Posters, go to the general EUROPE forum and more people will see your posting and answer it. It's much better over there!!!!!!!!!11

Oop, sorry. Make that forum. It's too early in the morning to key in properly.

This is the only post I plan to enter on the new sub-categories. Like customary, I will only answer questions on the general Europe forum. That goes for questions on France/Italy/Great Britain.

UP

Just to explain, Fodors recently changed the Travel Talk boards to create separate boards for France, Italy and Great Britain. Many of the highly experienced participants on the board find this new arrangement needlessly cumbersome and have decided not to visit these new boards. <BR> <BR>So the best way to get an answer to an inquiry is to post it on the general Europe board, as posts here are more likely to be ignored.

Please post your inquiries on the general Europe Forum. Thank you.

Why don't you whiners get with the program and use the new format? Once you get over the shock of the change, you might find that it's actually useful.

Holly, if you wish to patronize the new Italy board, go ahead. Who knows? You might soon have the whole thing to yourself. In the meantime, please don't call people names. Thanks.

Try the general Europe forum--better, friendlier, fuller, etc. etc. <BR>Holly, you can have this one to yourself if you like.

To Anon and Up: <BR> <BR>You are cowards, although you are probably one and the same person. Why don't you post your name(s)? And since you haven't noticed, I am quite clearly not the only one willing to give this new format a chance. And, quite frankly, I rather like it!

Message: Bruce, Maira, Anon, Up, Boycotter <BR> <BR>Fodor's makes every effort to accommodate their readers in the best way they think helps. Apparently there were enough questions and dialogue in each category (Great Britain, France, and Italy) for them to warrent their own sections. I can't see why, if someone is interested in a trip to Italy, they would need to wade through 20 or so questions to find one that relates to Italy. Unless you 'highly experienced participants' are world travelers or a panel of some sort, or travel agents that have been to all three countries and can give detailed information, what's the point of reading every question on every country? People who answer questions on Italy, many know very detailed, specific information down to where the hotels are, which to stay away from, exactly where to eat, what areas and locations are safe, can give you train schedules or where to catch the bus, to what the prices are, what corner to turn to find that particular restaurant and little tidbits that you won't find in travel books. Do most vacationers visit three countries at one time? Seems to me there are more that travel one or at best, two at a time far more than several. <BR> For comments like, 'posts to the Italy cateogry are more likely to be ignored' is absolutely not so. Most questions ARE answered if someone feels they can help. And they give far more valuable information than sometimes is asked for if they feel it is helpful to you or that you should know. <BR> You all are underhandedly misleading, misguiding AND confusing any new visitor who wish to post a specific question related to a specific country. <BR> '...friendlier on the general Europe forum...', judging from what you all sound like, you could have fooled me! <BR>Fodor's gives you options. You can post in the general Europe, you can post under Italy, you can post in both Europe and Italy...and you can call me 'AL'. <BR>Lenore <BR>Ps. You couldn't ask for a nicer group of people whom you will meet on the Italy Forum. <BR>Nor is there any basis or truth to your statements other than to turn it around to suit your convenience. <BR>

Holly, perhaps I am a coward, but that is better than calling people names. But if you like, you can call me Al. <BR> <BR>Lenore, I respect your views, of course, and I understand what you are saying. But I think you are only focusing on half of the equation. The Fodor's board serves those seeking information, of course, and sub-boards may make that easier for people with questions. <BR> <BR>But the sub-boards are a nuisance and a grind for those of us with information to share on many regions. Whose needs are more important? Hard to say. But what makes this board outstanding is not the calibre of the questions; it is the calibre, speed, detail and quality of the responses. Any changes that make it less likely that people will take the time to respond is not an improvement. And of course, Fodors is a community, and few communities enjoy being involuntarily segregated. <BR> <BR>Cheers!

