New posters: please don't delete your threads

CJean,

I understand your annoyance, as it’s happened to me before.

There's been quite a bit of spam lately - did your reply maybe get caught up in a reported thread?

Nope. Nothing questionable about either of the deleted threads I saw.

Totally agree with you CJean, it’s very annoying and ungrateful to those who tried to help. They aren’t the only ones who benefit from the info in a thread.

Thanks for confirming that valid threads can just disappear. I was interested in a few and actually responded a few months ago but when I went back to see what others had to say “poof” they weren’t there.

Sometimes the OP doesn't like the direction or the tone of the thread and chooses to disassociate themselves from the content. I think the rules of the forum permit this. So maybe this is an issue for the webmaster.

One way to minimize this from happening is to avoid being condescending and stick to the topic and the occasional side topic that enhances the main topic.

Newbies tend to get treated a little rough at times.

It would be nice if the OP had the option of ”closing” the thread so that it is locked to new replies.

I completely understand why new posters sometimes delete their questions. Some of the people on the forum have a tendency to pile on well after the original question has been answered. I’ve also seen a number of responses that come across in a very condescending way. The new poster may have had enough and the only way to stop further posts is to delete the whole thread.

I'll admit, I deleted the first few posts I made on this forum. I was an ignorant poster getting very excited over the possibility of traveling. Coming from that mindset and being new, the responses really hurt. I ended up feeling stupid and I just wanted the thread gone.

But I do understand that when someone spends time to write a thoughtful response, it's disappointing for that post to disappear.

Q: Should I bring dollars to exchange when I get to Europe?

A: Why would you do that? Experienced travelers know you get the best rate on a credit card, and everyone takes them, well, if you use the right credit card like I do.

A: You might want to get a few Euros at an ATM when you get there just to have some pocket money.

BACK STORY: The OP was going to Albania so both answers were wrong.

I did not know you could delete your post. I thought i.was losing it when I went back to check on a post where I had made a reply and couldn't find the post. I truly thought ok I am really not there any more. Thanks.for.clearing that up.

I could have sworn there was a post between CJean's second one and Susan's. It was from a relative new poster (sorry, I don't remember her name) who had deleted a few posts due to the tone of the answers she got. We need to remember that not everyone has traveled or traveled much (like me). What may sound like a stupid question is really someone who doesn't know the answer or how to find the answer or even know what question she/he should ask.

We all started somewhere/sometime/somehow, learned as we went, learned from each other. So let's have patience with the newbies. If you feel their question doesn't dignify an answer, don't answer. Or if it's something that's been asked a zillion times and you're tired of answering it a zillion and one, don't answer. But help out the newbies if you can and be polite about it. I know I have off days and everyone does, so that's not the day to post.

I am not referring to first time posters who post a link to something. We have all seen too many scam posts. If the first time poster is not a scammer but wants to contribute, he/she should make that clear in their post. Otherwise, report it to the webmaster for his decision.

James, good point. Read the question before answering so your answer is relevant to the situation.

Gail (WA USA), i’m glad you stayed. The 1st year that i started posting here there were a few posters on this forum that were really mean to me. Two are still here. I stuck with it though, like you did, and am glad i did. There’s a learning curve here, and some posters can be very unwelcoming to new posters that aren’t used to posting on internet forums.

I see both sides… there is a happy medium between dumb questions (yes, there are dumb questions) that could easily be answered by Google or reading a RS guidebook and the other extreme, the arrogant know-it-all who smacks a new poster down just because they can.

I don't know. I wish I could delete a lot of things I've said, written, and so forth.

But not this post. It's solid.

Big Mike, there's nothing wrong with writing your post, rereading/editing it and waiting several minutes before hitting Add Replay. Proofreading for tone, grammar and spelling is not a bad thing. And if you really don't like what you posted, especially if it borders on condescending, you can always delete it.

I don't know. I wish I could delete a lot of things I've said, written, and so forth.

You can, you can edit or delete a response you have given. Same with the person who originates the topic, but they have more power in that they can delete the entire thread.

