So where are they and what are they doing? (page 3 of 33)

Where did the old-timers of the site go and what are they doing with their time now? What’s really going on?

Don’t lose sight of the fact that becoming an idle, contemplative being is exhausting—that’s why so many end up passing away. And our good president, of the Republic, wants to put everyone back to work so people can fulfill themselves through their jobs. Plus, waking up around 10 AM on a cruise ship, unlimited breakfast, lying around watching the waves, an afternoon nap—it’s all so tiring.

Between us, I’m really proud not to be vaccinated, and it’s surprising, but I’m still alive

How many people have died from vaccine side effects? The answer is barely in the hundreds. How many people have died because they contracted SARS, H1N1, or COVID? Millions. Vaccines have been around for centuries now, so I don’t see why we’re questioning this medical advancement.

Long live systematic vaccination... from the first months of life!

Long live systematic vaccination... from the first months of life!

I have a friend who’s a GP, and he was telling me the other day that he’s lost count of the number of parents who refuse—or at the very least question—mandatory vaccines for their kids...

These people managed to attract around 800 participants

Some of these people post on both sites (same username or different one).

For those who only stay on the other forum, you can ask them over there, either publicly or privately, why they’re so loyal to just one.

I think some will answer François even though he’s no longer around, others will mention their attachment to Déborah, their loyalty, or that they love the cozy community they’ve built.

You might convince a few that participating in both isn’t betrayal.

For the rest, a forum thrives if it has the answers to current questions. If the answers are well indexed in search engines.

For the first point, it’s up to us to take action by answering questions and suggesting varied topics.

For the second point, it’s up to the team in charge.

I think several people didn’t share the information they had with me. [...] To fill the gap left by the long hiatus of VF, someone eventually set up a makeshift site with whatever they had, sparing no effort.

Did you really not know FV existed?

The situation is getting a bit tedious now—another site theoretically wasn’t meant to last once the main one, with 1,300 times more members, came back.

Your whole message is quite insightful, but the statement above strikes me as a bit... naive (no judgment, no criticism). If the other site was created to fill the huge void left by VF’s sudden shutdown, to bring together lost regulars, recreate the vibe, and reignite that sense of community and joy... it was never meant to be just a temporary fix.

Despite similar features and structure... differences quickly became clear. Maybe a soul struggles to be reborn when the Spirit (and moderation) tightly control the flow, leaving little room for detours.

Two forums. Two clashing visions. While some members navigate both, post in both... others seem to have found a sense of calm and safety on FV (Moderation is watching) that suits them better. They probably won’t come back. Will others take their place?

(Thanks for the indirect recognition 😊...)

@Attila

I think some will answer you, François

Maybe you should loosen up and not forget that this forum—with its exceptional design, the one you missed, the one you tried (and failed) to recreate elsewhere, the one you were among the first to return to (I wasn’t far behind 🙂)—is François’s creation.

If gratitude is too much to ask, how about indifference?

It’s astonishing to hear so many vaccinated people say they still got really sick from Covid despite the vaccine.

Yeah, but who can say for sure that if they hadn’t been vaccinated, they’d still be alive? And those who weren’t vaccinated—maybe they’re among all the people who’ve disappeared from the forum? 😉

Did you really not know FV existed?

I took a quick look two or three years ago, maybe twice. But a lot’s happened in my life since then, and it kinda slipped my mind—I didn’t think I’d ever bring this up again on a reopened VF.

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 really 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.

For me, the most important thing is that there’s a satisfying freedom of speech here, and overall, discussions are going pretty well at the moment. I just hope that with new arrivals or some returnees, this continues. What some people couldn’t accept was that their outraged, easily startled reactions were the ones that ended up causing trouble. A tendency to see more harm than there actually was. Sometimes it was an unhealthy and almost obsessive way of operating.

Yet all it takes is to argue politely and accept that there are eccentrics, funny people, and those who have ideas opposite to yours. Closed-moderation forums, sorry, are for the intolerant and the killjoys.

