So where are they and what are they doing? (page 10 of 33)

So where on earth has Maya T. gone 😮? She seems to have been kidnapped, even though she was well hidden in Miscellaneous! Should we start an online fundraiser (it’s all the rage these days) so we can pay the ransom that’ll surely be demanded? We’re not gonna jump to the worst-case scenario, right? Like, say, a straight-up decapitation 😠.

I’m posting this announcement (quick, read it before it self-destructs) here since, well, we *are* on topic: a disappearance...

But where on earth did Maya T go?

There *is* a MayaT registered in May 2012, but she didn’t make much of a splash since she never left a single message!

The Maya being searched for is named Tlass (spelling correct?), she was "born" a day or two ago from Pondy’s pen and hidden in the Miscellaneous section.

But what are the new ways of traveling like?

I don’t know, but it often comes down to money.

A lot of requests on Facebook revolve around budget more than destination.

Like, "I’ve got 15 days in April—where can I go with 500 €?"

Not many "adventurers"—it’s mostly beach trips, organized tours, and trendy travel.

A lot of wrong answers with tons of recommendations for providers, even for basic stuff.

It’s a little better in groups that specialize in a specific destination.

Few "adventurers"—it's often beach resorts, organized trips, and trendy travel.

And apparently more cruises.

Hey everyone,

Great discussion! 🙂 VF really helped me out, both in terms of ideas and advice—thanks especially to papyetmammy (I had an amazing campervan trip across West Africa in 2007), Chnoupi for her Corsica tips, and so many others... I was really looking forward to the site reopening, but I’m not quite finding that adventurous, sharp spirit and the playful debates that used to make me laugh so much. Maybe soon?

I’m jumping in on your message, but I still don’t get what Montagnard means when he says “I travel the old-school way”…

But what’s up with these new ways of traveling?

I dunno, but it’s often about money.

Oh really? 😕 For me, the difference is in how often we travel, not the style. I mean, I think so. We move around more than before, but people have always traveled in different ways—30 years ago just like now.

I’m jumping on your post, but I still don’t get what Montagnard means when he says “I travel the old-school way.”

Like I told Agnès in the next message, I was mainly talking about how I plan my trips. A paper guidebook, a few posts on VF, months of work to prepare “the trip of a lifetime.” Nowadays, you don’t even need VF—a post in a Facebook group or even a quick ask on ChatGPT (I tried it, it’s mind-blowing) and you’re all set.

months of work to prepare "the trip of a lifetime."

No way, really? I’ve never had to travel the old-school way—unless it was back in the "Old Testament" era

but I can’t seem to find (not yet?) that adventurous, sharp side and the verbal sparring that made me laugh so much...

Hi Hervé, Could you share a few links to what you liked here?

hi,

What do you mean by link? If you go to my profile, I think you can see the conversations I’ve joined. Actually, I still love VF, but I feel like there are more requests for cruises than for slightly more "offbeat" trips. Some sections no longer exist, so overall, I find it a bit less "lively".

My dearest Kola,

I don’t know how François cast his spell on you, but clearly, it worked.

I stated a simple truth—one unrelated to my history with VF: if some people don’t come back, it’s genuinely because of François.

I wouldn’t have returned myself if the site hadn’t been sold and the team hadn’t changed.

That sale allowed me to move on, and I hope others will do the same.

But didn’t you come back because you were banned from the other site (FV)?

I left that other site on my own after deleting 99% of my messages there.

I never logged back in after that.

So I don’t know when my profile was changed.

There’s no connection between my departure from there years ago and my return here.

hi there Actually, I still love VF, but I feel like there’s more demand for cruises than for slightly more "offbeat" trips these days. Some sections no longer exist, and overall, I find it a bit less "lively"

I invite you to check this out, Hervé, https://voyageforum.com/forum/sao-tome-ile-oubliee-d10699060-2/

In terms of "offbeat" travel, it’s not bad at all 😊

I went back to that other forum, FV, and found the discussion "les-profiteurs-de-guerre-sur-les-forums."

