I was a “lurker”. How I discovered this forum, my opinion of it and suggestions

[ja_Patriot]

I was a “lurker”. How I discovered this forum, my opinion of it and suggestions on how to improve it.

How did I find out about this forum?

Well, at the local FamilyMart (that’s a 7-eleven type convenience store back in the USA) you find this tabloid called Japan Update.

Being a civilian, I pretty much came to Okinawa on my own with my wife, an Okinawan. So finding out about an actual local weekly newspaper /magazine in English was for me like discovering the Rosetta Stone.

This thing comes out every Thursday. And what’s more a .pdf version is available on-line sometimes even before the printed version gets delivered. So being raised thrifty (aka stingy), you say, I’ll stick it out with the on-demand on-line version, thanks a lot.

In May of this year, I sort of read about a community board. Gave it no thought. These things come and fizzle out all the time.

Then one day, I googled, I think it was “Restaurants Okinawa” and came up with some hits: a pretty good yahoo website authored by coldnoodles who incidentally is a member here, and the “New Japan Update Forum”.

I see on top “Welcome to Okinawa Japan Forum forums” (sic), so I say, must be some typo in another “engrish” website.

It wasn’t until too late that I find out this discussion board was pretty much compelling so I become a daily visitor, a lurker. Then one day I say, how about I butt in on this topic.

The forum is like talking to friends and acquaintances in a close knit community. I mean you have the guys you meet daily, but this is different. Perhaps it must be because my Japanese is still at the elementary school level that all my sentences and ideas are expressed in the present tense. Anyway, I’ve never seen a community board so user-friendly, well-designed and always with new stuff.

Going through the “JU forum issues and feedback” section, you can see that a ton of hard work has gone to making this community board what it is, by “almightyforumgo” (that’s dk) and his collaborators. Kudos. Good job.
_____

Suggestions on how we can possibly improve the forum.

Here’s one. How about if we just let members post their views and opinion within the rules and leave it at that. Post a counterpoint if necessary, but practice the tolerance of opposing views, especially when discussing topics on politics, religion and sex, where everyone and his uncle will have their own version of the "truth". Maybe that’s the key: the tolerance of opposing views. Can this be included in the forum rules?

What say you? How many have been “lurkers”? How’d you find out about this board and what do you think of it? Any suggestions on how to improve it?

[dk]

Thanks for your comments. I'm all for the golden rule of "do unto others as you'd have them do unto you". You can't legislate tolerance, which is why we don't have a rule about it, but we have made a rule about civility. Basically, if you can't discuss a topic without blowing up, stay out of that topic.

We've actually put a lot of thought into our rules to try to encompass everything, but I'm sure it's not perfect.

Thank you for your story. It was definitely a highlight of my day on the forums so far. :) Nice to read ABOUT something other than TP and/or AR. And thanks for noticing the work that's gone into these forums. It's been more fun than it's been difficult. :D

[DoctorP]

Thanks for the post. dk did all of the work, so he gets all of the credit.

As for your suggestion, that is a wonderful idea. But unfortunately the "golden rule" won't always work. Some people are into abuse, and get off on it...so when you say "do unto others..." that is what they do. Abuse and wait for replies. But I do hope that your enthusiasm helps to spark others as well.

[P_chan]

I was never really a lurker here. I came right before they instated the new forums. I think I made about 5 posts on the old forum before the new ones were up. I've got a funny story about that, and the story of how I met my wife plays a part in it.

How did I find it? Out of sheer boredom. I met my wife on the old personals. I was bored once I signed up for them too, and I just wanted to see pictures of pretty girls :D. Well, a few weeks later, my wife sent me an instant message and we just kept talking online for about 3 months after that. Once we finally met, we hit it off right away. While we were dating I had to go on TDY for 4 months, but we stayed faithful to one another and that just strengthened our relationship. I couln't be happier for anyone else. So yes, I have dk to thank for my marriage:D

Well anyways, here is how it relates to the forums. I was bored again, and I went to see if my profile was still on the personals. Well, it wasn't, but I stumbled on the old forums in the process. I was amazed at how out dated they were! So I stuck around an made a few posts. About 2 weeks after that, they new one's popped up, and I love 'em.

Another funny thing is my wife was in a bad mood once she sent me that first IM. She said that she wanted to argue with someone and my picture made me look like and ass, so I would be a good person to argue with.

Here’s one. How about if we just let members post their views and opinion within the rules and leave it at that. Post a counterpoint if necessary, but practice the tolerance of opposing views, especially when discussing topics on politics, religion and sex, where everyone and his uncle will have their own version of the "truth". Maybe that’s the key: the tolerance of opposing views. Can this be included in the forum rules?

I totally agree with you on this one.

[ja_Patriot]

P_chan

Hey, that’s a pretty neat real life story. Thanks for sharing. Don’t want to sound corny but is that somewhat reminiscent of Tom Hanks /Meg Ryan in that movie?

Without a doubt there would be many interesting stories behind the posters in the forum and how they chanced upon it.

