Forum Etiquette - Thank you!

I think this is probably the thing frequent posters would like most--not necessarily a thank you but just an acknowledgement that this is an interaction between real human beings (not a robot--yet!). More than an immediate acknowledgement, I find it most gratifying if someone comes back after a trip to say what worked or what did not. While we all post for different reasons, I mostly do so to learn while sharing what I have experienced, and part of that is learning what is useful advice or information.

Also, if someone asks a question in response to your question, it is in the interest of better answering the question, so responding to questions is another thing that can foster the real-human interaction aspect of the forum. I often ask queations to get better context but also to make sure the person is going to come back so I am not typing into the ether.

I really appreciate it when people use Proper Names instead of abbreviations or unfamiliar acronyms.

Thank You, Webmaster

I am both old and old fashioned.

I like Thank You, You're Welcome and Please

Yes, some acknowledgement that they got the help they needed is appreciated. For those who don't, it's as if they think they're talking to an AI app. No it's real human being who may be happy to help but also have other demands on their time.

It's also good to do some research before asking questions. Here, you can go right to Rick's Explore Europe section and get all the highlights of each country with recommended sights to see, videos to watch, etc. Or spring for a guidebook. If you can't afford that, most public libraries have travel guidebooks.

Taking the time to do a bit of research before asking a question or at least narrowing your focus means your question is likely to be better and get better information. Example, if you mainly love art museums, then ask about the best ones worth seeing. Otherwise you might get where the best places to shop in Paris. This website and Google are great resources.

Posted by bostonphil7

Thank You, Webmaster

I am both old and old fashioned.

I like Thank You, You're Welcome and Please

Me too. I agree.

I have no complaints about questions. If I don't want to answer it, no one makes me.

I do think it polite to acknowledge that prople tried to help you. Doesn't happen often enough. One reason my number of posts is high, is that if I ask and get an answer that person will be thanked.

Tonight, @lavra did something rare. He/She visited each of her question threads and reported on how the advice worked out. A real class act.

I do wish new(er) posters when asking a question would ask more politely, rather than just , for example only : “Train times to Naples on a holiday Wednesday morning?” and that’s it!

Thanks, WebMaster, for your hard work.

Re SJ's post, keep in mind that half of users are on their phones... and not everyone is adept at using them. And there are others with children hanging on them, their boss just walked in the room, or the crosswalk just gave permission to walk, etc. Life's busy. As such, brevity is very common and even considered polite in some circles. I hear what you're saying, but I urge all to assume politeness even if the format of a question isn't quite your preference.

My biggest beef is when one poster takes over a thread, posting over and over and over again, to the point where 50% of the posts are from that one person. Takes all the fun out of the forum.

I admit I am always appreciative of complete sentences (although I transgress here occasionally myself) when someone is asking a question.

I am also appreciative when our regular posters acknowledge they see where a newer poster is coming from, even if they need to shoot the plan out from under them. Lol.

I love how there are some who “specialize” in a particular country - doesn’t mean they don’t have helpful things to say about other places, but they know “whereof they speak” about certain places. And I love it when those people are respectful of answers from some (like me) who are less traveled in that area.

I get some strange one-off PM’s, which I don’t mind answering - but I am more appreciative when they have any posts already on the forum. Meaning they are asking a wider audience serious questions. It’s also very nice to get an acknowledgement that my answer has been received, so I know you aren’t AI or a troll.

Those are etiquette type things that I appreciate.

l love how there are some who “specialize” in a particular country -
doesn’t mean they don’t have helpful things to say about other places,
but they know “whereof they speak” about certain places. And I love it
when those people are respectful of answers from some (like me) who
are less traveled in that area.

Unfortunately those people tend to get too close to the subject and a bit biased. Those are the subjects that demand multiple contributions. And the presumed expert should appreciate being challenged and show appreciation.