And what do I find there? I quote: "As on all social networks, aggressive, contemptuous, defamatory, insulting, racist, anti-Semitic, homophobic, misogynistic remarks are not acceptable. Misinformation, particularly concerning the vaccination campaign and the health situation, as well as conspiracy theories, will be deleted because they endanger public health."

The last sentence means that anyone who thinks, doubts, or questions an official narrative has no place for their writing on this forum. So there’s a clear bias in favor of a specific version from people who aren’t specialists, nor part of high-level political, medical, or pharmaceutical circles. But apparently, they know what’s good for everyone else—and are ready to impose it. In other times, the same ideas would have led to the suppression of any dissenting opinions on their forum, contrary to the doctrine of national socialism. That’s the truth.

Then, in the discussion "appel-a-aider-l-ukraine," I came across this: "The current events are so serious that they’ve completely overshadowed COVID, which the media bombarded us with daily. And for good reason—this is a critical moment!

Putin and his regime are spreading terror. In his country, but also in all the former USSR republics. And let’s not fool ourselves—today it’s Ukraine, tomorrow it could be Georgia, then the Baltic states... How far will his madness go? Because that’s exactly what it is: the madness of one man, a dictator who won’t stop until he’s rebuilt the Soviet empire—or even expanded it further. What about Europe?

What’s the strategy against this despot? Unfortunately, to stop him, we must help Ukraine resist. I hope the West will step up.

Thanks for reading.

Have a good day in our democracy."

It’s the same principle as with COVID. People whose reasoning hasn’t evolved beyond bar-stool debates, mouths agape in front of mainstream TV news, ready to swallow everything they’re fed without question. By the way, have you noticed that for at least 20 years, news anchors have been talking to their audience like they’re children?

Do these people with such strong opinions even know Ukraine’s history? Its strong ties to the far right? The role of American manipulation in sabotaging election results (the Maidan revolution)? Europe and NATO’s failure to respect the Minsk agreements? The years of bombings on Russian-speaking populations in the Donbass?

Of course not. When you encourage them to do their own research, all they can do is call you a conspiracy theorist. And no discussion is possible because their opinions must never be questioned.

They’re much better when they talk about travel. As for those who criticize VF because discussions like "Café du commerce" are more open—well, they can stay in their cozy little bubble.

The problem isn’t *what* topics we discuss—it’s about engaging in good faith, without personal attacks or insults, and backing up arguments. And, if possible, weighing in on subjects we know well or are well-informed about, with diverse sources.

I went back to that other FV forum and found the discussion "les-profiteurs-de-guerre-sur-les-forums"

And what did I find? I quote: "As on all social networks, aggressive, contemptuous, defamatory, insulting, racist, anti-Semitic, homophobic, misogynistic remarks are not admissible. Misinformation, particularly concerning the vaccination campaign and the health situation, as well as conspiracy and conspiratorial remarks, will be deleted because they endanger public health."

The last sentence means that anyone who thinks, doubts, or questions an official version has no place for their writings on this forum. So there’s a bias toward a specific version from people who aren’t specialists nor part of high-level political, medical, or pharmaceutical circles. But who apparently know what’s good or not for everyone else. And who would be ready to impose it on them.

Hi, I completely agree with you on this topic.

I’d just like to add a remark:

The person who "took charge" of the new forum (FV) wanted it to be strictly limited to "travel journals" and information for "individual" travel. Nothing more. This was to avoid all controversies that inevitably end in fights and to keep the forum manageable due to a lack of moderators. I think she put a lot of herself into it, if only because of the workload she dedicates to it, and without her sharp mind and conciliatory temperament to calm things down, she wouldn’t have succeeded. On this point, I congratulate her. The choice she made for how the forum runs, like any choice in life, has its good and bad sides (here, the limitation of freedom of expression). This is just my opinion. I haven’t read anything recent about the war in Ukraine. What I had read at the beginning was only about humanitarian aid for the country and nothing more.

