Vanitas

There seems to be a new strongly increased reliance on "mod tools" instead on using words. Before, I witnessed many verbal warnings before "admin action" was taken. I would see a post removal, then a warning to not post in this matter. Then if a second post, a post removal and a warning of "any further posting will result in admin action." Then I assume a warning, then I assume a suspension (I could not see these parts). I can recall one instance where someone got three distinct verbal warnings before anything was done.
Now, "mod tools" come into play immediately, with no warning. Perhaps three warnings are too much, but zero is too little.
My view is that the users and the mods are on the same side. The users help the mods by reporting things and the mods use their tools and their "mod message" to keep things going as smoothly as possible.
Now there is a sense that some mods think they are here like prison wardens, to police the site, to find bad offenders and punish them. Why is that?

More long-winded, "We're never at fault" tripe from the Lead Mod.

The French are a religion now, Glorious Leader?
If that's the case, do you want me to worship at the altar of the Escargot?

So I've just had a chat with another member of the forums and found out that someone I consider a good friend has decided to leave the forum because of a moderator decision by Ryan H. Specifically, the member leaving is Nich-Nick, a longtime helper on this site and essentially the "mother" of the UK Regional Forum.
Can someone tell me why the hell she was suspended? Because this is getting ridiculous - do you actually want people helping on this site, or not? Because your moderator just caused one of the best helpers on this site to leave, and frankly it is an absolute disgrace.

Make your opinions known. Don't let them win this. Nich is our friend and mentor. While I didn't need her help going through my London process, I needed her help in constructing the guide for everyone else to follow. And she does far more than help the UK guys - she helps out with AOS, she helps people out with their taxes. She's one of the true helpers of this site and doesn't deserve to be treated like an animal.

Comrade Professor frequents the Gay Bar, hmm?

You know what they say... in Soviet Russia, Gay Bar frequents YOU!

What I mean is.. as soon as one of their own number is insulted, they come out like the Secret Police and start executing at will.
So seeing as we're being ignored (no surprises there!), I'm going to open fire myself. A common defense against the above is "We're volunteers, therefore you should treat us with respect". Let me tell you something - if I acted in any of my voluntary positions that I have held in the way the moderators do here, I would be fired. If I were lucky, I'd get off with a verbal or written warning. But in all probability, dismissal would be the result.
I've been told that they won't talk to us because we're not Nich (and by a moderator who isn't supposed to be intervening in any kind of actions with myself, so that deal by Ewok has been broken and nullified). Not only this, the only way they will resolve this is through the so-called review system. That system only works in the favor of one group, and that is the moderators. Never has Kathryn, the head mod, ruled in favor of the membership when reviews have been called for. In fact when I called for a review of a decision against me, she decided to make a public example of me and tried to make me look like an idiot.
The entire system is a shambles. The moderators act like they are above the Terms of Service and do not have to stick to them, and use them as a shield when we try to call them to account. They do not treat the membership with any level of respect, yet demand it constantly otherwise you will be punished. This place is a personal "1984" haven for the owner and his "staff".
Well, no more. We won't be silenced, we won't be cowed into obedience and we certainly won't forget this.

Didn't anyone tell you? Speaking your mind isn't family friendly.

So I've just had a chat with another member of the forums and found out that someone I consider a good friend has decided to leave the forum because of a moderator decision by Ryan H. Specifically, the member leaving is Nich-Nick, a longtime helper on this site and essentially the "mother" of the UK Regional Forum.
Can someone tell me why the hell she was suspended? Because this is getting ridiculous - do you actually want people helping on this site, or not? Because your moderator just caused one of the best helpers on this site to leave, and frankly it is an absolute disgrace.

And this is a prime example of what we all mean.

So I've just had a chat with another member of the forums and found out that someone I consider a good friend has decided to leave the forum because of a moderator decision by Ryan H. Specifically, the member leaving is Nich-Nick, a longtime helper on this site and essentially the "mother" of the UK Regional Forum.
Can someone tell me why the hell she was suspended? Because this is getting ridiculous - do you actually want people helping on this site, or not? Because your moderator just caused one of the best helpers on this site to leave, and frankly it is an absolute disgrace.

I understand one of us just got a time out for speaking his mind. I won't mention who it was, or who gave the time out since I would prefer to be able to stay here and speak mine. But nuff said that it was a longtime member, and the mod is one who has been known to violate TOS and plead ignorance.

I'm out of +1s. So +1!

This is appalling. Whilst I haven't really used the forum for visa advice as my K1 form-filling journey was fairly straightforward, I made a number of posts here enquiring about post-POE practicalities such as health insurance in MA etc. Despite the fact that Nich-Nick doesn't live anywhere near MA, they supplied me with as much information as possible, going out of their way to find answers. I don't blame them for leaving, why should they stay when this is the thanks they get for years of selflessness?
When you are part of a forum with people in love, people waiting, people on this journey to be united with their loved ones, emotions run high at all times. Solid and up-to-date advice is needed as opposed to frantic people perpetuating rumours and incorrect advice. Unfortunately, with members such as Nich and Lost leaving, we are being robbed of the former and overrun with the latter.

