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Post by Don Cuevas on May 22, 2013 19:07:50 GMT
Seems to be unavailable again. LP is killing off TT in a series of blunders.
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Post by anshjain97 on May 24, 2013 12:05:31 GMT
They're simply not reactivating my profile which was working fine until a week ago. Are they facing a staff crunch? It's obvious if TT isn't a profitable venture...wonder if they're actually gradually shutting it... but then it has an affiliated brand image.
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Post by anshjain97 on May 24, 2013 14:49:43 GMT
Update: my profile has been reactivated.
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2013 18:46:17 GMT
I am getting tired of the TT with all of its outages and bullshit, but I have not yet completely given up on them due to my sentimental attachment -- it was my very first travel site. But it is very true that my visits to the TT have dropped about 90% over the years.
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Post by waterhazardjack on May 24, 2013 22:19:00 GMT
I am getting tired of the TT with all of its outages and bullshit, but I have not yet completely given up on them due to my sentimental attachment -- it was my very first travel site. But it is very true that my visits to the TT have dropped about 90% over the years. That's almost exactly how I feel, Kerouac. You could also add the recent censorship and elimination of the important and useful PM system. I've curtailed myself to a once-a-week, approx one hour visit now with short, pertinent answers to a handful of queries...then I respond to any updates on these threads during the week. A far cry from the 30-60 minutes I used to spend there each night until Christmas, just gone...
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2013 10:22:56 GMT
I remember the distress of when they used to close the Thorn Tree for two weeks during Christmas while they were on holiday! I would be sitting there counting the days until it reopened. WTF? It's true that now they could just open for a couple hours a week and that would be enough.
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Post by anshjain97 on May 27, 2013 4:25:35 GMT
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Post by bjd on May 27, 2013 7:21:24 GMT
It's indeed a mess. Your posts had appeared when I just checked, Ansh. I'm having the same nonsense: repeated attempts to sign in, appearances and disappearances of recent posts.
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Post by anshjain97 on May 27, 2013 7:25:20 GMT
Oh...that post didn't appear. And I'm sure it won't.
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2013 8:00:32 GMT
I recently had a post not appear after moderation on the food branch! And I was talking about food.
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Post by rikita on May 27, 2013 8:57:58 GMT
it would be interesting to get a view on the issue of some lp staff and tt moderators when they don't have the fear that their bosses might read along (like in that thread asked about their work)...
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Post by anshjain97 on May 27, 2013 11:38:34 GMT
Frankly, if I were them, I would be worried. Falling sales, failing TT- a good travel forum is necessary to keep a brand image in this industry. Besides, the latest guidebook style has impressed few. Here in India at least, Time Out guides are significantly cheaper than LP- and while LP has introduced their "For Indian travellers" series, I don't think there is a strong demand for travel guides as most Indians travel by group tour or strong much support from travel agencies and local tours. Although, yes, I know the price differential is much lower in many other countries.
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Post by anshjain97 on May 28, 2013 8:40:57 GMT
You're right, bjd. That post has appeared. I did not notice it earlier.
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Post by gabriele on May 28, 2013 9:33:57 GMT
The problems with having to sign in to post when I'm already signed in is only getting worse...giving me absolutely no reason to even try to assist anyone...and can I complain to the mods? Of course not, I can't sign in to post.
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Post by anshjain97 on May 28, 2013 9:47:34 GMT
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Post by bjd on May 28, 2013 10:57:45 GMT
I have noticed that when I try to sign in it doesn't work. Then I go back to the TTforum page and click on the post again. I get the answer box and then it works. You really need to want to post to go throught such hassle though.
Then it stays open and available all day, which it wasn't doing a few days ago. Go figure.
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Post by anshjain97 on May 29, 2013 6:43:16 GMT
Anyone noticing problems with TT? It's just not loading.
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Post by bjd on May 29, 2013 7:30:52 GMT
Actually, this morning it is working better. When I went to answer a post, it worked immediately and my recent posts turned up as the answer posted.
TT moves in mysterious ways.
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Post by anshjain97 on May 29, 2013 8:43:21 GMT
Oh ok- it's now working fine for me as well .
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Post by anshjain97 on May 29, 2013 9:57:45 GMT
Now going to the TT home page is going 404 errors but going to a poster's profile is no problem. And from there one can access the branches or threads...
