Question about something, somewhere...
Mar 17th, 2004, 07:41 AM
#1
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Question about something, somewhere...
If you clicked on this posting, chances are you were intrigued (or perhaps frustrated) by its ambiguity. And that is exactly my point.
There seems to be a spate of postings lately with headings such as, "Restaurant Question..." or "Hotel Question" or my personal favorite "Question for Travelers..." (boy, that really narrows it down on this forum!). So, with tongue firmly in cheek, I have listed a few reminders to those of you who may be having trouble receiving specific answers to your "questions." Anyone out there who wishes to chime in, please feel free!
1. Officially (as of 2004) there are now restaurants and hotels in every one of the fifty states. Including the name of the city and state about which you are inquiring will greatly increase your chances of getting a response from someone familiar with that specific region.
2. You may have picked "California" as your topic when you entered your post, however, that topic does not appear when you actually click on the "post my message" icon. You may think "Continental Inn" is enough to go on but many cities have one.
3. Before posting, click on "preview my message." Can YOU understand what you're asking? Can your friends? How about your family? Are you actually asking anything? What does your editor think? Have you taken the correct dosage of your medication? Should your posting be added to the already lengthy things-that-make-you-go-hmmm list?
4. Have you misspelled the word "restaurant"? Some common examples include: "resturant"; "restrunt"; "retsurant"; "restraunt" and the ever popular "might good eats." Okay, so I made that last one up.
5. Did you correctly spell the name of the city in your heading/posting? I don't want to make this about spelling, however, misspelling the city you're traveling to makes many people wonder if you've done ANY research on where you're going (It also insults the people who live there). So, make sure you put that third "t" in Seatttle!
6. Your turn.
AL
There seems to be a spate of postings lately with headings such as, "Restaurant Question..." or "Hotel Question" or my personal favorite "Question for Travelers..." (boy, that really narrows it down on this forum!). So, with tongue firmly in cheek, I have listed a few reminders to those of you who may be having trouble receiving specific answers to your "questions." Anyone out there who wishes to chime in, please feel free!
1. Officially (as of 2004) there are now restaurants and hotels in every one of the fifty states. Including the name of the city and state about which you are inquiring will greatly increase your chances of getting a response from someone familiar with that specific region.
2. You may have picked "California" as your topic when you entered your post, however, that topic does not appear when you actually click on the "post my message" icon. You may think "Continental Inn" is enough to go on but many cities have one.
3. Before posting, click on "preview my message." Can YOU understand what you're asking? Can your friends? How about your family? Are you actually asking anything? What does your editor think? Have you taken the correct dosage of your medication? Should your posting be added to the already lengthy things-that-make-you-go-hmmm list?
4. Have you misspelled the word "restaurant"? Some common examples include: "resturant"; "restrunt"; "retsurant"; "restraunt" and the ever popular "might good eats." Okay, so I made that last one up.
5. Did you correctly spell the name of the city in your heading/posting? I don't want to make this about spelling, however, misspelling the city you're traveling to makes many people wonder if you've done ANY research on where you're going (It also insults the people who live there). So, make sure you put that third "t" in Seatttle!
6. Your turn.
AL
Mar 17th, 2004, 08:17 AM
#3
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"Are you actually asking something?" LOL!
I dunno. What was the question again?
My favorite ones are the ones labelled very simply, like "Help"!
or the ones where no clues are given in the title as to location and, when the thread is opened, no clue is given in the message either!
I dunno. What was the question again?
My favorite ones are the ones labelled very simply, like "Help"!
or the ones where no clues are given in the title as to location and, when the thread is opened, no clue is given in the message either!
Mar 17th, 2004, 08:25 AM
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What irks me are the ones who post the same question 2 and 3 times instead of looking for their original question! OR they don't go back to see if anyone answered their posts!
These are the same people who post numerous times if they don't get an answer in 10 minutes!
Also people who do not search the boards before posting. Granted if it's a last minute thing, this is understandable, but as Al LaCarte stated, it does appear that sometimes people do not do any research at all! There is a reason for the "search" feature! (I, myself being a research queen, I guess am at a loss for understanding this!)
Another reason for putting city and state. There are numerous states that have similar or same city names.
Also baffled at how many people travel somewhere and don't consult a map or check mapquest until possibly the last minute.
Basically this thread should be retitled: POSTING TIPS FOR NEWBIES! ;;-)
These are the same people who post numerous times if they don't get an answer in 10 minutes!
Also people who do not search the boards before posting. Granted if it's a last minute thing, this is understandable, but as Al LaCarte stated, it does appear that sometimes people do not do any research at all! There is a reason for the "search" feature! (I, myself being a research queen, I guess am at a loss for understanding this!)
Another reason for putting city and state. There are numerous states that have similar or same city names.
Also baffled at how many people travel somewhere and don't consult a map or check mapquest until possibly the last minute.
