MyBelle

Hi all! I have noticed that I am getting less and less responses to my posts. My last one warranted "zero" responses since yesterday when I posted it. In the meantime, I did search for that hotel and found some old replies. I think my questions are good, so I am hoping that either nobody has an answer or opinion (and that is surprising) or that you are all out traveling somewhere! After all, that is what we do best! Just thought I'd ask. When I first started on this site quite a while back, I got lots of responses to all my inquiries. Just wondered what changed. I notice that some posts get tons of replies and others (mine lately) get 5 or less if that. Just wondering if anyone else feels this way. Thanks and Happy Travels!

elberko

Maybe they're traveling!

We just got a new puppy, so not planning any trips in the near future and spending lots of time here.

marktynernyc

I'll know the economy is back in full swing when a new post stays in the top 50 for only 10 minutes. ( hope my point is understood - please don't get ana...errr...technical)

I find there are fewer posts and fewer answers. I'm guessing the economy is still biting into peoples travel plans.

Elberko - I got my puppy when I was unemployed - almost 10 years ago - congrats, take lots of pictures and for teething, try putting wet wash cloths in the freezer for him/her to chew on.

jamikins

I also notice it, but I thought it was just me. Seems some peoples get all kinds of responses, but mine alwasy just gather 3-4. I do a search first and feel they are intellegent questions...who knows?

kaudrey

Well, MyBelle, might I gently offer a differing opinion? Your question was about a specific hotel, and I think people might be getting tired of answering questions about hotels that they have answered before. If you found posts about the hotel already, why isn't that good enough for you? Just a thought.

No offense intended, but I don't find questions about specific hotels "good" if you can find previous posts about them. I just find them repetitive.

cigalechanta

I think some posts get alot because some have friends who postadd to the thread or to put some one down or to correct their typos as they always do to me.

uhoh_busted

I'm working hard these days and only poppin in a couple times a week vs. a couple times a day

maitaitom

I think you're not getting as many replies because everyone else is playing that Crossword Puzzle.

Intrepid

People answer posts they either find interesting or ones they feel they can make some sort of decent contribution to. Repitition is a definite put-off. Unfortunately what you feel are "good" posts or posts with "good" content, others may diagree with and ignore.
I don't believe there are any fewer folks reading the posts than there ever have been.

Anonymous

As kaudrey pointed out, many hotels have already been reviewed here. Also, there are many internet sources for hotel reviews.

And finally, questions about a hotel are very specific -- many posters have visited key attractions in major cities, or used their transport systems, but comparatively few will have stayed at a particular hotel. There are so many hotels.

bobthenavigator

I agree with Intrepid--you cannot answer all and some just have more meat.

BrimhamRocks

Yes we are, Tom, and you should be too!

Pat2003

Well, well My Belle. Sometimes it is a polite thing to make a comment when people answer your questions. I noticed that you got some really interesting and helpful responses to your post regarding Poland but you never made any comments or even thank those who took time to post their suggestions.

wemr

Hi all, I also think "my questions are good" but nobody wants to answere my questions about passing gas in public, and how to walk away from it.

suze

Personally I don't mind specific hotel questions, but I have friends I mostly stay with in Europe, so only have direct experience with a few. For example, I've answered about Pensione La Calcina in Venice every time I see it posted.

I'm not working at the moment and have free time on my hands, so even without a trip to plan, I read and reply daily. But haven't started any threads myself since I unfortunately need no information. Mostly I stick to "giving" general advice... i.e., pack light, don't keep loads of cash and your passport in a backpack and fall asleep on a train, no you can't leave the airport and tour Paris in only 2 hours, like that!!!

prue

My Belle,
You obviously did not a Search before posting about the Plaza at Hyde Park - if you do you will find lots of information - which explains why you have not had many replies to your one.

Kristi

I think a couple of previous posters have hit on some of the reasons. I'm much less likely to post a response to a question that has been asked and answered many times, esp. if it's a well traveled destination such as Paris, less likely to post if someone is only asking questions rather than trying to help out other travelers as well (which can be checked by clicking on their name) and less likely to post a response to a follow up question if my original response wasn't acknowledged.

Giovanna

Obviously you can't answer a question about a hotel, restaurant, site, etc. if you have no experience with the particular places asked about, which cuts down on responses with that kind of inquiry. As others have said, many hotels, for example, have had tons of responses both in the forum and on rants & raves.

Again with regard to repetition, if I have answered a post on Tuesday, for example, and someone asks almost the same question on Wednesday. I don't want to type the whole thing over again. It becomes work rather than fun, and the answer the day before could easily be found by scrolling down a bit.

I also agree that responses should be acknowledged with a thanks or some sort of notation.

MyBelle

Well, of all my posts, this one got the most hype! THANK YOU!! MERCI! GRACIAS!!! I think!? If you read my original post, I unfortunately did not do the search for the hotel until AFTER I did the post. It just slipped my mind. Sorry. Sometimes a certain hotel name might be written differently or someone has the name or spelling wrong and when you do a search, it doesn't come up. I have had that happen before. As for the THANK YOU part, I am a very thoughtful person and usually THANK people in advance of even receiving their replies or suggestions. I have not been on this site much lately because I was out for a week and sick with a horrible summer flu for two weeks, so I aplogize that my gratitude was not up to the proper time standard. I have always appreciated the kindness of people on this site (Wes Fowler) among the nicest! I also think it is a great way to learn about "specific hotels" as well as the basic where, what, and why of a certain country. I think when you are going to a hotel that you know nothing about, this site is a great way to hear people's opinions and advice. I'm sorry some of you find it not so. My original email was just wondering about lack of replies. In the future, if I send an email that you think is repetitive or nothing of interest, by all means, don't respond, and for those people who still feel that travel, hotels, and kind words are worth your time, please keep those replies coming and THANKS IN ADVANCE!! Regardless of what you have read... I truly appreciate all the advice and tips I am given on this site. However, not the sarcasm. I hope this clears things up.
Happy Travels...

Christina

Some might feel differently, but thanking people in advance is basically not thanking them from my point of view. It's done because you don't feel like taking the trouble to ever write a couple sentences of real thanks. I think it's a cop out. I also won't respond to people I notice have asked a lot of questions, gotten detailed or very good answers, and who never even say thanks. Thanks in advance doesn't cut it. Also, aside from not wanting to help people who don't appreciate it, it makes it look like the original poster may have never even bothered to read the answers or didn't care, so you feel like you wasted your time.

Specific hotel questions are fluky -- you are just betting that some people who have stayed in that one particular hotel will happen to read your post within the day it was posted. For really popular hotels, you may get a couple, but perhaps none. I wouldn't answer a question I'd just posted in detail a week before on also, about a hotel, but I might just say that I had posted last week so do a search. A lot of people complain that they don't want to do a search, however, and others complain that even telling them to do one is rude, so you never know.