There are people here I haven’t met but respect for sharing their knowledge and for their style. Mostly Okinawa-based servicemen and civilian expats, but some people browsing or posting from overseas too. You see new members signing up to 3 or 4 a day. Amazingly, it’s quite a growing community.

It’s a good bet that most of us would be very private people and it took me just a little while to become a member. But now, for me it’s pretty much a good place to visit and find out anything about Okinawa or Japan that’s local and interesting, as I think would be the case with many here.

I know a guy who was “lurking”, now a member but hasn’t posted yet. But with that “red alert” warning system that dk designed “… you have to post, you have to post” or something to that effect, you post and find out what the heck, if it’s something I’m interested in or right up my alley, they might as well have my 2 cents.

For our exchange of ideas and opinions, I guess we’ll have to get to practice civility being gentlemen (and ladies) of the world. Really shouldn’t need any rules for that.

[Oxmix]

I was surfing when I found this site.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/jopcman.gif

I liked the subject material and the responses of the posters. Being an old hat to forums, it was just natural for me to jump in.

Okinawa is one of my favorite subjects as you can tell.:)

Regards

Ox

[DocTurtle]

My wife actually got me on to this site. She didn't know it had a forum though, only the classified stuff. I've looked on the actually JU site and I can't find anything about a forum on there so I have no idea how this came about? I actually only found it cause I googled "Halo 3 Okinawa". Hats off the P_Chan on that one!

[P_chan]

My wife actually got me on to this site. She didn't know it had a forum though, only the classified stuff. I've looked on the actually JU site and I can't find anything about a forum on there so I have no idea how this came about? I actually only found it cause I googled "Halo 3 Okinawa". Hats off the P_Chan on that one!

No prob! I was looking forward to halo 3 coming out and I had a new xbox live account. My old one had a ton of friends on it but it was closed. So I posted that in here trying to attract new people to play with!

[Tempestuous]

okay, as I just mentioned I am not super technologically advanced so I am really puzzled at exactly what is this "halo" game you guys are so fanatical about?

It is every where, 7-11, burger king, every store, every mall, convenience stores, featured on a wide variety of websites, magazine covers, just every where you turn around. I don't even recall seeing this much hype for most of the BIG block buster hits for the summer.

[Fonze]

It's a video game. It's about space.

[Fonze]

What turned me onto this was an article about a principle getting angry at a military truck using its parking lot to make a turn. I don't know if anyone remembers this thread? It turned out being a real big thread. I use to just use the classifieds looking for deals and reading local news.

[P_chan]

It actually takes place mostly on earth.

Its' a fun online first person shooter.

[Bones]

I was a "Lurker" in the Old Forums. I fell in love with Okinawa, and it's people when I was first stationed here in 1975. The Forums didn't exist back then, but I stumbled upon it during my third trip to the Island.

I loved attacking the people that used to say:

1. There is nothing to do over here.

2. They don't speak English.

3. Anyone that thought that Okinawans were stupid, since they were not educated enough in regards to how they treated foreigners. :old:

Attacking, may be the wrong word. But even back then, there were a lot of options available to tourists, or single/married military types. There are a heck of a lot of things to do over here, and I don't understand why people keep complaining about not enough things to do. Perhaps it's because they are scared of leaving the base, or the husband/wife, don't care. Perhaps it's a financial issue.

As far as the "New Forums" is concerned, it's even better than the old one. It started out kind of slow, and I had my doubts. dk, DoctorP, The Prosecutor, as well as a lot of the new posters, have made this thing into what it is today. It's a fun place to visit, vent your frustrations, or even a place to seek advice.

On a scale of 1-5, I'd give it a 4.9. There is just one poster out there.....

But anyway....

NBTP

[Muku]

There is just one poster out there.....

Ok I know I am the arse that you are refering to ........:-| :D

Actually I rather enjoy reading what you have to write, as a fellow carnivore!

[P_chan]

I was a "Lurker" in the Old Forums. I fell in love with Okinawa, and it's people when I was first stationed here in 1975. The Forums didn't exist back then, but I stumbled upon it during my third trip to the Island.

I loved attacking the people that used to say:

1. There is nothing to do over here.

2. They don't speak English.

3. Anyone that thought that Okinawans were stupid, since they were not educated enough in regards to how they treated foreigners. :old:

Attacking, may be the wrong word. But even back then, there were a lot of options available to tourists, or single/married military types. There are a heck of a lot of things to do over here, and I don't understand why people keep complaining about not enough things to do. Perhaps it's because they are scared of leaving the base, or the husband/wife, don't care. Perhaps it's a financial issue.

As far as the "New Forums" is concerned, it's even better than the old one. It started out kind of slow, and I had my doubts. dk, DoctorP, The Prosecutor, as well as a lot of the new posters, have made this thing into what it is today. It's a fun place to visit, vent your frustrations, or even a place to seek advice.

On a scale of 1-5, I'd give it a 4.9. There is just one poster out there.....

But anyway....

NBTP

I hate it once people complain about this island too! I over heard some bimbo and her guy friend saying "This place sucks. It always rains and there isn't anything to do". I felt like saying something, but I minded my own business because they looked young and immature:D