Important points when asking for advice regarding itineraries

I've been thinking about that myself. I think it might be at least a little bit helpful if, when someone first registers for the board, there was some sort of pop-up message that briefly addressed the idea of providing some details when asking for assistance. Off the top of my head, something sort of like:

• When asking for itinerary help, please provide as much information as possible about your travel dates, the make-up of your party (including children's ages), and what sort of activities your group enjoys. For hotel or restaurant suggestions, please state your budget. For flight suggestions, your origin airport is important. Providing that information will help the forum members provide better advice.

I'm sure there's more that could be added, and the text could edited for brevity and clarity

I assume most people register because they have a question to ask, so there's some hope that seeing a notice asking for specifics right at that moment would have a positive effect, at least some of the time. After folks have been through the Q & A process at least once, I think they'll be more likely to understand the importance of some details and will include them without prompting.

I try not to tell people where to or where not to go. I figure its their vacation. Exception: if they want to go to Liechtenstein, I tell 'em not to bother :-)

A lot of those questions stem from the click bait articles online. Top Ten Sights You MUST See in Rome! So they ask the question that way. The internet has everything at our fingertips but you do actually have to take time to read it. Instant questions, instant answers.

Maybe a sticky that reads The Ten Best Sights in Paris! Then we'll list 1. Read the RS guidebook. 2. Watch the RS videos on this site. 3. Read a novel or two set in Paris. 4. Read back in the forums. 5. Read a different guidebook for another perspective. 6. Think about what you've always wanted to see there. 7. Go to the library. 8. Talk to people you know. 9. Look at a map. 10. Come back and now ask us some questions.

Oops. Looks like the little snark devil has been at my shoulder. Perhaps we should gently suggest to them that we need more info. We don't want to be too grouchy so that no one ever asks questions here. What would we do all day?

Most posts like that are drive-bys - unlikely to read any sticky, or FAQ, or do a Search. Its human nature. I admit to asking some well-worn questions when I first started.

Two more suggestions. One, newcomers should first read the destination advice already sitting on this site, click Explore Europe. And I do mean read it first, before posting. Second, any airline discussion will be more informed if the poster indicates the trip's departuge point.

My wife, a national recognized librarian, would argue that we have negated the teaching of basic research skills at the high school level. Some how having the internet available solves all research question -- just ask the question. Several years ago one of our school board members asked why do we need school libraries if we have the internet? Just buy more computer terminals -- cheaper than books. Years ago I would teach my research students (graduate level) that they had to carefully construct the question AND anticipate the range of answers. Now we just get the question, "What should I see in Italy?" Kind of the drive by attitude. But it is what we have.

Frank it's so easy to do research on the internet without asking a question. That's what I don't get. People come here and post questions - including itinerary questions, but clearly have done zero research themselves including reading info on this site. I personally would be embarrassed to ask a question that I hadn't already done research on myself. I'm expecting people to spend their precious time answering my question - it shouldn't be an answer I could easily figure out myself with a little research.

Over a 35+ year career as a librarian in several different kinds of libraries, I dealt with a wide spectrum of people from those who just wanted someone to tell or give them the answer to those who wanted to learn to dig in and find the answers themselves.

This was true regardless of educational level from high school dropouts to PhD's. I think it's still true. A novice at anything could be just as lazy or overwhelmed or not know where to start or how to differentiate between good and bad resources before the ubiquity of online as they are now.

Keeping in mind that not everyone will read or act on them, having some hints on how to get the best answers to their questions when people sign up is a great idea, but those hints themselves need to be brief and not intimidating.