Message: Anon <BR> <BR>‘…it is the calibre, speed, detail and quality of the responses.’ Yes, I’ve taken that into account and I feel that IS what you get on the Italy Forum ‘too’, not ‘only’. <BR>I’m appreciative of the fact that there are that many people available and willing to share and answer questions to those who seek assistance in planning their trips. <BR>However, there are people who are on the Italy Forum, who don’t read the messages on the general Europe forum, and there are people on the general Europe forum who don’t read the messages on the Italy forum. <BR>So in that case, if it were me…and I had a question that was important enough to me, I would post in both. When I look for the answer, I would simply check both forums. This way I get the benefit of both worlds. Granted, a new visitor may not realize that you can post in both and there’s nothing wrong in doing so. But they’d have to be on the Forum a little bit to realize that. Then the ‘light’ would come on and they can say, ‘hey, I can post on both’. I don’t see the difficulty in that. <BR>What I couldn’t see ‘Al’, is why one would have to ‘GIVE UP’ one for the other? Which is what you people were advocating and I think it was very unfair and inconsiderate to those on the Italy forum who DO go out of their way to help others on the Italy forum. <BR>Turn it around. If people on the Italy forum were to say, ‘Post here because we give you better advice and information, we’re friendlier, and you get faster and better responses. Now, really, how would that sound to you? <BR>I don’t see it as a ‘segragation’ but as an ‘additional’. If you feel you’d like to answer more and be helpful to others then come in and browse in Italy forum. No one says you (generically speaking) can’t do that. No one is keeping you out, it’s not a ‘closed’ forum. The ‘segregation’ is coming from yourselves. There is no rule that says you can’t participate in the other forums. However, if you’re unwilling to do so…well then, that’s another matter. <BR>I know this was wordy (just a little?), But… <BR>Lenore <BR>

OK so I'm new on the block, but I cast my vote on the side of those who like the new format. I don't care to waste my time looking thru matters that aren't of interest. Why all the name calling. Chill!

John, <BR>This(the name calling)is **nothing** <BR>compared to how this forum get at times. <BR>It really is too bad, but it seems as if it comes with the territory (ie: visiting on this site) <BR>The best thing to do is ignore it, because if one starts to respond, it occasionally just makes what you call "name callin" worse. <BR>And "they" will just drag you into it also! <BR>I know from experience. <BR>That doesn't mean you should keep quiet if you read something that bothers you, <BR>on the contrary. <BR>Just be forewarned! <BR>Telling some to behave themselves, just gets them going more. <BR>nancy <BR>

Message to: John/Nancy <BR> <BR> <BR>I think we’ve gotten beyond that now and I’m hoping we can get back to expending our time and energy to focusing on the real purpose of what these forums were meant to accomplish. <BR> Lenore <BR>

Lenore, I appreciate your views and how you expressed them with the utmost respect. Thanks! <BR> <BR>I think, however, that your argument shows just how lame the new format is. People wishing to respond to an Italy question now have to check two boards to see all Italy questions. People posting an Italy question have to post it on two boards to reach everyone reading the board. People posting an Italy question have to monitor two boards to see if anyone has responded. Doesn't this sound like a big old headache for everyone? <BR> <BR>Bottom line: the majority of Fodorites do not like the new format, and many say they will not participate on the new boards. Few people (if any) have declared they will boycott the Motherboard. So, as Bruce stated, if a person wants the best odds that his/her question will be answered, they'd better post on the Motherboard.

Message: Anon <BR> <BR>But I've been doing that all along. I don't find that a problem. After I've gone through the Italy Forum, I automatically go to the Europe board just to see what's going on or to see if I can glean any additional information, or to see what other people have to say...it's just like...if I want information on something I go to the dictionary, if I want 'addtional' information or more specifics I will also go to the encyclopedia. I guess I'm willing to do that. It's the same for the Forums. <BR>You use it both as a research and as a social tool. Either way, you're talking to people, you're making friends as well as getting information on travels. <BR>I understand what you're saying, what I object to is the 'way' you're doing it. <BR>You're berating and belittling the Italian Forum in the process (and it carries over to the people who have been kind enough to go out of their way to answer) and I think that's wrong and unfair. <BR>How much time does it really take to jump from one Forum to another? <BR>From my point of view, why do I need to scroll down a zillion questions if my sole interest is in Italy, or France or whatever? What I'm saying is...don't "FORCE" people to do what you want. Let them decide for themselves. Case in point, Michael, in his question for 'hotels in Venice' was completely confused as to where to post. There's no reason for that. You know as well as I do, there are questions in both the Europe board and the Italy board that don't get answered.(referencing Michael's question. By the way I have a message for you there too.) <BR>ciao <BR>Lenore <BR>Ps Poor Michael...all he wants is his question answered on what hotels in Venice...instead he's getting and ear-full but still no answer to his question. <BR> <BR>

Do you like the new format or not? Let us know by answering the Grab Bag question (on the Travel Talk home page). <BR> <BR>Danny Mangin <BR>Editorial Director <BR>Fodors.com

To all those who are arguing over the new and old formats please note that those of us in Europe and I am inlcuding myself have to pay for internet time and tel. calls and I will only post on the motherboard. I travel extensively and have no problem asking questions but I do object when I am asked to devote more time and money to asnwering questions on several forums and having people post the same questions again and again. Fodors just design a proper search function and make life easier for those of us who keep the boards going. I notice most of the regulars who have excellent advice to offer are not postin on these boards - that is good advice lost and perhaps an appalling hotel avoided. That is my few cents worth, <BR> <BR>Cathy