Posts by brightpuma

Rebecca Peterson54 said:What’s actually the difference between "diaspora" and "emigration"?

thanks 🙂

From what I gather, "diaspora" refers to people already living abroad—it's mostly meant for them. But "emigration"? That's for folks looking to move away who need the lowdown on how to actually make it happen... 🤔

John Palmer4 said:Man, it’s like they have to swap out the rings and resurface the whole cylinder head...

Well, damn. It’s not that simple. You’ve gotta replace all those little bits and pieces. And besides the carbon buildup and the scoring, the parts that gave out might already be seized up tight... 🤷

Benjamin King2 said:Can someone please find a way to get an admin to fix those redirects on the main site? That sub-forum has been half-broken for months, and now you can't even access it at all.

It’s not any better when it comes to the Vics...

Elizabeth Baker38 said:I don't know. I haven't really checked, but I highly doubt that was the only thing people were talking about on her forum.🤷

It’s possible, but we always end up back at the same point: someone posting on the Women's Corner might not actually want to head over to a major news site like CNN or the New York Times just to argue about it. I mean, if you started the conversation here—on a forum where people discuss literally everything from politics to pet ownership (just look at those crazy threads about aggressive dog owners)—then you could have easily just kept the discussion right here. Why go anywhere else?

Elizabeth Baker38 said:I didn't lock this thread because some new forum rule forbids talking about Nora Fora or anything related to her. I did it because, honestly, I think this discussion crossed a line. It stopped being a healthy conversation.
Look, everyone shared their thoughts. The funds were raised. The little girl went off for treatment. Let’s just be decent people and stop dragging this one family through the mud. We should just wish the kid nothing but the best.🤷

I don't know. Maybe it's just me, but if they plan on dragging her story through the news cycle for the next thousand years, why even have it posted here on the forum? 🤷

Peter Doyle2 said:brightpuma, the chemo costs aren't even included in the total. They mentioned this right at the end of the press conference—talking about a "third portion of the bill"—and they immediately noted that nobody actually knows what those extra expenses will look like yet. I guess it all depends on how Nora's body reacts to the treatment, so her dosage might vary, making it impossible to predict the final cost. Man... honestly, even without that, the total amount is dizzying. And we're talking about leukemia, where chemotherapy is, you know, just standard procedure. So, hearing that the chemo ISN'T included? That’s a massive shocker.
which brings us back to that famous topic... Americans. 🙄

And what is there even to say about it? I mean, if we can't manage to establish order or justice in our own little corner of the world with its 4 million souls, why bother being outraged by bad Americans and their broken system? It's not like a million Noras would change anything, unfortunately. 😢
This is going to sound awful, I know... but God, if anyone of us or our loved ones ever falls that sick, the best we can hope for is that our only cure isn't located in America. 😢

To wrap this all up: as wonderful as the drive for Nora has been—warming all our hearts and providing a sense of hope that we so, so desperately lack in this country—and as much as we all stood together for Nora... there are just too many things leaving a nasty, bitter taste in my mouth. Everything from the mess in our own country all the way to Philadelphia.

I just want to thank everyone who supported the campaign and took part in it.
Let's hope for the establishment of a foundation, the removal of sales tax on humanitarian efforts, and above all, that actual change to the law they discussed at the press conference.
Because every single life—not just a child's—is far more important and precious than every damn bridge, arena, fountain, or stadium out there.

I agree with most of that, except for the bolded part. A fund like that already exists. Actually, there are two. They're called basic and supplemental health insurance.
Plus, wouldn't we just be wondering when some politician would try to take control of that fund? 🙄

Peter Doyle2 said:When you say "someone"... are you referring to Americans or people from back home?
Because if we're talking about Americans, to me, it all feels... normal? I know that sounds terrible to say, but I think we're all pretty aware that their healthcare system is incredibly unfair and that everything there is basically built on money.
I followed the press conference live, so here is how they explained those extra costs.
Basically, that $25,000 is for Nora's treatment once she arrives.
The other $13,000 covers all the checkups and therapies (and according to her mother, these will happen every three months) over the next two years. Yeah, it does leave you wondering why they weren't told that right away.
The least vague part of this whole thing is the fact that they have to pay that extra cash upfront regardless—meaning, not necessarily the second they check into the hospital, but very soon after, if I caught that correctly during the presser—within 30 days at the latest. And if that extra money hadn't shown up in their account, they wouldn't have even received the visa!!
And thirdly, this isn't the end of the story. In fact, those millions don't even include the chemotherapy Nora will be starting immediately during this first round of treatment, and nobody even knows yet how much that is going to cost.

