Some observations about the new registration system
 

As one of those who were opposed to registration, I am afraid that my worst fears have been realized. My primary fear was that people wouldn't want to register and the number of posts would dwindle down to a few regulars. It appears that this is exactly what has happened. While the number of obnoxious posts have been greatly reduced, so have the total number of travel related posts. On the positive side, while it hasn't really stopped all the obnoxious posts, since there are fewer posts to deal with, Fodors is able to eliminate them quicker. So I guess you could say they won the battle but lost the war. I was never a major contributor to this site, but I did enjoy reading all of the many inquiries and the responses to them, even the lighthearted ones. While I still hope that things will get better, I am more afraid that we have lost something that was pretty special.

Agree with you 100% Jack, and I'm one of the regular posters. At least I could think up different names before so people didn't know the advice was coming from the same person, not to seem like a know it all. This site is deader than a door nail. There are no more humorous posts, and if you do find one funny response, it fades away quickly.

Personally I am kind of glad knowing that when I have a question,that the answers I receive are from different people, not one just trying to sell their view. It is nice to be able to ask a San Francisco question (this year's vacation) and not have to weed through all the bashings that were apparently by the same person. Yes there may be less postings, but how many times can the same question be answered that is being posted by the same person using various names?

Jack/J<BR>Go to the Caribbean forum and read the &quot;St Lucia/Speedo etc etc&quot;.Its lenghty but worth the time.

On the balance, we have lost more than we have gained, IMHO. I'm hoping that a big part of that relates to the obvious technical problems, but the early going has been frustrating and disappointing in comparison to the pre-registration days.

I'd have to agree with Jack. It is disappointing to see how much the traffic has slowed. I'm not too surprised though. A couple of other message boards that I've used in the past have switched over to registration, with much the same effect. It seems that people are much less likely to post if they have to register, even if the registration process is simple.

Part of the problem is the difficulties with posting. I've tried to respond a few times, but not been successful and given up. Lets see if this one works.

Agree wholeheartly with Jack. I miss some of the lighthearted answers but NOT those obnoxious people.<BR>Other people complaining about posting but I've had no problem at all. One of the lucky ones I guess.

My inital observation is that this site seems so slow (either that or it's my browser). First time I went to post, my registration didn't go through. I re-registered then attempted to post.....it froze...had to hit the refresh button.<BR>I too notice that there are far less posters now that registration is required.

I agree with all of the above. It is worth filtering through the few obnoxious posts to get the quantity and QUALITY posts. I have been on the Carribean site and it is DEAD. Anguilla specifically, has had one new post in the last two days. I use to love this sight and provide my own input as well as gain TREMENDOUS tips.<BR>I don't know that I will continue to be a fan of this sight. It isn't worth the time. <BR>Carribean forum St.Lucia/Speedo is a great post. Enjoy!<BR>

I forgot to add, I too tried to post several questions recently, and failed. <BR>Screen froze up like the weather here in PA..

I couldn't agree more. Although I'm not a major contributor, I check in every day. I have to agree that it has become rather boring. I will admit that there were a lot of nasty postings/replies before registration, but it was a hell of a lot more interesting than what's going on now!

All those people who whined about registration have ended up ruining this site for the rest of us. We've been &quot;Frommerized.&quot; Its totally dull and almost no one is posting anymore. I suppose its too late for Fodors to change it back the way it was before. What's happened is almost funny. Sure, it got rid of the few obscene posts that the rest of us usually just ignored. However, it didn't get rid of the obnoxious posters who criticize other people's posts or otherwise act superior. Oh well, there's always an upside. At least I won't be spending so much time here anymore.

Just a thought,perhaps the reason not as many posts now because not as many folk are travelling at the moment, hence not as many inquiries on the forum

Just a thought,perhaps the reason not as many posts now because not as many folk are travelling at the moment, hence not as many inquiries on travel reqested on the forum.I found this site very informative before we went overseas and met some nice posters as well

What a joke! Thanks fodors for ruining a great thing.

Actually, I'm researching two trips now and am getting as much information as before. I like the site better now. I think it still fulfills its purpose as a travel board and is still the best one out there as far as useful information. If someone knows of a better travel forum, I'd love to hear about it.