I guess you would need to evaluate the reason you post an answer...somebody asks a question, they get an answer, they are free to delete it, the value has been served. I suppose if you want your wisdom to stand for the ages, you get a bit miffed, but it really comes down to the person who asked the question whether the responses have value, and to be honest, frequent posters on here get up in arms that someone does not search the forum anyway. So more power to them.

Paul, I meant more life in general.

And "Power to the People" indeed. Thinking of the John Lennon song now. Right on!

,..Now this thread makes me wonder if I come across as mean or condescending sometimes 😅. After all, as a Parisian, being rude is not entirely out of character, or so the cliché goes.

This said, even though it is annoying to see whole threads disappear, being allowed to delete ones post altogether is useful at times.

balso, the answer is no. You’ve always been nice and helpful. And cliché is right, not true at all.

Yeah I think I got my “butt kicked” when I first started on here. I didn’t delete them but was on the verge. Questions about “can men wear shorts in Italy at the cathedral” and “can I get a wifi hotspot for Italy.”
Hehe! You can only imagine- but many posters actually deleted their own responses I noticed.
Sorry this happened to you. Especially after a thoughtful response. Sorry to hear this. I agree with just keeping it up there!
Thanks to all the folks that have given me the best advice thru the past couple of years! I truly appreciate it.
I now love the good and the bad responses- it gives me a full picture of the answer to my question.

"Oldies but goodies" also get dumped on as I experienced recently. If I had started the thread I'd have been glad to delete the unpleasantness.

Very true Silas Marner, doesn’t just happen to new posters. There are, unfortunately, some unpleasant posters here. It is the internet after all, not Mr Roger’s neighborhood.

Like the old saying, "how the turntables."

It would be nice if the OP had the option of ”closing” the thread so that it is locked to new replies.

I agree, Laura - other forums, like Trip Advisor and Reddit, are closed to new comments after a certain period of inactivity. I think that's smart because you avoid having someone ask a question relevant to their trip in 2017 and 3 years later, someone sees is, disregards the dates and responds.

I know the Webmaster has the option of locking a thread because it's been recently done to several posts, although I believe that was because of comments getting off track. But I don't see why it couldn't be done to posts that are inactive for a period of time.

"I don't see why it couldn't be done to posts that are inactive for a period of time." - It is.

Gundersen, you're correct - I totally forgot that. I've seen it before and just must have wiped it out of my brain. :) Oh, the joys of getting older...

Mardee, you ever walk into a room and have no idea why you're there? That's not usually a big deal, but I fear arriving in Paris and forgetting why I'm there.

I recently deleted a thread I had started. Here is why. The responses I received would not be characterized as rude. A few of the responses were thought provoking, most were various opinions, and one provided meaningful feedback about that respondent’s view of the tone of my post. I realized the tone I wanted to express had failed to be communicated through my writing. That was enough. I deleted the thread because of me, not because of anyone else. One of my personal goals on this forum is to be thoughtful and kind in my responses. If my thread fell short of that standard, I didn’t want it to be there.

I did appreciate all who took the time to answer. It was just that I realized my writing and question were not what I wanted. I wonder if this also happens to other posters.

That the first poster acting on their own can choose to delete the whole thread is the most unsatisfactory part of the way this forum operates in my view and I have considered leaving permanently because of it some a few years ago when I had a series of my posts vanish over a couple of days. It hasn't happened again in such a wave but it still happens.

Carol now retired, yes, I once deleted a thread for the same reason. After I deleted it, a few people reached out to tell me I should have left it in, but I was uncomfortable with the tone it seemed to express.

I love this Forum; I've made many friends, a surprising number of whom I've been fortunate enough to meet "in real life." I don't want anything I post to come across as negative, rude, or snarky.

How we come across in writing is one of the failings of the internet. Words do matter. That's why I like to use emojis to try to convey some softening of the tone. If we were speaking in person this would be easier to do because of body language and facial expressions.

Sometimes I write "I don't want to sound rude, but .... (you could have easily googled the answer in ten seconds) or (please do a search; that's been discussed many times here)". And maybe saying those things can come across as rude. How do we nicely tell people that the same question was just discussed in great detail yesterday?

naalehuretiree, I agree with all you said. You read my mind.

yup. absolutely agree with so much here... and like Marco have more than once considered pulling the plug

How do we nicely tell people that the same question was just discussed
in great detail yesterday?

