Should we let foreigners in as members?

[griffin]

If non-Australasian fans want to join, they could simply be asked "Why do you wish to join a predominantly Australian Transformers community?" - and their application can be judged on an individual basis based on their answer.

This was the reply I got from the recent applicant:

I should have just said YES that I live in Australia or New Zealand
then. I do in fact though help several fans from New Zealand and 1 or
two from australia import items from the US many times throughout the
year.

I don't think he is a toy dealer though, so could be beneficial to AUS fans who need a non-scalper source for toy *trading* (we may not have much stuff here, but occasionally, like Alt Rodimus, we get some stuff they might want) A small number of Americans who are real fans and not toy dealers, would be a good source to offload those toys to, and maybe even be a reliable source for stuff we don't get here, closer to US retail than a toy dealer. Also, it would be good to get some foriegn perspective on issues, instead of just guessing with how fans overseas are seeing things.
What about we have a trial to see if any of the opinions posted happen? I would have to agree with those who think that it would be unlikely that we would be flooded with interest from non-local fans, so allowing in fans who have a reason to want to interact here, and have a stricter adherence to the rules, shouldn't see any change to the local feel to this place.
- The registration page would continue to say that this board is just for fans in the Australasian region of the world.
- Applicants outside of this region who still register would be asked if they are aware of the regional focus of this board, and why they would want to interact here, because unused registrations can be deleted if inactive over a period of time.
- The Applicant mustn't be a toy dealer, who aims to be merely trying to bring in customers to their store.
- Less leniency with the rules and behaviour.
- No foreign topics or discussion that do not relate to us, or wasn't started by a local fan.
- Removal of Applicant if they are inactive for more than a month (if there is little interest in interacting here on *our* issues, then this community wasn't what they wanted anyway).
- If by chance a noticeable number of foreigners start joining up because one has told the others about getting in, I would go back to denying access, and the trial would be over.

If this one applicant (if they still want to join) becomes an asset to our community, and the focus here remains Australasian, making these types of contacts will be useful, especially if anyone goes overseas (like with the example of Taiga, who was actually here, but the links were made that remain today).

I'll probably go with the limited access/exposure trial, because I am one who is most likely to run into these people while in America, and it is always good to have contacts beforehand in places you are going to, plus it also proves we are a friendly bunch by not being overly xenophobic. A small number gives us openness to the global fandom, while still protecting our own 'cultural' identity us fans in Australia and New Zealand have built up over these past 11 years. The restriction on numbers is the compromise to those of us who feel that the appeal here has been because it has an Australasian focus.
Hopefully it is a compromise that people can be okay with.

[Soundwarp]

But dude, if i want a yanks opinion i'll post at TFW.......
Just IMO i don't like it but you are the man.

Oh and i don't count NZ as foreign, if they can get the doll here then they need t oaccept that they are the 8th state :P

[springah]

Lame. Saintly's point about mods at night is the only real reason not to let this dude join.

As Griff said, contacts overseas is a good thing.

[Paulbot]

Griffin, I think your compromise is fine and a trial would be useful.

There no need to be too concerned about what happens in the early hours as I log in early during the day, and there's nothing to stop any local member run(ning )amuck overnight and we'd deal with them all the same.

[GoktimusPrime]

griffin: you could ask him/her "As a non-Australian, why do you wish to participate in a board that is predominantly populated by Australian fans with a focus on Australian Transfandom?" - in other words, s/he should provide you with a valid reason for wanting to participate here, from the sounds of it it could be because s/he's had previous trade relationships with Australian and New Zealand fans and would like to establish further trade contacts/relationships with fans in this region - just prompt him/her to clarify his/her reason for wanting to participate here as a non-Australian.

Also, what about the "Location" thing for members? Maybe we should include an "overseas" option for those who are outside Australia.

[roller]

We are a local shop for local people, we'll have no trouble here!

[kup]

I agree that the forum should be only for fans living in Australian/NZ or with some relevance like Gok mentioned.

Even if just a few Americans join, it will radically change the ambience of the forum and make moderating much more difficult. Many American fans are very hostile and abusive to other members, you only have to read the US forums a little bit to find that. Yes they are acustomed to it and sites like TFW2005 do a good job of keeping it down but it is still very visible.

I don't want the above to happen here.

Since I got one very angry responce from an American who was refused access, I thought that maybe I can post here the details of the person who is not local and why they want to be here, and give a week for people to say yes or no - that way I can show to them that it wasn't my choice if they are refused entry, and I don't have to get the brunt of their abuse.

If that's how he responded then to me he seems as someone who we would not have wanted in the forum to begin with despite where he is from. Someone who replies in that form was destined to cause problems and tensions between members with bad behavior and attitude, hurting the ambiance of the forum.

I'm very displeased with your statement.
As the only non Australian currently active on the forums, I know thats its quite hard for me to partake in some discussions -- ie, most but I still like to come in and read whats being found and then partake when I can.

I think that Roller's comment was just a bad attempt at humor. He wasn't serious.

[jaydisc]

But dude, if i want a yanks opinion i'll post at TFW.......

Sorry buddy, but you're gonna get yank opinions here anyway

Many American fans are very hostile and abusive to other members, you only have to read the US forums a little bit to find that.

What a short-sighted generalization. I think what you're talking about is the result of the economics of scale, not the logistics of nationality.

[TheDirtyDigger]

I like pie!

[TheDirtyDigger]

Me...I'm racist. I hate the whole goddam Human Race.

Filthy humans.....