I've been a regular poster here for a few years and I was in favor of registration. I'm delighted that it's here but recognize that it will take period of time to transition. New visitors to the site are unlikely to be discouraged by the requirement to register as it is more or less a standard on other forums. I'll admit that a few of the troll posts were entertaining but when some meathead would decide to post troll material repeatedly dozens of times in a day (a regular occurrence), it pushed useful TRAVEL posts down the page to the point where most folks did not benefit from them. I've always considered Fodor's to be the best travel info resource on the web because of the participants and I suspect it will remain that way, despite this small bump in the road.

Perfectly said, Owen. I agree, and think some of the slowness is a result of the difficulties people are having posting right now, which will surely be resolved.<BR>I also think that without all the B.S. and nastiness, new people who find this forum are more likely to stick around if they have anything worthwhile to ask or say. I see it growing more in the future than it has in the recent past.<BR><BR>By the way, although I've made several posts this morning with no difficulty, I've been trying to post this for over 45 minutes now. Glad I copied and pasted it. I try for a few minutes, it won't paste, I do other things, then come back here and try again. I guess you have to be pretty addicted to this site to go to such lengths just to make a simple post. Please, Fodor's get it fixed soon.

I had the same trouble this morning Patrick. It takes several shots for anything to post. If I were new to this forum and its operation, I might have given up, assuming somehow I'd not taken one of the necessary steps in getting something posted!<BR><BR>I have another thought on the registration process. I believe there is a fair contingent of hold-outs who hope that if posts drop off drastically, Fodors will relent and revert to the old system. I doubt that will happen. With time, hopefully the picket line will give up and return. Fodors hand was forced. It was not those in favor of registration who brought about this change. The system had worked just fine up to a certain point, but it increasingly had become a place for out of control fighting, nasties, and trolls who ignored the boundaries of what was appropriate in a public forum. I'm sure Fodors is willing to allow a certain degree of fun with this system too. I doubt seriously their intent was to make this a dry sterile forum, but what had begun to happen prior to this was totally out of control, and something they were forced to deal with. It sure wasn’t dry and sterile, but it was intimidating to new people who came to the site looking for travel tips and got an eyeful in the process. <BR><BR>We were warned, but the warnings only brought out more abusive posts. I too miss some of the old fun, but can anyone think of an alternative solution? I can't! Rather than mourn what we lost and hold out for its return, let’s deal with what we now have and help it grow and improve with participation from everyone, including opposing views and good humor. As long as it is done with civility I doubt Fodors will object, and frankly, I don’t think there is a prayer of its ever reverting to an unregistered system again, no matter how many hold out. Remember the old saying about cutting off one's nose to spite one's face? I can't help but feel there's a heck of a lot of that going on right now!<BR>

I agree with Owen too. <BR><BR>joebob, behave yourself! I like your spicy posts, but get off Patrick's case. It's getting old. He, like you, offers lots of helpful info. We don't want to lose either of you!

OliveOyl, I have always enjoyed your comments and travel information and I think you are right on with your above comments. Personally, I didn't care one way or the other about registration, but although I could tolerate and even sometimes enjoy the humourous troll postings, I do feel that ones like the SF basher were feed out a lot a false info, and then giving them creditability by agreeing with them under several different names. That is the type of person we should blame rather than Fodor's

Joan that is it, I will now leave Patrick alone. <BR><BR>I am amazed at the speed at which my posts are being deleted. It takes 15 minutes to actually get something posted and then within 5 minutes the post is deleted. I think Patrick has a special hotline to the deletion war room at fodors. my most recent posts have been very tame and are still being deleted, and I have been banned 3 times now. Now I just post for the fun of seeing how long it takes to get banned or deleted.

Just for the record, joebob, I have not contacted Fodor's;I got an email from a regular poster who said she had. I am ignoring you as I have never figured out why your hatred for me is so great that you feel inclined to slam everything I say.<BR>You are the only person in the world who could have turned my offer to make a call to a San Francisco hotel for a UK visitor to this country into an accusation of something vile. You clearly will never know what it is to just be nice, and I do feel sorry for you.<BR>Actually I don't even know what your post here was, and had just been trying to ask Joan what she was talking about, but my post would not go through once again, and then your post above appeared, so I gather you made one that was already deleted.<BR><BR>Truce, OK? Whether you believe it or not, my posts here are only meant to be helpful. I hope that in the future if you find them offensive you email me directly, since you obviously have my email address.

