really, you sound very ignorant. People are not going by the number alone, if you actually take the time to learn how to use tripadvisor, you can see that people are explaining in detail what kind of person they are & how their experience turned out. The photos & side information of the area is also what people are there for!

>>really, you sound very ignorant. <<

My goodness (!) You register and your very first/only post is to call Fodorites ignorant . . . Maybe you'd be happier sticking to TA :?

No stay here its fun...

And you are right

I'm thinking the "ignorant" comment may refer to something in the post directly above that was removed?

>>I'm thinking the "ignorant" comment may refer to something in the post directly above that was removed?<<

Maybe so -- but I <i>think</i> that post was removed a coupe of weeks ago. I assumed the 'ignorant' comment was re the OP and some of the responses. But maybe sunsworn will return and clarify.

I stumbled on this forum looking for something similar to TA.
I post mainly on 2 destination forums, but would only consider myself a regular....just. I am mature age, being over 60 travelled extensively.

I guess what gets to me is how judgemental some of the DE are....only some, but they still spoil it for others..comments like it's a zoo, tourist trap, they wouldn't take a free room there. Sometimes these comments are made with no experience as to what the topic/discussion might be.
Often their opinions are given as being factual, but essentially based on nostalgia & "how it used to be"........like 40 years ago!

On TA I would like people to qualify when they last stayed in a hotel or ate at a restaurant etc......places can & do change over time & I believe it would be more helpful & honest if they were upfront & just said we were last there 6 years ago.

Another bugbear are those people who post simply for posting sake with nothing valuable or constructive to say, simply to increase their points. Some are just full of their perceived self importance, especially with degustation menus & wine pairing. It always bothers me why people have to continually mention this as though they are so special.

OK rant over, generally I enjoy the destination forums, lots to be learnt from them, just had to get this off my chest.....

Plus people with 2 accounts reviewing places or commenting on threads...they are easy to pick & also when they give each other helpful votes

There is no reason to increase your points, they have NO value at all, i dont think anyone pays attention to them.

Wholeheartedly agree with you regarding the points, they are pointless.

<simply to increase their points>

I don't post to increase my points, never even paid attention to that, but I do have a ridiculous number of posts on TA (that count shows right next to your screen name) since I've been active pretty much daily there for over a decade and on five different forums.

The Trip Advisor website is a joke, and the TA forum is an even bigger joke, and it is full of old fashioned people who run it, and those so called destination experts are a joke, why have these titles when many of them have no idea what they are talking about anyway, even i know a lot more than most of the do but i don't need to have that badge to help people.

There is also a lot of politics and clicks going on between many destination experts, and many do not like new members coming along and intruding on their territory.

I tried to make some suggestions on how they can make it better, but i was told to get lost and not stir the pot, so i gave up, and i am looking for a new travel forum to call home.

Cheers

I agree with Suze as well. The Destination Forums section is very helpful. I wouldn't use them for hotel reviews, however. I stick with Booking for that one.

Palawan, welcome to Fodors.
On which forum were you on TA ? You'll find some oltimers from TA here.

I personally go according to tripadvisor .So that my trip is well set . It is really helpfull for guiding various perspectives of travelling .
Thank You

<and the TA forum is an even bigger joke>

There are hundreds of different Destination Forums on Trip Advisor, not only one "forum". Who told you to "get lost"?

Personally have never been told to get lost as mentioned above, but I have lost faith in the destination forums, a couple in particular & have been told from several reliable sources in the hospitality industry that some DE ( especially those using real names & photos as avatars) receive certain perks for promoting hotels & restaurants.

Other DE continually discount certain areas to stay saying they are too isolated or whatever, even when regular posters have stayed there numerous times & have not found that to be the case. These regular posters are often denigrated by the so called experts, but never ever criticize their own.
No wonder some new posters never return.

Other experts berate the use of Uber, or choosing to book tours rather than using public transport. Not everyone wants to rent a car & drive on vacation.

Some also criticize reviews, saying they mean nothing & companies, tours, hotels, restaurants solicit positive reviews. If that is the case why is their promotion of the same activities of their choosing to be promoted for being worthy of recommendation. Why do they sometimes think they are so much wiser than other well traveled souls.
Some also seem to have little experience or knowledge outside their own particular area of so called expertise & sometimes a case of DYKWIA.

I don't use the TA forums, prefer Fodors. However, I do use the reviews, which I find (given you treat them with care) more useful than booking.com, which tends to hide bad reviews. I just posted a two star review of a hotel on booking.com, and while the similar review on TA will show up at the top of the list, on booking.com I had a hard time finding it.

I found out the gym I workout at daily in Puerto Vallarta was closed. Turns out they were only putting in a new floor and will be open again soon. I could *never* have gotten that kind of information in a million years here on Fodor's. On TA stuff like that, trade of really up-to-date information, happens every day.

I have received some wonderful recommendations on the Trip Advisor forums. Is that laughable?

hdsonguz.. no its not.. ta is a useful tool for many of us.. not all only tool, but one in a good arsenal .