All in all, it makes your head spin when you add up the costs, especially when you realize that isn't even the final figure😲 just for the medical care itself. I'm not even factoring in the secondary expenses (travel, living in the States...)—honestly, it's overwhelming.
I believe that if this were happening at some European clinic, or even a clinic somewhere else in the world besides the US, the total sum would be far, far smaller.
And I don't think anyone is getting rich or profiting here except for the American pharmaceutical corporations. To them, no one's life—not even a child's life—really matters. It's only about the dollars.

Actually, I totally misspoke. 🤦 When I read that this morning, that was just my first thought and I reacted emotionally. It wasn't until later that I went to look into the details.
Based on what people are saying over on Reddit, I doubt the Americans are going to get overly rich off this—at least not the hospital. It actually seems like a pretty realistic cost by their standards.

I followed the press conference live, so here’s how they explained that extra cost.
Basically, those 3.3 million is for Nora's treatment once she arrives.
The other 1.7 million is for all the checkups and therapies (and according to her mother, these happen every three months) over the next two years. Yeah, it leaves the question of why they didn't mention this right away.

I think the issue with the extra cost is that the original quote was from 2010. They kept referring back to that, so maybe they didn't even bother asking for a new quote or checking if anything had changed.

But they definitely should have mentioned it sooner, instead of letting sensationalism take over and having the news convince everyone for half a day that "evil" Americans hiked up the price overnight when the fault lies on both sides.

What's actually most absurd about this whole thing is the fact that they still have to pay this extra money upfront (meaning not the exact second they check into the hospital, but soon—if I heard correctly at the press conference, within 30 days at the latest) and if that extra money hadn't been seen in their account, they wouldn't have gotten the visa at all!!

Yeah, true. The American immigration system is pretty rigorous, and I believe that was more about the visa than the hospital itself.

And thirdly, this isn't the end of it. Those millions don't even include the chemotherapy Nora will be receiving immediately during this first round of treatment, and nobody even knows how much that's going to cost yet.

Well, now, I don't know. From what I gathered, I think it's included. Though, there are still plenty of "ifs" and "buts," so it's hard to predict what else might come up.

😲Honestly, your head just spins when you see the total bill, especially when you realize that isn't even the final number.
I haven't even factored in all the extra costs—travel, living expenses here in the States... it's just overwhelming. It makes my head ache. I truly believe if this were happening at a clinic in Europe, or anywhere else outside the US, the final amount would be way, way lower.

I don't know. What really breaks my heart about all of this is that there's no guarantee she'll actually get better. This is just giving her one more shot. 😢
No matter how you look at it, I don't think this is the last we'll hear about this issue.

And I don't think anyone is going to get rich or profit from this except for the big American pharmaceutical corporations. To them, nobody's life matters—not even a child's life. All they care about is the bottom line.

Yeah. That's the worst part. Almost every other company in the world funds their own experimental treatments. But in America? Patients still foot the bill for experimental care. Sure, maybe the drug itself is "free," but you're still paying for the treatment. It’s just a trick.

Daniel Ward87 said:Reddit isn't collecting any donations here; we're just sharing a notice that was already all over the news anyway. If we went by your logic, every news outlet covering this would be breaking the law.

Correct me if I've got that wrong.

I'll explain it to you in a DM once I get home in a bit.

jadecyclist42 said:Thanks, Daniel Ward87, that’s a beautiful gesture on your part! 👍
Pretty soon, an association for seriously ill children will be releasing a phone number so people can donate for little Anastasia, and I’ll make sure to post it right here!

If anyone actually wants to get rich off a sick kid, they should probably just report it!

??

I don't get it. I was thinking about this specifically.

Look, I just hope you guys realize that by doing this, you're basically backing illegal activity.

Just saying.

