I posted something along these lines a year or so back but I'm still finding my blood boiling when I read titles such as 'Do you agree?' or 'Which hotel?' or 'Is the water safe?'. I love the debate and I love being able to assist where possible, but it's really annoying to have to open the post to find out what it's about....

Hi
I completely agree that some posters, probably newbies, aren't helping themselves much when they use vague or very general titles on their postings.

BUT, and this is politely meant, I find I have to remind myself from time to time that whatever I may find irritating here, I'm under no obligation to open it, to read it, or to respond. When I find myself getting annoyed I find, for me, that it's time to take a break and ignore.

ALso, when asking questions about hotels that are 'inexpensive', 'moderate', 'bargain,etc put a dollar range in the text of the question, these terms mean many different amounts to different people.

That's unusual, but I don't find them "annoying" at all, nor does my "blood boil" over an internet travel forum. I don't get angry about how strangers choose to write or post. Sometimes I read those if I have time, sometimes I don't. I think they can be hurting their readership or answers, but that doesn't make ME angry.

I think you need some anger mgt therapy or something if you find strangers on the internet "really annoying" and making your "blood boil" over things that you are under no coercion or obligation to read and when they are just posting harmless questions.

Christina, my apologies, but I'm afraid that I was brought up to show both common sense and manners in all areas of life, particularly the former though I imagine that someone as self-righteous as yourself will find grounds to attack for my latter point.

I shall go now and dream of a lovely great big shiny halo....

>I think you need some anger mgt therapy or something if you find strangers on the internet "really annoying"<

And what sort of help are you seeking to stem that compulsion for offering gratuitous advice to strangers on the internet?

Tallulah
Who's the one that is being "self-righteous"? Get over it. This is a forum is supposed to be fun and educational, not a place to scold or be scolded.
I for one find the more "mysterious" posts a little intriguing and often it turns out to be a question that I have had, too, but have never asked.

I think if you want a higher number of responses to your question, you will phrase the title to attract responders. If you are vague, then you will need to settle for what you get. Some people are curious/intrigued and will at least read the post but might not have any information for you, once they see what the question is.
So - the more specific the title and opening post, the more exact/complete the answers will be. Sort of the opposite of 'garbage in/garbage out'...

while we're venting...

I think new folks don't know that while they "click" on "France", lets say, they don't realize it is not its own wee forum but centralizes posts about France...and that its all just "Europe"...

So don't open the post if you find it annoying. No one is holding a gun to your head to respond, are they?

BTW, if they are, please tell us where you live and we'll send the police right over.

Here's what I do. Most of the time I ignore those posts, but every once in a while I reply and politely suggest to the OP that they will get a better response if they repost with a more specific headline.

This problem, IMHO, is ENTIRELY fodors fault. SuzieC has described the problem. It occurs on the US board as well. It is a perfectly understandable mistake to make since fodors gives you the option to click on a country or state.

Also, some people just aren't very clear thinkers. Usually if you point it out to them, you've done your good deed for the day and they won't make that mistake again.

I think one of the points trying to be made is that most of us want people to get their questions answered and after posting here for awhile you realize that a vague or incorrect title can make a huge difference on how much help you get. This morning I was going to respond to a post titled "Christmas in Venice" but the entire post was about where to meet up with some other folks at the airport in Venice. Nothing about spending Christmas in Venice.

I suppose there are many annoying things depending on who is doing the "venting."

Obviously some people don't bother to read what others before them have already said and give the exact same information that was already posted...I know because I've been guilty of this myself in haste to respond with what I think is useful info.

But that's the nature of sites such as this one and the ability to weed out the non-useful information is probably all that counts in the end.

I wonder what REALLY happens at the "get-togethers" and if people are ever "admonished"...probably more likely that attendees just want to get a good look at the person who "advised" them about what to wear!

I've been to 2 get togethers, Topman, and we're heading for a third in November.

Believe it or not, most of the talk was about travel or other things. Very little dishing or complaining about the forum or individual posters. I do think people say things on here, and display an attitude that they would NEVER do in a face-to-face situation.

I think most of you are missing the whole basic point of the original post here. It isn't really a matter that the title may annoy someone. And let's get over this absurd "anger management" theory because someone tries to offer a simple helpful suggestion. The real advice to use a better title is simply a logical suggestion as to how to make this site better and work more efficiently for posters. How in the world could anyone object to such an offer for improvement?

The bottom line is that if many posters saw a title like "Hotel Whatsits in Warsaw?" and they had stayed there, they'd be sure to open this post and respond. But if that same person is busy and just browsing for a few minutes is very likely to pass right by a post that says simply "hotels".

So again, why would someone object to a suggestion about making a title more clear or concise to get better answers and improve the website?

I'm always amazed when people actually get a couple decent replies to obscure questions with vague titles.

While we're at it - how about making sure your title is spelled correctly...!!!! I tend to skip over posts that read something like "Anybody knw a god hastel in Craotia?!" If you're going to be bold enough to post, at least make it sound intelligent!!!!

I am new to this site and am being rapidly put off by the amount of negative focus.

As for the comment about "newbies" posting inneffective titles or in incorrect spots....well, didn't everyone start out as a newbie?!

Heads are being cut off in Iraq, and you people complain about how well a title is written. Get over it, for cryin' out loud. You have it easy when all things are considered, all of us.

Don't be put off travdog. Yes, we were all newbies at one time, but not all of us make the same mistakes. Some of us make OTHER mistakes.

For anything negative you experience on here, there are a thousand positives, believe me. Not only travel advice, but connection, caring, and support for our fellow fodorites. I love this community of people, most of whom I have never met and will never meet.