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Post by nautiker on May 30, 2013 10:49:14 GMT
wasn't that server change meant to be 'communicated' in advance?
wonder whether that move will have an effect on terms and conditions, too...
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Post by gabriele on May 31, 2013 20:17:17 GMT
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Post by gabriele on May 31, 2013 20:35:58 GMT
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Post by anshjain97 on Jun 1, 2013 2:48:22 GMT
Thanks, Gabriele.
I really wonder if Zabba is leaving or has been asked to leave. In any case, this probably reeks of gradually reducing investment in TT.
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Post by gabriele on Jun 1, 2013 9:28:35 GMT
Hi Ansh,
If I had to guess, I think I would guess that he's chosen to leave...had enough of it..and probably has enough experience to get a good job. I hope it was his choice. But then, we don't know how much responsibility he's had for what is done and what isn't done. Of course it's going to make for interesting questions when it comes to job interviews....
"So, Mr. Zabba, you did what at TT? And what did this accomplish? Can you provide information on how much profit you generated for your company? No? Well, then, how did they measure your productivity and accomplishments? Could you describe the business model for the company and how you and your group functioned within that? I see. You were not aware of the company's business model or if they had one, and if they had one, who was responsible for it and how it might affect the work you did? And how did you get the TT job Mr Zabba? A friend of a friend, I see. Basic knowledge of geography, regular typing skills, able to follow basic instructions and willingness to take charge of the coffee making was considered extra qualifications? Yes, I can see why they'd select you. And now you're looking for a challenge, an opportunity for growth with a forward looking company and salary commensurate with your experience. Now Mr. Zabba...oh, Mr Zabba isn't your legal name, it's the name you used at TT and it's how you're best known. I see. Oh, you're saying I can verify you worked there by looking at the site and seeing all your posts. Yes, that is handy. And you're particularly pleased with the "No Business Accounts" post that has its own place on the page. No one else has accomplished that. Is that during the time you've worked there? Ever? No one else has ever accomplished that? Well, Zabba' if I may call you that, that really is quite an achievement. I don't know if our company could even approach the possibility of your making your mark here in such an impressive way. Yes, I can see how you would be proud of it. Did a screen shot and framed it for your room at home? Yes, I might have done that myself. I'm sure your mother is very proud of you. Yes, yes, we'll call you if we have an opening that might suit your qualifications, thanks so much for coming in, it's been a pleasure. "
I hope Zabba wouldn't be offended by my attempt at humor...it's really about TT, not about him.
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Post by anshjain97 on Jun 1, 2013 9:56:06 GMT
LOL.
Really though I wonder if the person behind Zabba is just asked to make a new account and start off fresh, whatever purpose that might serve.
And I would guess he knew enough about company policy as a person in his position in the chain of command should- but of course I have no idea. Indeed- he may have, if he really has made the decision to leave.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2013 4:55:53 GMT
I don't think that anybody can actually make a career out of being a moderator (or it would be very sad if they did). (However, it might be a good job for someone with severe physical handicaps.) Of course this means that all of the best mods probably leave the fastest.
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Post by gabriele on Jun 2, 2013 5:06:53 GMT
I didn't really mean it to be about the real Zabba...but more like a cartoon character...I think my real criticism was directed at the people (management) in charge. I've tried to figure out exactly what the mods did/do...because they're not IT people...and they spend more time telling us 'no' instead of telling us useful stuff...
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Post by anshjain97 on Jun 2, 2013 5:50:10 GMT
If I really had to guess what their work actually was, I'd say, just moderating over the forum, posting any announcements or notices, handling special requests by users and communicating the company's forum/community policy, or policy change, to users. As well as communicating with the tech team back office.
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Post by nutraxfornerves on Jun 3, 2013 16:43:17 GMT
I had the pleasure of meeting Zabba last year when he was in California. Intelligent, funny, and better looking than his profile picture. Very level-headed as well. He was indeed passionate about TT. He'd come to appreciate it and its specialness more and more as he worked with it. (He also handles LP's Facebook & Twitter stuff.) He particularly mentioned that he had learned to appreciate it from the viewpoint of the users--that an important thing was the user experience, something not always understood by management.
Nutrax
The plural of anecdote is not data.
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