Posts by jadedrifter2

Honestly, that sounds like throwing money down the drain... he'd probably be better off just picking up a decent book on fitness and nutrition—it’s way cheaper, and honestly, it might actually be more useful...

slyviper94 said:Yeah... I sent them an email with a full breakdown of what happened—hopefully they’ll actually listen and fix it. It sucks because now I'm probably stuck waiting until Monday, and there's way too much good action happening tomorrow to be sitting on the sidelines.

I was reading the New York Post earlier saying bookies are going to have to pay out stakes under the new rules... honestly, I've put more on the table than most people realize. I'm heading over to check if they've already pulled the funds from my account.

Walter Lee9 said:So, here’s the situation—I’m 17, standing about 6'2", and weighing around 163 lbs. I used to be pretty active in sports until I hit 15, but then a series of injuries—knee, shoulder, the whole bit—basically ended my tennis career. Along with that, my muscle mass pretty much went out the window too. I’m definitely not built the way I want to be yet, so I’m finally hitting the gym for the first time ever. The goal? To look decent aesthetically by this summer. My plan is to hit the gym about 4 or 5 times a week, depending on how my high school schedule shakes out—likely Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. I’m also planning on picking up some protein—probably some whey—and maybe some other supplements. Someone suggested glucose, but I’m totally open to hearing what you guys think about that. Anyway, here's the actual reason I'm sitting down to write this...
So, I've been staring at my calendar trying to figure out how to actually map out a training split that hits everything without feeling like a total mess—especially since my main focus right now is really leaning towards arms and shoulders. I want to make sure I'm hitting all the muscle groups, but if I'm being honest, those two areas are definitely getting the priority treatment. Any advice on how to structure the days?
Can I stick to a "standard" home-cooked diet if I'm looking for the best—and fastest—results? Basically, I'm talking breakfast being milk and some whole grain toast, then lunch consisting of soup, meat, and whatever greens are on hand—broccoli, spinach, kale, that kind of thing. Also, do I really need to cut out every single bit of junk food? I don't even like most of it, honestly... except for cheeseburgers. Those are a total obsession. 😁 ...and then, just something light for dinner.
So, I was wondering—can I actually have a drink on Saturdays if I'm still doing my whey protein? And just to be clear, I'm not talking about mixing them together in the same shaker—that sounds like a disaster waiting to happen—but more like having my shake in the morning and then hitting the bar later that night. Do I need to skip the whey entirely on those days, or should I just cut out the alcohol altogether?
So, when can I actually expect to see some visible muscle mass? Just to be clear—I'm not trying to become a shredded bodybuilder or anything extreme. I just want to look like I actually have some substance there, you know? Like, quality mass rather than just being thin.
Any other recommendations or warnings you guys think are important that I might have missed?

I’d be seriously, incredibly grateful if someone could take a moment to give me a more detailed answer to this post of mine—really dive into the specifics. Thanks in advance to everyone.

Honestly, you probably need at least another 35 pounds of muscle if you want to actually look imposing—which, let’s face it, means you've got some catching up to do before summer hits... but hey, don't lose sleep over it. You could definitely pack on a solid 12–15 pounds of decent mass. Since you're pretty lean anyway, adding a little bit of extra body fat wouldn't even be a bad thing.
When it comes to hitting the gym, you really should look into finding a place where you’ll be under some actual professional supervision—even if it ends up costing a bit more upfront. Think of it as an investment in your future self. If you want to actually see results, you have to learn how to train correctly from day one; trying to unlearn bad habits later on is a massive, frustrating headache. Don't be afraid to switch gyms, either—especially if you get the chance to work with some high-level pros who can actually teach you the ropes. This is particularly important for your back development, though I'm not sure where exactly you're based. As for the training itself, honestly, given your age and the fact that you're still growing, I’d suggest sticking to kettlebells or maybe something like a high-intensity program—you know, things like Insanity or those "300" style workouts—rather than jumping straight into heavy bodybuilding. With weights, if your form is off, you can pretty much wreck yourself, and at your stage, it's just not worth the risk.

Regarding the training itself—assuming you’re strictly sticking to weights and nothing else—five sessions a week is way too much for you. You're just starting out, so three, maybe four days at most, is plenty. What actually matters is making sure you hit your whole body over the course of the week and waiting until each muscle group has fully recovered before hitting it again. That’s where rest comes in—it's huge. Give yourself at least one full day off between sessions, and if you feel like you haven't bounced back, just take two days. No shame in that. When you're pairing things up, try to combine one large muscle group—like chest or back—with one or two smaller ones. Just don't try to pair chest with quads or anything like that in a single session; that's asking for trouble. And honestly? Stick to the basics—bench press, barbell squats, deadlifts, that kind of stuff—and use free weights whenever possible instead of jumping straight to the machines. Free weights force those stabilizer muscles to work to keep you balanced, whereas machines just isolate the muscle, which isn't always what you want. For the big groups, aim for two or three exercises, and maybe one or two for the smaller ones. I'd suggest doing fewer sets—maybe three to four—but crank up the intensity. You don't need to spend hours at the gym; an hour or ninety minutes tops, including your warm-up and stretching, should be more than enough. Make sure you actually warm up properly before you start and stretch once you're done... it helps. Just keep in mind that less is often more. Beginners have this habit of overdoing it and ending up stuck in a constant state of overtraining, which, predictably, means you won't see any results at all.

