Trip report question...very confused...

[lillygator]

I am highly confused......what are the rules exactly regarding trip reports? I mean can no one respond to your posts? It has to be trip reporting cut and dry nothing else?

I guess I am not seeing the harm here.

If they are supposed to be "trip only" then why not make them "locked" to the OP so only the OP can respond to the posts?

 

[MommyPoppins]

I was wondering too. What's the harm....people encouraging you and being extra friendly is the reason we keep writing...otherwise why bother if you think no one is reading it and enjoying it....

 

[pumba]

I am only one of the trip report mods......but when a report goes on and on for hundreds or pages and has nothing to do with the initial report then it does not need to be here.....we were getting pms and emails from others that are intimidated by these....Others want to know why their reports only get a few replies.....BUT when a report goes sooooooo off topic that they do not talk about Disney except to make it "legal" it is closed.
If for some reason you dont' understand our reasoning please email us and we will try to explain more

 

[Frickles]

Lillygator I am glad you posted that question. I for one am sad that vettechick's report got closed. It was so long because she has so many fans. She was nice enough to answer questions and reply to people's comments....I didn't realize that could only be done through a pm or on another board. I hope this doesn't keep her from starting another one. It is one of the main reasons I keep coming back to the disboards!!!!

 

[Bonnie40]

So 'popular' trip reports get locked because a few people are disappointed and complain because their trip reports don't garner such popularity? Do they think that having them closed is going to get them more attention? I doubt it...

I've done trip reports...I don't profess to be an amazing writer and I don't expect a huge following after I've posted. To close vettechick's thread before she was done isn't fair just because she has lots of people posting to her's...

 

[lillygator]

But I would also think these harsher rules are intimidating to writers as well. Now I'll fear anyone posting in my thread....and how off topic can I go in my posts if they are still written while I am at Disney World?

Why would people complain about other trip reports - they are nasty posts? If you don't like long trip reports then don't read them!

I mean there are plently of non related threads in other areas. So basically - the squeaky wheel gets the oil....

As I said - if this is supposed to be strictly a forum for trip reports then can't they be made so only the OP can access to post?

Is there some other reason? I just don't understand....oh well...

 

[Bonnie40]

I'm going to keep going here...you've got my ire up!

I don't appreciate the comments that if we want to ask about this 'decision' we have to do it in 'private' by emailing one of the mod's. I don't think you realize how many people are disappointed and surprised at your 'decision' and trying to keep this on the QT probably isn't going to work. You must be very busy deleting a number of posts these days!

 

[lillygator]

I am only one of the trip report mods......but when a report goes on and on for hundreds or pages and has nothing to do with the initial report then it does not need to be here.....we were getting pms and emails from others that are intimidated by these....Others want to know why their reports only get a few replies.....BUT when a report goes sooooooo off topic that they do not talk about Disney except to make it "legal" it is closed.
If for some reason you dont' understand our reasoning please email us and we will try to explain more

so then why were vettechick's and others closed and not moved?

 

[lillygator]

also now that I think about it...I have had quite a few threads I have started on the CB and not many replies...if I complain to the mods will you start closing those threads that drag on and on about nothing? If we are going to have rules then shouldn't they be across the board?

 

[HunnyPots]

So 'popular' trip reports get locked because a few people are disappointed and complain because their trip reports don't garner such popularity? Do they think that having them closed is going to get them more attention? I doubt it...

I've done trip reports...I don't profess to be an amazing writer and I don't expect a huge following after I've posted. To close vettechick's thread before she was done isn't fair just because she has lots of people posting to her's...

If you'll re-read Pumba's post you'll see that wasn't what was said at all. I believe the point was that trip reports, like any other thread on any of the other topical boards, need to stay on topic and replies need to stay on topic as well.

Have a great day!

