Hi All,
I think this question is rather broad, and thus hard to answer, but I'll give it a try: What I like primarily about this community is how friendly, welcoming and just plain helpful it is. (When I first found it (a year and a half after I set out travelling), I immediately found myself thinking how much I wished I'd known it before I started travelling.) More than almost any other type of forum, I think a travel forum gets a lot of people who post a few questions and are gone again the next day, not really hanging around. Yet despite this migratory aspect, (almost all of) the regular members who do hang around don't tend to exhibit signs of 'superiority'; there's (almost) no telling off new members for being clueless, there's (almost) no "read the FAQ" or "search for yourself" answers. Instead, people here take the time, again and again, to help answer questions individually. And though regular members too have come and gone, this helpful atmosphere has remained an unwavering part of the community for the last seven years. I do wish we had a bit of a broader base of regular members, with knowledge about more countries / subjects, but overall the community is just awesome.
What I personally get out of my continued contributions to the community is mostly the "pay-it-forward" feelgood vibe. I have done a lot of research about and travelling in certain countries, and so I can answer questions and give advice about those countries in a few minutes, while the people who asked the question would otherwise need hours of research time to arrive at the same point. That means they'll have hours of extra time, some of which (I hope) they'll spend in turn answering questions about some other subject matter about which they know a lot; I know at least that I have benefited from other people's knowledge on other forums. I also like that we can help instill confidence in people who're wavering if they are up to travelling or not, and that we provide a commiserative audience when someone comes down with the travel blues.
Every so often someone I've helped also goes out of their way to send me a personal thank you, which helps me to keep realizing that the work really is appreciated.
Hi Sander,
Thank you so much for your reply. It is so insightful, and to be honest, exactly the type of response I was hoping to get. You have really given me a feel for what the community is about.
I appologise for my broad question, I was a little bit worried that it would be a bit of a turn off, but I didnt want to steer peoples responses in any particular direction, so thank you for taking the time to reply.
I must say, I can relate to what you have said, being a member of the community for about 2 weeks now, I have observed how the community offers help, advice and support to its member.
Like you , I too wish I had discovered this community when I first went travelling. I have done some independant travelling over the years, and can see how the community is so supportive to members taking the daunting first steps into the big bad world.
Can I ask your permission to use your reply in my research?
Thanks again,
Stodwag
Sander really did hit the proverbial nail on the head with his response. Anyway, for me, that is...
I found TP while researching information for a trip to Panama in 2005. I had joined other forum sites and found them to be either snobbish or just rude. I asked several specific questions and yet told to be more specific or do my own research. Ahhh, I thought I was doing my own research by asking my questions - I wasn't vague on what information I was requesting. Most of the other forums were very clique-ish in nature which didn't appeal to me.
When I found TP, I felt comfortable with the atmosphere. Though the one answer to my Panama question came in while I was in Panama, I still came back to this site because I felt I could help others with information taken from our trip. I also found I could be of help in several other areas, especially health-related inquiries because of my previous career (in that industry).
As Sander stated, 'regulars' to this site do come and go, but not as frequently as on others. Even when someone has 'stepped away', they have made strong bonds with particular members and make a point to stay in touch. Sometimes, it even brings a member back. I can attest to that on a personal level. We may not hear from someone for months at a time and then viola - they start posting again. It amazes me the number of replies I read that say, "I know I've been gone for awhile and I apologize. Real life got in the way". Everyone has a 'real life' and we're just happy they remembered their password.
TP is strong because of it's ability to 'control' the spam, inflammatory remarks and all the other things people dislike about other sites. It truly is a community of travelers (experienced and inexperienced) helping each other daily. I also get personal messages thanking me for what little help I may have given someone.
Can I ask your permission to use your reply in my research?
Sure.
Hi Isadora,
Thanks for your reply, I really appreciate your feedback.
TP really does have a friendly atmosphere compared to other forums.
I am new to the online community world, and having checked out a few different forums before deciding to join TP. I have noticed alot of the rude behaviour you mentioned on other forums, but that does not seem to be the case on TP.
Having said that, I'm not sure I would have recieved such helpful replies to my research question on another forum, so for that I thank you.
There is a real sence of 'giving back' to the community, I guess it is in travellers natures to help each other out.
Can I ask your permission to use your reply in my research?
Thanks again
Stodwag
Thanks for your consent Sander, I appreciate your help
Can I ask your permission to use your reply in my research?
Thanks again
Stodwag
Yes, you may and good luck with your project.
Thanks so much Isadora, I really appreciate your help.
0 Response to "Calling all TP members!!!!!"
Post a Comment