Originally Posted by Spiff
Thank you. Other than the "all mighty" part, that is exactly what we ask if anyone wants a new forum. It's not that difficult.
As a TalkBoard member, I personally disagree with regards to the degree of the burden of proof that the TalkBoard, as reported by Spiff, requires. Feel free to call me a dissenter on this one, but while I agree that "wouldn't it be nice" should not be enough when asking for a new forum, it seems to me personally that we might just put up too much of a hurdle. I could understand if some members felt that we are more interested in preventing a forum than just giving it a try. Personally, I am in the "in a case of doubt, give it a try, while getting rid of obviously underused fora" camp.
Originally Posted by RioFF
Acually Spiff, streets are built in anticipation of traffic not based on the fact that traffic is already going somewhere where a street doesn't already exist.
Sometimes, a little logic is required. I think most people would agree that a budget travel forum would make a lot more sense than a traveling with furniture forum.
Yes, I agree, I am one of those. "Traveling with furniture"? Let me politely say... huh?
Originally Posted by Dovster
You are right, of course. The ironic part is that some TalkBoard members will see this as proof that this forum is not needed.
On one hand, they demand to see the kind of threads which would appear in the forum. On the other, if shown threads which were correctly posted, they will say that this shows the current system is working.
Well, I have to say that I can understand that it must at least look like this to a lot of members, even if it is not meant to be like that...not sure I see what purpose this serves, unless one sees "preservation of status quo" as a valid purpose
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Specifically, my own quick thoughts with regard to a backpacking/budget travel forum:
There are A LOT of people who start with a rather vague idea of their destination - let's say, a young American couple who want to go on a backpacking trip through Europe - not a particular country, but Europe. They may not have thought their itinerary through, but they may have a lot of "newbie questions". I think a forum like this could be good for them. Vice versa, a lot of younger Europeans (who might have never been to the USA) might have a lot of questions about how they could do "USA on a budget". I don't think there is currently a forum that would fit their needs.
Also, regarding the assertion that budget accomodations tend to be a means to the destination, rather than the destination themselves - I think this is just as true for any travel, and, at least in my opinion, not a reason to be against a budget travel forum.
Finally, what I think could be the most important argument for the creation of a backpacking/budget travel forum:
I think it could somewhat extend the target group of Flyertalk. Most current fora are not really tailored to younger people who are not very affluent. But there are a lot of young people who don't have much money, or travel enough to be tied to a particular chain, but still love to travel, and why not open Flyertalk more to them. Flyertalk can only benefit from this - many people in marketing would probably agree that "Catch them young" has worked many times before
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