Create guidelines?

Sadly, I don't think any newbie will read them prior to posting, so it will be a lost cause. They don't even read the community guidelines. Or search the forum first (although, admittedly, the search function is underwhelming and one is better off searching with Google).

It has been so long since I began posting here that I don't remember what kind of "tips" were given when one sets up their profile for the first time. Any kind of guidelines or tips should be displayed to someone before their very first post, either as a pop-up or an explanation they should read before signing up.

Agreeing with Agnes. Most people on any forum don't read the guidelines before making a post, or do a Search. I dont think most people consider coming here as joining a group as much as accessing a reference library, and once they got their answer, they're done.

douglas, your suggestions bring up some interesting and valid points. Although, with the car travel example, some folks (askers and responders) are fine driving where traffic goes on the right side of the road, but not on the UK’s left side, and that could influence responses. So for different countries or other situations, a poster’s regular preferences might change. But others’ might remain constant. If a flood of answers (which might have taken a lot of people a lot of time) make wrong assumptions, or take off in a wrong direction, it would help if the poster followed up to provide more specifics about their plans, interests, mode of travel, and what they’re used to or expect. Being prescreened, or getting everyone’s vitals on every post might not be within the scope of this forum. So not everyone may get optimal responses. Otherwise, I’ll need to update my age settings each year . . . 😊

I think many of the new posters are spam, which is why they don’t return any comments. Anybody with any common sense knows that you cannot visit 10 locations in 12 days anywhere in the world, for example, but that’s the kind of thing that is being posted.

Also, the answers to some posts could easily be answered by using Google (eg “how do I get to Chartwell”? Answer. Look on the National Trust website), which is going to be more accurate than the reminiscences of posters.

From my experience as a former forum admin elsewhere, newbies rarely bother reading instructions, unless you create a gatekeeping function preventing them from posting (let's say, until they have been in the forum for 1 month) without previous moderator approval.

However, given that most people come to the forum to ask one or two specific travel questions, and not to linger around for months/years, the trouble setting up such as system is probably not worth the labor costs. After all, this is a commercial forum for a tour provider, not a crowdsourced travel community where everyone is pretty much volunteering time to admin, organize, moderate etc.

You bring up some valid points Douglas. Most recently I had my sister and B I L join us in Hawaii. I warned them to start walking to prepare for their visit. Much to my dismay, my sister could not walk more than a block or 2. Mind you, my wife an I are not in the best of shape but we can walk pretty much all day. It would have been better if I had known this up front. Regarding driving versus taking the train; we prefer to drive when visiting the places we have seen in Europe. Too many people pile on about train travel even when a person says they prefer to drive. As for newbies reading guidelines or suggestions, well, that would be like asking people to read directions before putting together a piece of furniture from Ikea :)

I agree with Jennifer, although the odd spammer does put in some effort and is rewarded with many replies.

Most of your suggestions are already there on the page Using the Rick Steves' Travel Forum.

Getting new posters to actually pay attention to the advice in the section "Tips For Using the Forum" on this page is another story. That section covers a lot of good information about how to get the best answers to your question by including necessary information.

I've copy and pasted part of my answer from the OP's other question because I thought it's relevant for this question as well.

I don't mind broad based questions and replying with a broad based answer. For me, they key is how you answer. I see nothing wrong with a question like what should I see in London. I'll happily give 2 or 3 of my favourite things but also explain *why** I liked them. That's how conversations and research start. For me at least, this forum isn't about having my research done for me, it's the jumping point to begin my own. While I've received (and hopefully given) some valuable information, I'm not taking much from this site as a golden nugget without following up with my own research to make sure it's right for me.*

I think many of the new posters are spam,

I disagree with that. Maybe underinformed, or even clueless, but not spammers (not counting the actual spam, which seems to be prevalent on the weekends).
As to the original question, I don't think it's worth the trouble to set up such a system and monitor it.

I fully agree with Jennifer above. Not Spam in that sense but trolls. You can tell by their use of English, a few words (American vs British) not quite right and their “question”. It is clearly designed to get a number of long winded responses....and they almost never return nor comment further. With vpns so easy to do.

But there is a much bigger bull in the china shop. He goes by the name of Rick Steves. How many of you have spent time with or talked to Rick? Have you seen how Rick reacts when folks ask him questions at travel shows or PBS appearances? His attitude is pretty much no dumb questions. I’ve seen (heard) him tell people at trade shows to go to his (this) forum to ask questions; and don’t be afraid about their lack of knowing what they do not know. The last thing you are going to do is get Rick to tell his webmaster to set up mandatory training, procedures etc before members of the public ask a question. Simply not going to happen.

The best rule- don’t like a question, skip it and move on.