Many people post messages that claim they "Just returned from________...any questions?". They all sound strikingly familiar. Are these people travel agents?
Do most people really care? Is it an ego trip after a vacation trip?

One of the major reasons for this site is to share travel information. If I am planning a trip somewhere and I see a "Just back from..." a place where I am going, what better source of information. I do agree that a travel report is a much easier form of communication then just asking if anybody has questions though.

If people are willing to post a "just returned from" sort of post, I for one would appreciate them also jotting down where they stayed and what they thought of the hotel and if they thought they'd stay there again if they had it to do over. If they also had the time to jot down the major attractions they took in, we might have a better idea of the sorts of questions they might be able to answer.

I, too, always check on 'just back from'posts and find them very interesting. It is always so good to hear first hand reports of hotels, restaurants, attractions etc. and even though it is only one person's view, it is still an indication as to what to expect.

When I'm planning my next trip(s), and I see a "just back from.." message, I read it to garner information. If I'm not going to the mentioned location... I just skip it.

Can't believe a "good" travel agent would use this site as a source of potential income.

Bobcat,
I agree with your (and others' prior) comments that posts to this site are strikingly familiar. Not just "just back from.." but other styles, like someone almost moderates the site and posts general questions to spurn responses, rather than specific planning or flames.

Also, I've noticed that there are a lot of posts made during traditional business hours, few on weekends/late evenings compared to USENET, which says to me that business people are realizing a posting strategy can be one block on brand building.

But, I will say that this and other newsgroups are the same in one sense: You have to wade through many, many, many, many posts to find great (sometimes absolutely vacation-breaking) information and/or contacts to fine tune
a vacation - so who cares if travel agents are involved.

My objection are journalists and writers who scan/use/frame their stories based on posts. Using another alias on USENET, a discussion on definition of TOURONS took place, which exact words were used in a major newspaper Sunday Travel section article. Like in the book "Amo, Amas, Amat and More", I suggest ramdomly posting totally false information to thwart unauthorized use of our opinions and experiences.

Glad someone else noticed that the NYTimes and other papers are "mining" this site -- I thought it was just my native paranoia! Someone tell the NYTimes travel editor to do his/her own research and come up with his/her own ideas!

GOL, I doubt the business-hour postings mean businesses are posting. If you look at the "where are you--right this second" thread on the Europe board, you'll see that over 100 posters (including all the regulars on that board) posted details, and most were at work or working from home.

I do think it's more useful to post even a brief trip report than a "just back, any questions?" with no details. If the trip reports look similarly composed, I'd assume it's because the posters have read others' reports and have followed a similar format.

As far as purposely posting false information to shake things up, I consider that an abuse of this forum equal to rude personal attacks and advertising. It also denegrates the entire internet community in the same way you claim to want to prevent.

Caitlin,
My rant/suggestion about making false comments was mostly tounge-in-cheek - really meant for journalists,etc. It's like slowing down before you come to the place where the cop sometimes hide: The cop may be there only 1 day a week, but you slow down every time just in case.