There has been a lot of dissatisfaction expressed in recent months, on the site and in e-mails to the moderators, regarding irrelevant/off-topic comments. It’s also important that Brock provides a place for people to express their thoughts. To strike a balance, we have installed a “move comment” function, with which we can move a comment to a different thread.
This should help keep things more focused while, at the same time, the person’s comment still appears on the site and discussion can ensue without overwhelming the original, unrelated, thread.
Moving a comment from one thread to another keeps both threads more useful to persons seeking help or information or simply having a coherent discussion on a topic.
We do not intend to eliminate thread drift from the site, just to keep certain threads focused, such as a post that deals with a project or a post focused on a specific type of information but someone posts a comment way off-topic; say, consulate problems on the FATCA thread.
Many topics overlap a lot, so don’t expect perfection — and every one of us undoubtedly has a different sense of just where “on-topic” ends and “off-topic” begins (can’t please everyone all of the time), so you may still see some comments you feel are out of place but to a lesser degree.
Thread drift is inevitable on a site that values sharing of ideas and opinions. It can be pesky and annoying, but sometimes it’s a good thing which expands discussion; and exchanging thoughts is important part of the Brock community. We don’t want to quench that! But this should keep parts of the site on target.
I do not comment often, but I feel I must speak to the recent efforts to keep Brock on track. This site has provided an incredible amount of support to those of us affected by FATCA and our own governments actions towards Canadians. For all we know, this site likely has saved lives as well. A lot of people were at whits end before finding Brock. I know I was. I thank everyone for their information and support in fighting this deception of the Canadian Government. All I ask is that we all agree that we are all on the same team and need to support each other to win this fight. There are some very intelligent ideas and comments and I really feel much better knowing they are all on our side. Thank you everyone and please, keep working as one. Thank you.
Thanks @pacifica777 for doing this. It will go a long way towards continuing to make Brock relevant and useful.
In my opinion, we are on the right path, holding the Canadian Government Accountable for signing such a thing with “Expunged Clauses” (how outrageous) that undermine The Charter Of Rights And Freedoms, the highest law in the land. When the government makes bad policy choices, we have the Courts to remind them and force them to uphold the laws that Supersede things like FATCA and provide EQUAL PROTECTION to ALL CANADIAN Citizens first!
Thank you. Thank you all.
We are closing comments on posts older than 15 days.
In addition, the pages “Ask your questions about” have now also been closed.
Probably wise, given what a shit-show this place can turn into.
What do you propose to do for individuals who have their OMG moments and come here seeking advice? The classic “I just received a letter from my bank asking about US citizenship, what should I do?” sort question. Will you create a general Q and A thread, or write a detailed to-do guide, which will require some branching given the different answers for US vs. non-US birthplace etc.
‘We are closing comments on posts older than 15 days.
In addition, the pages “Ask your questions about” have now also been closed.’
For example new questions or observations that belong in the Renunciation discussion will have to be posted off-topic to a very recent thread. Isn’t this the exact opposite of what we need? Same for experiences in banking or entering the US. Same for expat-tax though it’s been comparatively idle recently. Same for the Cook v. Tait discussion where I predict that a circuit court might overturn the Supreme Court ruling.
Petros, I always thought ‘ask your questions about renunciation’ was the most important thread on IBS
“Ask your questions about Japanese postal money orders” was probably the last straw…
@Portland. I guess if people have questions they can search Brock to see if they have been asked before. But yeah, that was probably the most useful section, once upon a time.
@Portland, See Brock Post 0001 http://isaacbrocksociety.ca/2019/04/03/brock-pub-0001/
Peter, Ihope this new arrangement isn’t fixed in stone and you would be willing to resurrect the as your questions section if necessary. Now how about cleaning up the take action, press releases,resources, profiles, and so on . Some are years past their best before dates. Thanks for your continued efforts.
@ Portland,
Re: “Now how about cleaning up the take action [sidebar box]”
I maintain the “Take Action”, “Important Info” and “Specific Situations” sidebar boxes and I continually review and revise them, deleting links that no longer need to be in the sidebar.
Also to keep the sidebar as short as possible, rather than have lots of links in a sidebar box, I create a list of links on a topic and put a link to such list in the sidebar (such as “Introductory and Essential Materials” and “How to Renounce/Relinquish” in the “Important Info” box).
@ Portland,
“I always thought ‘ask your questions about renunciation’ was the most important thread on IBS.”
I plan to create an archive page of Renunciation questions and answers comments that appear on the site, so people who want to read specifically about renunciation can do so without having to find the Brock Pub posts and look through their comment streams. Comments will be copied, not moved, to the Renunciation page. The original comments will remain intact in the Brock Pub. I also plan to do this for Tax questions and answers comments, and possibly one or two other topics as needed.
Hello Brockers. I wanted to post about my recent renunciation and write an update on the renunciation thread butIi see it is closed now so I am devastated as it helped me get so much information and support before, during and after my renunciation fomr other brockers many, many of you.. Where do i go now for this and can this threed/post be re opened?
Hi Kabby,
You can post it on the Consulate Report Directory thread. Thanks. Looking forward to reading it!
I agree with Kabby that the renunciation thread is important
I agree too with Kabby and Portland.
The renunciation thread has helped so many through difficult decisions. I am not sure what the reasons were for its closing? The Brock pub now seems to be taking all the ‘chat’ .
@Pacifica777. I have posted my experience of my renunciation on the link consular report directory you sent above but please bring back the side bar under ask your questions on “Relinquishment and Renuncition of US Citizenship”. Thst is where Ifound all the valuable information and asked other Brockers the questions i needed to egt through the process of renouncing. Without that I woudl sstil be flounderring and lost. It was that ask your questions that saved me! Pleasse bring back the thread. x
I agree that the Renunciation thread – or something like it – should be reinstated. I’ve sent several people to that particular thread to ask their questions about renunciation over the years. Having those questions and answers in one place is very helpful to those who are still reeling from their OMG moment.
Another vote for reinstating the separate renunciation thread. I estimate that such a thread will be my number one resource within the next two years.
Send them to the current Brock Pub post instead. The long comment threads are unwieldly, and WordPress doesn’t handle them well.
@petros
When someone googles ‘Renounce US citizenship ‘ the Brock link comes at or near the top. That’s how I and many others found help. I was not sent there by anyone. The renunciation thread was the most used and the most informative for so many . ‘Brock pub ‘ is not a search item used by anyone needing help.
Something like this explanation might solve the problem for those who arrive at the former thread.
@ calgary411
Wow, you’re right. Renunciation Part Two has over 10,000 comments. Would it be possible to make a Part Three and then go on to a Part Four when Part Three approaches a certain limit? Would people searching for renunciation information still be able to find the valuable support and information we provide that way? One of best things about Brock, for me, is seeing people get help with the concept and process of renunciation. I’d so want them to find us first, before a condor gets those talons into them.