Idle banter forum

Hi all, intersting post this. My own experience of Travelfish is I have been a member for a couple of years now.I personally don.t have much time for the idle banter and the politics of it all but that's just me.Over time I have seen some members come into this forum with a fairly negative perspective.My response is no response.I whole heartedly agree with Somtam's view that if it's not constructive don't bother.Wether this site morphs from independent travel advice to S.E asia to more a blog based site requiring a number of moderators is not for me to say.Personally I would find that regrettable and a loss for most of us.Maybe there needs to be just a tad more restraint.
regards
swag

A couple of years ago when researching a trip to India I tried to use Thorn Tree. However, the forum had a large number of regular posters who were rude to newbies, childish, patronising, arrogant, reckoned they knew it all. After I'd found a forum called India Mike (similar to Travelfish) I never went back to Thorn Tree.

Travelfish is an excellent resource and very useful for travellers; the majority of posters are well-mannered and considered. Some aren't, but I suppose that was why the Culture and Politics part of the site was started, so they could fight in there.

Maybe, a further new part of the site needs to opened. Like in Monty Python it could be called 'Room for an Argument'. Bruce would be in there all day :)

Stuart

You wrote...

"I can't believe I even need to say this, creating fake accounts so that a member can have conversations with themself, will not be tolerated."

I trust this is generic, and not pointed at me. Coz it'd be a factually groundless crap assertion otherwise.

"patronising and abusive posts are not welcome on Travelfish. It is not hard really, if you have nothing constructive to say, then don't say anything."

As you've noticed, and as I've written, a robust presentation has its place. I've also suggested to you that there are - in my view - means by which 'newby' questioners can be helped to undertake appropriate research BEFORE asking questions. As I've elsewhere written, allowing idiot questions without then seeking to promote user-self-research as a minimum standard encourages a dumbing down of this wonderful site. If that's our preference, sobeit.

There is a large implication in your comment...

"All I have to say about the above is that BruceMoon's view of what constitutes constructive participation in Travelfish is considerably at odds to mine."

Either you don't like my participation (and would prefer I go away), or you'd prefer ppl adopted a form akin to your view. To this point, I don't see where you have articulated what you consider to be constructive participation (other than express what you don't like).

As noted above, maybe its time to both set a 'standard' for what constitutes a reasonable question for Travelfish, and at the same time indicate what you consider to be the criteria for constructive participation.

Cheers

ahh, Your the boss Somtaam! ;)

But that last line was actually the main point of my post I think. never mind.


Maybe, unlike some (what was it you called them Bruce?) "gutless clowns" I should be more direct from now on.

I think it is important to remember that this website is the result of thousands and thousands of hours of Somtam's effort. It is his baby, his creation, and he gets to say how things will be.

Somtam has said that new posters are welcome to ask any question they choose and should be free to do so in an abuse-free environment. That should be the end of the discussion.

Personally, the reason I've stuck around for as long as I have on this message board is exactly that sense of community Somtam mentions as well as the remarkable lack of patronizing, abusive posts over the years. I'm delighted to see that those positive, friendly values are again being emphasized. Thanks Stuart. Regards.

Can I just get this straight Bruce. You think TF would be a lot better if it featured:

1. Systematic comment, criticism and denigration of other people's ideas and opinions AKA "robust debate".

2. Newbies being prevented from asking any questions on the forum until they'd done their homework (Some kind of entrance exam before they can join the forum perhaps?)

3. Newbies who've been let in then having their sweated-over itineraries picked to pieces and being called namby pambies if they object to being talked down to by experts like Bruce Moon.

4. Getting called a "gutless clown" if your "robust debate" happens to be aimed at Bruce Moon rather than a newbie.


Bruce you are onto a real winner here. I suggest you go and start your own travel site so you can implement all these splendid ideas.

Come back in five years to let us know how it's going so that Somtam can kick himself he didn't listen to you! ;-)