Look, just a piece of advice—don't get caught up in that ego-driven competition with everyone else at the gym. You know the type, those guys who always have to chirp at you about who can bench more or who’s pulling more weight off the rack? Honestly, just ignore them from the jump. It’s a total dead end and won't get you anywhere. As for warming up, don't overdo it. A few minutes on the stationary bike or a light jog on the treadmill is plenty—just enough to get your heart rate up to that 75-80% sweet spot. I see so many people hanging out on the cardio machines for thirty minutes or even longer before they even touch a weight, and unless your specific goal is pure cardio or weight loss, it’s really just wasting your time. Don't fall into that trap.
That’s pretty much the gist of it—and look, I'm not going to bombard you with a bunch of different training programs right now. Honestly, when you're just starting out, any decent routine will do the trick, and besides, you’ll eventually need to switch things up anyway just to keep from hitting a plateau. The absolute best way to go about it? Wait until you get to the gym and have a trainer actually take a look at you—once they can assess your form and see what needs work, they'll give you a program that actually makes sense for your specific needs.

When it comes to nutrition, most top-tier dietitians—including some big names here in the States that I actually tend to agree with—basically argue that guys your age don't really need supplements. Since you're still navigating the whole puberty phase and your hormones are already doing their own wild thing, adding external stuff can easily throw that delicate internal balance out of whack. That said, if you’re dead set on taking protein, I’d suggest sticking to whey. It's just one of those things that's notoriously difficult to get enough of through regular food alone. Just as an example—and this sounds fake, I know—I used to train with this guy back when he was a total beginner. After every single workout, he’d chug a literal liter of regular milk, but get this—he’d mix in white, refined sugar. Honestly, the only "benefit" was that he actually put on size. If someone had told me that story back then, I wouldn't have believed them for a second. 🤷
I mean, if you're actually cooking your meals every day, you probably don't need to overthink this... as for glucose and carbs in general—honestly, I don't see the point in buying specialized supplements for that. They're cheap and easy enough to get from regular food—bananas, rice, pasta, oats (keep it whole grain, obviously), honey, raisins, all that stuff. I usually just stick to honey instead of refined sugar myself. I try to aim for at least four or five meals a day—you could always just whip up a shake using whatever you have in the pantry and toss it in your bag to take to class or work. And really, don't stress too much about strict dieting; at your age, your metabolism is basically a furnace anyway. Regarding alcohol—look, it’s not exactly "healthy" and it packs a lot of calories, but if you're going to drink, you might as well stick to beer or wine. It won't mess with your protein absorption, though it does tend to spike your appetite—but given your current weight, I doubt that's an issue for you. A few burgers aren't going to turn you into a puddle of fat overnight.🙂The bigger issue is if you hit the gym feeling totally trashed after a night out—because honestly, recovery is everything when you're actually trying to pack on muscle. If you have any choice in the matter, it’s always better to get that workout in first and save the nightlife for later... rather than going out and then trying to drag yourself through a session the next day.

And just a final thought—if you ever feel like an exercise isn't clicking, or if you’re just not feeling that specific muscle engagement, don't force it. Seriously, just swap it out for an alternative. It's better to move on than to grind through something that isn't working. Also, try to soak up as much info as possible. Dive into the deep end of fitness forums—places like bodybuilding.com or whatever niche subreddits you can find—and just keep researching. You really need to question everything you hear, including my own advice—I'm definitely not infallible. At the end of the day, you have to listen to what your body is telling you and trust your gut. That intuition kind of builds up over time, but eventually, you'll realize that nobody knows your physical limits and quirks better than you do. Anyway, if anything else pops into your head, feel free to reach out. I'm around.

Timothy Jones4 said:Has anyone here ever picked up some whey protein from that one user on eBay?

The price is actually a bit lower for this 2.2 kg Gold tub—definitely a better deal if you're looking to stock up. $33 Just picked some stuff up at the cheapest grocery store around—you know the type, where you half expect to find a bargain bin full of mystery items.

