suze--you are right. I am one of those people who did not know there was a TA forum that is separate from the reviews. I found Fodor's forum a few years ago and never looked beyond it. Thanks for the info.

socialworker:

As Elaine Benis (seinfeld) would say:

"Get Out!"

Scarlett - I did read - the part I am talking about is the part where you can click on a link to "posters profile". When I did that, that is where I found my email and zip code. There was something in the fine print about how this is what a reader would see.

That said, I got 2 versions of the email from TripAdvisor - read first completely and made the deletion. Second was sent as a "correction" to first, but since I had already dealt with it, I did not read every word of second email.

gail, if you go to your profile and click on the part that tells you what others will see, does it show your zip code? I have my zip on mine but it is not on what others will see..
They make a point of telling us We will never expose your e-mail address, real name, mailing address or other private information to any other member of TripAdvisor (unless you choose to include it in the body of a review, post or other opinion).

To protect your identity, no e-mail addresses will be displayed in reviews going forward.
You used to have the option to display your e-mail address with your review.

I never changed my original info that I posted on my profile and nothing has ever been shown .

Hey Siouxzee--that is so funny, b/c I am always apolgizing to people for all the Seinfeld allusions I use!! But they are always just so apt, as your example proves....

Scarlett - I signed on Tripadvisor as someone else in my household and was able to see my zip code. So I am guessing others could see it as well.

At this point it does not matter to me since I deleted my zip code.

I'm a TA LE, and even 'tho I try to help, I never took all the nonsense seriously.
M (SMdA, Gto.)

Is there any way to change a screen name and still keep the posts written?

It's interesting that the hotels that I've given great reviews to most people found them helpful. For example; 4/4 or 2/2 etc.
The hotel that I've warned people away from only 4 out of 6 found it helpful.
Gee, I would think that was the most helpful review I'd written!

how special

socialworker, thanks for the mention... my good deed for the day. i found the forum last time there was a big 'banning' over here and things weren't very pleasant for awhile. now i actively post both.

the Trip Advisor forum is a little different in it is very specific about locations, so you aren't reading all of the U.S. board together. For me I simply read/post my home city (Seattle), and a couple favorite vacation spots (Hawaii, Mexico). I don't read all of Europe like I do here. A good diversion if things are slow here.

p.s. Oops. Don't bother trying out TA forum today!! They are having technical difficulties since their new policy and registration options went into effect. It won't make a very good impression this morning.

Maybe they will show everyone's ISP (or whatever the computer jargon is for your "address") address so you'll know who is posting under several names? :-?

Kal- and spoil all the fun?

Kal, are you suggesting ShakaBait should be expelled?

After reading what L84SKY wrote, I studied the ratings for my TA reviews and I also discovered that unfavorable reviews were often rated less helpful than favorable reviews.

Is there an explanation?

From TA or TTG....or both?

From Kauai...