"Can you help me find a DC hotel?"
I suggest you stay in Virginia instead, I always stay in...

"Can you help me find a NYC hotel?"
I suggest you stay in NJ instead, I always stay in...

"Can you help me find a SF hotel?"
I suggest you stay in Oakland instead, I always stay in...

It's maddening! Yes these are all "just across the river", but if the OP wanted to stay in Virgina, New Jersey, or Oakland, they would have asked!

Repeat after me, "Serenity now, serenity now...."

It's always nice to have other options, though - ya just never know when somebody might suggest something that actually works better for you.
I guess if you don't like the ideas passed along, it's easy to ignore them and go on to other posts.

"It's maddening! Yes these are all "just across the river", but if the OP wanted to stay in Virgina, New Jersey, or Oakland, they would have asked!"

Only if they are familiar with the area and know all the options, which most posters do not ( or they would not have to ask )

If they also give me the *reason* they always stay elsewhere, then it might end up being helpful information.

I plead guilty - when people ask for a nice, easy commute to Boston hotel in the suburbs - since these are rare or non-existant.

I'm pretty sure Obama is going to fix that...

"Can you help me find a SF hotel?"
I suggest you stay in Oakland instead, I always stay in...

I suggest you stay in San Jose and take Caltrain to the city

What is the OP's question?

Those places aren't very close together...How much time do you have ? You may wnat to concentrate on one coast or the other.

"but if the OP wanted to stay in Virgina, New Jersey, or Oakland, they would have asked!"

Really?? Do they know the options?

I think that sometimes offering options is helpful because not everyone has considered them. This is a place to have your ideas vetted by people who have a different view.

"Can you help me find a DC hotel?"
I suggest you stay in Virginia instead, I always stay in..."

Might be helpful, might not. As others have said here, if the diversionary answer is accompanied by "I stay in Virginia rather than DC because it's cheaper and easier to park", that might be helpful to someone.

I still scratch my head though when someone says they're looking for a nice motel on the Jersey shore and the answers include
"Try Myrtle Beach"

Sometimes, the person who answers hasn't read the question carefully. Or the original poster may have added additional information to his or her original question(in the example above, maybe the original question just asked for beach ideas)

I find it helpful to read the answers already given (which may include clarification from the original poster). If there are "too many" to wade through, then I generally won't answer the question

Trying to bring order to an online message board is like herding cats.

Wikipedia or Ask a Doc a precise answer would be appropraite: but since this is a Forum it seems fine to answer with the responders experience.. and ALOT of us travel & know the greater area posted.
For example just this week an OP asked about the SF AREA not SF the city precisely. We Fodorites were able to suggest JAck London Square & even a gas station before turning a rental car in at OAkland.

Frankly, this Forum is one of 2 very useful sites and I actually learn alot from the travelers here. The give & take is much better than any book or other resource. Thank you Fodorites.