Is it my imagination, or have some of our regular posters ceased posting since the new format was introduced? Have you noticed anyone missing?

I was gone from the forum for a while (crazy stint on our condo board that kept me underwater continually) so I'm not so "up" on who the most regular posters are any more, but I seem to see many of the names I recall continuing to pop up.

For myself, I was just returning to get back into frequent posting when this got started. The hubbub swept me into posting, reading, keeping up with all the changes, who was honked off, who was trying to keep things going, and I was impressed with Katie and the amount of time she and Fodors now seem to devote to the forums and I now read and post responses daily--in fact I'm back to being obsessed. So count me as an old regular who's even more frequently here now than before. Maybe atypical, but that's the effect on at least one person.

Yes I have. Ingo, for example.

Myself, I have only recently returned after seeing some improvements but I am still annoyed by the new layout and not sure how to deal with the situation in the long run.

Yes I do think responses in general are down.

I have a few questions that are simmering on the back boiler and would probably be cooking along nicely on the old one.

The long list on the left isn't my first obvious port of call ,I seem to be just looking no further than the pile in the middle section.

The effort and resources that Fodors have put into maintaing the site is immense, but this kind of information source is very useful to them,with high value up to date information and ideas to populate their latest books with.

I find the forum pages are far too 'busy' for my liking.

Although I find the search facility to be far better than before.

I'm still here but not as much these days.

Muck

Upon coming on, I immediately hit

View all
of today's activity »

and I don't pay attention to any of the other aspects.

Oh, it would really be a shame if we lost Ingo.

I wonder if something has happened to Ingo. Did a search and found no posts since about end of November. The lack of posts may be unrelated to the change in format. Ingo, if you're out there, please let us know you're ok.

Ingo is perfectly ok (we are in touch per mail).

I haven't noticed fewer posters than before. Most of the whiners seem to have figured it out and are back on board, from what I can tell. I think the layout is great, and better than before. The search function is wonderful! The layout takes a little more clicking, but that's not a big deal. I noticed a drop in European posts several months ago - not two weeks ago - more a sign of the global economy and fewer people planning trips, than anything else.

I second quokka's comment on Ingo. He explained his temporary absence in a response to my restaurant report in late January as follows:

Thanks a lot for the restaurant reviews. I have been cut off from internet (and landline telephone) for some weeks so I didn't see you other thread. Didn't post at all except for maybe one or two posts from an internet café or the library ...

Don't worry Julie.


Gradyghost

Holly; Good comment. What I have noticed is many new posters this year. Fresh 'blood', fresh 'ideas/thoughts' makes this forum stronger. Their contributions will surpass the loss by anyone who makes a personal choice to leave this forum. iris1745/dick

I too go directly to "View all of today's activity" to get rid of all the other crap.

Search the Forums still doesnt work right IMO. Finding a post or a member is difficult.

Hi jetset; I just keypunched you ID into 'search the forums' and pulled up all your comments in a 'nana-second. I must be 'doing something wrong'??!!! iris1745/dick

jetsetj: You need to click on Advanced Search, then put in your information - then leave the Member Name box empty. Not sure what that's for in the first place, but I leave it empty and have had great results in searching.

I have too thank you to Holly; I had not used that feature and it's very easy. I knew I was doing something wrong. iris1745/dick

There are some I'd LIKE to lose (she muttered, darkly)

actually I think activity is up a little bit.

And the search works sooooooo much better. Plus it is VERY easy to find any member even w/o using the search function. If you click on your user name (or profile) and then in the url of your profile you replace your screen name w/ the screen name of the one your are looking for you will get his/her profile.

That is how I found the old trip reports under my old user name, and how I found a fodorite friend I'd lost contact w/.

If the number of posters is down - it may be due to fewer "vacationers", because of the bad economy. We are going to skip our planned fall trip to Eastern Europe - which is a new destination for us that I anticipated getting some "help" on.

Stu Dudley

I agree StuDudley, I think posts are down because many have already decided they are not going on a big trip, or they are in wait and see mode.

I have gotten better at saving pennies and I am going to assume that we can go on vacation! I am however, being very careful to make sure I know what someone's cancellation policy is! We usually don't book our flights for our fall trip until some summer sales come out for Autumn, so I guess we aren't really committed yet, just hoping for the best and having fun planning and learning.

I didn't like the new format at first (AAAGHHH what did they do????) but I've gotten used to it, it's fine.

Wrenwood

Sorry, Sheila, but you will NEVER get rid of me.

Two Fodor's editors tried and they failed.

Thingorjus