I haven't really gone through the trouble of price-matching everything, but man, this feels pricey... have you checked out those online shops over in Canada? Usually, they’re like 40% cheaper than what we're seeing here.

Sarah Lee3 said:What’s the consensus on the proteins from DM?

The price seems fine, but does it actually work??

maybe try reading through a few pages of this thread before jumping in with random questions like that....

Sam Taylor54 said:Is anyone using Multi-Phase Whey?
It says the serving size is 48g—which is 35g of protein and 6g of carbs...
I’m a bit confused why the serving is nearly 50g when I usually just take a 30g scoop? (up until now I've been using MVP's Pro Whey 3 g)
It’s on sale right now, so it looks pretty tempting 🤦
http://www.building-body.com/shop/mu...ag=Multi-Phase

Looking at some older literature—nothing super recent, mind you—I came across two different takes on the maximum amount of protein you can absorb per meal. One source claims it's 50g per sitting, while another says it's closer to 30g. Apparently, that 50g figure is meant for professionals who live on strict regimens and watch every single calorie, whereas for everyone else—recreational lifters, amateurs, semi-pros—the lower number applies. Then again, the most recent info I stumbled upon suggests that modern research shows we don't really know the absolute ceiling for protein absorption per meal; it basically varies from person to person...

Personally, when I drink mine, I try not to go over 30g per serving—and I mix it with about a cup of milk, which already adds roughly 10g of protein, so I'm only pulling about 20g of protein from the powder itself.

Why should I bother wasting my precious time and energy sending links to moderators? They might look at them, or they might not—and even if they do, there’s no guarantee anything will actually get posted to the thread after the review process... there are just way too many "maybes" involved to justify the effort. Besides, I've started to get the impression that keeping us users informed isn't exactly their top priority

@ Scott Miller5

I’ve been following your stuff regarding Australia, and honestly, I thought you were a decent guy—until I ran into this absolute nonsense of a post.

Seriously though, could you please explain how we’re supposed to add links when all the threads about moving to Canada are locked? That’s why us "spoiled" folks are complaining...

Look, credit where it's due—your posts about Australia are solid, and it’s obvious you’re speaking from actual experience. But maybe don't try to weigh in on Canada when it’s pretty clear from just one post that you don't really know the deal there... if you actually want to join the conversation, try putting in the work to read more of our posts first. Take a look at the threads where our "complaining" is actually happening, and you might eventually reach some conclusions yourself. Jumping into a debate based on reading maybe one or two posts is just pointless.

@ 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.

Do you happen to know where I can find a list of the stores and betting shops that actually take this card?

So, about that landscape card—is that thing just for specific sites, or does it apply to pretty much all the major US sportsbooks?

@ 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

@ tanveer

Look, just eat an egg—do it a few times. If you feel like garbage every single time, then yeah, you probably can't handle them. But if you don't feel sick every time, then the problem isn't the eggs, so just eat them... I mean, eggs are basically a "superfood," right?

And honestly, take those blood tests with a massive grain of salt. They’re pushing them everywhere now like it's some groundbreaking new thing, but there's barely any research behind it—it's really just a continuation of that "Eat Right 4 Your Blood Type" book theory. According to that logic, half the stuff I eat should be making me miserable, but I feel fine...
For instance, a buddy of mine took one of those tests and it told him he couldn't eat two-thirds of everything—basically all grains and most fruits and veggies. Total nonsense, if you ask me. Then they turned around and told him he could actually eat those things anyway, even though the test flagged them as "red zone" foods. Before all this, the guy was eating normally and felt perfectly healthy—never had a single issue...

@solid

I can't quite remember if that's the specific supplement, but from what I saw, it looked like a mix of MusclePharm, Labrada, Weider, DM's protein, and maybe one or two others I couldn't quite make out...

Donna Thomas57 said:I picked up one of those little sample bags of Weider’s 4-component Protein 80 just to see what the hype was about—is that a decent move?

Honestly, Weider lost their edge a long time ago—they're basically just charging a massive premium for mid-tier protein that doesn't even break a sweat when you compare it to the good stuff. It's one of those brands where you're paying for the name on the tub rather than anything actually useful inside.

Donna Johnson16 said:I'm looking for some feedback on that protein from Walmart—the Sportness line, specifically their MuscleTech blend. It’s the 350g tub, goes for about... $17It works pretty well as a quick little supplemental snack if you’re just an amateur athlete—not like someone training for the Olympics or anything—or maybe even as a way to help out with weight loss by swapping out one of your daily meals.

So, does it actually hold up? Is it worth the hype, or am I just throwing money down the drain? If you think it’s a bust, tell me why—I’m all ears.

