[BrandyHagz]

I’ve noticed a large number of posts that violate the agency discussion rule in addition to the rules at the top of the Agency PM List thread…If this doesn’t stop, I will be forced to close the Agency PM List thread…the idea was to make this a useful tool for members to use…but its usefulness seems to be diminishing.

[Paparama]

I respectfully disagree with Brandy. The agency pm list is quite useful and it would be a loss to the members of this board for it to be discontinued. I hope posters to the list will consult the rules and abide by them so it can continue to exist.

I'm glad to see the return of the Jeanie avatar, Brandy!

[Newsie]

Brandy...can you be a bit more specific as to what rules are being violated? I just want to make sure that I didn't do something wrong...kwim?

Thanks!

Ann

[Bassette]

I am of the opinion that the Agency PM List is an invaluable resource for families. I get PMs just about everyday asking for reccomendations.

It's such a simple task, with few rules, what rules are being broken?

[BrandyHagz]

Tonight, I edited/deleted 14 posts…three of them contained agency URL’s, many of them contained opinions…some of them contained signatures/timelines and others contained information on how to access private email based groups with agency feedback…some of those “groups” were clearly negative in nature based on the names of the groups.

The bottom line here is that I created this “thread” and I maintain it…the rules are CLEARLY stated on the first post…agree or disagree, but if continues, I will close the thread (Which wont allow additional posts).

[Bassette]

I hope that everyone will follow the guidelines and also consider reporting posts in the thread that violate them so that the Agency PM list will continue to service familes.

[Sunshine3]

What a great idea to have the agency list. I would think that for many people that it has been very helpful. What extremely disheartens me was to read "...agency feedback...some of those groups were clearly negative in nature..." Isn't that the purpose, to share your experiences with agencies, good or bad. I am a forum member who ultimately chose our agency based on the responses I got a while back concerning our agency. Only problem, only people who had good experiences emailed me. Bigger problem, after I started having problems I found a large group of these same unhappy people on the forums. If only I would of gotten some warning, it would of saved us from working with a very unethical agency and extremely unethical and evil attorney. We are very lucky to have gotten our little boy home allive. I think with every agency you will have positive experiences. That is what makes choosing your agency so difficult. The utmost important thing about an agency and it's credability is how it handles any problems that arrise. This is where the true test arrises. That is suppose to be the beauty of our country is our free choice. Especially when there are so many agencies out there. Somehow, we need to narrow it down to the true and ethical agencies. Just my two cents. After I have said all this, not sure what the problem is with the posts, but if people are not using the pm method, I do understand the problem. I'm sorry, I feel like I was burnt by the system and people not willing to post their negative experiences.
Sunshine
Sunshine

[becky]

I know that several of the families listed on the Agency Feedback board are there so that they can share their 'negative' experiences and try to save newbies from the same fate.

I don't think anyone disagrees that the board is useful...the problem is the people who refuse to abide by the rules of the thread. You can't say I used XYZ agency and I LOVED them, they were the greatest, here is their website, etc.

You have to just put the name of the agency and then you MUST delete your signature line so that no timelines show either...it's not complicated...it's just that people do not do it and then Brandy gets stuck going back and fixing it...

If everyone abides by the rules then we all get the benefit of sharing information.

[mcidas]

I don’t really understand why we can’t provide feed back on agencies, lawyers and facilitators. IMHO agency name and timeline would be very useful and I would love to see that.

What ever happen to free speech?

Reading this forum for well over a year, I see there are many agencies and lawyers that are, shall we say, sub-standard. Why not name names and make others aware of them. Make them accountable for their actions. IMHO this will be the only way to get them to shape up.

What’s the difference between providing agency information on this forum and what a restaurant or movie critic does? If something is not good then tell the world about it.

I once saw someone got flamed for bad mouthing the US Embassy in GC. The flamer said that the Embassy reads these forums. I say good, let them read the bad press about them, and then maybe they will do something about it.

In addition I really don’t get some of the standards set. We can’t post anything about agencies but it really seems like this board is one endless endorsement for the Marriot. Do a search and you’ll find at least 250 mentions of it.

Just my Sunday night rant.

[BrandyHagz]

I don’t really understand why we can’t provide feed back on agencies, lawyers and facilitators. IMHO agency name and timeline would be very useful and I would love to see that.

