I think many of us would agree that the English Forum has become more trivial over the years. However it is still a tremendous help and escape valve to many English speaking people living in Switzerland. It would have been invaluable to me if it had existed when I moved here. As for Swiss bashing why not. Certain aspects of life in Switzerland are difficult to swallow for many of us. We sometimes need to feel we are not alone or to vent our feelings

2 things come to mind:

1) She hails from Georgia; and
2)maybe this discussion should re-direct and continue in the "Post Comments" section in her blog, 'til it overflows.

http://www.fromatlantatozurich.com/2...r-fiction.html

And speaking for myself:


(look out for the "girl and two mutleys", at the end).

Hey, man, I must have, like, missed that...

I was already, like, trippin' out on the, like, insight of, like, "Leaving Atlanta (the World of Coke) for Zurich (the World of Chocolate)", like, brought.

It like, blew my mind, man, I tell ya:

Just one final point. She seems to have gotten over her rant between September 28th and today.....just how long will this thread roll?

Don't forget every negative, cliquey, snappy post supports her. No amount of trying to out her or draw attention to what you think are flaws will distract from that

No, but I found a reason in the blog for us all to write her emails:

Oh come on can't we have a little fun now?

She is actually quite right. Her sentiments are quite common for people who come to EF, and then leave. I've heard the same sentiment online and in real life. Only a small portion of visitors who come to EF can stomach it enough to stay around longer and contribute. So consider yourselves unique in that sense.

What she got wrong is her expectation of the website. She was probably expecting a sanitized site, like something you find on Yahoo or Facebook. But EF was an intentional deflection from that flavor of online experience. Basically, she didn't comprehend and appreciate the flavor.

Some sites are like nice residential streets, and others like like shopping boulevards. EF is more like the backstreet neighborhood thriving with activity, frequented mainly by its locals. It's like Langstrasse, except with about 2-3 dozen homeless/mental patients roaming around, many with Tourette syndrome. You just never know what you can expect, but it is more interesting than Dietikon.

Now to all you clowns, trolls and normal people out there; it's alright. Accept it. Embrace it. What the hell!

My goodness. She managed to inspire something I thought I'd never see in my lifetime.

That is just a reflection on life itself isn't it? Survival of the fittest?
(or in my case the fattest)

In this case, I think it is more like Survival of the Numbest.

I don't think she has her definition of troll correct. There are very few trolls on EF. Trolls deliberately post ignorant statements and logical fallacies and then laugh behind their screens when people get mad at their posts.

An example would be created a thread about how to not pay for a train ticket and get away with it.

Or if you were on an American forum and posted a thread saying you don't tip the waitress in a restaurant.

The posts are subtle enough to pass off as believable and provocative enough to stir a reaction from forum heros.

But then there is a thin line between an absolute moron and a troll. A lot of people post stupid threads and get called trolls when in fact they believe what they posted and are just idiots.

Herein lies the difficulty with identifying trolls and falling into the troll trap!

Nothing annoys me more than someone shouting TROLL when they simply disagree with someone else

Cheers for the entertainment Herr UTH! One thing's for sure after this thread: those of you who have yet to make it on her blog, might find yourselves with honourable mentions now.

As for what I think of her....silly mare.

You seem to be very experienced

OK, I'll come clean. The Englishforum is in fact a work of fiction. There are only three real people behind all these "members". And I'm not one of them.

Cue dramatic music.....

I disagree I know right...

I must correct myself. Some things do annoy me more.

Like putting my socks on in the morning then going into the bathroom and stepping in some water