So, I checked the thread in question, I checked the TOS in the first post in this thread and I read Ewok's post in post 3, which says:
I have about four years of experience of forum moderating, on a very large website. Good moderating is about context, about giving the benefit of the doubt and about ensuring there is consistency throughout the site. Banning Nick-Nick displays none of those qualities, and it is probably the worst user ban possible for the accuracy of advice given here.
Sometimes admitting that a mistake was made is the best choice.

Well, it's become clearer over the years that this place isn't a paragon of transparency. We get cryptic messages in-topic about admin action, and then those subject to the action aren't supposed to talk about it. Yes, yes, we all agree to the TOS, but to some extent this is our place. We may not have built the architecture, but it's our collective knowledge and participation that has made it what it is, for better or worse. A dollop of transparency about why things happen would be helpful in quelling some of the issues here.
I guess being a VJ mod, like love, means never having to say you're sorry.

So I've just had a chat with another member of the forums and found out that someone I consider a good friend has decided to leave the forum because of a moderator decision by Ryan H. Specifically, the member leaving is Nich-Nick, a longtime helper on this site and essentially the "mother" of the UK Regional Forum.
Can someone tell me why the hell she was suspended? Because this is getting ridiculous - do you actually want people helping on this site, or not? Because your moderator just caused one of the best helpers on this site to leave, and frankly it is an absolute disgrace.

And this is a prime example of what we all mean.

So I've just had a chat with another member of the forums and found out that someone I consider a good friend has decided to leave the forum because of a moderator decision by Ryan H. Specifically, the member leaving is Nich-Nick, a longtime helper on this site and essentially the "mother" of the UK Regional Forum.
Can someone tell me why the hell she was suspended? Because this is getting ridiculous - do you actually want people helping on this site, or not? Because your moderator just caused one of the best helpers on this site to leave, and frankly it is an absolute disgrace.

Anyway, to answer the actual questions:
1) Readiness Form is here: http://london.usembassy.gov/iv/notification_of_applicant_readiness_form.html
2) You send it in when the following two conditions are met: You've completed your DS-260 and you've got your Medical booked or completed.
Complete all the fields required (so don't touch the K1 ones, and if no-one is coming with you then don't fill out those fields but DO fill out the one asking for your intended date of travel. If you put this as a reasonably close date - say in 6 weeks or so - you may get a quicker interview).
After that, it's unfortunately just a case of "wait and see". You can, as always, check with the NVC after 3-4 weeks to see if a date's been assigned.

So I've just had a chat with another member of the forums and found out that someone I consider a good friend has decided to leave the forum because of a moderator decision by Ryan H. Specifically, the member leaving is Nich-Nick, a longtime helper on this site and essentially the "mother" of the UK Regional Forum.
Can someone tell me why the hell she was suspended? Because this is getting ridiculous - do you actually want people helping on this site, or not? Because your moderator just caused one of the best helpers on this site to leave, and frankly it is an absolute disgrace.

So I've just had a chat with another member of the forums and found out that someone I consider a good friend has decided to leave the forum because of a moderator decision by Ryan H. Specifically, the member leaving is Nich-Nick, a longtime helper on this site and essentially the "mother" of the UK Regional Forum.
Can someone tell me why the hell she was suspended? Because this is getting ridiculous - do you actually want people helping on this site, or not? Because your moderator just caused one of the best helpers on this site to leave, and frankly it is an absolute disgrace.

So as I've mentioned in another thread, Nich-Nick is currently no longer on these forums.
The reasoning for this is because about two weeks ago, she was suspended for a comment in another thread. We're not entirely sure what the offence is because the moderators are hiding behind the TOS (e.g. they won't tell me) and Nich herself disputes the warning, but cannot post to this effect until she even accepts said warning. Since then, she's said she's had enough of VJ and won't be coming back anytime soon.
Now, most of you who've been through the K1 process in the past will know who she is and how she helped you out. In the last couple of weeks, it's just been me and some of the more recent K1 successes. She's held the UK forum together alongside myself, Lost and those who have stuck around here and there to help out even after they've moved.
I'll be the first to say that my knowledge isn't as complete as hers, but that's why we pooled our resources and wrote the K1 guide. So I'll be the first to ask the following things:
*If you have new information to add to the guide about something that's changed, please post it in the Guide thread.
*If you need help, please read the guide first - if your question isn't answered, then post a new thread and ask it. If it is answered in the guide, then you'll be linked to the specific post of the guide where the answer is.
As for Nich.. well, we're discussing what the heck is going on down here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/322-tos-violations-and-moderator-responses/?view=getnewpost - If you want to add your voice and say this was unjust, go right ahead.

So I've just had a chat with another member of the forums and found out that someone I consider a good friend has decided to leave the forum because of a moderator decision by Ryan H. Specifically, the member leaving is Nich-Nick, a longtime helper on this site and essentially the "mother" of the UK Regional Forum.
Can someone tell me why the hell she was suspended? Because this is getting ridiculous - do you actually want people helping on this site, or not? Because your moderator just caused one of the best helpers on this site to leave, and frankly it is an absolute disgrace.