Do you really care if someone writes an article based on responses to these posts?!
 

I see so many posts are met with pissy responses like, "Clearly this person is writing a travel [relocation] article and is just fishing for information. Do not respond to this blatant attempt at research ..." (yada yada yada)<BR><BR>Honestly, who cares?! And do you really think that the input of Fodorites is so valued that someone would opt to mine the wealth of intelligence (or lack thereof) that fills this board than going to more reliable sources? Get over yourselves.

Applause - Applause - Applause<BR><BR>Finally someone who gets it!

I don't care if they get ideas or leads from this forum.<BR><BR>I do care when the travel writers are lazy and don't do their own research(to confirm accuracy) prior to writing their story.<BR><BR>Several years ago, the Washington Posts printed and extensive piece on an upscale B&B. The article was very descriptive and detailed about the place. <BR><BR>Turns out that the "reporter" had never been to the B&B. They just wrote the article based upon a brochure and speaking to the B&B's owners. <BR><BR>I am now skeptical when I see travel writer's reccomendations.

Huh, say what?

Yes, I care. First, it's using my expertise for someone else's gain without either paying me or giving me credit or even notifying me of that intent to get my consent. Granted: I'm posting in a place I know is public, but it's still dishonest "borrowing" for personal gain. <BR><BR>Second, it undermines the reliability of the travel writing "profession," if what they write is second or thirdhand. If you knew that a reporter had written an article on prescription drugs based on what they read on a web chatroom, would you believe anything they wrote?<BR><BR>Finally and relatedly, it's not professional journalism and against the Code of Ethics to pass off some information as if it were your own. People can and should get fired for that.

so go somewhere else

I've seen a few travel articles that clearly lift their facts from threads from this forum. I've actually taken the time to alert the newspaper's editor. Not sure what came of it, but it just seemed important to let the paper know what they're really paying for.

I pity the fool who would use this website to write an article about anything!

I pity the fool who would actually complain to a newspaper editor!

Judging by the comments of a few people , it appears that they don't read newspapers or travel books and probably don't travel.<BR><BR>Clearly, if you don't read travel reviews, this thread is of no significance to you.

I don't mind if people get some ideas from this forum for articles but, since there are many comments indicating some people just make things up, I hope a reporter does further research and checks out the facts before writing an article.

I congratulate the person who called the editor. The media need to know they are being watched.

I've been contacted several times by writers who picked up on things I've posted on boards. Since they conducted their own interview and the discussions subsequently followed up by calls from magazine fact-checkers, I don't consider it any kind of an issue. This forum can be a resource, just like any other place where research can be accomplished. On the other hand, lifting things anonymously from postings would certainly not be good journalism. If someone starts a thread where decent information can be shared, I'm not sure that the motivation of the thread-initiator is very important.

An article is fine, but I draw the line at a sitcom.