If you’re looking for protein, my best advice is to stick with the specialists—there are exceptions, sure, but generally speaking, price is usually a pretty good indicator of quality. You want to look for a blend that’s actually solid, something like Labrada V60. One thing I always tell people to check is the fine print on the tub. Look for "manufactured by" instead of "manufactured for." That little distinction matters—you want to prioritize companies that actually run their own research labs and hold their own patented certifications, rather than those just buying someone else's patents and slapping their logo on it. Honestly, flavor is secondary here; if you go for high-quality whey hydrolysate, expect a bit of a bitter aftertaste—that's just part of the deal. Also, do yourself a favor and look at the bulk options. The larger the container, the cheaper your cost per serving ends up being. Always run the math before you swipe your card—once you actually sit down and calculate it, you'll realize that picking up a cheap tub from Walmart isn't actually saving you all that much in the long run.

If those reasons don't hit home for you, let me give you one specific example—I was watching this investigative news segment on a new TV last year, the kind that really digs into the fine details, and they were doing a deep dive into supplement quality. They analyzed about five or six different proteins available on the market here in the States. Even though the containers were turned around so you couldn't actually see the brand names, I caught a glimpse of the Walmart protein—and yeah, it was pretty bad. According to the analysis, it was the absolute worst of the bunch, with massive discrepancies between what the label claimed and what was actually inside. Basically, there was hardly any actual protein in that powder at all. On the flip side, Labrada came out on top—their labeling was completely spot on, which is more than I can say for some of the others.

You can just drop off the sample yourself at the local CDC lab—I'm pretty sure that's where they handle those things, unless someone here knows better and wants to set me straight.

Donna Johnson16 said:I should probably mention—just as a heads-up for anyone following my progress—that I can’t really rely on egg whites as a protein source. I have a bit of an intolerance there, so that's pretty much off the table for me. 😢 What exactly did the blood work show? Honestly, I’m a little skeptical about the results—I don't know if I buy it—but then again, allergic reactions aren't really something I like to mess around with... I've ended up in the ER a few times because of them, so I tend to take these things pretty seriously.

How do you not know? I mean—are you allergic to egg whites or what?

Sam Taylor54 said:I've got a tub of Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey—the 2lb size—for... $67Honestly, if you ask me, that’s a pretty solid deal...
Honestly, looking at the ingredients from my amateur perspective—and I’m definitely no nutritionist here—it seems pretty decent. Plus, I haven't heard any bad things about this stuff, which, in my experience, is usually a good sign in itself.
The flavor is just... a little off, I guess. I went with the Chocolate Brownies, but let's be real—it’s nowhere near actual chocolate. It's drinkable enough, though—I've kind of gotten used to it by now—and honestly, if I mix some glucose in there, it actually tastes a decent amount better. 🙂

If the taste is really getting to you—and trust me, I get it, some of these things can be pretty brutal—maybe try masking it a bit. A little cinnamon, some Stevia, or even just a squeeze of lemon might help. Honey works too, or maybe some actual vanilla—and I mean the real thing, not that cheap imitation stuff in the little jars. It makes a difference.

Sam Taylor54 said:That’s a fair point—it’s definitely cheaper if you just make a quick run to somewhere like Walmart. I ended up having this delivered right to my doorstep, and once you factor in the shipping costs, the total price was actually kind of ridiculous. $67 I managed to snag a little discount once, which was nice—but honestly, I’d love to just buy everything in bulk. The only thing is, I don't exactly have a massive pile of cash sitting around to drop all at once.
Cookie flavor? If only it actually tasted like cookies. 🤣
I usually just mix mine with water since I'm trying to cut back on calories—though, honestly, mixing it with milk would probably taste a lot better. It’s not like it's undrinkable or anything, but let's not pretend it's exactly delicious either. 🙂

I think I might have missed something there—it looks like you only sent a fragment. If you were trying to get my take on something or had a specific thought in mind, just throw it my way. I'm around. $67 Just set it aside for a bit—save it up until you have enough for a decent, full cycle. If the idea of mixing it with water totally turns your stomach, just try using some skim milk instead, maybe dilute that with a little water too if it feels too thick.

Sam Taylor54 said:So, is soy actually good for you or is it total junk? Honestly, it just depends on which study you happen to stumble upon—it’s one of those things where the science feels like a moving target. If you look at the raw numbers, though, there are actually more studies out there claiming it's beneficial. Even if you just check the general encyclopedic data, the consensus seems to lean that way:

Honestly, you can easily get enough soy just by eating a normal diet—there's really no reason to go out and buy it in powder form. In my opinion, the only thing worth spending money on in powder is stuff that’s actually difficult to hit through regular meals—like whey, for example.