 

[pumba]

the main thing is when a report has NOTHING to do with a Disney trip after upteen million pages then it does not belong on the trip reports....it can go to the CB where chit chat can be.
I am not one for deleting or stopping a post.....If any of you remember I posted a few months ago about please keeping the trip reports TRIP REPORTS. That is all.
I have been moderating trip reports for over five years and these are the first ones that we have had an issue with.
Just to be a place where a trip report can give us the good bad and the ugly of Disney.
I did not mean to email me so we would not discuss it on the open boards. If for some reason this does not satisfy you . EMAIL administration and they can tell you

 

[lillygator]

I remember your post and I even emailed you since I was confused then as well...I don't want to do anything wrong in my trip reports. But what about planning your trip - I see that is now not considered trip report board material either?

We all can obviously see how popular some trip reports are..it's unfortunate that a few can ruin it for the whole bunch.

Pumba - I appreciate you taking the time to respond. I know many of us are just scratching our heads on this and will never be able to understand.

 

[pumba]

please......pre trip planning is not off topic on the trip reports. Some people start off and say we are going in three weeks and we have this planned or that planned....we are going to this restaurant or that one. People get excited about their trips too. I have lived thru other dis peoples reports before they go and after they come back. I am anxious to go so I read everyones pre and post trips....
This is an awesome board and I really enjoyed the reports before they got carried away. Understand that please.

 

[HaleyB]

I guess the thing is, no harm was really done. If some sour apples complained, well that is part of a Mod's job, to deal with unhappy people. But you don't let a few sour apples spoil things for everyone else. These threads are more than anything else Trip Reports. Sure there is also a lot of chit chat, but that is how we encourage the writter.

I remember Zurg and Delswife's reports. Those reports were chatty too, and that was 2 years ago. Of course they moved their reports to thelodge, maybe I understand why now.

I know I do not plan to write any more because of this. Or at least not on this board. I write trip reports because I want to share my trip, and if people can not reply and chat a little then I am not shareing, I am talking to myself. So I will copy what I have to the Community Board, but I think it is a shame.

I perdict that this board will just get a lot less use, and the already VERY busy CB will get even more bogged down.

 

[Marla Hellwig]

There seems to be some confusion on what the Trip Report board is.

In a nutshell, it is a trip report board. Our fellow Dis'ers and travcler's who have visited one of our favorite places and want to share their adventure.

We are not saying that we dont like trip reports - we love them!

We are not saying no one can post to your report - you can, but we wish for the comments to stay on topic.

And the topic is . . .

Walt Disney World Trip Reports

Basically there are 2 methods of doing a trip report - one post each installment in a separate post and if you wish, you can show all your installments as links - or you can have one post with all of your installments in that one post.

Some people like to read an installment as soon as it is posted, others wait until the Dis'er has completed all of his/her's installments and then read it all together.

We are also not saying that fellow readers can't respond - but what we wish is for is not several pages of what we call "general chit chat" that has nothing to do with the trip report.

It does make it hard if someone is looking for the next installment - or they read something in an installment but want to go back and re read it - and they can't find what they are looking for.

I can't tell you how much information I have learned from reading trip repots over the years and I mean years.

We are not playing favorites though to some it may seem like it.

We are just trying to make the Trip Report and the Dis a great place to hang out on.

Hope you all are having a great day!



Marla

 

[lillygator]

I guess it just seems now I have to worry about....a page limit...how long to finish a day....how many and if any people respond....things like that.....

 

[MommyPoppins]

There seems to be some confusion on what the Trip Report board is.

In a nutshell, it is a trip report board. Our fellow Dis'ers and travcler's who have visited one of our favorite places and want to share their adventure.

We are not saying that we dont like trip reports - we love them!

We are not saying no one can post to your report - you can, but we wish for the comments to stay on topic.

And the topic is . . .

Walt Disney World Trip Reports

Basically there are 2 methods of doing a trip report - one post each installment in a separate post and if you wish, you can show all your installments as links - or you can have one post with all of your installments in that one post.