I’m guessing this is meant for people who don't follow any news online or aren't on Facebook? 🤣

Either way, it's good that this was posted... 😉

Susan Price30 said:Just a plain old lie. Nobody gets away with throwing around insults without the mods stepping in to delete the post or hand out a warning.

How? Yes, no. I’m reading this thread about Reisman over on Politics and honestly, the fact that people are even still debating this proves that those kinds of comments aren't getting flagged. I'm talking about terms like "young slut" or "commissar" and stuff like that.

Bradley Evans31 said:Looks like brightpuma finally managed to brainwash you. You're suddenly whining about the same old stuff on this forum just like we were last year.

I decided to leave the diaspora because that was exactly what the moderators wanted.

Sure, and I feel like things have actually shifted—like how there’s a dedicated thread for employment within the European Union now. I still think we can do better, but honestly? It isn't nearly as disastrous as you all make it out to be.

jadedrifter2 said:@ brightpuma

Here he goes again... honestly, some people just don't know when to quit—it’s almost impressive at this point.

You know what’s actually sad? It’s seeing people like you—who have zero actual connection to the whole emigration thing—jumping in to weigh in on questions about it.

The immigration laws are changing this year (2013), so what’s the point of me digging through the last 50 or 100 pages here? Most of it is just outdated rules that don't apply anymore. Where am I supposed to find real stories from people who will actually be moving under these new regulations?

And please, don't even bother replying to this. I already know you don't have the answer—just consider those questions rhetorical.

What's actually sad is that I—someone "with no connection to emigration"—still know more than those who actually want to move. Instead of doing a little research, they just look for instant fixes.

The immigration laws are changing this year. How is reading the last 50 or 100 pages going to help me if they're just full of old rules that don't apply anymore? Where am I supposed to find real stories from people moving under these new regulations?

Has a new law actually passed? If not, then there's no reason to keep these threads open. Once the law is official, I'll be the first one rooting for these topics to stay up. But if we go back to the same recycled questions like, "I want to go work in Canada, how do I do that?" then I'll be right there with the moderators when they close them again.🤷

Bradley Evans31 said:You're spot on, jadedrifter2!

"Inside Information" 😉
The Canadian government wants to fast-track skilled worker immigration so that by the end of this year, you can check both applicant numbers and employer demand directly on the official government site. Phenomenal, right?
Except we’ll probably have to wait another full year before they actually pull it off...

But if you ask the diaspora moderator, everything's already been said, so they've basically shut down any real conversation.

Idiots!🙄

If that actually happens, it'll be amazing. At least for our youth who can't find steady jobs back home.

But honestly, if you ask the moderators of this diaspora group, they think everything’s already been covered. They’ve basically shut down any chance for real discussion.

Just look at what I sent to jadedrifter2 above. Once a new law actually gets passed, then it makes sense to start debating it or opening up new threads. That's when things change and we'll actually need fresh info. Right now? These threads would just be flooded with the same old stuff—people asking about working under the table, how to handle emigration, and those other fifty repetitive questions, all mixed in with endless guessing games about what the law might eventually look like.

And besides, can't we just talk about the speculation regarding the new law over in the current Canada thread? 🤷

jadedrifter2 said:@ Bradley Evans31

thanks for the support... though honestly, it’s cold comfort when you look at these rules. I can see this whole thread is slowly dying out, too. I’m actually starting to drift toward other forums and info sources myself—it feels like there isn't anything new being said here about Canada anymore. It’s a shame, really. We had such a great little community forming—a real solid base of people who could actually provide quality info—and then this happens. Everything just starts falling apart. Maybe that was the plan all along, who knows?

At this point, the place is turning into a forum for endless circular arguments and killing time by obsessing over trivial nonsense (just pure stupidity)

P.S. a quick request for the admins and moderators—brightpuma, please try to hold back on commenting on my posts

Terrible. They’re basically forcing you to follow the forum rules. Total tyrants. 🙂

I'm slowly switching over to other forums and info sources since there isn't anything new being said here about America... feels like a shame. We actually built a great community of people who could provide solid info, and then this happens—everything just falling apart. Maybe that was the plan all along.

Well, there isn't much new to say in general that hasn't already been covered. Besides, everyone wants answers handed to them on a silver platter. They can't be bothered to read the last 50 or 100 pages of a thread, yet they want to move halfway across the world.

