I saw those earlier. It looks like a flame war that started at their forums and has spilled over onto review sites. Pretty childish and petty if you ask me. But then, nobody asked me.......

It is frustrating...

best we can do right now is mark any reviews and/or comments as innappropriate and allow Meredith and Jolie handle it. 

That's what I was thinking of doing but there were just too many of them to even try forwarding them on.  Besides -- even if I don't like something I see -- I hesitate to mark something inappropriate if it wasn't a direct attack on myself. 

I do it all the time if it truely was inappropriate.  Admins can't be everywhere and they count on the community to let them know what is going on.  Inappropriate reports are generated every evening and Meredith reviews them personally.  I'm not sure if our ID is also captured with the report though I think it may be.  If there is need for action she will take it.

I saw all those and agree with you, they are innappropriate and I don't appreciate them.

ATTABOY, MIKE!

 

I haven't seen them yet.   Most of here are stating our opinions respectfully in our reviews and deserve respect from those leaving comments even if they don't agree. Respect is part of what makes Viewpoints a good community. If a person sees something inappropriate  - report it. It's another way of making a positive change for the better.     : )

I haven't seen them either.  I've never reported anything inappropriate, but it's really the best idea.  How else will we keep Viewpoints such a fun place to visit?

Anna, my thoughts are these are a flash in the pan sort of like the bed in the box thing. It's unfortunate that this may have "splashed" over to review sites in general. I agree with those things stated above. if any of the reviews are badly written try to do a private message with a little TLC and direction. If they are inflammatory then do report them and state why. After all the site is truly the only one that can determine what is acceptable writing here and what is not. As for grammar/punc/spelling there are lots of those here. It's not exactly inappropriate but more unfortunate and hopefully those who plan on staying around can be gently guided. Ask the new member with a welcome message to add details and pictures -- see if they stick around. It will be a sink or float situation. Good of you to find this and keep our site friendly. it's ok to disagree but we don't need to be nasty, confrontational or even take over a site to do so.

The thing that was inappropriate about my criticism of a certain individual's (no one we know) spelling was that he had written a review which I considered to be a deliberate effort to insult a review of mine.  So I responded with anger and STRUCK -- and his vulnerable place to aim for was his spelling and grammar. 

Normally, I can live and let live with spelling and grammar and usually don't correct anybody's work at all but it is a mistake to bring up spelling mistakes when someone has done something to make you angry.  Truly, my lashing out in anger was inappropriate and I admit that.

Apparently, the MilitarySOS "invasion" was not a deliberate attempt to just sweep and take over the "Most Helpful" list and I guess it was a major squabble that got out of hand and played itself out here.  As my Dad used to say, "100 years from now, no one will care!" 

Thanks for checking in and have a nice evening.  A lot of snow here and I thought we were through with winter!

 

 

Thanks for reporting, everyone. I'm investigating the posts now and will remove content violating our Terms of Service. We appreciate your help with reinforcing the importance of maintaining Viewpoints core values and behaviors here. As in any on or offline community, there are times when tempers flare. Cheers to keeping the peace!

I just saw them all and came here to post. You guys are so ahead of me! lol. Glad the issue is being looked into.

They're baaaaack.  And more vicious than ever. I think a review has more validity if the person just states their 'viewpoint' without running down all the other 'reviews'.

When I saw the first review earlier in the day, I posted a half-joking comment about "Here we go again!"  The poor gal who had written the review seems innocent and I don't think she knew about the drama that had happened before.  Understandably, she was confused by my remark and I explained to her why I had joked like that and welcomed her to ViewPoints as she seems to be a nice person.

That was a few hours ago and now look -- I come back on and the drama is unfolding again! 

 

Cat fight!

d;-)

I think it's quite sad.

I am a military daughter and wife (separated - but hey). And granddaughter too I might add. 

My experience has been and is that people in the armed forces really step up and help out. It's really a shame to see all the ugly stuff flying and feelings hurt I'm sure.

I'm not on any military support sites and hope this is not typical. Honestly it can be hard to be away from home and family and internet bashing would be just horrible when stationed all over the place.

Cyndi, based on what I've read, I can tell what's going on with this site, and I know that it's probably just a few bad eggs ruining it for the bunch.  There have been a few other sites where I was turned off by cliques, and in-fighting.  Luckily VP isn't one of them :)

It probably does reflect badly on the miliatary people if you have that bad experience:(  Luckily I know and you know that it's just a small percent of bad eggs, and hopefully more people who visit understand that as well and just stay away from those meanies.

What I do wonder though, is why are so many people still members of the site?  A lot of the people writing the reviews negatively are saying they still visit the site.  Personally, if people did to me what some of them say has been done to them, I'd log off and never look back!

And more to the point, why have they elected ViewPoints to be their arena of combat.  There are so many inappropriate MilitarySOS reviews and comments out there now, I hardly know where to begin reporting them all but I've got to say -- IMO, it's inappropriate.