Basically this thread should be retitled: POSTING TIPS FOR NEWBIES! ;;-)
Mar 17th, 2004, 08:33 AM
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The last thing I let this forum do is frustrate me. I guess I don't take it a serious as others do. I'm sure there are those who dont know the proper etiquette here and I have no problem giving them a free pass.
Mar 17th, 2004, 08:41 AM
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Like the post above, I allow nothing to really bother me on this board but I would like to see everyone put travel dates into any question about rates and fares.
I can actually assist if they put in the dates... otherwise their guess is as good as mine
I'll tell everyone I am staying at the Four Seasons Pierre on March 29-29... I have no fear that someone will stalk me. Hell, you have no clue who I am! Hundreds of people will be in that hotel on those dates.
It's as if people think they are jeopardizing their safety by announcing the dates.
I can actually assist if they put in the dates... otherwise their guess is as good as mine
I'll tell everyone I am staying at the Four Seasons Pierre on March 29-29... I have no fear that someone will stalk me. Hell, you have no clue who I am! Hundreds of people will be in that hotel on those dates.
It's as if people think they are jeopardizing their safety by announcing the dates.
Mar 17th, 2004, 08:58 AM
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When someone wants a recommendation for "affordable" lodging or dining that means nothing. Affordable to me may mean too much or too little to someone else. Try posting a price range that you'd be willing to pay. It's fun to help people plan for great travel but when it's like pulling teeth you just gotta move on.
Mar 17th, 2004, 09:07 AM
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Ok, this is picky, please don't end every sentence with !!!!!
Yes, it's great you're excited about your trip, but one ! is fine. In fact, one ! per post is fine.
Also, if you don't want feedback, don't post. No matter what you post, someone will have a different opinion about it. Not even "Sunny days are wonderful" is safe. Someone will point out that rain is necessary for flowers to bloom.
Yes, it's great you're excited about your trip, but one ! is fine. In fact, one ! per post is fine.
Also, if you don't want feedback, don't post. No matter what you post, someone will have a different opinion about it. Not even "Sunny days are wonderful" is safe. Someone will point out that rain is necessary for flowers to bloom.
Mar 17th, 2004, 09:26 AM
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AND THEN THERE ARE THOSE WHO type everything in caps. Fodors maybe should provide a bit more info on the "new subject" page ... even tho it does state "Make your message easy to find: Give it a clear, identifying title,..."
But then they add ".. and pick the most accurate search topic" .. which I'm sure makes the newbies think those will be in the subject. If Fodors only gave a bit more info, and examples, on that screen, we'd see much better questions.
But then they add ".. and pick the most accurate search topic" .. which I'm sure makes the newbies think those will be in the subject. If Fodors only gave a bit more info, and examples, on that screen, we'd see much better questions.
Mar 17th, 2004, 10:04 AM
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Excellent. I believe that #2 is responsible for many of the vague headers that drive us all nuts. And frankly, I blame fodors for not making it clear that when you choose the state or country, that does NOT appear in your post. It's such an easy mistake for a newbie to make.
Mar 17th, 2004, 10:17 AM
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You think these are bad? What about the ones on the Europe forum which say "We're thinking of going to Europe for two weeks. Where should we go and what should we see? Help on hotels and restaurants would be appreciated too"?
Mar 17th, 2004, 10:24 AM
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Maybe Fodor's should consider showing the topic (abbreviated) before the title of each post-- as a helpful hint. What about it, Fodor's?!
Also, people who post vague questions: Don't get all bent out of shape when others point out the vagueness of your request. We're not being nasty, it's just that we're not mindreaders. We're here to share the love....
Also, people who post vague questions: Don't get all bent out of shape when others point out the vagueness of your request. We're not being nasty, it's just that we're not mindreaders. We're here to share the love....
+ 
= \
Mar 17th, 2004, 11:11 AM
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And John, you are opposed to offering suggestions to people on how to make the forum work better for all -- for what reason? Why would anyone be opposed to making something better or be opposed to people learning?
I guess if you have a child who does something wrong, it makes more sense to just ignore it than to correct him so he learns?
I guess if you have a child who does something wrong, it makes more sense to just ignore it than to correct him so he learns?
Mar 17th, 2004, 11:17 AM
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You call offering suggestions of how to be better, discipline? You have a strange way of looking at things, doc?
Suggesting to a kid that he should say "please" and "thank you" is discipline? No, it's part of learning. Just as suggesting to a new poster how to write a header or how to post to get better answers is not discipline, but helpful learning.
I repeat, why would anyone be opposed to people learning?
Suggesting to a kid that he should say "please" and "thank you" is discipline? No, it's part of learning. Just as suggesting to a new poster how to write a header or how to post to get better answers is not discipline, but helpful learning.
I repeat, why would anyone be opposed to people learning?
