My oldest is TripAdvisor. I’ve been on there 20 years, back to the days when they gave gifts for doing enough reviews - canvas bags, hats, luggage tags, etc. Alas no more. I often give advice for San Diego, track Seattle because son is there, and anywhere else I might be traveling.
Then the cruise boards - back when I was going on a cruise every few years, Cruise Critic. I’ve helped organize Roll Call get-togethers.
I joined Facebook because of a high school reunion that had a page, where I discovered the planners had been together for ages although my invitation came a month before the reunion. I only have a couple of dozen friends and use it mainly to post stuff for my memories. And to make albums.
I’m still on Twitter for the entertainment. It can still be useful with care; it was the main source for Comic-Con quick info. I tried Threads - boring - and jumped to BlueSky when everyone else did.
I’m on a tv board - PrimeTimer, last Previously.tv, and originally TWOP (Television WithOut Pity). It’s fun to read after new episodes air; lots of detail and background and such. And it’s been great for old streamed series. Some of the discussions really give me insight and understanding. I’ve been having fun reading the old Broadchurch threads. So many of the actors have become renowned in other roles if they weren’t already. Olivia Coleman made quite the impression! And the discussions can become humorous when people use other characters’ names - like Gwen and Jarvis talking to Rory.
Now I’m being dragged into Reddit, which has some very good and useful forums. It’s my current rabbit hole.
2 Likes
I still use my Tripadvisor canvas tote bag! I was very active there but it went really down hill about ten years ago. There was little to no moderation whatsoever and there we vicious people on the forums. Plus, no one ever looked at dates on reviews. I’m not kidding when I say that just recently, someone contacted me about a review I wrote for a tour we booked in China back in 2012!
3 Likes
My Facebook usage has declined dramatically, but it is still invaluable to me for township events and breaking news. If something is going on in our township, I am most likely to hear about it on FB. Several years ago we had a tornado come through our area (highly unusual for Philly) and it did extensive damage in the town next to us, just a mile away from our house. While we were huddled up in our interior bathroom (no basement) I was getting live on-the-ground updates on Facebook about where the tornado was and then what damage had occurred. After that experience, I would never give up my FB account as I realized how important it can be in an emergency. I also love our local Buy Nothing page, and we have a great local Recommendations page where I can get recommendations from neighbors for anything ranging from house cleaners, painters, carpenters, washing machine repair person, doctors, physical therapist, driving services to the airport, special event restaurants, etc etc. That page alone makes it worth slogging through the other junk that comes up. I also like FB for keeping up with far-away friends and family members, although I can also use Instagram for keeping those connections.
I left Twitter last November. Still have my account but refuse to open the app unless there is a really, really compelling reason to do so.
4 Likes
It really depends on the forum. San Diego and Seattle stay fairly civil and timely, although there are posters who ignore what the OP is actually asking and suggests alternates. . I’ve gotten to know what some posters will always recommend! I do report spam and advertising. The Yosemite forum was very helpful, and I’ve gotten some good advice from Sydney. For new locations, I’ll scan through posts from recent months to determine if they will be useful. I’ve just begun looking at the Reddit travel sub forums.
1 Like
Thanks for the mention of Prime Timer. I was a big TWOP follower back in the day, particularly the Amazing Race forums. I see they have a Gilded Age forum!!
———-
Adding to my list above -
I have been going to Reddit for tv and political forums.
Occasionally Next Door to see what’s riling up the locals.
And I do read Trip Advisor reviews and forums when we’re traveling somewhere new. The forums are hit or miss. The Chicago one is pretty good.
2 Likes
Oh yeah, NextDoor. Less and less useful, but they are good for finding out why police activity is in the area. And if I should keep an eye out for lost cats.
Husband was coming off the highway Sunday and ran into closed off streets and police cars blocking traffic. When he got home, I told him NextDoor didn’t know what happened but Reddit knew where and what the accident was.
1 Like
I’m in my mid-60s, and read reddit to see what students in my field are saying/worrying about, LinkedIn for my career, and FB to see what friends from long ago are up to. I only really post/comment on LinkedIn. I have a Strava account so I can follow my adult son’s training.
1 Like