forum ? We (admin) do not dictate what is posted in the mainstream media. Articles are sourced across the board from a range of sources and yes there may be some articles from one side or another but its by no means a permanent bias and to suggest it is, is unfair, but then thats the nature of the forum members I suppose.

 

.....as evidenced by the fact that in this thread there are people complaining the editorial policy is left wing, and others complaining it is right wing. You can't win, as two people can see the same thing so completely differently.

I have my own opinion but it's more a reflection of what is in the MSM and who it is owned by.

3 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

.....as evidenced by the fact that in this thread there are people complaining the editorial policy is left wing, and others complaining it is right wing. You can't win, as two people can see the same thing so completely differently.

I have my own opinion but it's more a reflection of what is in the MSM and who it is owned by.

Finally an unbias reply that I agree with entirely.

4 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

.....as evidenced by the fact that in this thread there are people complaining the editorial policy is left wing, and others complaining it is right wing. You can't win, as two people can see the same thing so completely differently.

I have my own opinion but it's more a reflection of what is in the MSM and who it is owned by.

And many are neither of those two, but still labeled because they do not agree with each other. 

 

As far I know, very few is left on this forum, at least left extremist, on the other side, there is quite a few right wing extremists 

22 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

There is NO editorial voice of the forum ? We (admin) do not dictate what is posted in the mainstream media. Articles are sourced across the board from a range of sources and yes there may be some articles from one side or another but its by no means a permanent bias and to suggest it is, is unfair, but then thats the nature of the forum members I suppose.

 

Unfair or not, that has been my observation. I can't know the intention or even it's intentional at all, but to me it's been a very clear change. I have no reason to invent my observation either way. I had no bias either way when there was a business change here.  Members can post any political content they want on Soapbox. You can say that I'm "wrong" but as it's my observation, there really isn't a right or wrong. Not looking for an argument here.

Can I get my old account back? I was warned about a throwaway post I made on masks a few years ago, which I refused to acknowledge, so remained banned

 

I had been a member for 15 years with thousands of posts up till then

2 hours ago, CharlieH said:

 

Ah yes, digging up old news — nothing says brilliance like trying to embarrass someone just to prove you know something that maybe others don’t.

Ha, ha, it's the Australian way. 🇦🇺

1 hour ago, Seppius said:

Can I get my old account back? I was warned about a throwaway post I made on masks a few years ago, which I refused to acknowledge, so remained banned

 

I had been a member for 15 years with thousands of posts up till then

And what is the difference for you personally if post ONE or thousands of posts?? The honoured badges 😂🥰🤗??? 

On 5/11/2025 at 2:11 PM, VocalNeal said:

Isn't it the only one?

No, there are others.....but not in your language. And with latest news as well.

On 5/11/2025 at 3:19 PM, SAFETY FIRST said:

They seem much nicer people. 

 

We've had too many grumpy guys here, moaners and complainers, the new guys seem much more pleasant. 

 

I reckon since they removed the confused emoji's some of the whingers and whiners have departed, they couldn't adjust, not having a confused or sad emoji to throw at you 

 

Those reluctant grumpies who are here under sufferance and have stayed are now bombarding me with the thumbs down 😂

 

 

Yeah, I've had the impression the perennial 'confused' responder has adopted the 'thumbs down' symbol instead.

4 hours ago, Digitalbanana said:

This is sarcasm right? There seems to be too much biased US politics and extremist nonsense in recent years where none is needed on an ASEAN forum.

It was a good idea to take it from a Thai visa to a whole of ASEAN Now.

But that’s all it was, an idea, the other countries were a complete flop like that Inspire magazine that was uninspiring and disappeared after 2 or 3 editions. 
Ok to have good ideas but if you have no good content there is no point.

I think the moderation is spot on now, 

Good job. 

Does Bob Smith and Associates get paid for writing for An?