Sam Taylor54 said:So, about this whole "milk protein" versus "whey" thing—I’m a little lost on the terminology here. I mean, in English, "whey" specifically refers to that liquid byproduct you get when making cheese, right? But everyone seems to be using "whey" as a catch-all term for dairy protein. If we're calling it milk protein now, then what exactly are we calling the other stuff? It’s also throwing me off because whenever people talk about fitness or hitting macros, the go-to advice is always to just stick to low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese. If those are such staples, why does anyone bother with these specific milk protein powders in the first place? What's the actual downside to just sticking with the regular dairy stuff?

When we talk about dairy proteins, you’ve got whey and casein—though egg whites are worth a mention too. Absorption timing varies quite a bit: whey hits the system within an hour, egg whites take maybe 4-6 hours, and casein is a slow burn at around 7-8 hours.

The way protein is actually pulled from the source matters—you have concentrate (the budget option, usually lower bioavailability), then isolate and hydrolysate (the premium stuff, most expensive, but highest absorption rate, north of 90%). Honestly, if you're just working out for fun, concentrate is more than enough.

As for the manufacturing tech—there's cross-flow microfiltration and ion exchange. They're basically competing technologies, kind of like LCD vs. plasma TVs, or Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD, or even diesel vs. gas engines. Each has its own pros and cons, though—not that it really matters for someone training recreationally.

Dairy products like yogurt—plain yogurt, mind you, not the sugary fruit stuff—and cottage cheese are great additions to your diet.

Sam Taylor54 said:You're implying it must be bad because it's cheap, while others in this thread are claiming it isn't cheap either, or that there are better and cheaper options available—yet they can't explain why. So, what am I supposed to make of that?

Look, when you're buying protein, just remember the old saying: you get what you pay for. Buying in bulk is always cheaper per serving, and you'll figure out what works for your body after a while. If you see results from something, stick with it, regardless of what anyone else here claims is "bad."

Regarding where to find info, I'd suggest checking out some specialized fitness forums; this one isn't really designed for that level of deep diving.

here you go again.....🙂

look, if I’m going to ask the admins or the moderators something, I’d really prefer to get an answer from them specifically....

@ 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.

@ambermason16
What exactly isn't right here? Why does this feel so inhuman? Where did I go wrong?? I asked Henry Moore2 a few questions—just some basic stuff, really—using a totally normal tone, nothing insulting or condescending... and she hits me back with this post:

Henry Moore2 said:Look, if you’re going to quote someone, please just quote the whole thing. It’s like trying to understand a movie by watching a five-second clip—your point doesn't really hold water unless we see the full context. Until then, the decision stays unanimous.

There’s already a thread over there with all the links and responses.

So now, I’m supposed to quote her whole post just so my "argument is valid"—and how does she respond to that?
Here goes:

Henry Moore2 said:So, just to be clear—I really appreciate you putting in the effort and sharing those links, I truly do; but the core of the issue hasn't changed.

What kind of "clarification" is that? She basically said "this is how it is" and that was that—because she’s the one calling the shots around here. If that isn't being rude, I don't know what is. It feels like she's treating me like an idiot, which I know I'm not... why even ask for a quote if there was never any intention of actually answering the questions?

I stand by what I said—this kind of attitude just trivializes the whole discussion. This isn't about being too busy or missing something; looking at how she handled both the first and second time, if she wanted to answer my post, she could have just given a normal response instead of this total nonsense—it's just not decent, if we're talking about being decent people.

P.S. Now Henry Moore2 is probably going to hit me with a ban or a strike, just because she can.

ambermason16 said:It’s not locked just for you; it’s locked for the entire PDF section. It was specifically structured this way because there is now a dedicated thread for Canada questions, complete with links to all the relevant institutions and resources for anyone looking into immigration, paperwork, jobs, and so on. Also, while the Canada threads are locked to new posts, they remain available as a massive information resource for anyone interested—every single question has been answered a thousand times over. This was done to protect you guys; now you have a space where Americans can finally socialize without being constantly interrupted by the exact same repetitive questions. Nothing was taken away—it was simply organized.

Even though I explained the reasons for locking them, why does one serious topic get no space, while on the other hand, banal topics like "swallowing cum" (or whatever it's called) get full coverage and ten different sequels, where users just post emojis or a couple of words just to hit their post limit?

Pardon me, but where on the Diaspora have you ever seen discussions about swallowing cum or anything remotely like that?

How are we supposed to get insights from people who will be immigrating under the new rules if the thread is locked? How are we even supposed to find out the things that aren't written on official websites, the stuff that actually makes the immigration process easier?

This forum is a supplementary tool, not the alpha and omega of moving to another continent. All the material someone needs to stay informed is readily available to everyone. If you feel the need to answer someone's specific question, please just do it via PM.

Why is Canada being discriminated against, while you can discuss Australia, the US, New Zealand (and tons of other countries) perfectly normally?

