A post on Survive France calls for the closure of Anglo Info. It was originally created back in 2010 but comments are still being left. I covered the problems users where having last year but it seems there are those who are still upset with the Anglo Info admin team. In my own opinion, if you don’t like the site then don’t use it.
So if you want a forum for general discussion or swap info etc, which site would you use?
AngloInfo seem to be suffering from their own success and have decided that they can alienate some of their site members with seriously over the top moderation and in some cases a simply arrogant and rude attitude.
There are other choices, so if you don’t like the way AI is operated, then use one of the other sites.
I’m biased of course, but the Guide2 websites are run by individual owners, none of whom would behave in the manner that AI do.
The best and most active forum on which I always seem to find answers is the Complete France forum http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/ It is very active and not at all ‘up its own arse’ (‘scuse my French!) as so many other ‘expat’ forums are.
In Languedoc I organise Jelly (free coworking events) on a voluntary basis – I tried to post information about the Complete France Forum and had my posts deleted – twice. I appealed to the Forum head office (based in the UK). Their response was that the anonymous ‘Moderators’ that live in this area did not accept expats would do anything on a benevolent basis. Not only did they refuse to find out what the events were about, without notice or explanation they banned me from using the Forum altogether. I find this an extraordinary response from a site that is supposed to be a helpful resource.AngloInfo does have a role in providing information in English, but for
something more friendly and chatty I think the Survive France Network strikes a better balance between open discussion and necessary moderation. I don’t have the time to spend as long on the site as I could, but the SFN ‘real names and faces’ policy gives the Forum a more welcoming feel.
Annette, that is ridiculous!! I have been publicising the Ariege Jelly on my site since it very began and I know that Franky has been doing the same for you on Guide2Languedoc.
There seem to be some very strange people inhabiting the world of expat forums and if something does not fit their view of the world it gets deleted.
There are a few sites that are different, SFN being one of them, along with the Guide2 sites, which all use real names instead of pseudonyms. I think this makes a real difference to the attitude of people posting.