Trip report question...very confused...

[1000thhappyhaunt]

You know what... it's cool with me. That you locked my thread down. 'Cause I would have just kept writing and chatting and yada-ing up the ying yang. It WAS off topic... especially the Gore: The Bloody Aside... or was it Blood: The Gory Aside? No matter.

Anywho... there are rules. Guidelines and whatnot. I understand completely in my case because... I WAS FINISHED! I was. I was just playing.

Sooooo... now I'm playing over on the Community Board. I am going to finish my Hospital Story: Gore, Bloody, Bloody Gore... over there. I have no hard feelings and I will be back in May. To haunt this board some more. Cheers, Mel.

But, please don't lock ZZUB's. He's the Man!!!!

 

[paslea_pooh]

Quite honestly I don't understand what you would be doing in vettechicks TR if you weren't interested in reading it? Why would a reader go into a thread if they weren't interested in what the writer had to say?

For those who feel "bad" b/c their TR didn't get as much attention, well then basically tough. This isn't a popularity contest and it isn't High School for the love of Walt!!

I'm sad to see vettechicks TR closed, we are dedicated readers/stalkers/fans/whatever! We love the way she writes, it makes us wish we were at Disney. It makes us feel like we are there with her when she is explaining the Adventurers Club... I feel like I'm drinking those Jaegar Bombs with her!! Isn't that what the Trip Report board is all about?

Why is it so bad to encourage her, to remind her that there are people out in this world that are waiting for her next report and are trying to go about their lives in a functional way until we get that next one... which makes us want even more and makes us laugh and chuckle and forget about the worries of life!!

I think we need to look at what the harm in things are.... what was the harm in allowing that thread to go on... Some people just need to complicate things b/c their lives are so pathetic... For those of you complaining that no one is reading your threads.. well I wonder why!

I'm really DISappointed... I hope she starts another one

 

[1000thhappyhaunt]

Maybe could you re-open Vettechick's? Just so she can finish?

I promise to play real nice. So will everyone else. I'm betting.

 

[Marla Hellwig]

We do not lock posts based on most posts or popularity or for any other reason - except for straying so far off topic that is is not a trip report any more, or the trip report is finished and there are page and pages and pages of stuff that doesn't even pertain to the trip report.

If you feel that you don't want share your trip report or finish your current one - that is your decision that only you can make.

 

[luvpooh]

I've been very confused and disappointed with what's been going on. I echo HaleyB's sentiments, and just wanted to add that it's a shame that a lot of the trip report stuff is going to have to move over to the Community Board now. A prime example, the pre-trip report that javamom started that got moved over to the CB has long been lost.
The CB is so fast-moving, and IMHO, very intimidating. The TR board seemed so friendly and fun, whereas if you post on the CB, as a not-often poster, it seems like you're ignored and your posts sink to the bottom, or you're a thread killer.
I also don't understand why DixieAmos' TR's are allowed, and even now on pg 1, they're not real, so in essence, shouldn't they be moved too?

 

[lillygator]

I remember reading a TR when one responder posted something to the effect "thanks for writing a short and to the point report I hate reading all those excessive stories".....so this must be a domino effect....

I for one don't like the short and we came we saw we got the shirt and went home threads....but obviously I am in the minority as we can all see that the one liners get the job done according to the rules.

 

[Bonnie40]

.....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.....

After this I'm done and back at the CB...

So you're saying that this doesn't have anything to do with the fact that a few people are upset because they're 'intimidated' and are disappointed because they don't get the people following that vettechick does?

'Intimidated' is a pretty strong word...For the life of me I can't understand why someone would go to the trouble to 'rat' on someone else. If you don't enjoy someone's trip report, no one's forcing you to read it!

I think Mel and Vettechick have been gracious about this whole situation and paslea-pooh...your post was bang on!

 

[Cynt]

I'm in the minority here but it's all good. I totally agree w/ the moderators. Stay on point. When the TR goes off in left field I stop reading. (No, I didn't complain.) I want the meat and potatoes. A little gravy and green beans now and then is fine but stick w/ the main course. I don't mind an appetizer and some dessert but keep it all w/in context.