Canada isn't being discriminated against. We plan to do the same thing for the other countries mentioned, but when we asked the forum members for help—people who know way more than we do—all we got was "get lost, kid."

I would like answers to all these questions, and please don't give me vague generalizations—give me specifics.

I hope I've covered everything and haven't been vague. If you have any more questions, I'll be happy to answer them.

You're welcome!

Don't mention it—that's what we're here for.

I'm the one who opened the thread, so I kind of consider it mine... how is it that nothing was taken away?? On this new thread, it says we aren't allowed to ask anything related to moving here. The topic has basically been watered down to a chat thread about the weather, restaurants, and other trivialities... from what I've noticed on other forums (and myself included), this kind of "protection" usually does more harm than good. You can't hear people's actual experiences or find any useful tips/tricks that make the process easier or harder on official sites, which is vital—especially this year with all the changes coming to immigration rules.

ambermason16 said:It’s not locked just for you; it’s locked for the entire PDF section. It was specifically structured this way because there is now a dedicated thread for Canada questions, complete with links to all the relevant institutions and resources for anyone looking into immigration, paperwork, jobs, and so on. Also, while the Canada threads are locked to new posts, they remain available as a massive information resource for anyone interested—every single question has been answered a thousand times over. This was done to protect you guys; now you have a space where Americans can finally socialize without being constantly interrupted by the exact same repetitive questions. Nothing was taken away—it was simply organized.

Even though I explained the reasons for locking them, why does one serious topic get no space, while on the other hand, banal topics like "swallowing cum" (or whatever it's called) get full coverage and ten different sequels, where users just post emojis or a couple of words just to hit their post limit?

Pardon me, but where on the Diaspora have you ever seen discussions about swallowing cum or anything remotely like that?

How are we supposed to get insights from people who will be immigrating under the new rules if the thread is locked? How are we even supposed to find out the things that aren't written on official websites, the stuff that actually makes the immigration process easier?

This forum is a supplementary tool, not the alpha and omega of moving to another continent. All the material someone needs to stay informed is readily available to everyone. If you feel the need to answer someone's specific question, please just do it via PM.

Why is Canada being discriminated against, while you can discuss Australia, the US, New Zealand (and tons of other countries) perfectly normally?

Canada isn't being discriminated against. We plan to do the same thing for the other countries mentioned, but when we asked the forum members for help—people who know way more than we do—all we got was "get lost, kid."

I would like answers to all these questions, and please don't give me vague generalizations—give me specifics.

I hope I've covered everything and haven't been vague. If you have any more questions, I'll be happy to answer them.

You're welcome!

Don't mention it—that's what we're here for.

That wasn't on the diaspora forum—that was on Love, or something like that, whatever, it doesn't really matter. I only brought it up as an example of a trivial topic used just to fill space—those kinds of things get plenty of room, while important stuff like emigration gets none.

ambermason16 said:It’s not locked just for you; it’s locked for the entire PDF section. It was specifically structured this way because there is now a dedicated thread for Canada questions, complete with links to all the relevant institutions and resources for anyone looking into immigration, paperwork, jobs, and so on. Also, while the Canada threads are locked to new posts, they remain available as a massive information resource for anyone interested—every single question has been answered a thousand times over. This was done to protect you guys; now you have a space where Americans can finally socialize without being constantly interrupted by the exact same repetitive questions. Nothing was taken away—it was simply organized.

Even though I explained the reasons for locking them, why does one serious topic get no space, while on the other hand, banal topics like "swallowing cum" (or whatever it's called) get full coverage and ten different sequels, where users just post emojis or a couple of words just to hit their post limit?

Pardon me, but where on the Diaspora have you ever seen discussions about swallowing cum or anything remotely like that?

How are we supposed to get insights from people who will be immigrating under the new rules if the thread is locked? How are we even supposed to find out the things that aren't written on official websites, the stuff that actually makes the immigration process easier?

This forum is a supplementary tool, not the alpha and omega of moving to another continent. All the material someone needs to stay informed is readily available to everyone. If you feel the need to answer someone's specific question, please just do it via PM.

Why is Canada being discriminated against, while you can discuss Australia, the US, New Zealand (and tons of other countries) perfectly normally?

Canada isn't being discriminated against. We plan to do the same thing for the other countries mentioned, but when we asked the forum members for help—people who know way more than we do—all we got was "get lost, kid."

I would like answers to all these questions, and please don't give me vague generalizations—give me specifics.

I hope I've covered everything and haven't been vague. If you have any more questions, I'll be happy to answer them.

You're welcome!

Don't mention it—that's what we're here for.