In general, I find that the regular posters have given very helpful responses to the OP's queries. I am most familiar with the France section of the forum, and the "locals" who often contribute don't seem to have any biases. (I won't name names, but there are some real jewels on the France section.) They just give really, really helpful and thoughtful information.
There are some frequent posters I come across in the General Europe section that show their biases, but, except for one or two, they acknowledge that they have preferences and their enthusiasm for their preferences and acceptance of others' preferences make their comments helpful and enjoyable to read. (Wow, what a run-on sentence! Sorry, Sister Maeve Shaun. Mark down my essay grade!)
I check out the forum often, even when I don't have a trip in the works, because I find it a pleasant way to start the day, thinking and dreaming about the wonderful places to see in this big, wide world. It sets me up in a good mood before I tackle reading through the three newspapers I subscribe to. It keeps my glass half-full, not half-empty.
Thanks to all the contributors who have taught me a lot about the rest of the world!

I get some strange one-off PM’s, which I don’t mind answering - but I am more appreciative when they have any posts already on the forum. Meaning they are asking a wider audience serious questions. It’s also very nice to get an acknowledgement that my answer has been received, so I know you aren’t AI or a troll.

This. I never mind answering PMs, but I'm more inclined to do so when it's not a first-time poster. And I always appreciate a response, even if it's just one word. :-)

Judy, my comment was directed at myself, not the others. If you visit the Hungary forum you will find my endless comments. I live in Hungary so functionally I understand it pretty well. But i also realize that having spent so much time here I dont always see things the same way a first time visitor may see them. And what I enjoy is certainly biased and RS tourists are anything but uniform. So, I want others to ignore my 12 paragraphs and bring me back to the early days when I just visited a few times a year and saw the city in a different way. All the different view points are what make the forum valuable. There is no wrong. Well, unless you think there is a more beautiful city than Budapest, but i let that slide. Did i say I was biased? So in every forum, no one should be intimidated by the local or the one that has made 16 trips. Other views, ideas, pereceptions are absolutely correct and necessary. And the local should appreciate the reminder.

r E,
No insult for biases was intended. As I said, a person's enthusiasm for their preferences make their comments helpful and enjoyable to read.

Thank you for this post! One thing that I really don't like is people that post a question, only to never return to the thread. Or the forum. I also agree about abbreviations and airport codes, they just make posts confusing.

And two other things from me. Do not delete threads, and it's always nice to come back and tell us how your trip went.

What a nice, positive, discussion! Keep us on track Webmaster! It’s the civility that keep this Forum so great. I cannot abide the tone on other forums so I spend my time here. Y’all rock!

Taking the time to do a bit of research before asking a question...

I've seen this sentiment expressed often by posters and honestly I just don't get it. What is the expectation? What level of research is an individual supposed to accomplish before asking questions? Asking questions on a forum is research, and yes questions can be basic or overly broad. Everyone one understands information differently and asking questions helps develop an understanding. Where does an inexperienced or novice traveler start? How do they sort through all the information they're inundated with and select what to retain and to dump? Shouldn't they ask random questions on a travel forum full of experienced travelers?

...or at least narrowing your focus means your question is likely to be better and get better information.

And asking questions helps to narrow the focus.

VAP, the forum should be honored that the OP choose to start the research here.

If the OP provides enough information to even give a basic answer, I do. Then maybe i suggest with this that or the other we could be more helpful. At least that way they feel welcome instead of slapped.

My biggest beef is when one poster takes over a thread, posting over
and over and over again, to the point where 50% of the posts are from
that one person. Takes all the fun out of the forum.

Ms Jo, I am sometimes a little bit guilty of this. I travel for beer and will add a post to a thread about food and drink in a city or country when I want to ensure that the responses include beer specific info.

Thanks for your response to this thread.

I can’t be bothered to answer if people are asking questions that are too broad, and that’s ok! I’m under no obligation to post anything. It doesn’t annoy me, I just read and move on.

Don't care about complete sentences. Waste of time.

(Just kidding, of course. And those actually are complete sentences.)

Thanks, webmaster, for your excellent work in keeping this an informative, yet courteous, place.