I also have a suggestion for the moderators/administrators. I'm also a cruise addict and you might want to check out some of their cruise forums and the method they use to submit reviews. You must submit your whole review at one time. The cruise reports are listed by title, submitter and date of trip. This prevents trip reports from being lost/deleted and they're easy to go back to and locate for important information. This keeps everyone on point and when you know you have to submit your whole report at one time, it may be long and detailed but it will stay on point. You can email/PM the submitter w/ questions and such. I think it's an awesome way to keep everything organized and neat.

 

[paslea_pooh]

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

I appreciate the job of the mods... but who is to say that a trip has to be told in 2 pages,4, or 8.... some of the better writers have this stuff flowing from them... that's why it's pages and pages and pages long...for the chit chat between people responding, I agree that it should go to the CB but for an OP who is writing their trip report they can not control that... I think more than one "warning" should be given. Out of respect for the person who is putting their heart and soul into sharing their trip with the rest of us...more than one warning should be given.

For those who only get a few replies for your trip report, well, I don't know exactly what I can say. Some people are gifted writers and others aren't..it doesn't mean that people didn't enjoy your report. I think everyone needs to lighten up a whole lot... we've got men and woman in Iraq fighting for this country - where freedom of speech is our right.

 

[Alysa]

First - a big thank you to the moderators for making the Trip Reports board my favourite place to go on the internet!
Second - would you consider reopening VetteChick's post and moving it to the community board instead? So many DVC posts get moved when they are not on topic - isn't this the same thing?

Maybe in future there could be a sub category for Trip Reports and rambling posts could be put there. "Trip Ramblings"!

 

[patrokls]

I don't think it matters how long the trip report is, so long as it's about the trip. I think the problem here is that VetteChick hadn't posted an update in a month and the thread was being kept alive with "chit-chat". Same with 1000thHappthaunt her trip report(which I loved) ended a couple weeks ago, but was being kept alive with unrelated "chit-chat". Keep the report and the comments on topic and I don't think the Mods will have a problem with it. Of course I could be wrong.

 

[MommyPoppins]

I've been very confused and disappointed with what's been going on. I echo HaleyB's sentiments, and just wanted to add that it's a shame that a lot of the trip report stuff is going to have to move over to the Community Board now. A prime example, the pre-trip report that javamom started that got moved over to the CB has long been lost.
The CB is so fast-moving, and IMHO, very intimidating. The TR board seemed so friendly and fun, whereas if you post on the CB, as a not-often poster, it seems like you're ignored and your posts sink to the bottom, or you're a thread killer.
I also don't understand why DixieAmos' TR's are allowed, and even now on pg 1, they're not real, so in essence, shouldn't they be moved too?

??????? Someone is writing fake TRs????? Are you serious?

 

[luvpooh]

yes, someone writes them about a fictional family (I think it's actually 2 people that write them together) and I'm sure they have some basis for reality, i.e. they've visited the parks in the past, but it's all fabricated and posted under the character's name...
so if we're splitting hairs here, wouldn't those be OT as well?
IDK why I'm spending so much time dwelling on this, I got virtually no work done today as a result...back to reality (real reality that is).

 

[TLinden16]

My co-moderators have been so kind to explain all this already but I would just like to add my two cents.

The trip reports that the moderators decided to close weren't closed because the trip reports were long, or because they were popular. They were closed because the posts on the threads had strayed so far off topic, and seemed to reach an almost cliqueish feel with a few posters using it to share stories and chit chat about nothing having to do with the original poster's trip report, nor the trip report itself.

We're not trying to keep any poster from posting their trip report. 1000thHappyHaunt, VetteChick, and anyone else is more than welcome to start a new thread to share a trip report or pre-trip report regarding their trip to Walt Disney World. We love reading them. We encourage everyone to write about their trips to Disney World--the trip report would be nothing without you, the posters who post your trip reports, and the posters who post feedback on those reports. And those trip reports are still available for reading, you just can't post on them anymore.

The problem with the big long threads with lots of idle chit chat in them is it makes it hard to find the actual trip report. If there are several pages of random non-Disney World related posts in betwen the trip report segments, it becomes difficult to follow.

