Japan Today Forum is kaput

[Mark of Zorro]

The plug has been pulled on the Japan Today forum. I was a member since about 2005.

They had some really great members and some really great people doing admin and moderating. But unfortunately it was owned by Gaijinpot and subordinate to Darth Sidious...um...I mean Chris Betros and all the bounty hunter scum he surrounds himself with. And surprise, surprise, traffic died when they hid the forum behind the news site of Japan Today.

It is my hope that some of those good members and mods of the forum will wind up here.

 

[nahadef]

Thanks for the kind words. I've registered here, and need to look around. My key thing is to find a friendly-ish place.

Cheers.

 

[Mark of Zorro]

Very happy to see you def! And so soon! And I TOTALLY agree on the friendly-ish place! Here or elsewhere, that is what matters!

Pro-tip while you are looking around: I had trouble locating the upload avatar option. You have to click "settings" under the Japan Reference banner, and its in the menu on the left. I kept clicking "my profile" but only limited edit options available there. Hope that helps you.

BTW, it was Blvtzpk and his "What's Shaking" forum that lead me here. He has had a list of alternative forums up there for a while. I ought to thank him. We have our differences, but I still respect him lots.

 

[Half-n-Half]

Welcome to JREF! We've had quite a stable group for awhile now so it's a breath of fresh air to see some new people.

 

[Mark of Zorro]

Thank you for the welcome Half-n-Half!

BTW, that is a good signature. Sounds a bit like me! And yes, I know old Ben did not mean that was a good thing!

 

[thomas]

Whatever happened to the forum at Gaijin Pot? Has it been closed too?

Anyhow, welcome aboard, we hope more of you transfer over here!

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Always great to have new members !

It seems many forums are changing in todays world. Most members now days join to ask a question or two and never return. I get the feeling the younger generation is too busy texting and checking Facebook to be loyal to a forum. We have a lot of really helpful ol timers here on JREF , but even here the "one big happy family" atmosphere has faded a bit. Hope you can settle in and find happiness here.

Uncle Frank

 

[nahadef]

Cheers. I'm certainly a long timer-ish type, seven years as a member/mod/admin.

I agree that forums aren't what they used to be... Unless you have a fan forum, which satisfy a niche. I've always thought 'Japan' was a little vague.

Gaijinpot is still going. You have to keep in mind, the Gaijinpot company bought JapanToday, so it was always a priority, and promoted, so it's stayed healthier over the years, and stayed state of the art... While poor little JT withered.

Anyway, after a few days decompression, I'll wade in the water a little more.

 

[thomas]

I'll refrain from the obligatory Facebook rant, but agree that fora can survive in certain niches (also agreeing on the fact that Japan isn't really a niche). I guess from their point of view it makes sense to close down one of their big fora. Why didn't they merge them?

Also, I don't know what clientele each forum catered to. I haven't visited the JT forum since the days of Devlin.

As mentioned before, we'd certainly need fresh blood and be more than glad to act as a refuge. Contact me via PM if you have any suggestions.

 

[nahadef]

Basically, the forum was not connected to the company, just an after-thought. The previous admin fought to sever ties to the news part because they had a power struggle about who was boss, and, frankly, delusions about the relevance of the forum. So when I became admin, I had no ties to the head office, and for most of the last year, they wouldn't even reply to my e-mails. But I did work for free for them for four years! I haven't been bitter about it, but I may become a little so.

 

[Mark of Zorro]

Why didn't they merge them?

In addition to what nahadef wrote, you sort of answered your own question back in January Thomas JREF re-recycled by Japan Today

You pointed to a lack of decency. That was a huge chunk of it. A lack of decency is a general theme among those in control of the JT news site (as opposed to the now disappeared forum where nahadef was admin).

Also, I believe, that since anyone can open a thread on a forum that the forum would occaisionally get threads critical of the poor and biased moderating on the news site and their wee hearts could not handle the just criticism. You see, you cannot post on the news site and ever know when you are debating with a moderator who is deleting half your posts and using multiple accounts to "win" the argument. Plus some people have full control over the thumbs up and down, and yeah, I am sure its the mods. I was given an ultimatum to just stop posting my opinion on certain topics or get banned. I got banned. You just cannot negotiate with people like that. You either kneel or they ignore you. They have serious issues with humanity. People to them are just objects to be used and thrown away when inconvenient.

