rex

I wanted their involvement long, long ago - - and used to post some peppery comments about why couldn't they occasionally contribute.

I think that the participation of people whose livelihood revolves travel (and travel information) is very, very welcome.

Best wishes,

Rex

Kate2

-"the participation of people whose livelihood revolves travel (and travel information) "
Actually, the livelihood of the editors revolves around editing, travel writers seem to be the lucky ones who get out of the office and travel.

cigalechanta

Why the fuss, when so many trolls, or self-named spelling, fashion, food, country posters butting in.

Sue4

I'm on this site mostly for travel information, and I don't mind if I get it sometimes from the editors. After all, this is Fodor's site. I really don't understand why so many people are objecting to their contributing their two cents worth. However, I do object to the bright orange and gold colors at the top of the screen - it's hurting my eyes! Editors, say what you want, but please get rid of those colors.

Clifton

I don't feel put upon to have book editors contributing to these threads, although I have not seen yet a great deal of it occurring yet.

It seems to me that the majority of us are quite as capable of disagreeing or agreeing with one of the editors as we are with each other, yes? And that those susceptible to a little spontaneous minor-celebrity fawning will always find someone on which to direct their attentions.

I don't feel that one can become an expert at travel unless that's all you did, but a profession is a profession and there is some chance that a person that does it for a living may have some unique insights to offer. Maybe not. Depends on who you're talking to/selling to though, I guess and what they're in the market for. Whether a focus on either bottom end or top end travel makes one more knowledgable overall, I highly doubt.

rex

Note to kate2 - - that's why I added "(and travel information)" - - I realize the (travel) editors' lives revolve (chiefly) around words on a page.

beaker

I always get better service from a pro, so I don't mind.

dln

I don't understand what the lot of you are going on about.

Will the presence of the editors make you change what you're writing? Craft your words or opinions differently?

Somehow I doubt it.

So what's the big whoop about whether or not they choose to grace our threads with their presence?

StCirq

There are Moderators on plenty of travel boards that I frequent who make regular contributions to the postings without causing any problems. The only problems arise when a Moderator, or Editor in this case, butts into a thread with incorrect information and uses the Moderator status to pretend that it equals expertise in the area.

Can you really imagine a Fodor's editor posting here with something naive or wrong without getting totally blasted by the regulars here who no doubt have scads more experience traveling than the editor? If I were a Fodor's editor, I'd think twice before tackling the Europe Board with anything other than some very specific first-hand, recent experience.

Let's face it - Fodor's uses OUR information, not the other way around (except that people buy Fodor's guidebooks, which MUST be based in part on research into info they collect from this site). They're culling the information we offer them daily here and using it to turn a profit. There's no way they're going to jeopardize that by having some novice Europe Editor start back-and-forthing with the regulars on this forum.

I think this is a non-starter issue. I'm happy to have them contribute. My guess is it will be very unobtrusive.

Croque_Madame

Now, dln, we must all get our whoops where we can. A really good whoop is of course fiendishly difficult to find, so sometimes we must make do with little whoops here and there.

There was a bleak time when I felt surely doomed to nothing BUT the smallest, most inconsequential of whoops.

Then I met my second husband and whoop-di-do!

Keith

The editors are welcome.

Just like the rest of us, they will have good advice and bad. They will have tastes the coincide with mine, and tastes that do not.

If they say something stupid, I will respond to them the same way I would if another user did something stupid.

If others on the board choose to give more weight to the editors' advice, that is their privilege. People have ignored my good advice before.

Keith

bookchick

My general reaction is "the more, the merrier". However, I do find it oddly disturbing that the editors must "flag" their contributions by having *editor in red near their screen names. As another poster on this thread pointed out, it is really not necessary, as their [email protected] would certainly suffice. Unless, of course, they plan to do this as a way of saying "children, play nicely, we're here watching you!" which is kind of creepy. All of us who've been here a while are aware of threads that have been "sanitized" or have disappeared altogther because of the work of the editors. I also find the expression "dipping" to describe their possible participation rather unusual, since, in my little corner of the world, that term is often used to mean "eavesdropping".

BC

loisco

Well I don't mind at all...after all these people have to to justify their salaries...

I just hope that if they misinform, you Fodorites will jump in and correct them.

Spygirl

well, one of the editors DID write that the view of the "rice patties" was lovely...I didn't say anything!

dln

Spygirl, that must have been really hard for you.

Spygirl

Like I said, I didn't say anything! (smile)

dln

eliztrav

If they have good accurate information to offer, I say bring 'em on! That's what we look for, isn't it? And, after all, people coming here for travel info should (and, I believe, by and large DO) have the sense to know to weigh/filter any info obtained here with their own experience, priorities, interests, travel style, etc. And Fodorites, from what I've seen, won't be shy about pointing up errors or what they feel is off based advice no matter who the transgressor is. Seems a bit condescending to me to say that poor little inexperienced travellers will be unduly influenced by someone who identifies him/herself as a Fodors editor. The only potential practice I'd take umbrage with is an editor trying to push a vacation site, hotel, restaurant, etc. for commercial reasons....for the same reason we weed out advertising here.

Marilyn

Spygirl, thank you for pointing out a real plus to the editor drop-in plan. Don't you think an <i>editor</i> should be fair game for the spelling and grammar police?

I may vent on the occasional thread when that is the subject, but otherwise I make a point of NOT correcting spelling or grammar. But an <i>EDITOR</i>? Oh, yeah!! I think we'll have to be all over them like white on rice paddies.

ThinGorjus

I only correct spelling and grammar when someone is rude or obnoxious. If you are going to criticize me, I will criticize you!

Instead of editors posting travel advice, they should try and fix this site, as it is constanly broken. I am tired of having to hit the POST A REPLY button 27,000 times before my post is &quot;registered.&quot; The editors must think that I have all day to spend on this site. They are lucky that I come here to dispense all my travel advice from years of globetrotting. Who else here knows what coat and gloves to wear in February, in Florence, when picking out shampoo at Farmacia Santa Maria Novella??? Not many.