I remember all the hype of having the Russian group folks all belong to one forum. Another easy way to group all of us together is to have a Russian flag appear below your avatar.
To do so click:
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...rCP&CODE=01
Or My Controls --> Edit Profile Information --> Country of non-US Fiance / Spouse / Family Member --> Russia
This then allows us all to be found under:
http://www.visajourney.com/portals/index.php?country=Russia
Much better than writing Русский форум член - which is a slang for Russian Forum Dick.
In case of doubt, ask your ladies all the meanings and usages of the word член.

If you want to look more Russian, make this guy your avatar:


I turned off viewing signatures after the whole "Russian Forum Dick" thing started a few months ago.

Russian forum "dick" was the intention for having that identifier in the signature. After so many "visitors" in the forum, AKDiver pm'd me about a "secret handshake" or something to that effect. My response was an "identifier" that was a little less obvious than a flag. Chlen can mean person/man, but also dick. This word was specifically utilized because of the dual meaning. Those that could read it would be able to also "understand" it as an identifier of someone who could read Russian and considered themselves part of the forum. Those that couldn't wouldn't know any different and wouldn't get the meaning of "I'm in the Russian forum, I'm a dick, and since you can't read it anyway, maybe that means you shouldn't be sticking your nose in where it doesn't belong on things you don't really understand."

I choose not to have the flag under my avatar because I don't like it. Americans are too stupid to identify most world flags and the fact that these flags are at an angle doesn't help. Plus, I'm not Russian. I'm American dealing with a Russian situation. I have unique insight into a common situation we all share. That's identified in my signature block.

Basically, the "Russian forum dick" is a middle finger in the air to the (unwelcome) "visitors" on our forum while the flags only serve to further alienate us within our own thread and place us into a special category while on other forums. Ever read the other forums? You're immediately placed into a category based on where your S/O is from. Without the big flag on there, maybe your post will be read and considered BEFORE it's placed into a category.

Maybe.

To be honest, I don't really care because most people on VJ don't want to consider anything outside of their own thought process..... I just don't like the flags. Russian forum dick, on the other hand, I believe is a pretty good identifier.

Yeah, I noticed a while ago but I thought it was done on purpose (whatever that purpose may be )
I think anything is better than calling yourself a dick of any forum.
Besides, I am not the only girl here - if to follow that logic, me, Blues, Jewel should call ourselves... Russian Forum... Pussies?
Not very nice, to put it mildly...

I thought that AK just ran the English words, "Russian Form Member" through a dictionary and got the word член to come up. Not wanting to call myself a dick, I also refrained from using this signature. For me the Russian flag was sufficient identification. But, the American flag is an even better idea.

wow. I actually like to come in here and read threads sometimes, I almost posted to the food thread. Good thing I had a look here and realized I am an unwelcome 'visitor' before I did....

Yep, it's pretty exclusive here - for better or for worse...

Even so, "Русский форум член" is grammatically incorrect and basically identifies an "Illiterate Russian Forum Dick". Now that's a nice ID to flaunt!

I received the same secret handshake from Akdiver and replied that I do not share this xenophobia and welcome anyone's twopence in the Russian forum.

Citycat, I like your stream of thought but I'd prefer something more assertive.

Like what? We can come up with something that would really make a statement. Any suggestions?
I have to say this, I deeply admire your skills with the language! As a linguist I can truly appreciate it! Let me guess - Moscow State University?

Like "Russian Mail Order B&$ch" or something, whaddaya think?

Thanks, you sound (look) pretty fluent too! No, I studied in an English school in N-sk, read Austen and Dickens and Stevenson, then lived off my language skills through the hungry post-1991 years (working with expat missionaries, interpreting etc), then went to grad school in the US.

Yes, something like this. Where I live I am called by my Russian and American friends "Crazy Russian B$tch" Close enough?


We read the same books! I am in grad school now myself but at some point, especially comparing my posts to yours, I get the feeling that my Oxford British English got so Americanized! Well, when in Rome...
Thank you!

You would absolutely be the kind of visitor that is welcome here. The "unwelcome" visitors are the ones that will post to the food thread not about food, but about the horror of importing a wife simply to cook and clean and to use for sex. (Which is what is assumed by the "unwelcome" visitors that all men here on the forum have done.)

By all means, visit us. Put in your two kopeks. (Those are like Russian pennies.) This is a pretty exclusive forum but not because outsiders are unwelcome, only because outsiders with stereotypical posts about the Russian VJ experience are unwelcome.


And back On Topic.... I was the one that selected chlen. I looked up the word for "member" in the dictionary, and that's what was listed. I asked my wife if she thought this was a good word to identify us as part of a group and she said "yes of course because chlen means same like hui. And you blat are like hui becuase you're always on your blat visa journey blat." So, it was exactly what I was looking for.

It was also intended to be a subtle nuance alluding to the visitor's posts. 99% of our angry visitors were female. So to ID ourselves, even the female members, as "members" of the Russian forum, this was a perfect word. If you ladies would like to come up with a better word, I'm all for it. I love learning new words! (Although, as pointed out in the other thread... I'm a little weak when it comes to grammar.)

Seriously, how about some suggestions?

well, thank you for clarifying. Being married to a younger Arab Muslim, I can assure you I am not unfamiliar with stereotypes and judgements.
We have our share of those visitors in the MENA forum too, oh well, what can you do....

anyway I am going to pop in from time to time because at the end of the day between all of us its our similarities that bring us to this site, isnt it? and despite having spouses from all over the world we all share some of the same experiences. I liked the food thread... I may just add my two kopeks, although they may end up being two dirhams!

NOW, back to your topic!

Slim
you are hilarious......i must say i am addicted to a russia forum 'cause of your posts...

Slim, you're alright my friend. You got your $hit together. I like Americans that have years of Russian experience and know what they're talking about. By the way, you seem like a great couple. Where's the photos?? You been around a while. Why no pics to show? Sorry, back to topic......

I'm sure. After spending over a year in the Middle East, I've seen first hand how the "terrorists" treat their women. It's still nothing though compared to how all of us fat old bald guys here in the Russia Forum keep our wives chained to the stove, only releasing them long enough to use for sex or do our laundry. "She's lucky I brought her here and saved her from the factory."

I can't believe "average" Americans fall for this kind of crap!



Excellent! Hope to see you here adding some more posts. It's been speculated the MENA forum is the alter ego of the Russia forum, so you'll probably fit in quite nicely. Something about being discriminated against seems to unite people!



I tried uploading pics to VJ one day and after about 40 minutes of waiting, I decided to give up. (That was a long time ago, before the site upgrade. Maybe if I get a chance this weekend, I'll post some here.) My online photos are all easily viewed at http://www.myspace.com/bradleysettle You may have to create a profile to view my pictures. I'm not sure. Anyway, if you don't have one, create one! Add me as your first friend. It's a free online thing, and it's becoming quite popular. I like it cause it's free and easy, so I'll use it to display pics. There are also some on my Friendster profile and you can find that through my MySpace. And maybe soon.... you can see some here on VJ as well!