Okay, this thread may disappear and I may get kicked off this board. But I have to ask. Given the format (one forum for the whole U.S as opposed to one per state), all the difficulties people report in using the board and the fact that posts (and apparently posters) can just disappear, why is this board so much more active, and therefore more interesting, than any other I've used?

Because the Fodors people are nice, and we help each other out. There are a few snotty responses from people with low self-esteem, but in general it's the best board on the internet for travel!

Welcome!!

Posts and posters disappear? You mean the threads that don't have anything to do with travel or become nasty or political and posters who are here to cause trouble? Well, that's one good reason to stay here.

The trouble using the boared? Sorry, but I'm here all day almost every day and I have no problems generally -- or at least haven't had any for weeks now.

The US board is all one rather that for each state? Well, yes, but you can search all the posts one state at a time, so what's the difference? Many of us go to more than one state per trip, so sometimes not separating them is a very good thing -- "my trip to Washington and Oregon and Northern California" for example.

I think your last statement though sums it up best -- it is so much more active than any other. I got tired of posting a question on Frommers and waiting weeks and still not getting a response, for example.

Patrick, the OP is talking about Chicgal. She was a very helpful and prolific poster on all things Chicago. Recently she and ALL of her previous posts disappeared. Vanished. Poof.

Patrick, thanks for your response. You did a very good job of summing it up. And I certainly agree with your comment about prompt answers on this board! But I'm not sure you knew what I was referring to as far as posts and posters disappearing. I can certainly understand the ads or the ones that have gotten nasty being pulled. But the Chicgal postings?

So, do you know what happened to Chicgal? Perhaps she requested that her posts be removed.

In answer to the OP, I use this board for its ease. I like the layout of it much more than the other boards.

Yes, it is so much nicer than all the layers. Plus earlier posts are easier to find, and searching works well.

According to a posting on the Chicgal posting pulled thread, a response from the editor was posted earlier and then pulled.

gosh, to clarify again...someone, as in one of us, posted the response that THEY received from the editor. I'm going to bed - can't think, type, or spell tonight

Sorry, seetheworld. That was my fault. I didn't make that very clear.

Actually, Flyertalk.com is the busiest travel board on line. From my understanding, the AOL boards are also much much busier.

I like so many of the posters here is why I post. Also, the areas I am very familiar with come up often on this message board.

While I've traveled the world, I'm not that familiar with a lot of locations so I don't give advice on them.

CAPH52: Don't worry