 

I myself feel very embarassed for this disturbance on this site. I apologize for that, and hope that all this will end. We caught a group of members in a lie, and they decided to retaliate this way :(

This type of thing is frustrating I agree... I just hope that it doesn't get too out of hand... However if it is a "clique" type of thing brewing I have a hunch that there are more of us to band together than there are of them :-)

I wrote one of the negative reviews on SOS.  I feel most of the reviews are honest, and true to those that wrote them.  Some people obviously feel differently about SOS than others, but I can tell you that much of what is in those negative reviews are TRUE, and they were written because people truly feel that site is poison.  What's the point of a review site if people can't honestly review things?  Yes, there's a "mass posting" because the owner of SOS has posted this website, not once, but twice, asking people to come review her site.  Unfortunately, she didn't count on the fact that there were people that were unhappy-and it's not just the group above that was supposedly "caught in a lie" (which is ridiculous), but there are several that are written by people that I personally know are new to the site and were not involved in all the "Drama"...but if you look at the comments to the negative reviews, you can clearly see that those negative reviews speak the truth....there are attacks of a personal nature if you don't think SOS is the most wonderful site known to man, and if you are so brass as to speak your opinion.  The admin that requested reviews didn't count on the number of unhappy people about her site, that's all.  So when she requested reviews, she got them. 

That is the behavior prevalent on that site, I will tell you right now. Just as many of the negative reviews state, if you do not agree with certain "cliques", they will come at you full force, as evidenced in the comments left on the reviews. I am sorry that the women of SOS invaded your review site and perverted its true purpose which is to state your opinion in a manner in which you are comfortable. I feel for those who thought they could do that here, yet even still, their reviews were taken back to SOS to be criticized and ripped apart.

Hopefully they will allow the flame war to die down soon and we can all go back to our regularly scheduled programs.

Have a good one, and I want to say that this is a really great review site. I have found other sites to browse by way of good reviews.

A note to Postcard, JustMe, and SDChicky -- by all means, you have a right to review your experience with MilitarySOS here at ViewPoints.  Just because someone makes a negative review doesn't necessarily connote a viscious attack.  Besides, the things which seemed to bother us most were some of those heated comments which followed in the wake of the reviews.

I had suspected that someone in charge at MilitarySOS has been trying to use ViewPoints as an arena in which to promote herself and that is the person who I think has been really annoying us.  In view of such self-congratulatory conniving, those of you who had had bad experiences had every right to stand up for yourselves and many did so in a constructive way. 

It's odd in a situation like this how it is always the people who don't deserve the blame who end up apologizing for those who do.

As a grateful American, I'll be the first to admit that most of our military families are some of this country's greatest assets, including here at ViewPoints!

Take care, everybody, and have a nice day! 

AnnaB

Thanks Miss AnnaB!  I really appreciate what you've said.  I will say, I have not commented on a single review, and your post is why.  IMO, the comments that I've seen are really uncalled for, hateful, spiteful, and, well, an example of my review.  I don't visit SOS on a "Friendly" basis anymore, but unfortunately it is one of hte few places where a lot of info is all in one place for new military families (especially new ones), and so there is a lot of information to be found.  The question as to why people continue to go there is because of that (the information to be found), and because there are really very few military support sites where people really know what they're talking about.  The girls on SOS, if you can get past the cliques, have some great info and if you post solely in the military forums, you can gain that info, it's when you venture into the general forums or the "boxing ring" (which, interestingly, the admin has now suddenly deleted all the posts in the BR), then you see it.  But, for so many new military and young families, the information there is enough to keep them going back.  Does that make sense?

It sure does make sense and I don't doubt for a minute that MilitarySOS has a lot of good things going for it and a lot of good people too.  Thanks for your valuable input -- I understand this more now.  When there are a few noisy trouble-makers, all the good things about an organization sometimes seem to get lost in the shuffle.

My best wishes to you and your family and we appreciate the constructive info you and others have had to offer about MilitarySOS.

Take care!   I'm going offline for a while to eat breakfast.  Catch ya later!

Anna

 

 

Thank you.  The owner had asked, several times over, for reviews on here...and so we came over and gave them.  Unfortunately, they are not the happy and positive ones she was expecting.  This site IS great because of the anonymity and it allows people who feel they would be flamed for their opinions to truly voice them without fear of being known.

I just want to thank everyone for your optimistic and genuine input here. I'm so proud of you all! Really, I know that sounds soooooo cheesy,... but I'm thankful our community is willing to welcome both critical and favorable feedback with kindness and grace. Sure, tempers can flare when people disagree but as we've learned together, it's best to ignore non-constructive behavior and move on. Life is too short! 

Okay, I'm done with the mushy, gushy for now. On behalf of the whole VP team, we appreciate you ALL!

Huge welcome to the new Viewpoints members from MilitarySOS. Regardless of any drama... we have you and your loved ones to thank for supporting our country in the armed forces.

Some of the comments are downright embarassing. As a Navy daughter and wife, I'm a little ashamed to be affliated with the site in any way anymore, but I still wrote a review. I had heard the owner wanted positive reviews and I felt it would be an injustice if ACCURATE reviews got lost.

 

The snarkiness in the comments runs rampant on the site. Believe me, VP got a small taste. It's sad.

I've got to admit, reading about the drama in these reviews is actually kind of addicting :-D  I think it's like a soap opera! 

Well anyway, I'm glad that at the very least this whole deal has brought a lot more members to VP!  I have seen many of the SOS people posting OTHER reviews and getting into Viewpoints.  We welcome everyone with open arms.... but please leave the drama behind.  I, for one, will report any mean, rude or cliquish behavior over here at VP because I don't want drama here.  At VP, everyone's honest opinion is treated as equal.

Oh and to address the shadow people bit....don't expect too many people to put their face to their review. They'd be attacked and possibly banned if their review was remotely negative. I'm liking Viewpoints and I'll be adding more reviews but I won't be posting a picture of my face.