So where are they and what are they doing? (page 2 of 33)

Since the site has been taken over, the grudge argument is no longer relevant, right?

The first moderation messages were signed with the former owner’s name. Maybe that didn’t encourage some people to come back?

Afterwards, the other reality is that quite a few former VF members had a really hard time...

... the anti-vax rants from 2020

VF wasn’t spared by the wave of madness that swept the world at that time, blindly sharing (and hammering) links, articles, videos... some of the worst stuff going around. And maybe this wasn’t the right place for it. But was the official narrative—now starting to be documented—itself free from excess, misinformation? Was there ever room for a calm, objective, nuanced, and cautious debate?

When two extremes clash, some pick a side. That’s what happened here. Let history be the judge.

... and especially the fundraiser.

Ah, *La Cagnotte*! Some folks still haven’t gotten over shelling out 25 €, shouting Scam!, raging Dishonesty, howling Personal enrichment :/—quick to forget that this money was, as always crystal clear, meant to keep the site running, PMs included, for as long as the pandemic forced it into hibernation.

Wasn’t that the case?

Didn’t they benefit from it? Aren’t they still logging in almost every day?

But where are they now and what are they doing?

A strange question... Did we really expect that once the forum woke from its long slumber, the people who’d flown elsewhere would come back, the topics frozen for so long would gently stir back to life, that everything would be like before, with no need for a reconquest (and patience, *reconquest* takes patience, right)?

We can compare numbers, lament, twist the stats, bemoan that *the-world-has-changed-and-people-too-who-travel-differently-now*... or we can lift our heads from nostalgia and step into the shoes of the bravest among us, who are already sharing stunning travel journals, sharp reflections, beautiful images, inspired contests, and spot-on tips... who are moving forward, period!

♪What’s become of all my friends That I held so close and loved so well? They’ve scattered far and wide, I fear I think the wind has blown them all away Love is dead♫

(@Jojoone, Just to set the record straight and cut short your misleading claims: I have no stake in VF and hold no position here.)

In this thread, I didn’t quote you or even think of you, so right now I think there’s been a misunderstanding. I mentioned a real moderator from another site, but only in passing.

I completely agree with you about the vaccine issue and the fundraiser. While I understand some people may have had doubts and grown impatient—the forum stayed closed for quite a while after the donation call—you’d have to be really bad-faith to still hold onto that idea. Who could honestly say the forum didn’t stay accessible non-stop and that it didn’t reopen in the end?

Between us, I’m really proud not to be vaccinated, and surprisingly, I’m still alive! At the risk of my life, I made this effort not to further strain state finances. Just a drop in the ocean 🙂 Still, it’s shocking to hear so many people say that if they had to do it over, they wouldn’t get vaccinated again. Even more surprising is hearing so many vaccinated folks say they got really sick from Covid despite the vaccine. The saddest part—and no one talks about it—is that the vaccine arrived when the virus had already mutated enough to lose its initial level of danger. But wait, aren’t med students still taught not to vaccinate during an epidemic? I’m truly in awe of those who came up with the idea of spreading the notion of "conspiracy theory" everywhere. There’s nothing more effective for discrediting anything inconvenient. Let’s close this parenthesis. For everyone’s sake, I won’t bring up this topic again.

As for my questions that don’t suit you, could you please send me a detailed list via PM of the topics you’ll allow me to discuss? I can’t figure it out on my own.

Posts criticizing Covid policies actually had their place here, given the impact it had on our lives as travelers..... After some people took it badly.... I don’t see how the site owner’s opinion should affect whether participants stay (or not) on a site about travel, not politics.

Now, as I mentioned earlier, VF was well-suited to the 2010–2020 period.... and social media today better meets travelers' expectations, especially when it comes to responsiveness. Answers to questions are usually super quick, and you get notifications to alert you....

Personally, I still check VF for info on destinations, but most of the posts (many from before COVID) describing certain places are now outdated (prices, regulations, how places are set up, etc.).

It's easy to open a parenthesis for yourself and then close it...

The issue wasn’t so much about discussing vaccination or being for or against it. The problem came from the flood of completely absurd links and the fact that the team was both judge and jury...

No right of reply, censorship—VF had become a dictatorship of its founder’s single-minded thinking.🤪

Fighting what’s called single-minded thinking by being single-minded yourself is pretty paradoxical...😏

But is it still the same site owner in the end?

Because if that's the case, a message about their attitude toward the Covid policy would have been welcome for the forum's reopening.

you get the notification to warn you....

Notifications also exist on VF.

Like on Routard, via email...