Regarding posts taking a few shots, I found that if I take a 'long time' in typing, preparing etc.. the post doesn't work. I compose in Word, then Copy / Paste. If the post is quick (from clicking to reply to Post My Reply), then it seems to be ok.

Patrick- I should have stated in my last post that I was going to leave you alone, assuming you didn't come back and comment on my post. but you just couldn't let it die, you just had to come back and rehash the entire series of posts. My hatred for you does not exist, it is my annoyance with you that does. If you remember how this started, it started when you slammed one of my posts, which had nothing in it but a statement saying how boring the site had become, had it not been for that I never even would have noticed that you existed. <BR> <BR><BR>Here is what I will do, I will ignore your last post (except for the truce part)and let that commentary go. <BR><BR>A truce is offered if you want it.

joebob you have been deleted 3 times for a reason. You curse and make bigoted remarks. Joan must have missed those. I have seen you attack innocent people over and over. Either you will behave kindly or you will get booted again. That simple. Eventually you will run out of email addresses. Shape up or ship out. I only know you will now attack me but I am tired of reading your nasty remarks to innocent people.

Be careful, nataliemm, joebob will get back at you as he does others. As he has just explained, his anger with Patrick was because he resented Patrick disagreeing with his post. It's fine for joebob to say what he wants, but nobody should disagree with what he says or he will take revenge. I remember the post he is talking about very well as I had commented on it as well. While joebob was insulting one poster for using exaggeration he himself was exaggerating about how the entire list of messages was nothing but Hawaii and Key West posts. When Patrick and the other poster dared to contradict him (nicely at first) and point out that was not true, he started insulting and resorting to name calling.<BR>So the solution is, joebob is allowed to say what he wants, but nobody is allowed to disagree with him. That must be his rule. And now, I suppose I will be the new result of his anger.

No anger here. Just LOTS of frustration. This site used to be so easy, fun, and fast. Now it sometimes doesn't work at all or is extremely slow. I might give it a few more days to see if fodors can get there act together. If not I won't be back. I'm sure there are better sites if I just looked.

You should all wise up and act like adults. Face the facts: this site is OVER and it's silly to try to recreate what was once very vibrant, fun, informative. <BR><BR>

You should all wise up and act like adults. Face the facts: this site is OVER and it's silly to try to recreate what was once very vibrant, fun, informative.<BR><BR>Not to mention that half the time this site just plain doesn't work. <BR><BR>

I miss Blenroth and Duh! the most. Are they out there under new,assumed names? I could always count on Blenroth making a remark about farts or duh! insulting someones IQ.

I've missed seeing his curses, but not the attacks...nor the helpful information joebob has posted either (gotta tell you though, Hyatt Westshore changed names the beginning of January, joebob--Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay--still has the same meal you referred to on the train station thread) and there *has* been good information as well. But you remind me of a guy I went to school with. Joel was a cute, red-headed, loveable guy with a painful stutter...he also had a great sense of humor and was a lot of fun, but darned, Joel couldn't help himself to save his soul!! He was like the metal rod in a thunderstorm..and for some reason he loved that role, even though he looked genuinely abashed when lightning struck in the form of one of the killjoy teachers, as it inevitably did, 2 or 3 times a week. I couldn't help but wonder if it didn't it hurt to keep getting smacked in the head that way! Your next incarnation, just sign in as Lightning Arrester Joel...we'll know who it is. :&gt; Really...stick around, please, but maybe stop wearing spikes when you're out on the golf course in a storm??

Fodors folks - please be patient because I know things will pick up and get very interesting. We will be getting more stimulating, informative travel tips and advice than ever before and won't have to put up with the previous troll posts that were often insulting and hurtful.<BR><BR>I believe the problem is twofold right now: I'm having an incredibly difficult time signing in. The system does not recognize my password. This is the 5th or 6th time I've had to have Fodors send me a new password. It works the first time and then after that goes kaput. So if other people are having the same problem, they're not going to post as much.<BR><BR>Secondly, any new system (even registration which is standard on many sites) will meet with resistance. That will change in the long run. Eventually people who have something to ask or offer travel advice and who receive a positive response and good information will tell their friends and relatives about this great site. Trust me on this one.<BR><BR>Let's forget about some of the 'fun' troll posts because IMO they were far and few between. The troll posts were more of the insulting kind and were so unrelated to food, lodging, entertainment and travel. Let's move on from the trolls.<BR><BR>