930

Yes, you're sitting at your computer, all eager to help, only to find the latest batch of questions simply don't meet your standards... asking where do I buy a ticket on a travel branch... the nerve of some people...

931

Andreas...do you know if the RTW/Gap Year branch is ready to come back?
It was announced a couple of days ago but hasn't appeared yet.....

932

Off topic Andreas at post 932.
Banter is not travel related. Please see terms and conditions.

933

Andreas, it's not the quality of the questions that's overly concerning in itself, I agree. But two things: if all the questions are vague, experienced travellers will get bored with them, and won't answer (as Viv shows), and that will bring reputational damage. And, more importantly, if the experienced travellers aren't hanging around, it negatively affects the quality, as well as quantity of responses. There is, for example, a question about teaching in the UK from someone who qualified overseas, and the one response is a link to a easily google-able site. A similar question last year had a whole pile of replies from people who had experience of how the system works, as they'd done it.

Of course, many of those replies were from WT regulars...

934

Oooooh, I fibbed. It now has three replies, including one from Viv.

935

vivienne, I absolutely agree about the UK forum, whereas the Australian one where I also regularly post doesn't seem to have changed too much.

It's only a matter of time I think before the regulars all give up.

Daily Mail perhaps?

936

asking where do I buy a ticket on a travel branch... the nerve of some people.

Haha - if they don't know THAT, we shouldn't tell them.
With that level of hand-holding needed, it's safer if they stay at home and only go shopping with mummy :>))

937

#932...try and stay on topic. Humor and lambasting other posters will not be tolerated....

938

Lucapal, RTW/Gap Year branch... haven't heard anything more lately but I imagine when it's ready it will return.

939

Well look, lets get realistic.
What country is the OP in? That will affect where they are directed to start looking.
What is their budget? That will affect the type of ticket, where they can go and how long they can travel for.
Where do they want to go? Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Australia, NZ, the north pole.... the choices are endless. Does the OP want to go to off the beaten track locations or major cities? Will they be camping? Backpacking? 5* hotels in every country?
What languages does the OP speak? Have they looked into immunisations? Do they want to cuddle wolves, tigers, lions or orphans on their travels? Do they want to hit every major nightclub in the world? How about lying on a beach, climbing mountains, using public transport, having a private driver, seeing religious artefacts, seeing historical sites or only getting smashed off their face in Thailand at Full Moon parties?

Andreas was quick to get a jab in when I said that I find this sort of question frustrating, but the fact remains that engaging with people on the forum can only come about when there is something to engage with. If people can't be bothered to google the basics about how to buy a plane ticket, then mod help us all.

If the OP hasn't even left their own country before, I hope they'll come back here and add in a few more details about their hopes for their future travels so that we can actually give positive assistance to them for their endeavours. Because otherwise this site is going to crash quicker than a plane which its nose whacked off.

940

LP gave Trip Adviser a Christmas present.

941

The US Branch is pretty much back to normal, with most of the regulars returned, even Willysnout.

And, yes, with the same vague questions. "I'm going to the US next year. What should I see? Can you suggest some good hotels?" And the regulars patiently request the same details, again and again, recognizing that there will always be naive newbies, who need to be shown how to get good answers. Why not help them, instead of having them give up and go elsewhere because "TT is useless"?

Most come back with details when asked and then the thread takes off.

942

I have a feeling that those sorts of posters are 18-24, inexperienced travelers, and have not realized just how big & diverse the world is. They do seem to be genuinely surprised that most of the respondents are OLD (you know, like over 30) and that many respondents are not from their home country. Give yourself a vacation/holiday from answering; let somebody else take the load.

943

thanks Andreas, yes, right, the advanced search shows over a thousand posts. But not for example my thread Erg Chebbi and Erg Chigaga (if I am not blind and missed it only :) ). There shows many posts about ergs, but not this my :) I would be happy if it can be back because it was useful information for them who cannot decide which erg they would visit.

944

Re: the newbies with irritatingly basic queries. I grit my teeth, try to remember when I was totally untraveled, and suggest they, "Look up all past posts relating to the subject on this branch; then get back to us for more specific questions." ---- and sometimes, sadly, I ignore them.
As for Trip Advisor: too many posters with middle-class, N. American expectations and complaints, i. e. "My $50/night, double occupancy, guest house in Jamaica didn't have a private phone in the room, a large tv and pool." Drives me nuts.