I'm getting so fed up of all the unsolicited spam, constant penpal requests and stuff that really is of no interest to me on WAP these days. Having to constantly wade through posts that should never be here to begin with takes all the pleasure out of reading and responding to those of worth and content. All I would like, is to be among online friends in a community that has one thing in common....being penpals to someone incarcerated within the American Prison system.
So, I am setting up my own network page, which will automatically extend an open invitation to everyone I know on here already. And also hopefully allow other genuine people to join who just want an informal, helpful and straightforward platform to ask, discuss and exchange views, thoughts and opinions. Not suggesting for one minute anyone should leave here altogether ,far from it..WAP has some great sub sections and opportunities that cover every aspect of prisoner interaction. But by far the most popular section is General Prison Talk...(and also where most of the invasion of unwanted spam appears too), so my aim is to create one page that encompasses the most important aspects of our mutual community. Clearly I'm not going to pose any kind of threat to WAP overall, as my humble contribution to get people together will never attain such dizzy heights, nor for that matter incur any costs to anyone.
The format would be the same, joining by way of membership application. But it would be monitored daily for unsolicited postings, fake and false profiles, and those found to be less than honest in their intent, or with alternative agenda would be deleted immediately. And I have the appropriate place already in waiting to proceed.
What I need first and foremost, is help in choosing a suitable name. I have a couple of ideas, but would love any input from those interested? Also any views are more than welcome.
Anyone preferring to contact me privately: shydannyboy at g mail dot com
This of course, could well be a complete none starter on here,b ut never the less will be created and up and running within the week. Wish me luck guys... failure is not an option in my book :)
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Bumping this in case anyone else needs to come over and join :)
C'mon Violet...what's keeping you???? lol
Nice! :-)
I'm late to the party, Kirsten. I'll shoot an email shortly.
Only just seeing this too, will see if I can remember to email Freebird today :)
Maybe I am late but I send an email as well today
Oh! I missed this thread. What an amazing idea Freebird!! I would love to join! :) I've sent an email.
Hi everyone!! I'll be joining too. Freebird I just emailed you :) can't wait to connect with you all.
Do it! ;-)
hey
yes i think i will try to email freebird1 !
Nice bunch of ppl. How about you, guys? Liw? MDOC? Ni-na? Lotus? Violet Grey? ;-)
Ok, I can't stop anyone making comments on here. But the thing is, the comment I made was in direct response to one made directly at/to me, and no one else! It was not an invitation for an open market of criticism and opinions from people who hadn't bothered to comment on the original post beforehand, but suddenly felt like they had the right to jump right in and condemn someone who isn't even here anymore. I might say my piece, and some might not like it... but I certainly would never resort to one sided gossip about a person who is no longer in a position to defend themselves.
I can't see Mouthy's comments but it seems like they're always banning her and she comes back with another new profile name starting drama, which is against the rules on WAP, so hopefully someone finally put their foot down. I've seen most people simply ignore her though, it's kind of...sad. Trolls will make new accounts though, I guess they have nothing better to do. Imagine how they treat their pen pals in prison like a game if they just get on here to pick fights with people.
I miss prison talk and would be happy to join as well.
I'll miss ISTJ over there, but that's me. And I can email her or have my discussions here with her, if I want to.
Personally, I don't think it's fair to single out specific ppl, to either praise them over the moon or to make them the reason for contributing to a certain place or not is... saying a lot of its own. To and about everyone, ie. the one claiming and the one made scapegoat.
Either way, I'm not sure how much time I'm gonna have, but see you either here or there.
.
"Because of X I can't do this or that..." well, for each to think about on his or her own, I guess.
Oh my. The post-removal fairy has been at work again.
Yes, I really hope all the people in search of thoughtful and civil discussion on matters of writing to our prison pen pals, will join the other site--all of them, whether we're in agreement with each other on everything or not. The point of discussion isn't to agree, but to enrich with an exchange of thoughts and opinions and information. And to provide social support to each other, in a safe atmosphere. The alternative site Freebird has set up isn't to replace WAP, and I certainly don't intend to stop coming on the WAP forum, but I would love to have a supplementary more intimate space to chat more with people I know, who know me, and have things in common to discuss, without all the sniping and spam.
@Moonvanbosse & Anne Maire, as Carmen has suggested, please email me at shydannyboy at g mail dot com...and I will send you the link.
The page is set up waiting for sufficient followers (low number) for it to go live and be operational. And there are already the most knowledgeable and nice people joining. It isn't the usual flat format you might imagine. Think more along the lines of dropping in for a coffee and chat type scenario. The whole purpose is to create a pleasant, warm and relaxed environment where we can talk or discuss anything privately (as in members only) without all the BS we endure here. Hope to hear from you both. :)
O, Anne marie, please join us! Send an email to Freebird shydannyboy at g mail dot com and be most welcome!
And the same goes for you @Moonvanbosse, you are also more than welcome to join us. Gezellig, kom erbij!
That, right there, needed to be said. Mouthy and the manufactuered drama and all the chinese spam are the 2 main reasons I can t be bothered here anymore
@freebird1 wow you are spot on. I'm completely new to this whole thing but the amount of ridiculous crap I've read on these forums is enough to put anyone off. I just wanted to connect with people who also write to people inside for the right reasons. The amount of fetishizing, fameseeking individuals are crazy! I'm not good with names. But if you want it to be accessible to all maybe go with somthing straightforward? If I can help in any way please let me know! And thank you for doing this!
With all due respect Mouthy, I have a couple of issues with ignoring you sometimes. One is I have trouble keeping up with your constan name change. Who needs to keep doing that? And two for the exact reasons you have so clearly demonstrated above. You start throwing the toys out the pram because I didn't respond to your suggestions? Like, really? And when you come out with sarcastic comments such as, " that might fit the bill of the precious chat feature you’re looking for" , that is when I automatically pass right on by. Precious? Damn you are so rude at times, and you wonder why people ignore you???? Don't let the door hit you on the way out as you leave this particular post!