Thank you jphbucks for your contributions since joining the forum. I always enjoy your wit and sense of fun.

Interesting thread. A wee bit haughty on the part of some. I was once an avid participant who appreciated the brief and succinct back and forth of a decade ago. Not nostalgia necessarily but short to the point questions and responses were to my mind the
height of good etiquette. No need for a whole substructure of thank you notes and other such things.

Interesting ideas here but like much of social media, “rules” and expectations are becoming more and more complex. I don’t know the answer but simple etiquette does matter and I applaud the interchange for a better environment.

Ms. Jo succinctly says what needed to be said. There are contributors who overwhelm discussions with a continuous barrage of posts. It is not necessary. Control yourselves.
It is indeed disappointing when advice is given to an OP who vanishes into the Twighlight. So it goes.
The idea that we can control or change people through our keyboards is a fantasy. If you (we) are posting here with the expectation that we will shape others' behaviors, it probably won't happen.

This is not transactional. I share my experiences and thoughts without any expectations.
That said, I do receive PM follow-up from readers who have seen my comments and followed up. I like that. I am always ready to offer more detail.

Don't care about complete sentences. Waste of time. (Just kidding, of
course. And those actually are complete sentences.)

That is actually an important point. There are some of us on the forum that speak english as a second or third language, and using incomplete sentences, slang words etc can make the posts much harder to understand and increase the risk of mistakes.

dunno why y'all feel'n that way?

I rest my case.

Laurel pretty much summed it up for me.
Happy to be here.
Delighted when able to be helpful.
Thankful for help I've been given when requested.
Continually impressed by the knowledge and generosity of the RS hive. :O)

Editing to add, personally there are so many other things going on these days that have me all frustrated and angry to feel that way here. I'd list some of those things but our long-suffering Andrew would have my head. Suffice it to say that these forums are a welcome distraction!

That is actually an important point. There are some of us on the forum that speak english as a second or third language, and using incomplete sentences, slang words etc can make the posts much harder to understand and increase the risk of mistakes.

Same, sometimes a colloquialism is thrown at me, and I have to google it lol! Many times it's a very regional American/England slang word. Honestly adds to a fun forum experience and intercultural exchange ;-)

It might not help Badger and Carlos, but I'd note that there are some
of us (well me, anyway) who do speak English as a first language and
are still confused by some of the colloquialisms used by our colonial
chums.

It might not help, but it's certainly nice to hear that I'm not alone!

I totally agree with the Webmaster's initial post--forum etiquette is important and I think things are getting better, from what I observe. (I'm mainly a reader here and not a poster usually.)

My biggest beef is when one poster takes over a thread, posting over
and over and over again, to the point where 50% of the posts are from
that one person. Takes all the fun out of the forum.

I don't mind this. Especially when it's one of our transportation experts, giving train directions to a complicated question by the OP. For example, the detailed information given by Lee or others on buying train tickets, changing trains, etc. throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland. All these countries might be included in one OP's question, so I appreciate the thorough directions and information provided by the forum expert--even if they have to post several times to give all the necessary information. I have learned a lot from these forum members.

The other instance in which that happens is when the OP posts a question and one or two people answer--very short answers--and then the OP is left hanging for several days with not much good info and no additional members posting. Then a forum member comes to the thread who realizes the OP needs train directions, hotel suggestions, suggestions of how to group sights or cities. Why should they not post several times, each post covering a different subject?

As long as no one is saying nasty things I don't object to this.
Please let's all be kind to one another, perhaps observe the kind of etiquette you would in the office where you work?

The Webmaster has the final say. Always. And that is the person who rightfully has the final say about what is discussed here. Thank you, Andrew, for all the good work you do here.

Thanks everyone, for keeping this a nice, positive, discussion!

It's truly impressive, and that goes for the thousands of you with
10+ posts to those of you with 10,000+. (Some of you are in the 20s
and even the 30s now... wow!)

Webmaster

I do still see a lot of “I hate this or I would never do that” in posts rather than just answering the question the person asked.