Since questions about emigration are banned, what you're saying doesn't really make sense...

ambermason16 said:It’s not locked just for you; it’s locked for the entire PDF section. It was specifically structured this way because there is now a dedicated thread for Canada questions, complete with links to all the relevant institutions and resources for anyone looking into immigration, paperwork, jobs, and so on. Also, while the Canada threads are locked to new posts, they remain available as a massive information resource for anyone interested—every single question has been answered a thousand times over. This was done to protect you guys; now you have a space where Americans can finally socialize without being constantly interrupted by the exact same repetitive questions. Nothing was taken away—it was simply organized.

Even though I explained the reasons for locking them, why does one serious topic get no space, while on the other hand, banal topics like "swallowing cum" (or whatever it's called) get full coverage and ten different sequels, where users just post emojis or a couple of words just to hit their post limit?

Pardon me, but where on the Diaspora have you ever seen discussions about swallowing cum or anything remotely like that?

How are we supposed to get insights from people who will be immigrating under the new rules if the thread is locked? How are we even supposed to find out the things that aren't written on official websites, the stuff that actually makes the immigration process easier?

This forum is a supplementary tool, not the alpha and omega of moving to another continent. All the material someone needs to stay informed is readily available to everyone. If you feel the need to answer someone's specific question, please just do it via PM.

Why is Canada being discriminated against, while you can discuss Australia, the US, New Zealand (and tons of other countries) perfectly normally?

Canada isn't being discriminated against. We plan to do the same thing for the other countries mentioned, but when we asked the forum members for help—people who know way more than we do—all we got was "get lost, kid."

I would like answers to all these questions, and please don't give me vague generalizations—give me specifics.

I hope I've covered everything and haven't been vague. If you have any more questions, I'll be happy to answer them.

You're welcome!

Don't mention it—that's what we're here for.

I don't think people realize that by locking these threads, you're essentially killing any chance for actual news exchange—and there's new stuff happening almost every single year. Some of these locked topics are 9 or 5 years old... in that kind of timeframe, everything changes. The same questions end up having totally different answers depending on the year, since immigration rules aren't set in stone.

ambermason16 said:It’s not locked just for you; it’s locked for the entire PDF section. It was specifically structured this way because there is now a dedicated thread for Canada questions, complete with links to all the relevant institutions and resources for anyone looking into immigration, paperwork, jobs, and so on. Also, while the Canada threads are locked to new posts, they remain available as a massive information resource for anyone interested—every single question has been answered a thousand times over. This was done to protect you guys; now you have a space where Americans can finally socialize without being constantly interrupted by the exact same repetitive questions. Nothing was taken away—it was simply organized.

Even though I explained the reasons for locking them, why does one serious topic get no space, while on the other hand, banal topics like "swallowing cum" (or whatever it's called) get full coverage and ten different sequels, where users just post emojis or a couple of words just to hit their post limit?

Pardon me, but where on the Diaspora have you ever seen discussions about swallowing cum or anything remotely like that?

How are we supposed to get insights from people who will be immigrating under the new rules if the thread is locked? How are we even supposed to find out the things that aren't written on official websites, the stuff that actually makes the immigration process easier?

This forum is a supplementary tool, not the alpha and omega of moving to another continent. All the material someone needs to stay informed is readily available to everyone. If you feel the need to answer someone's specific question, please just do it via PM.

Why is Canada being discriminated against, while you can discuss Australia, the US, New Zealand (and tons of other countries) perfectly normally?

Canada isn't being discriminated against. We plan to do the same thing for the other countries mentioned, but when we asked the forum members for help—people who know way more than we do—all we got was "get lost, kid."

I would like answers to all these questions, and please don't give me vague generalizations—give me specifics.

I hope I've covered everything and haven't been vague. If you have any more questions, I'll be happy to answer them.

You're welcome!

Don't mention it—that's what we're here for.

No hard feelings, but you didn't—just give my posts another read. It doesn't make much sense for me to keep repeating the exact same questions over and over again... (check out my posts on page 66)

brightpuma said: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?

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.

Why ask me to quote your entire post if you weren't actually planning on answering any of my questions in the first place? It feels a bit rude, honestly...

Just be upfront and say this whole thread is just for show—that you're going to keep doing things your way regardless of what the rest of us on the forum think.

What kind of answer is that, really? You didn't actually address a single one of my questions... I mean, what’s even the point of this thread if nobody is going to answer anything?🤷

So, looking at this thread on employment in Canada—the first post was from back in 2007—and then there’s that other thread about emigration and living in Canada from 2003. Do you seriously think the laws, the regulations, or the visa programs haven't changed one bit between 2003 and 2012? We're talking about a nine-year gap here. It's a massive stretch. Honestly, if you ask the exact same question in 2003, 2007, or 2012, you aren't going to get the same answer twice. Things move fast.