*sigh* Not again…you cant “provide feed back on agencies, lawyers and facilitators” because the owner of the site (the one who pays the bills) says that’s the way it is…to many self serving agencies/facilitators/attorneys out there.

What ever happen to free speech?

Free speech is a freedom afforded to the citizens of the US by their forefathers, not a freedom afforded to you by the owner of this site…everyone is entitled to share their opinions on any subject, as long as they don't violate the Terms of Service or Agency Discussion Guideline.

I’m really not going to beat this dead horse…and frankly, I’m a little peeved that the horse has been drug onto this thread. In all seriousness the Agency and Attorney feedback lists are there to help make the Agency Discussion Guideline a little easier to follow.

Starting on 2/11 (The one year anniversary of the Agency Discussion Guideline inception) I will start banning the violators without warning. The rule has been in place long enough…the violators of the rule are generally the same people over and over again.

I’m really trying to be nice…but I’d say for a volunteer who makes NOTHING for the time I spend on this forum…I am spending FAR to much time editing the two threads where the rules are CLEARLY posted in BIG BOLD RED LETTERS at the top.

[MicheleB]

Brandy -

Thanks for doing what you do, I am sure the ones that are complaining wouldn't spend the countless hours that you do volunteering to moderate this site.

To the people that use this board and abide by the rules - Thanks!! This board IS very usefull just the way it is and I know that I have had countless PM's regarding our agency and I think that Private Messages are the way to go because one persons "opinion" of an agency DOES NOT ALWAYS mean that that is the correct version of how that agency really is - SOMETIMES it can be the person who is adopting that can be at fault - not always the agency. So, that said - I like not having the agency discussion right out in the open. Get lots of opinions of agencies to make your choices.

To those that don't like the rules - go find somewhere else to post - there are plenty other lists where you can openly discuss agencies, attornies, etc... OR ..go open your own website and make your own rules and pay your own bills.

Can't we all just get along and respect the list owners wishes?

Michele B
mom to Nicolas, home 1/03 from Guatemala
and waiting for Hayden, referred 11/29/04

[scoobs]

I agree with Michelle's post. The bottom line here is.....PRIVATE MESSAGE. It is that simple. If you want agency or attorney info. from another member, just PM them.

I love this forum and most certainly appreciate all the hard work Brandy does. Kudos to you Brandy!!

[Lisa L]

I guess being new to this board, it was a bit confusing how that system worked. So this is how I get it, post the name of your agency and then anyone can pm you to ask questions? Nothing else, correct? Also, who does own the site? My guess is that if the agencies that advertise on this site are some of the offenders, they won't want to hear bad things in turn for their payment? Is someone profiting from this site or is it just to support the maintenance of the site?

[BrandyHagz]

I guess being new to this board, it was a bit confusing how that system worked. So this is how I get it, post the name of your agency and then anyone can pm you to ask questions? Nothing else, correct?

If you have first hand knowledge of an agencies practices (meaning, you have used the agency) then you can go to the Agency Feedback PM List and post the name of the agency…closely following the rules posted on the very first post of the thread.

If you are looking for information on a specific agency, you can look at the thread and then send PM’s to members who have posted there, asking for their feedback.

Also, who does own the site?

This forum/site is owned by a company called Adoption Media LLC…they are a private company not owned by or associated with any agency.

My guess is that if the agencies that advertise on this site are some of the offenders, they won't want to hear bad things in turn for their payment?

The organizations that advertise on this site have little/nothing to do with the Agency PM Feedback List…or anything else to do with the same…

Is someone profiting from this site or is it just to support the maintenance of the site?

I wont say that profits are outside of the scope of reality…the fact is, this is a private company, not a Non-For-Profit…most of the revenue generated by the ads on this site pay for the upkeep/maintenance of the site as well as the payroll…but again, just like any private company…the goal isn’t to go broke…

[kelleymac]

I agree with the other posters. While I'm not thrilled about the rule, it is what it is and if we don't abide by it, we'll lose the oportunity to give feedback at all. I don't want a newbie to go through what some of the old timers have had to deal with in getting their children home.

If you want to get/give agency feedback, use a private message. It's important, the rule and abide by it.

Brandy, thanks for your work here. You have helped to keep people who don't belong here off these forums, and I will be forever grateful for the "protection" that you provide.

Kelley