Moderational

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

This is to all members of learn_russian who value it as an educational community for those who study Russian:

Shall we from now on proclaim dating ads (pen pal requests, learning-through-personal-meeting-in-Moscow queries etc.) off-topic in this community, even if they are seemingly language-related ("I will correct your mistakes in Russian, and you mine in English, and then you will take me with you")?
UPDATE Question solved, measures taken, thanks everybody!

Comments

[kehlen-crow.livejournal.com]

Good idea.

You should also add to the list (or maybe separately ;) ) entries from members asking for an exercise to be done for them, where they haven't provided their own solution.

After all, this is is a community for students of the language, not cheaters :)

[thespinningone.livejournal.com]

agree. twice)

[arashi-opera.livejournal.com]

I second.

[haallan.livejournal.com]

agree

[superslayer18.livejournal.com]

They are rather annoying, but I would be careful about completely removing them. Maybe make a rule that you can only do so if you actually contribute (even if your contributions are only questions etc)? That way the people who have been here for a while still have the option of doing so, but we won't get spammed by people passing through?

[kehlen-crow.livejournal.com]

With so many members, it would be difficult to know if the person who leaves such kind of entry otherwise participates in the community.

Even the moderators cannot know everyone...

[angrin.livejournal.com]

Well if dating ads will not be a chat for educational themes it can be put here, IMHO

[evaluna68.livejournal.com]

Ah, memories...actually, my third-year Russian professor at NYU used to use the dating ads from Novoe Russkoe Slovo (http://www.nrs.com/) as examples in class for purposes of teaching slang, etc. It made class more interesting, that's for sure. :-)

[konstkaras.livejournal.com]

I also would like to chat; but I don't think me and my wish to be worth a special post.
Let us propose a compromise: we make a special post, when each one who wans to talk should leave a comment, keep a link to the post at community's profile, and forbid any more likely posts.

[kehlen-crow.livejournal.com]

That would be a good idea.

[crimeanelf.livejournal.com]

I agree. That's the best idea so far.

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

This sounds noteworthy, thank you -- I'll wait for a few more hours and, if the other maintainer will not object and there'll be no more constructive ideas, I'll do that.

[colonelrabin.livejournal.com]

Seems to be a really good idea.

[oryx_and_crake]

Sounds OK to me

[inoctiluci.livejournal.com]

I agree.

[pitsot.livejournal.com]

My opinion is that chat is OK
Everything else that looks suspicious is not

[russian-bob.livejournal.com]

What's wrong with that kind of propositions?
Intimate, personal contact is the best way to learn language!
:)

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

I understand the humorous nature of your reply, emplasized by a smiley, but this is a serious question that requires a serious pro or con.

[russian-bob.livejournal.com]

OK, I saw that previous add - it's not that funny.
So, agreed.

[russian-bob.livejournal.com]

I mean "ad". :)

[baby-rhino.livejournal.com]

They don't bother me in the least.

[mpgriboff.livejournal.com]

yes please

[3libras.livejournal.com]

Perhaps direct people to languagebuddies for this in the future?

[pinky-the-cow.livejournal.com]

As an option, yes. People still might want to stick their nose here, as learn_russian seems to be comparatively pretty packed with people.

[nadyezhda.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes, and yes. I'm glad you said something.

[pomidorova-gnus.livejournal.com]

yes!