Do you honestly think we’ve reached a point where the laws, regulations, and programs have finally stabilized enough to just lock this thread away by the end of 2012? Like—is everything actually said, done, and settled? I mean, I wonder if we're really at a stage where nothing else is going to shift... though, knowing how things go, that seems like a pretty big assumption to make.
I'm quoting a snippet of the post I'm responding to—but seriously, what’s the point of quoting entire posts like that?
But honestly, if that’s really what you’re calling an argument—well, here it is. Your entire post, laid out right in front of you.

Henry Moore2 The user said:Hey there, my fellow Canadians,

Since everyone seems to be complaining about the same old questions popping up over and over—not to mention all the trolling and how massive this whole thing has become—I figured I’d offer a little solution. Just a thought.

This thread is strictly for hanging out—just a place to kick back and chat.
Look, I’m going to be pretty clear about this—any trolling or unnecessary drama will be dealt with strictly. If you actually have questions regarding relocation or moving to the States, please go out and do your own research first. here.

Big thanks to the gentleman for doing all the legwork and gathering those links!

Just a heads-up—any questions regarding emigration posted in this thread are going to be deleted or flagged. Keeping things organized, I guess.

Enjoy yourselves!

Henry Moore2

EDIT: Just to clarify—regarding the questions... It’s honestly impossible to find an answer. Based on what we talked about in previous threads—or if you just do a quick Google search or give the embassy a call—it’s all pretty much cleared up.

So, I assume this is your way of saying you were a bit miffed that I didn't turn into this whole EDIT thing—which, let’s be honest, doesn't really tell us forum regulars much of anything, does it? It’s all a bit vague—I mean, what kind of criteria am I supposed to actually follow when I'm putting questions out there? Do you personally have some master list of every single question that’s been asked? Because, if you do, I definitely don't.

So, I went ahead and pulled some quotes from the folks who aren't exactly seeing eye to eye with you—just a little collection of the pushback from the very first page of this new thread about Canada.

Tudum said:So, am I still considered part of the inner circle here in the CHAT, or have I been officially kicked out?

I'm just curious. said:I’m not entirely sure if the sign-ups we're getting from the diaspora in Canada will be enough to keep this thread breathing—especially without all those people who are still just planning their move and flooding the place with questions. 😁Well, here goes nothing—just a little test run to see how things actually look on this end.
Maybe we should just set up a North America chat instead?

Warm greetings from a chilly, sunny New York City
Just enjoying a day off—newspapers, the forum, and my morning ☕

Hope everyone is doing well, wherever you may be 😁!

urbangardener said:Is the response from Canadians just slow, or is it just that hard to break the ice? Sending my best to Kitchener—I have a good friend there—while another buddy who used to live in Kitchener actually moved over to Chicago about four years ago.

jamesbond said:Well, in that case, maybe reopen those two locked threads. If topics get pushed to the next page, hardly anyone is going to dig through this sea of other posts to find them, which just means the same old questions will start popping up here all over again.

brightpuma said:I'm totally with you there. Maybe make them "sticky" topics or something?

By the way, we're starting some light preparations for Canada here in the States. We've been getting hit with tons of snow lately... 😁

volim čokoladu said:I have to admit, I'm a little bummed those two Canada threads got locked.

But hey, it is what it is.
So, a quick question for everyone out in far-off Canada: do you ever get hit by waves of nostalgia?
For me, it hits every now and then—especially when I see my hometown covered in snow.😉

Otherwise, life is fine.

ambermason16 said:You know what? (And just to be clear—I’m talking about everyone participating in this thread, not just a specific few of you.) You all seem to be mourning the loss of certain topics, yet you haven't hesitated for a second to snap at every single question or insist—quite loudly, I might add—that everything has already been answered a hundred times over. Look, we aren't the Canadian Embassy. Even they don't spend their time fielding the kind of questions we get here. If anyone actually has questions regarding emigration, they can find the answers in the resources already provided—or, if any of the veteran members want to volunteer their PM inbox as a dedicated Q&A hub, by all means, go ahead. You asked for a CHAT thread, so now you have one, yet somehow it’s still not quite right. It's funny, really—you complain about being harassed by "stupid" questions, but once a solution is actually presented, it’s still not good enough.

These won't be "hot topics"—anyone can use the search bar or just click the links in my previous post. Questions posted here will be deleted and users may be penalized , and again—I'll say it once more—if someone is willing to answer them, just state clearly right here that people should reach out via PM, and the problem is solved. We aren't going to delete this post.

ambermason16 seems a bit bewildered by how the forum members are reacting

Dawn said:maybe it’s just because people are asleep at 4 AM? 😁
otherwise, admins usually need extra time to get back to you simply because, in like 95% of cases, they have to clear everything with the mods first.

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

brightpuma said: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.

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.