"That's a popular question, if you're not finding the answer on the replies to your post, you may have some luck with the search function as well."

Personally though, I find it effective to ask again and also use the search function since topics often need updating or someone knowledgeable may not have seen yesterday's question.

Oh wow, the search function.... We've beaten that horse more than a few times, eh? It seems to be difficult for new posters to find in the first place, and difficult to drill down to pertinent info once they find and apply it.

Written communication can be a real challenge without facial/voice expression to augment the tone. Responses can come off as terse or condescending sometimes when they weren't meant that way at all! There can also be some cultural differences as far as directness, which might be perceived as rude or condescending. We had that conversation on another long thread some time ago, as I recall? Anyway, 'taint easy sometimes, and I edit stuff a lot if worried about tone. Still don't always get it right. Yep, emojis help too. 🤔

I also personally feel there’s some inherent bias regarding gender when applying that intent of tone to a post.

I don't see that, and I don't always - maybe even frequently - know the gender of the poster. For example, AMann. No clue. Or Balso, or many many others, including many of the newer posters who seem to have 3 unconnected words in their names with periods between, ending in something like 0c. How to even guess? So I don't - everybody is equal in my eyes.

LOL, I did, AMann! Well done! 👍🤣

“I also personally feel there’s some inherent bias regarding gender when applying that intent of tone to a post.”

I’ve seen this very often. It’s true in my experience. Good point AMann.

there are several posters here who use their self-proclaimed 'i am an experienced traveler who has been on this forum for __ years' badge to hector the so-called 'newbies'. no wonder some delete their threads or just disappear. a recent example: op asks for must-see suggestions for a 2-week trip to spain & italy. the responses ranged from 'i don't believe in must-sees' and 'focus on 1 country' to, 'even 6 months is not enough to see everything in spain'. well, perhaps the op has only 2 weeks off from work. perhaps that's all they can afford. perhaps they actually want to hit a few well-known spots and be happy with their experience. while many people on this forum have the time and resources to indulge in extended 'travels' i think most working americans don't have that luxury. why can't we accept the op's parameters and give them the benefit of our experience without belittling their plan? we could also just hold our tongue and skip over to the next thread if we don't have anything constructive to say.

With a name like "AMann" some confusion might be invited.

It's worth remembering that as an experienced traveler on a forum, we may have read and answered a particular question many dozens of times, for the novice or new traveler it is their first time asking that particular question. Responses shouldn't be snarky, condescending, or dismissed with "search Google ". We all should strive to be kinder and gentler. Not everyone shares the same level of experience or knowledge. And hike your own hike.

for the novice or new traveler it is their first time asking that particular question

I do think there is considerable patience on the Forum, however, some questions may continue to strike a sour note . like .

Hey we're going to __________ , where should we go?

And if a question such as that strikes a sour note, one should take a step back and think about things for a moment.

Imagine there is a place you want to visit, but you know little about that place. What questions do you ask? How do you structure and ask those questions?

"Imagine there is a place you want to visit, but you know little about that place"

Sounds to me like a trip to the library is in order

So what purpose does a travel forum, populated by experience travelers serve?

Libraries don't necessarily have up to date travel information. My local library has 2003 Appalachian Trail guides. Not exactly current or useful.

And what about an individual that can't get to the library. At the moment I'm recovering from being hit by a car while cycling. Going to the library is out of the question.

But what's the purpose of a travel forum?

has the Appalachian Trail moved? What information would a more current Trail Guide have? That's a serious question, having never walked it.

I would suggest that a Travel Forum unstaffed but populated by fellow travellers is not a basic resource - that information is readily available in tour guides, if you are bed ridden then google searches, youtubes, and following the various tips and information in the main website - clicks to the upper left or under the hamburger - should give loads of basic information. What we are are folks who can give advice on choices and decisions once the basic work is done. Give opinions and from the clash of differing opinions the truth will be found.

An open question like "I just bought tickets to X and arrive tomorrow. What should I do?" isn't always a good starting point.

If the poster’s question bothers you, why not just leave it alone? Let someone else answer it.

