...when a suggestion here proves helpful? Am I the only one who thinks that an occ's'l acknowledgement or "Hey Thanks, that was great" would be nice to hear? I think this site is so fabulous....it helped eased my confidence worries earlier this spring on our first Paris visit, etc....but w/ everyone being so helpful and doing their best to share, I think it's kinda nice for others to post when an idea ...scores....? Agree??? Or, not....

As far as I am concerned where somebody has provided info of real value I have seen responses of thanks. This has been my experience. You might check the posting "NYC: Hotel Olcott.The Milburn.Travel with Kids" for example. It is clear that I have been of some help. In the last day, I have also received a thanks you from somebody on the Europe Forum. In my own case where somebody has been of unusual help to me, I have expressed my thanks directly to them via e-mail. I have also received similar messages. I also have noted that many postings receive well meaning answers that do not really relate to the questions asked. Even so, people often post thanks for the responses even though they really are not of much use to them. I agree this is an unusual site and pehaps we should ask Fordors to set up a fund so we could donate funds to buy in a few more servers.

I find this topic very interesting because it strikes at the heart of the impersonality of much internet interactions. I am the FIRST person to ALWAYS say "thank you" when someone makes any effort on my behalf, no matter how slight, (even to the toll takers on the highways) but it never occurred to me to take up BB space to extend a public thank you for assistance provided here. I guess, too, that I never think of responses to my questions as being JUST for my benefit. I gain so much from responses to other people's comments, I've just always considered information posted to my questions as answers for the masses. For a particularly good suggestion, I always email directly, but...

What's the verdict? Am I rude for not saying "thank you" publicly? Or would I be rude to do so and take up valuable BB space?

the thank yous I receive on message boards and via personal e mail keep me helping people. for all the people who never respond, well, I always wonder- did they go on the trip? stay home? try something else? But I keep on pluggin. One gentleman that I did a lot of research for- apartment/hotel hunting so he could see his first Grandchild born- wrote me several months after returning home and boy! What a feeling! I felt like I gave birth! I really helped him and that made me feel good!

As a computer industry type, I recognize the limitations Fodor's has on its servers and like all of you folks am most grateful for this wonderful site. One of the appeals is the good natured interaction and genuine helpfulness of posters. My personal practice has been to post a thanks if the information provided has led me to additional information that might be of interest to others. In all cases (when I remember to do so), I make an effort to e-mail those who have been particularly helpful. One dilemma is the fact that often, planning is done far in advance of the trip and the original post is buried upon return (that can change now that search function is available). As for myself, I make mental notes of pertinent details that might interest others and post regarding the overall experience upon my return. Please note that it's helpful to put approriate keywords on the subject heading. I frequently seek best value in lodgings and meals, thus include the word BUDGET in my heading. Perhaps others who focus on different elements of travel could begin doing this as well, alerting those who might be interested in specific aspects of travel to a given location.

Anyone who has been in this forum for long knows how often I post replies to questions. I have never thought it necessary for someone to PUBLICLY post a "Thank you" for something I posted publicly.There's enough clutter on these posts (as well as the Net in general) that I would rather people NOT use them to do no more than post a public "Thank you." I consider my public posts a civic kindness, like picking up litter in a park; I wouldn't expect anyone to say "Thanks" for either of these. If someone wants to give a short, e-mail thanks; well, that would be a bonus. But I don't consider that an etiquette requirement.

Sometimes it would be interesting to know if the information you posted was of any help, or even what they wanted. I have had thank you's and requests for more information come to me via email. I would try to send back a thank you. But, we all get busy and forget.

I've received any number of thanks directed to my personal Email for suggestions I've made to travellers to Europe. Always a pleasant surprise, I've not been disappointed if thanks are not forthcoming. I realize that after an extended vacation, there's an awful lot of catching up to do besides scads of dirty laundry! There have been occasions when I've Emailed someone to whom I've posted recommendations simply to see if they proved to be satisfactory as I implied; have done so simply to ensure that I don't mislead anyone in future if hotel ownerships or managements have changed; chefs have departed or quaint farming villages have been over-run by autobahns. I've invariably received responses; responses that have been thankful and informative.

Personally, when I post a reply, I never go back to see if someone thanked me for it. So that person would be wasting their time posting it. I have emailed people to thank them and to ask for more information or let them know if they have been helpful to me. Also, when I am following someone elses posting because they asked a question that I was interested in, it is kind of a bummer to see a "new" response only to find out it was just someone saying thanks. That's just my opinion.