@Banana I thought Freebird mentioned a network page and I think that is different from a forum. It will be a place for us to interact with each other and as I see it, it will be next to the WAP forum, not a replacement. I don't think the goal is to grow a large community, just people who are seriously interested in exchanging information. Well, all the things she mentioned in her first post. It doesn't need to very complicated; I've done a bit of research and it seems that a Wordpress site combined with a plug in called Buddypress seems sufficient to start a social network page.
I am more than willing to give it a try and I hope you will too.
@Choco.. i appreciate your comments. But this isn't about trying to create a massive membership of membership or incorporate a wide data base such as WAP. It's merely to accommodate anyone who uses this site regularly to escape from the endless spam and lack of continuity. There is a small nucleus of regular and long standing people on here who are looking for an alternative, and to interact with other familiar members with more fluidity, and ease. So if it remains small, that isn't an issue. And using another base to interact doesn't mean leaving here either. So to me it's just an added bonus. I don't care if it doesn't get lots of exposure, word of mouth is just fine, and by far the best recommendation anyway. If it remains like a close family type interaction, that is all good too. There are a few people on here, who altho' I have never met, would like to know better on a more personal level, because they are people I admire and respect. On quick reflection, that might be my fundamental aim. Things have a funny way of finding their own level sometimes, so I have no intention of doing a 'big push' to get this off the ground. It is what it is...... And as for setting up a simple, basic forum...it isn't difficult at all. In fact it's all good to go right now...just finalising the details. :)
It's not going to be realistic to do. Starting up a whole forum on your own, in this "day and age" is going to be near impossible. Not many people use forums like this anymore. I can appreciate the idea and the frustration with the spam. But, you'd have to find a way for it to be found. It will take a lot of work and a lot of time for it to build up traction, word of mouth only travels so far when there's only a handful of people who come to the forums as it is. People only use the forums because it's it's a direct connection to the side of finding inmate profiles to write to. You'd need to find a way to make the post in every channel with the link to your new forum/chat feature. It would need to be "pinned" to the top so it never got lost. Trying to direct all traffic to a new site will just further push WAP into the ground, and then both will die off.
I am not trying to be rude or mean, or squash a hopeful idea. But 10-15 years ago in the height of forums, I was apart of many that had a group of people veer off and creatd their own space and it NEVER went well. I can't imagine it wuold go well now, when people never use forums as it is. I know the spam is VERY annoying and it's very frustrating when it doesn't get taken care of quickly, but really creating a new space will not fix it.
@mjuran and Carmen, thank you for your very positive responses! Looks like we have the makings of a group yayyyy.
Carmen would you like to email me for further info please? Everyone else that has already done so thank you :)
Count me in! I am not very creative in making up names, so I'm good with whatever comes to your mind or others. It would be nice to have something else than WAP, since in the Netherlands people who believe in conspiracy theories are called 'wappies' ;-)
And thank you for taking the trouble to set this up.
I think it's a fantastic idea, Freebird, and I'm just waiting for my invitation to join. Let me know if I can be of any assistance. Names? Let me think about it! What ideas do you have so far, for names?
Plus my aim is to create a forum where posts can be replied to by way of direct interaction as opposed to the stilted and restrictive process we go through here. And fun things like emoji's and a live chat room.........something that has more fluidity and flow. And no it will not be via Facebook! lol
@Mouthy... my comment ""But it would be monitored daily for unsolicited postings, fake and false profiles, and those found to be less than honest in their intent, or with alternative agenda would be deleted immediately." is purely in keeping with what we all complain about or dislike on here, and nothing more. My definition of unsolicited postings, within keeping of what the new forum would be about, is stuff totally unrelated, and rather to keep things on the intended track. After all, there are dozens of other media places to talk about anything and everything else isn't there?
Alternative agenda? You only need to take a look at some of the crap posts relating to sexual preferences, dating sites, essay writing....everything that pertains to pushing other websites for gain or diversion etc., nothing that has any direct link to why we are here. All of which would come under alternative agenda for me. Perhaps you see things differently?
As I would be the owner/admin I think it would be prudent to have someone else as a moderator. I'm not seeking to have total control in order to be the only one to make what few decisions would be required. I'm all for lettting everyone post whatever they want, providing it is within the overall interest of why the group was created. I might come across as someone opinionated and forthright in what I have to say, but that doesn't automatically mean I would be heavy handed with regard to whoever wished to join, or what they might want to post about. Let's just say, I've had enough experience with groups/pages/forums to sense when something isn't quite right. And on those occasions might decide a further quick check would be in order. We all have to take everyone at face value for the most part, but those with hidden agenda generally show their true colours pretty quickly I have found.
I am all for free speech, and as an admin on more than one group/page (unrelated to here) on another social media platform, where some posts get more than a little heated in debate and disagreement, I can assure you I neither power trip, or feel the need to be singularly in control. I would much rather take a democratic and pragmatic approach to resolve any issue.
I wasn't expecting a rush of enthusiasm towards my suggestion, nor even any real positive remarks. Most people prefer to remain in their comfort zone, even if it no longer offers the same level of expectations, as ST4s mentioned. But I have never been one to just accept something because it's what I've always done. For me at least, it's time for something new and fresh, that can be created with and by those who are at the heart of the intent.
Well, once upon a time, the prisontalk.com forum used to be a great resource for all kinds of factoids, information, and support, highly categorized, and for better and worse, highly moderated. Don’t know what’s going on with it these days though – it’s been offline for a while.