And we certainly encourage posters to provide feedback on others trip reports. If you think someone did a great job on their trip report, please let them know! If you have question about what they did, where they ate, or what they thought of something that is part of their trip, then please, go ahead and ask. If you want to know more about their kids, their pets, their shoe size, or other personal information, please take it to private message.

And pre-trip reports are certainly welcome and encouraged, as well. But a pre-trip report should include information about the planning of your actual trip. In the case of Javamom's thread, while she called it a pre-trip report, it didn't really have anything about planning a trip to Disney World.

The trip report board is for reports about planning and experiencing a trip to Disney World. Trips to the hospital, your daughter's dance recital, your Aunt Edna's 80th birthday party, etc. are not on topic for a Disney World trip report (unless of course they occur on your Disney trip).

Are we going to lock threads because there is one or two off topic posts, no we aren't, but you will probably see a friendly reminder from one of us. If it becomes a continual problem on a particular thread, then we will have to act upon it.

Please know that all of the moderators on the trip report board love Disney. We love hearing about your trips. We love sharing our trips with you. We're doing what we feel we need to do to help make the trip report board the best trip report board on the web.

And we can't do that without all of you.

 

[lillygator]

I am sorry but it seems different rules for ......whatever....it's fine that the Budget Board has WAY off topics or whatever else....I can't believe we are splitting hairs over this....you plain lovers seem to have won....guess we have to totally tone down or do away with the fun and exciting reports.


(no inspiration left to finish or continue trip reporting or planning......)

 

[lillygator]

The problem with the big long threads with lots of idle chit chat in them is it makes it hard to find the actual trip report. If there are several pages of random non-Disney World related posts in betwen the trip report segments, it becomes difficult to follow.

Vettechick not only provided the updated trip report page in her title but on her main post as well.... I am so sorry I won't get to finish her trip with her....

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

It seems like the mods aren't opposed to long trip reports or lots of replies at all, just when things go way off topic. For instance, if the author posted something like "Hey guys, I can't update for a while because I'm really busy at my job as a lion tamer, but I'll be back soon!" and then people reply "Wow, you're a lion tamer? My cousin used to train tigers for magic shows!" and three pages later, everyone is still discussing lions and tigers and bears (oh my!). Fun, yes! Trip related? Not so much.

It doesn't look like they have a problem with on topic replies, like "Wow, Everest looks cool!" or "I can't believe you survived a trip with eighteen teenagers!" or "Hey, I'd sell my firstborn for some zebra domes, too!" (Oh man, zebra domes! I miss you!)

 

[lillygator]

But so what??? I still do not see what the big hairy deal is? Look at all the other areas of the board which have so unrelated topics.....

 

[SoNotAPrincess]

I truly get what the mods are saying, and I think Poly Princess made their point for them quite well.

I'm just not buying it. I believe this is a case of a few squeaky wheels getting the grease. I wonder how many complaints were made about the trip reports that were closed.

And, if you click on a TR that you don't want to follow FOR WHATEVER THE REASON, then how 'bout this: don't click on it again.

I don't care to read a fake trip report, no matter how charming or well written it is, so I don't open those threads. There are too many excellent REAL trip reports out there. But I'm not moaning and groaning about all those threads taking up space on a trip report board when it should be on a "Disney Fiction" board.

It's ridiculous. Nobody has to read anything they don't want to read. As for the comment that it's difficult to find the OPs updates. Poppycock. Posters' names are larger than life and easy to spot as you scroll through the list.

 

[MommyPoppins]

yes, someone writes them about a fictional family (I think it's actually 2 people that write them together) and I'm sure they have some basis for reality, i.e. they've visited the parks in the past, but it's all fabricated and posted under the character's name...
so if we're splitting hairs here, wouldn't those be OT as well?
IDK why I'm spending so much time dwelling on this, I got virtually no work done today as a result...back to reality (real reality that is).

How do you know? I mean, I only glanced at those reports...and the replies and no one said anything about it being fake....not calling you a liar. Just wondering why in the heck you'd make up a trip report and why in the heck that's allowed?