Am I being rude?

[tammar]

I always see posts about "TA"'s. Apparently no one names their travel agents.
I am new here so I was wondering why no one names their travel agents. Are we not supposed to do that on this web site? We have a great TA. Are we not allowed to name our TA's or is it that no one does.

I would like to know as to not upset anyone. Honestly, I am curious. I have read about many so called good deals, but don't knows who they used. It seems that we are allowed so much info, but not ta's. Please let me know what is accepted here.

[tomc]

Mention of specific TA's is not allowed on this board. Check the "Guidelines" tab up above.

[Globaliser]

Most Internet message boards like this one have strict rules along these lines, because of the potential for misuse for disguised advertising. We always have to remember that we get our information and fun here for "free", but it's only free because of the advertisers who do pay CC. If people could advertise for free by just posting on the boards, it would jeopardise their availability or at least their availability for free.

If you want to get a taste of what can be done through misuse, have a look on the Europe forum for the threads about the unscrupulous local tour guides in Kusadasi who have been copying genuine trip reports, editing them to include glowing reviews of their own operation, and then posting them back to Internet bulletin boards as "trip reports".

[Stevesan]

Apparently only "bricks and mortar" TAs are not allowed. There is an overabundance of threads and postings promoting on-line TAs. It's getting like C@ around here!

[jhannah]

I support the rule and feel it is a legitimate one. As shown on the Europe ports of call board, there are some folks who could turn this (neutral) forum into free advertising for themselves ... with no checks and balances regarding the accuracy of their posts. Sure, not every TA is so unscrupulous ... but a fair number of them must have caused enough problems in the past to necessitate this rule.

[FlorenceItaly]

Tammar - Thinking of you! What time is Tom's surgery tomorrow? How are you all holding up today?

Marie

[Jacqueline]

Other boards have loads of threads asking for feeback with specific TA's. I have never seen them removed. People do not put in websites but they are easy enough to figure out.
I think its a fair topic for discussion.