Closed-moderation forums, sorry, that’s for the intolerant and the killjoys

Totally agree—that’s exactly why there was an issue on the old VF version, especially after March 2020...😉

For the other forum, I decided to walk away. The upside? When you’ve been given the keys, you can do your own cleanup before leaving.

Here, it was way more tedious. 🤪

Good evening Agnès, and everyone else.

I stated a simple truth, one that has no connection to my history with VF: if some people don’t come back, it’s really because of François.

It’s also entirely possible—I think, anyway—to separate the work from the creator. I don’t agree with any of the positions François Boucher expressed during COVID (well, the ones I read early on, because it quickly got on my nerves and I stopped checking those messages). I found it pathetic that after VF closed, he used it as a platform to share his views (though so many people were making extreme statements during that such a unique experience the world was going through, so it’s understandable in context). But none of that stops me from visiting VF, which I’ve found really well done for 20 years now. 🙂

Catherine

.......... when you were given the keys, you can do your cleaning before leaving.

Quite the cleaning job, by the way!!!!!! Whiter than white! 😉 😏

Took me a little while...😉

My dearest Agnès, 😇

First, let me say it pains me to write what follows, but you’ve gone too far.

For the other forum, I chose to walk away. The upside is that when you’re given the keys, you can clean up before leaving.

This could’ve been just a thoughtless act, but it’s a breach of trust. Worse, a betrayal. Nothing to brag about or boast here.

I wouldn’t have come back myself if the site hadn’t been sold or the team hadn’t changed.

You probably wouldn’t have had the chance.

Let’s take it easy, shall we? 🙂

Hello everyone.

For my part, I really don’t come here much anymore. When I do, it’s out of nostalgia, to dive back into my past as a "globetrotter." I relive the wonderful moments I spent here and there. And sometimes, I even cry. But I think those twenty-odd years of crisscrossing the roads of Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, Costa Rica... are now behind me. And for several reasons.

First and foremost, because an ecological conscience has grown in my mind. Beyond the fact that airplanes are an environmental scourge, they’re also a melting pot of the world’s social inequalities. Traveling the way I did was at odds with the values that guide me daily. So yes, I’ll travel again someday, but... differently.

Next, because a baby arrived right in the middle of COVID. Now three years old, they’re the center of my free time.

Finally, as some people here have mentioned, the site’s closure was accompanied by some highly questionable messages. Anti-vaxxers and/or conspiracy theorists, sure. But above all, messages from the far-right French and international community. Absolutely disgusting!

You're right—maybe this isn’t the right place for you on a travel forum given your ecological concerns. Things should evolve soon, though, since the fuel used by planes is set to undergo major changes. The eco-warrior on a bike is a real hero, not only because they don’t produce pollution but also because they absorb some of the pollution from our travels. Our leaders, who fly to COP meetings by private jet, probably agree—if they ever think about us, that is.

As for those quick to use words like "nauseating" and "repugnant," they’re the ones who’ve fueled the worst controversies in this section. It started with good intentions, but there was often an underlying hysteria in those using such strong language. Eventually, they wanted to silence others and became exactly what they were fighting against. And when you cry wolf too often, you start seeing it everywhere—even where it doesn’t exist. It’s better to argue and discuss politely, saying the same thing with different words, rather than resorting to aggression, accusations, and poisoning discussions. It’s just a matter of respect.

My dear Jean-Luc,

I know our opinions differ on what to leave behind on a forum when someone leaves.

You prefer to keep your posts intact. I’d rather remove them, which is what was done—and that’s all.

No bragging involved here.

As for the possibility of returning, it wasn’t on my mind at all.

But aren’t you living proof that it’s always possible to come back? 😉

Hi Manu

So glad to run into you on this forum where you’ve left so many great posts—I especially remember your Iranian meet-ups. By the way, congrats on the baby! 🙂 You’re one of the people I miss, and I really think it’s a *terrible* idea to give up coming to chat or show us your photos. Come on! Once a week isn’t much! Or even one photo a month isn’t a big deal! 😛