It’s actually pretty sad. People move there, get disappointed later, and come back saying it wasn't all that great—completely ignoring the fact that they didn't do their homework first.

this is turning into a forum for wasting time and talking in circles about trivial nonsense (stupid stuff)

Yeah, that's usually what forums are for. Chatting, joking around, sharing news, etc. It's a different story if you're treating this like a help desk, and now that it isn't meeting your expectations, you're getting upset... 🙄

Just so we're clear, commenting on the mods on any sub-forum (except this one) gets you a strike. I don't see what the big deal is.
Doesn't matter if it's just a casual chat thread—if you start taking shots at the moderators, you're getting a card. 🤷

It's the same rule across all the chat threads, not just in the Diaspora section.

jadedrifter2 said:@ Henry Moore2

I mean, what’s really the point of you chiming in if you aren't actually looking for an answer?
You don't even know me—it's kind of wild how you feel entitled to treat me like an idiot... you were the one being blunt right out of the gate, so I guess I had my reasons for calling you out...

Since you two decided to shut this thread down, why don't you just head over to my locked thread instead? There are actually several people over there who agree with me—and honestly, that topic was only unlocked for, what, half a day?

From what I can see around the forum, for every single post supporting your side, there are at least five others saying the exact opposite... look, if you're actually aiming for some kind of fair play—since you keep talking about making things easier for us—why not just run a poll? You know, since you claim you want to help... then we could actually see how many people are for it versus against it. If the majority wants everything locked down, fine, I won't say another word about Canada.

@ambermason16

I've laid out my suggestions... I can't really do much more than that. And as for all these random trolls—I honestly don't get why it's so difficult for people to just ignore them and their posts.

It’s not like anyone’s holding a gun to the forum users' heads, forcing them to answer irrational questions that have already been addressed a hundred times...

P.S. What does "sticky" actually mean in this context? Not the literal translation, obviously... it's just that when I type Canada into the forum search, I get a massive pile of threads that seem to have absolutely nothing to do with Canada.

That's why they irritate everyone else. People either joke back at them or point them toward the official websites. Then these rebels start picking fights, and suddenly you've got a problem on your hands. It's a pattern we've seen before. 🤷

P.S. what does "sticky" actually mean? Not the literal translation... when I type Canada into the forum search, I get a mountain of threads that have nothing to do with Canada (?!)

Sticky = pinned topic

As for the search tool, you just have to use it smart. Like, select the specific sub-forum you want to look in first, then search there. Use methods like that.

jadedrifter2 said:But do you actually grasp what this thread is for? It’s specifically for questions directed at the forum administration. If you aren't part of the staff, why jump in at all? Why play lawyer for them? I'm not making some grand deduction here to claim you're "just a user"—it's just common sense to assume the actual admins will be the ones answering on this specific thread.

You’re stepping in for them without even knowing the real reason behind their decisions, just guessing based on your own assumptions. 🙂

Honestly, I don't get how this administration allows anyone to just chime in and answer queries on their behalf... seriously, step up! This feels incredibly amateurish.

So, you think nobody responded because it was just the admins? Don't make me laugh. That's exactly what happens when people don't bother reading the thread before asking a question. 🙄

You're answering for them without even knowing the real reason behind their actions. Just jumping to conclusions based on your own assumptions? Why do that? 🙂

I’m just repeating what the moderators have probably already said ten times. What’s the point of them reaching out to you personally to repeat the same thing for the eleventh time? If I’m online, I can just give you the same answer myself. 🤷

I honestly don't get this administration. Why does it allow just anyone who feels like it to jump in and answer questions on their behalf? Seriously, get it together! This is pure amateur hour.

If I got anything wrong, someone please set me straight. 🤷

jadedrifter2 said:The guy replied to my post but skipped half my questions—so naturally, I asked why he wasn't answering all of them.

If those kinds of posts are such a headache, just delete them. Besides, her question *did* get an answer, and honestly, those types of free riders would be ignored by most users on locked threads anyway... I don't see the issue. Personally, I just ignore them and move on.

As for going to Facebook—I don't even know how to react to that suggestion. I'm actually a bit shocked by that approach... is the goal here to foster actual quality discussion, or are you trying to drive people away?? A forum isn't just the admins and moderators; a forum is its users.