The problem isn’t what topics we discuss, it’s about dialoguing in good faith, without personal attacks or insults, and arguing. And possibly, intervening on topics we know well or are well-documented on, with diverse sources.

I can only agree with you.

Thanks for the detailed commentary... We’re now eagerly waiting for your equally insightful take on the situation in the Middle East.

.

I went back to that other forum, FV, and found the discussion "les-profiteurs-de-guerre-sur-les-forums."

And what did I find? I quote: "As on all social networks, aggressive, contemptuous, defamatory, insulting, racist, anti-Semitic, homophobic, misogynistic remarks are not acceptable. Misinformation, particularly regarding the vaccination campaign and the health situation, as well as conspiracy theories, will be deleted because they endanger public health."

The last sentence means that anyone who thinks, questions, or challenges an official narrative has no place for their writing on this forum. So there’s a clear bias in favor of one specific version from people who aren’t experts, nor part of high-level political, medical, or pharmaceutical circles. But apparently, they know what’s best for everyone else. And they’d be ready to impose it. In other times, the same ideas would have led to deleting any dissenting opinions from their forum, contrary to the doctrine of National Socialism—that’s the truth.

Then, in the discussion: "appel-a-aider-l-ukraine," I found this: "The current events are so serious that they’ve completely overshadowed Covid, which the news bombarded us with daily. And for good reason—this is a critical moment!

Putin and his regime are spreading terror. In his country, but also in all the former USSR republics. And let’s not fool ourselves—today it’s Ukraine, tomorrow it’ll be Georgia, then the Baltic states... How far will his madness go? Because that’s exactly what it is—the madness of one man, a dictator who won’t stop until he’s rebuilt the Soviet empire, or even expanded further. What about Europe?

What’s the strategy against this despot? Unfortunately, to stop him, we have to help Ukraine resist. I hope the West will step up.

Thanks for reading.

Have a good day in our democracy."

It’s the same principle as with Covid. People whose reasoning hasn’t evolved beyond barroom chatter—I can just picture them, mouths agape in front of the evening news on the major channels, unconditionally swallowing everything they’re fed. By the way, have you noticed that for at least 20 years, news anchors have been talking to their audience like they’re children?

Do these people with such strong opinions even know Ukraine’s history? Its strong ties to the far right? The role of American manipulation in undermining election results (Maidan revolution)? Europe and NATO’s failure to respect the Minsk agreements? The years of bombings on Russian-speaking populations in the Donbass?

Of course not. When you encourage them to educate themselves, all they do is throw around the word "conspiracy theorist." And no discussion is possible because their opinions must never be questioned.

They’re much better when they talk about travel. As for those who criticize VF because discussions like "Café du commerce" are more open—well, they should just stay where they are, in their cozy little bubble.

The problem isn’t what topics we discuss—it’s about engaging in good faith, without personal attacks or insults, and backing up arguments. And, if possible, weighing in on subjects we know well or are well-informed about, with diverse sources.

Thanks for the detailed commentary... We’re now eagerly waiting for your equally insightful take on the situation in the Middle East.

Wow! That’s starting off strong. I’ve never read a single word on this topic in VF or FV 😮

I guess it’s ironic, at best.

But alright, I’ll give it to you straight: it’s a religious war, the kind we saw in the Middle Ages. It’s crazy to fight each other when everyone worships the same one God—and even more so since that God supposedly doesn’t want people behaving this way.

This has been going on for at least 1,500 years, and I don’t see how it won’t continue for another 1,500. I had little hopes for them 40 years ago, 30 years ago, 20 years ago, 5 years ago...

My take? If they want to tear each other apart, out of respect for them, we shouldn’t interfere. The day only one remains, it’ll finally stop (cf. Connor MacLeod). And most importantly, they need to stop bringing this mess to our doorstep—we’ve got mountains of other serious issues to deal with.

By the way, why did you ask me this?

It's crazy to fight each other when we all love the same one God, especially since He supposedly doesn't want people to behave this way

It's insane to fight over individuals who don't even exist! 😛