Why are there general questions on this particular board?

You just did the same thing.......

People don’t always understand the different categories.

That is true but people tend to be lazy and don't make any attempt to find the proper section. Then we reward the behavior by answering the question - anyway. Sometimes I think the webmaster should move questions to the correct section as is often done on other travel sites.

Right. They're possibly confused.
But it probably doesn't help that people here are so nice that they answer those general questions anyway instead of immediately directing them to the correct forum? Therefore the confused souls see a bunch of threads with other general Q and A's and so assume they're in the right place?

If the first, and ONLY response would be to very kindly direct them to the proper forum, include the link to that forum, and very kindly explain that more forum helpers will see the question there, maybe that would help? Other ideas?

I view in the All Topics format so never actually look at what forum something is posted in. I just go down the list and look at titles that interest me regardless of where they are placed.

Why is it important to you that they are in the correct section?
It seems that the most important reason to be in the correct section would be so that others could find them. It seems that they are being noticed and replied to.
A problem that isn't a problem isn't a problem?

Why is it important to you that they are in the correct section?

If they were in the proper place, I might find them and reply. But since I never look at the Hotel and Restaurant reviews section unless something catches my eye on the main page (like this one), I don't find those questions.

OK Robert, but I think most people look in the all topics link. Anyways, I don't think fretting about it is going to change anything. New posters are still going to "get it wrong".

I think the only way to prevent that would be to take out the topics all together and then people could post their reviews under the appropriate country.

OK Robert, but I think most people look in the all topics link

Really? I don't, and I'd be interested in how many other regular posters do. Could be that there's more of them than I think there are!

I read all links.

Merely shake my head when posters post in the “ wrong “ place.

I am an "All Topics" viewer.

If I'm posting a question, I will try to get it under the correct category, but when perusing, I open in "all topics". I don't start out by looking for a topic to answer, but just looking in general and then sometimes post an answer.

All topics for me!

All Topics for me too.

But yes Lulu, many of us don’t understand it either. What’s confusing about the word “Reviews”?

All Topics for me too. The forum is a learning tool for me. I might see a topic in All Topics that I can learn something from. Whereas if I only looked at specific topics I might miss a learning experience. If a topic doesn’t interest me, I don’t read it.
I do try to post questions under to the proper topic. But sometimes it’s a guess which topic fits my question or comment.

Gee, maybe I should try "All Topics" too. Never thought about it, I just figured why spend time skimming through questions about places I've never been and don't plan to visit any time soon.

I find it slightly annoying to see questions under "Reviews" that ought to be under "Q&A" for the country, but I don't boycott the question if I think I can help. I used to suggest reposting in "Q&A" but life's too short, after all.

But, Lulu, why did you post your general observation under "Italy Reviews"? It applies to more than just Italy. ;-)

I just figured why spend time skimming through questions about places I've never been and don't plan to visit any time soon.

Actually, that's one of my favorite things about this Forum.

All topics for me, too. And I am with horsewoofie and Estimated Prophet - I enjoy reading through lots of different questions and answers. However the Reviews section would be the least interesting for me, if I were choosing.

“All topics” and “bookmark” are my favorite ways to navigate the board. I can scroll pretty quickly past topics that I don’t foresee needing in the near future, but sometimes I’ll see a topic that I may need for tours we’re contemplating in the next couple of years. Trying to find info using the search bar is really tedious and I can see why some newer posters start with the forum board. So, it really doesn’t bother me where posts appear.

Hmmm, interesting to know how many of you use "All Topics." Options are good things to have, eh? :O)

It doesn't bug me when newbies post in the wrong place but as I don't spend as much time in Trip Reviews as other forums, I know I miss stuff posted there. Figured others who might be able to offer help missed stuff there too.

I also don't look at 'all topics', just those countries I am interested in at the time or have recently visited where I might have something to add, or interesting titles on the main page. Even with that I probably spend way too much time here:)

I’ve advocated for just closing the reviews sections of these forums, almost everything can go as a trip review or else in the general country forums. It does seem like far too often misplaced questions end up here. I’m pretty active on these forums while job hunting and I don’t even make it down here too often.

I accidentally wrote “trip reviews” instead of “Italy reviews” as I frequent that a lot. The reason I questioned it was I came over here for reviews and all I was seeing was questions.