RAR

Well typically when you edit a post the message board system automatically adds in a note that you edited it at such and such time/date, in order to make people accountable.

Christina

I've posted on quite a few message boards on a variety of topics, music, health policy, pianos, cartalk, as well as travel and have never seen a board that allows you to edit your posts as long as you want after you make them. So, it is certainly not most message boards. Frommers allows you to edit within 30 minutes after posting, which is nice, but then that's it. That sort of takes the place of the preview function. There's no reason you have to edit a post to add information or change something later, you can simply post another message in the thread.

It is easy to control what people can edit so they only have access to their own if you have registration which links your login to the post author.

RAR

Well anyone who has used an ezboard or UBB board would know what I'm talking about, and they are the 2 most popular message board systems.

Dave

Christina - Check out Flyertalk.com, which does exactly what you've said you've never seen....

It certainly isn't "neccessary" to have the feature when one can add another message to the thread, but can also allow for more "clarity"...

Most messages are edited for that type of reason...grammar, spelling, specifics,,,and so on.

Best wishes, Dave

RAR

Slowtrav.com is another good example, both using a UBB style board.

Bitter

I finally registered. I used to provide a lot of information (most of which I hope was reasonably helpful). I also used to post some comments, some funny, some not. Been monitoring the site since registration: I believe this board is simply not as entertaining or informative as it once was. Some will say this board should not be entertaining, but .... It would be interesting to know the number of posts per day before and after registration.

LJ

If you have been absent but were an active particpant, you may be unaware of the death of longtime and valued contributor Wes Fowler. If you think this is not a community of like-minded souls, at heart, you may wish to pull up that thread.

Personally, I think this forum just keeps getting better and I am increasingly intrigued by the number of UK and EURO and Australian poster: keeps things interesting.

rex

This is a slightly misleading way to look at this statistically, since old posts fall "up", but posts never fall "down" (i.e., to an older dtate than they were created - - in other words, a February-initiated post can "end up" in May, but A May-initiated post cannot end up in February).

Registration started January 27.

Scrolling backward...

Nov 27-Dec 26 16381-14450 = 1931 threads
Dec 27-Jan 26 14449-11182 = 3267 threads
Jan 27-Feb 26 11181- 8532 = 2649 threads
Feb 27-Mar 26 8531- 6382 = 2149 threads
Mar 27-Apr 26 6381- 3570 = 2811 threads
Apr 27-May 26 3569- 450 = 3119 threads

There have always been "cycles" in the number of new posts initiated, and January is always one of the "busiest" months.

This only counts new threads initiated (which might be more meaningful than number of posts anyhow).

It's as informative.

If it seems lacking in entertainment, it might make more sense to check out www.theonion.com

I'm not sure anyone has missed you, "Bitter".

Best wishes,

Rex

Swan51

I'm a "newbie" who doesn't know what it was like before having to register, but I just completed a solo trip to Ireland on crutches which was made do-able and downright pleasant because of the information I got from this board. For those of you "oldies" who get tired of answering the same questions, please know I appreciate your frustration and your wonderful advice. (I really do try searches, but they are not helpful a great deal of the time).

leesimmons

I used to frequent this site, well, since pretty much the beginning (1997) and just stopped coming around. I came back for the first time last week because I was looking for some information and knew that I could find it here.

I didn't know about what happened to Wes Fowler until I read the posting by 'LJ'. I really enjoyed reading his excellent itineraries, great travel ideas and surprising details on so many places, and especially Bavaria. He was so helpful to so many. I felt like I knew him, but I never even met him. It's almost like losing a friend and It is very sad to hear about this. I bet that he is missed here every day and I know that I will not ever forget him.

Zeus

It looks like EVERY European travel question has already been asked because nothing really new seems to be popping up on here. Of course the demise of the $ versus the Euro doesn't help, plus I do miss the trolls and stupid questions. Worst of all is not having Wes Fowler's thoughts regarding the countries I love best -Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

Bitter

Rex: Do your stats go back any farther? And am I correct to understand that your stats don't measure responses, only new threads? I think there has been a steady influx of questions. However, the follow up discussions seem less enthusiastic. Quite possibly this is only my opinion and not supported statistically. However, I think it is fair that there have not been the only-tangentally-travel-related threads, like were posted in the past.
By the way, Rex, I found your snide comment at the end of your post a little ironic.

Snoopy

There's a lot less spleen venting. And Im not sure that is a positive thing, at least in the sense of entertainment value. There are still puh-lenty of acerbic remarks and sarcastic, snotty responses . . . but I just can't help myself sometimes.

I really don't understand why it galls people that questions are repeated, as FainaAgain (ironic) says, "over and over". What IS the problem . . .just don't read'em or answer'em. And there are plenty of people who DO dare to say "do a search you idiot and quit bothering us".

I am glad, however, that I don't have to suffer the nine functioning brain cell version of moron humor excreted by "the pup"

rex

Anyone can do the stats like I cited them. How far back do you want?

New thread creation has risen every year that the forums have existed, speaking in generalities.

June 1, 2002 to May 31, 2003 - - about 34,900 threads
June 1, 2001 to May 31, 2002 - - about 31,700 threads
June 1, 2000 to May 31, 2001 - - about 23,200 threads

Marilyn

Snoopy, I do NOT miss pup either. I never "got it". I think you had to be there at the original creation of pup or else you found it dumb and dumber.

I find my mood changes on this forum. Sometimes I will "do my duty" and answer the most basic of questions, other times I can't be bothered to even read a thread that I know I could give info on. But that's the beauty of the forum: when you don't feel like it, someone else will. All in all, I think it's incredibly useful, which is more important than entertaining in the long run.

DMG

For the most part, I am very pleased with the boards. I feel people have given me a lot of good suggestions and it makes planning a trip much easier. I ask a question and within a few days usually get a reasonable number of good responses. Thanks everyone.