I think on social media, you get a factual answer (or not... or ads...), but you don’t really discuss.

It’s just zapping, instant stuff.

On a forum, especially a well-structured one, you communicate, you discuss, you get to know each other over time. There’s a history, cross-referencing in posts. It’s way more developed.

The site has been sold. It's no longer the same owner.

Check it out here

I didn’t remember there being any controversy about the COVID vaccine here on this forum—it didn’t stand out to me, at least. Personally, I got all the necessary vaccinations and tests *illo tempore* and made sure I had all the certificates and other essential documents for traveling, not forgetting masks. I went four months without flying in 2020—back then, flights were getting canceled one after another... and another two months in 2021. Still personally, I’m a big believer in vaccinations, and even now, I get vaccinated against COVID every year (it’s actually recommended given my age). So, what’s the issue? I don’t think the forum’s slow restart is due to the COVID question.

I don’t think the old site owner’s posts about COVID are the reason for this tough comeback either. More likely the reasons I mentioned a bit earlier... But anyway, I hope the original post doesn’t "go off track" into COVID or vaccines because that could quickly spark a heated debate... though I do miss some of those fiery discussions on this forum.

Oh yeah, the goal definitely wasn’t to reignite those endless debates! Just wanted to share the vibe from ex-members of this forum

I think this aspect of things wasn’t off-topic, and sometimes discussions do drift into secondary points about the theme. I got pretty much the answers I was looking for, since there isn’t just one reason for the current situation. Thanks to those who shared these insights—I was a bit in the dark.

Up to us to keep VF alive while we wait for reinforcements! 🙂

Didn’t they take advantage of it? Aren’t they still connected almost every day?

I love the use of the feminine 😉 Connected every day... asked for a refund of the 25 €... have (important ) roles on another forum... must be itching to give in to temptation...

Anyway, to answer Jojo, I’d say you’ve got to be patient, that it wasn’t better before, that it’s just different today. A lot left because of the bad vibes, some stayed on the other forum. After all, we’re only talking about a handful of members! New people will join this forum, and soon, soon:

Haha, I’m laughing at your photo, Kate—but pleeeease, no more comebacks of the brawls! At the end of VF, I didn’t dare chime in anymore because there was always that grumpy, bitter person who criticized everything!! Seriously, I don’t miss those people at all 😅

Especially when the photo becomes the illustration for the topic!! 😄

Dying of laughter, this makes me want to come chat. We’re not congratulating you, Kate 😂

Maybe they’ll replace it with this one?

Don't you have the same thing with sitting in the snow? 😇

I think several people didn’t share the information they had. They didn’t do it out of discretion and politeness, which is actually quite honorable.

After taking a look at another forum, particularly the discussion about VF, some things became clearer. To fill the gap left by frequent travelers after VF’s long hiatus, someone eventually set up a makeshift replacement site—putting in a lot of effort. These people managed to attract around 800 of the most active members, at least those who met their criteria. Among other things, I assume you couldn’t be too argumentative, stir up controversy, or be against *you-know-what*. Just to be clear, I’m not criticizing—those who run a site are also legally responsible for the content posted there. I don’t manage a site, but I’m fully aware of the painstaking work it involves.

That’s why VF has already regained its daily visitor count but only about half (rough estimate) of its members who’ve been online in the last 24 hours.

The situation is getting a bit awkward now. Theoretically, the other site wasn’t meant to last once the main site—with 1,300 times more members—returned.

Honestly, I regret how this turned out. Personally, I never considered switching to a site with far worse ergonomics than VF. Plus, I’ve posted all my travel journals and my more or less successful humorous takes here. Starting over somewhere else? What’s the point? Even though there were some tense moments, VF’s attitude and its moderators deserve my unwavering loyalty. I think I’ve realized that VF’s moderation could be too harsh with some and overly tolerant with others—especially since one moderator was a bit stricter than the other (as François mentioned in one of his posts). But one day, early on, I understood that despite everything, VF’s moderation as a whole was still better than elsewhere. You either have that talent or you don’t.

With time, the original site will regain its dominance.

Kola, I chose you to send this message because I saw your responses to the administrator and a moderator in that thread. You gave your honest opinion with well-reasoned arguments, and to me, almost all your points had a ring of truth. Frankly, I was impressed—especially since you found yourself somewhat alone as the defense’s advocate. While I can see the logic in some of your opponents’ arguments, some of them seem wrong, exaggerated, or have since been proven incorrect.

Thanks to those who took the time to reply. All we can do now is (calmly?) watch how things unfold.