The longer I spend on this forum, the more I get the impression that the only thing that matters to you is inflating the member count. Whether people are inactive or permanently banned doesn't seem to matter—I've noticed we can't even delete our own profiles—as long as the database grows to attract advertisers, the actual core purpose of a forum like this becomes totally irrelevant.

And I'm still waiting for an explanation as to why Canada is being treated differently compared to Australia, New Zealand, and everywhere else. The reasons you give for locking threads could apply to almost any other discussion regarding emigration to those countries.

Why not just have two separate threads for Canada? One could be a casual chat for people who are already there—where the admins and mods claim everyone is just complaining about immigrants—and the other could be strictly about the emigration process itself. Then the users can decide which one they want to participate in... and I guarantee there would be way more activity in the emigration thread.

The real issue isn't that people ignore you. It's that most folks respond with irony, trolling, or just straight-up insults. And if they don't get an answer? They just keep asking the same thing over and over. It’s easier to post a question on a forum and wait for someone to do the legwork than it is to actually go look it up on Google. I mean, what is moving across the country really? A few thousand miles? People do it all the time. ☕

I honestly don't even know how to react to this on Facebook. I'm genuinely shocked by that kind of behavior. Is the goal here actually to have a quality discussion? Or is the aim just to drive people away from this place? A forum isn't defined by the admins or the moderators. A forum is the people who actually post on it.

Look, you realize I’m not a moderator or an admin, right? Just a regular user like you. As one forum member to another, if you want the real-time updates, just head over to the Facebook group. At least until the admins lose their minds and start nuking posts from people who can't manage to write more than two lines at a time. They show up every single day.

I’m still waiting on an answer. Why does it feel like Canada gets shortchanged compared to Australia, New Zealand, and everywhere else? All those reasons you gave for locking this thread? You can find them in pretty much any other discussion about moving to those countries.

It’s not even about discrimination at this point. From what I can see, she's just first in line. Australia and New Zealand will be next.

Why not just have two separate threads about Canada? One could be a general CHAT thread for people already living there—you know, the kind where admins and mods always claim everyone is just complaining about immigrants. Then, we have a second thread strictly for emigration. That way, people can choose which one they actually want to join. I guarantee more folks will head over to the emigration side.

It’s inevitable. We’re going to see another 200 questions a day asking how to apply for a Working holiday, where to find jobs, or how to deal with under-the-table work. It happens every time. Honestly, it just forces people who are already serious about making such a massive life change—because moving to Canada isn't exactly like a quick weekend trip to Denver—to actually do their homework and put in some effort to find the facts themselves.
Honestly, if you just take a look at everything linked in the top thread, you’ll pretty much have the full picture. For anything else, just skim through the last 40 or 50 pages of these closed threads. Makes sense, right?

jadedrifter2 said:here’s the link

I laid everything out right there... and honestly, looking back, it seems like everyone ended up being on the same page as me in that thread anyway.

Yeah, they agreed with you. But then, right in the very next post, some woman jumps in asking a question that's already been answered a dozen times. It's like, did she even bother reading the other threads? Or checking the official websites? Nothing. And it happens constantly. If you really want to stay up-to-date, just join the Facebook group for it.

jadedrifter2 said:I’m a bit confused—why was my thread about Canada locked? Is there some kind of rule now against talking about Canada?

I mean, I thought I laid out pretty clearly why the topic should stay open, yet here we are. It feels a little lopsided when one serious discussion gets shut down, while something totally mindless—like that "swallowing" thread (I think that’s how it was titled)—is allowed to run wild with ten different sequels, where people basically just post emojis or a couple of words just to hit their daily post limit.

If the thread is locked, how are we supposed to actually connect with people who are planning to move under these new regulations? How are we meant to find those bits of practical advice that you won't find on any official government website, but which actually make the whole emigration process manageable?

It feels like Canada is being singled out here, whereas everyone can talk freely about Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and plenty of other places without an issue.

I’d really appreciate some answers to these questions—and please, let’s skip the generic canned responses. I'm looking for something specific.

Thanks!

I have to admit, I didn't spot that thread on the diaspora forum. Can you drop a link? ☕

As for everything else, it's all laid out clearly in this thread.