I have often traveled to, and then actually lived in a location that is frequently slammed here on this forum. People often say “why are you going there?” if a poster has it in their itinerary - and it isn’t asked in a way that invites an actual response. Perhaps the person has a very valid reason why, but who would say so in such an environment?


When asking what restaurants are good in the area, the answer was “McDonalds”. To me it was very obvious that these ‘experienced travellers’ actually really know nothing about this specific location.

"why not just leave it alone? Let someone else answer it."

Well, there in lies the problem. People claiming to be experts, who actually aren't experts at all. But that doesn't stop the non-expert experts from providing misleading or just simply bad information, leaving the OP no better off from where they started.

==>"has the Appalachian Trail moved? What information would a more current Trail Guide have? That's a serious question, having never walked it."<==

Nigel, yes the Appalachian Trail has actually been moved or realigned throughout its history. The thru hiker of 2022 is not hiking the exact same AT that Earl Shaffer hiked in 1948 as the first thru hiker.

The trail has been realigned as a result of road or trail construction; to take advantage of better trails, camp sites, water sources, or views; or parts of the trail gets realigned because of changes in land ownership or change of relationships with landowners.

More current trail guides and their maps will keep the hiker informed of current established/developed camps, camp shelters. They will inform of environmental impact areas or camps no longer in use because of over use. Guides will inform of water sources or the distance between water sources. Keep informed of elevation gains or decline. They'll inform of side trails. Towns along the was for resupply. Or just simply miles hiked between known points. And etc., etc.

The Trail at 2100 miles +/- changes often.

Sounds to me like a trip to the library is in order

Or a trip to this Forum. People are asked to do their research, but isn't this one step in that research? Broad based questions are a starting point that can lead to answers that guide the researchers to be able to ask more specific questions. There needs to be a starting point and sometimes they stumble on this Forum as that starting point.

There is a difference between asking opinions on where to stay in the Berner Oberland and asking what there is to see and do in Rome.

I’m in the Read a Guidebook camp before asking questions. It is actually more helpful to the person asking what is there to see in Rome to read Rick’s guidebook than posters giving their list of must sees.

I do scroll past the majority of questions and “discussion starter” posts on this forum because i agree, if a thread topic annoys you, keep scrolling and do not answer.

And recommending Google in a nice way is not unkind in my opinion. Google is an extremely helpful source that the person asking for info may not have considered.

I will add to Susan’s points that using Goggle will bring to you to previous RS forum posts more efficiently than using the “search” feature. I find that using the “search” feature can be an effort in patience as one tries to narrow the focus to something meaningful and within a useful date range. I’m glad it’s there, but it’s not always as fast or easy as a present poster.

I know people complain about the Search function here but i find it very easy. On an iPhone you tap the 3 bars at the top left corner, Search bar appears, put in Paris Hotels (for instance), then tap on Travel Forum, then tap on 6 mos or newer/1 yr or newer. Up comes all the threads on the topic you put in within the time period you chose.

Big picture- we are lucky to be here in this time and space. Be kind.
I’m gonna put some rock and roll into the mix just to be funny…
Please skip the commercials. I hope this posts correctly and you can listen to it… in the immortal words of Elvis Costello…”what’s so funny bout peace love and understanding “
Thanks EVERYONE for all of your help the past couple years with my travel questions!

https://youtu.be/Ssd3U_zicAI

I know people complain about the Search function here but i find it very easy.

it's easy to use, but not very efficient. You can't use Boolean terms so you get a lot of "junk" in your search results. For example, if I key in "Arran" and hotel" to find a hotel in Arran in Scotland, I get a barrage of responses, including many about Aran in Ireland and the Arran Hotel in London.

I get much better results by using Google. For example, I enter the following in the URL bar: site:ricksteves.com/travel-forum/scotland following by by search terms "hotel and arran". This limits the results to the Scotland forum and also makes sure that both "hotel" and "arran" are included in the results.

I’ve never gotten any junk in my Searches but that’s a good tip for those who do.

Susan, junk is probably a bad word to use. :) I meant that I get a lot of irrelevant information that I don't get with Google.

Gotcha. I don’t get that either but others might, so good to know.

Just got a PM from an OP thanking me for the one kind response he received on his first RS post. Its got to be pretty bad when I am the good guy.