On 5/13/2025 at 8:53 PM, MalcolmB said:

It was a good idea to take it from a Thai visa to a whole of ASEAN Now.

But that’s all it was, an idea, the other countries were a complete flop like that Inspire magazine that was uninspiring and disappeared after 2 or 3 editions. 
Ok to have good ideas but if you have no good content there is no point.

I think the main reason for that is that people who live in other SE Asian countries have their own established forums, especially the Philippines.

 

Good content is being diluted by too many trolls obsessed with post count, reputation and likes, creating threads about nothing.

On 5/13/2025 at 8:53 PM, MalcolmB said:

It was a good idea to take it from a Thai visa to a whole of ASEAN Now.

But that’s all it was, an idea, the other countries were a complete flop

I miss the Brunei forum, was such an ocean of tranquility

On 5/14/2025 at 7:32 PM, EVENKEEL said:

Does Bob Smith and Associates get paid for writing for An?

no one would ever admit to it. 

 

Miss the topics about farming, building, travel, food picture and restaurant activity. And seems like any positive contributions also manage to provoke the hardcore members here! 

 

What you eating for breakfest is bragging I saw one member express last week.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

And seems like any positive contributions also manage to provoke the hardcore members here! 

That is true as does any efforts of trying to improve Thai language skills for some reason 

On the issue of was TV left biased, I guess you weren't here during the last coup.

 

It was flooded with ultra right wing nonsense from the coup supporters, and of course anyone anti coup had to tread very carefully

 

Is it better now?

 

The rise of the mega posters, who's user name appears then seem to be able to spend their entire day posting stuff, and who I suspect aren't real, thats not an improvement

 

Then there are AI posts, the long essays on life, the universe, and obviously fictional stories, not an improvement either.

 

As for members, we've been down this road a million times. AN is Hotel California, you sign up but you can never leave.

 

Half the 'members' are probably dead, and active participants are maybe in the couple of hundreds

On 5/13/2025 at 5:16 PM, SAFETY FIRST said:

Ha, ha, it's the Australian way. 🇦🇺

Thought he was a dutchie, Afrikaans style.

Wrong again, there you go .

6 minutes ago, saintdomingo said:

On 5/13/2025 at 5:16 PM, SAFETY FIRST said:

Ha, ha, it's the Australian way. 🇦🇺

Thought he was a dutchie, Afrikaans style.

Wrong again, there you go

Damm, I hate being wrong 😡

 

1 minute ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Damm, I hate being wrong 😡

 

Which one of us was wrong.? 

Someone should ask him.

I'm sitting here waiting for the rain to start, having a quiet evening after a quiet day deciding that the things I had intended to do will still be available in the morning.

8 minutes ago, saintdomingo said:

Which one of us was wrong.? 

Someone should ask him.

I'm sitting here waiting for the rain to start, having a quiet evening after a quiet day deciding that the things I had intended to do will still be available in the morning.

Wow, that's interesting, I hope your plans work out for you. 

 

I've had a busy day but I'm a little sad.

My girlfriend left me recently, we had an argument now she is living in Roi Et with her grandmother. I have flown to Roi Et twice the last couple of months to reconcile but she is still angry with me. 😕

 

 

Many people said AN is the most popular forum because it is the only one (really).   It looks like the Thaiger Talk Expat Forum has been closed - 404 for last 12 hours.  But perhaps it is just a fault/crash - no statements made by Thaiger.  Google AI states that closure was being considered recently due to low engagement - and the fact that they own AN.   But no definitive statements or news stories (yet?).

 

2 hours ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

Many people said AN is the most popular forum because it is the only one (really).   It looks like the Thaiger Talk Expat Forum has been closed - 404 for last 12 hours.  But perhaps it is just a fault/crash - no statements made by Thaiger.  Google AI states that closure was being considered recently due to low engagement - and the fact that they own AN.   But no definitive statements or news stories (yet?).

 

Back up again now - severe 'technical problem'.   Might have been an attack?