One thing I pointed out to nahadef about this forum is that its open-minded. And of course I can also say that its nice to know who I am talking to, as I know you and Uncle Frank are moderating/administrating. I also like that the thumbs up are not anonymous.

 

[nahadef]

Zorro, you'll have to trust me that the past admin of the forum were the number one reason it was relegated to the sidelines. They forced the head office to pick one side or the other rather than cooperate, and as a result, the little guy lost. But, if I were in their position, I would have valued the side making a profit.

The disappointing thing for me is that after said admin had quit, the company did almost nothing to turn it around (one small update making e-mail confirmation necessary.)

But the root of the forum's sorrows I pinpoint to the old admin, who were, frankly, power-starved.

 

[Mark of Zorro]

The disappointing thing for me is that after said admin had quit, the company did almost nothing to turn it around (one small update making e-mail confirmation necessary.)

That is it def, but you are too generous. The one guy they had a problem with was gone, but they treat you as if you were him. Its one of the hallmarks of a person with no decency and no humanity.

Even with no captain, was there any reason to sink the forum? Why now?

It was their puppy. They could have reintegrated the forum in a snap.

Instead, they did nothing, not even warn the members. No soul def. They have no soul. And there is much more evidence than that too.

Oh yeah, I think I know who it was who gave them a hard time. And while he was a bit over-the-top, I cannot say everything he did and thought was unfounded. He was as much a product of who he was dealing with as they were.

You just might be too nice a guy to see some of what I say. Can't blame you. The truth always has enemies (remember that quote?) and one reason is because its sometimes unpleasant and does not make your day any better.

 

[thomas]

History repeats itself. We had a similar drama back in 2007 that galvanised the entire community. Things have certainly got quieter since then, as drama always attracts the crowds. Anyhow, I am sorry the JT forum was simply "restructured" and sent into virtual limbo.

Thanks for signing up at JREF!

I have to shut down my box now, it's big moving day for us, and the packers are waiting.

 

[Mark of Zorro]

Anyhow, I am sorry the JT forum was simply "restructured" and sent into virtual limbo.

Thanks. I have mixed feelings. Of course I liked the forum and its members. It was comfortable in that sense. But we were under the boot of Chris Betros and his thin skin in some ways, and now that we are out for good, I hope we can regroup in freedom.

Thanks for signing up at JREF!

Thank you for this forum!

 

[nahadef]

Zorro, no, it wasn't that guy, but he made things much worse after the fact. He was actually a pretty good admin. It was when he lost his position that he lost it, and couldn't accept being an equal member. No, it was Bryn who destroyed the relationship with the news side, and banned favorite members (ie hakuman) in what you would call a Betros style. The easiest way to get banned back then was to insult her. Fallen was wiped from the forum for that, not simply banned. That was the first thing I put a stop to as admin, and we let them all back in. She lost it, and that's when I became gmg's nemesis. Crazy drama I had no interest in.

 

[Mark of Zorro]

I see. Yes, of course you are far more in the know about the details. I might have even less interest in the drama than you. After all, for the most part, I was not forced to deal with it just for being a member! (Thank goodness!)

And thanks for letting hakuman especially back in. He is a great guy. Sadly, I think we lost him for good as the knowledge of the JTF going down was so sudden. (but I think some members know him personally?)

But still, no soul. No integrity either. I have been in, under, over and around everything I need to prove those. Anyone who posts for a while at JT will notice disappearing posts for no good reason and notice just by frequent use of the F5/ refresh button. Meanwhile, posts that obviously need taken down for insults and suggestions of brutal and bloody retribution for crime will stay up for favoritism or it being the mod's own post. Its a sick place. (might be part of the allure?).

 

[Harry Gatto]

Hello guys; from another JT Forum refugee.

 

[Mark of Zorro]

Great to see you Harry Gatto! Its too bad we did not transfer all your jokes here!

 

[Davey]

Just want to say welcome to you guys! lol... can't wait to see those jokes

 

[TheBandit]

Well fancy that. It seems I created an account here in 2007. I might need to create a new one and return to being "thebandit" Hello other JT refugees. Hello JRef people

 

[Petaris]

Hello everyone and welcome to JREF!

 

[Mark of Zorro]

Good to see you too Kowalski/TheBandit! Yeah, I think "The Bandit" has a nice ring to it.

Hello everyone and welcome to JREF!

Thank you Petaris!