Leely, TT works exactly the same as Fodors as far as sinking or topping.

I'll have to check the settings on ThornTree. For me, nothing gets topped (but I haven't looked for a few weeks). If I add a post to a thread from January 2005 (for example), I can't find it again unless I scroll through all the subsequent threads, which could be pages and pages (or I could do a search - but the point is the thread doens't come to the top). You can get email notification of responses to threads, which is somewhat useful.

suze, it does? Am I crazy? I thought the format just showed (on the left) the date of the last reply, but that it didn't necessarily bring it literally to the top of the page, thus forcing me to dig deep to find questions related to X or Y or Z.

I know, I could search, but sometimes, esp. re: East Africa, I'm not sure what I'm looking for.

Thanks for the info.

And sorry, jsmith, that this is off topic.

Leely,
You are not crazy! I don't see posts topping on TT either which is the real drawback to that board format IMO. Just now I was having a difficult time finding a thread I replied to yesterday. I can't even get the email notification thing to work. Questions there seem to get much fewer replies as a result.

Hmmm... well as of last weekend any posts I replied to then showed up back at the top of the branch (not the VERY top but the next one under the FAQ that top each branch permanently. I'm not sure why it wouldn't work this way for everyone.

I also like the send private email feature TT offers and have several penpals and long time correspondent friends made from this site.

suze,
That is truly bizarre. I just posted a reply on TT today and the thread didn't get toppped. I've only posted on the Africa and Asia branches but I would think that they all use the same format.

I'm going to check when I get home. I know there are lots of various personal preference settings available on TT, so I'm wondering if possibly the 'topping my post' function is something you have to activate within in your own settings.

Thanks, suze. I would love to be able to do that!

They never go to the top unless I'm missing something?

Oh my gosh!!! You're right, suze. Once logged in, there's an option under the Preferences menu tab that says -

Would you like to see the most recent Replied To thread at the top?

Then you answer yes or no. I wonder how many TT posters don't even know this option exists. Quite a few of us judging from the replies on this thread! :D

Thanks, Patty and Suze.

And do I ever feel like a dimwit. I can't even remember my password there anymore. I just got so frustrated with the way posts would sink sink sink into oblivion.

Leely, Hey don't feel bad... that's why I couldn't help earlier because I am writing from the office & don't know my password!!!

I just remembered there were LOTS of different options on TT under personal settings for how many messages you see per page, font sizes, colors, etc. etc. So about 5 years ago I must have checked that box about recent thread to the top. Wow I'm a genius ;-)

suze, so diod I, I rechecked my choice a minute ago to be sure but today's post did not go to the top.

well heck, i don't know. i'm sure they have glitches just like any other website. i'll try this weekend and see if mine still works the same as before.

Leely, I have no difficulty with your post. It fits nicely under the heading. Now if you talk about your cats at great length with another poster that would bother me or whether you should take a foreign inamorato that would be extraneous.

I used Frommer's years ago, before I knew about this one. I did get some great information, but like others have stated, it was much slower. Another board that has a new forum section is tripadvisor. Their boards are pretty active, and there are quite a few posters there that post here as well.

slowtrav.com , IMHO, is next best.

As a comparison I asked the same question on both Fodor's and Frommer's. The question asked the location of a Battle of Britain Memorial.

On Fodor's the question was asked at 9:19 AM and answered at 9:33 with the inclusion of a website.

The question was asked on Frommer's at 9:51, at 11:04 Robespierre answered WITH A PHOTOGRAPH of the Memorial but no location. At 3:54 another poster provided the location, driving instructions and 2 websites.

One more question about TT, sorry. Since the topping only works when you're logged in, is there a way to stay logged in to TT like on the fodors forum? I'm having to re-log in every time. Thanks.

Patty, back before I gave up on TT I had the same problem. I thought maybe it had to do something with my computer here at work (paranoid). But actually I doubt it. I think it just logs you off for some reason.

jsmith, also, I wonder can one set one's preferences on Frommers? I still don't find their set-up very user friendly after deciding to browse it again this a.m. Maybe I'm just so accustomed to this format that I've become terribly lazy.

On the other hand, when I'm *really* looking for something, I'll put up with any ol' format (like chowhound's, which I don't like at all).