sandy

Has anyone else noticed this? I posted earlier today to get some firsthand restaurant recommendations and someone told me to try Zagats on-line. Puhleez! I've noticed this a lot latesly. If anyone else says something along the lines of "get a guidebook" in response to a question, I'm going to start sending them nasty e-mail. Of course, none of them give a real e-mail address, so nevermind.

Regular

No, I don't think the board is getting less useful. Sometimes people just don't know the answer, so you don't get anything helpful.

As for people who just refer you to a guidebook, this can be frustrating. After all, we are all looking for first-hand, real-world advice, not a guidebook. But on the other hand, at least the person didn't tell you to "Get a life", so I guess you're ahead, and at least the person topped your post for you.

SharonM

Well Sandy,
You make me afraid to give you any suggestions at all, lest I get nasty emails. Kind of kills all incentive.
You have the honor of being the first post in which I have NOT used my true email addy.

xxx

I think rudeness is ruling on the board. Maybe it's a carryover from all the political postings we were getting, but a lot of us have lost our civility. I'm tired of the bashing. My guess is around 80% of the posts get nasty comments. For an open forum that kids could read, it not appropriate for the foul language, name calling, etc.

KATHY

I find this board extremely helpful. I've used it for several vacations over the past 2 years, and everyone has been great.

Kathy

Jill

The problem is everyone is jumping on the controversial threads and ignoring the real travel questions! The real questions are getting shoved to the bottom or the next page where they are not getting answered. I agree with the above poster, the boards are getting extremely rude. I think that has to do with the anonymity of posting on here. If some type of registration were required, I think you would find the rudeness gone.

starrsville

TOPPING A 2001 THREAD

This is not the one I found a few days ago, but the comments are very interesting anyway.

TheWeasel

"If some type of registration were required, I think you would find the rudeness gone."

That's kinda funny.

happytrailstoyou

Hi 01/10/2001.

I think that for the most part the quality of the information is equal to the quality of the inquiry (e.g. vague questions get vague answers).

What I've noticed that I find discouraging is that some frequent visitors to this site feel it is their responsibiity to disparage, belittle, question, and otherwise berate suggestions made by others. I'm surprised they haven't been shaped up, weeded out, or otherwise had the wind let out of their sails.

TheWeasel

"Hi 01/10/2001. "

Uhh.. you do realize that was the date of the initial post and not somebody's name, don't you?

starrsville

TheWeasel

I hope my comment was more helpful.

OldSouthernBelle

I think you are noticing the missing posters who were so wonderfully helpful who ended up banned last year. Many of them were widely traveled and most helpful.

The banning also seemed to 'let the steam out' of alot of other posters as well.

Neopolitan

Well you have to admit it's kind of funny seeing a five and a half year old post suggesting the board is getting less helpful, when so many have been suggesting the same thing recently -- as if it is something new.

BayouGal

It's just you . . . whether in 2001 or 2006 . . .

we just took an incredible vacation where 99% of the info came from this forum. It was, and has always been, extremely helpful to me!!!

OldSouthernBelle

Weasel: Oops! Nice point!

starrsville

I completely agree with the last 6 posts!

L84SKY

It's interesting to see that complainers tend to be a timeless lot.

matnikstym

so do the bitc*es L84SKY!

Stephanie

The "what to do in D.C." threads do get boring, along with the "where to stay in NYC" so the psychological questions about travel are much more interesting.