Some people like to read an installment as soon as it is posted, others wait until the Dis'er has completed all of his/her's installments and then read it all together.

We are also not saying that fellow readers can't respond - but what we wish is for is not several pages of what we call "general chit chat" that has nothing to do with the trip report.

It does make it hard if someone is looking for the next installment - or they read something in an installment but want to go back and re read it - and they can't find what they are looking for.

I can't tell you how much information I have learned from reading trip repots over the years and I mean years.

We are not playing favorites though to some it may seem like it.

We are just trying to make the Trip Report and the Dis a great place to hang out on.

Hope you all are having a great day!



Marla

But since everyone's moving to the CB, I guess you failed. I think that MOST of us LIKE the little chit chat. In the midst of getting to know someone through their trip you get to know them through them writing it. We all like that.

 

[J and R's mom]

I understand your (the moderators') reasoning behind closing 1000th happyhaunt's thread (although I do not agree with the decision). And I think Mel handled that move graciously. Her trip report (the WDW part, anyway) was over.

HOWEVER, I DO NOT understand closing Vettechick99's thread. A warning was given, a person posted to subscribe, another posted and then the thread was closed. It seems like it was an unnecessary knee-jerk reaction to people complaining about Mel's thread being closed.

And poor Zzub, especially given his epilogue post, he's probably the next target. But I love and admire how he eloquently explained how all of the extraneous stuff can still be Disney related and meaningful to the experience as a whole.

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

For me, most of the fun comes from the feedback, and a lot of the feedback comes from the writer's digressions and asides.

Anyone can write, "I went to WDW with my family. We rode Splash Mountain. We got wet." But a writer with humor and panache keeps the readers coming back for more and keeps this board alive. What makes the trip report great is the facts...the background...the minutia.

I posted my first trip report not long ago. I admit I watched to see how many "views" I got. I got a little thrill when someone took the time out to send me an 'atta girl! Did I expect to have a following like Happyhaunt, Lala, Zzub, or Vettechick? No. Was I offended because someone read their trip report and not mine? NO. Heck, I would've never posted mine if I hadn't read theirs!

That's why there are a gazillion trip reports...there's something for everyone.

I understand what the moderators are saying. I respect you for just trying to do your job, and I admire you for maintaining a good attitude while being lambasted by us.

I had planned to use the TR I just posted as a launching pad for our upcoming big trip, including all the little trips we'll take before then, building up to the bash in October. But there's a lot of opportunities for off topic conversations between now and then, and, like lillygator said, it's a lot to worry about.

I will miss the shenanigans of Happyhaunt and her brood as they plan their next trip to WDW. I hope I get to find out what happened next on Vettechick's trip. And if you read Zzub's epilogue today, thanks for not locking his thread before that could be posted.

I don't want to miss lillygator, lala, horsegirl, momofmnm (I hope I spelled that right!), mommypoppins or anyone else's stories. They are all full of magic and pixie dust...and isn't that why we're all here to begin with?

Don't let a few bad apples spoil the whole bunch.

 

[OhMari]

But since everyone's moving to the CB, I guess you failed. I think that MOST of us LIKE the little chit chat. In the midst of getting to know someone through their trip you get to know them through them writing it. We all like that.

We are sorry, but we are only implementing the rules and guidelines that were set awhile ago. There was a time not so long ago, that Dis members were asked to keep replies to one line sentences, as not to bog down the whole system. Our administrator's over the years have found software and web designs enabling our posters to enjoy and read and post.


I am the newest co-moderator and I was very happy to receive the job, because I love reading Trip Reports-I have always said, I live through other people's vacations at WDW. I have posted that many times on people's reports. I don't get there as often as other people, and I find out that I learn something new all the time by reading what people do at WDW.

So we hope to see many more WDW Trip Reports on the Boards.

OhMari
Co-Moderator Trip Reports