SEAJ has got it exactly right
glad u met a longstanding member, SEAJ...but sorry to hear he doesn't post. i think your exhortations to members to POST REPORTS is dead on.
we have an advantage as this board has many different people, nationalities, interests--all with one common interest: The Hobby. for some, especially those for whom English is a second-language, the thought of writing something to post publicly is just plain scary.
if that describes anyone reading this, please, PLEASE take this to heart: NO report is perfect, because as long as they provide detail, they are automatically valuable. if u had a great experience, write it up. if u had a lousy experience, do the same. the bad-experience tales help your fellow punters in our decision-making process.
and check the nookie-newbies board, there are guys there writing about their first experience, and the reports are often excellent. there's a template you can follow that gives you a chance to evaluate, and this is valuable to board-members.
as for the language-thing, i read forums that almost immediately turn into political rants, you've got a lot of native speakers who can't spell but will howl vacant opinions. i would rather read a report that gives me some info, and i get value out of many, many posts on this board. i know other members feel the same.
writing your first report is kind of like losing yr board-virginity: you'll think u did it all wrong, yr nervous, u think u have nothing to contribute...trust me, EVERY writer feels this way. it's human nature. don't second-guess yourself. write what happened, how you felt, whatu liked, what u didn't, what confused u, what interested u. what we want to read is what u observed and felt, and u were there! don't worry about grammar and whatever. if u've got pix and she said OK-to-post, post 'em. it's a good practice to write using a word-processor of some type just so u have a saved copy. but WRITE it and POST it. it's like that Nike slogan: just do it.
there are some no-nos, so do read the Newbie FAQs first, and PM the Mod if posting fotos--they'll put the right RA if need be. but the first one is the hardest. if u get that first one up there, and it's got some detail, you'll get noticed. the second one will be easier. and soon, u might find yourself having fun not only sampling within The Hobby, but writing about it.
Woody Allen once said that 90% of success is just showing up. i think there's a lot of truth in that. reports that respect the simple rules,and give details (and feelings/observations if yr comfortable with those), automatically are 90% successful just by showing up.
it's just: punt, post, repeat. it's always difficult at first, anything worth doing IS. but if u keep at it, you WILL rise through the ranks. ppl
will look forward to reading your experiences. this board is all about experiences.
i think the FAQs spell out the rules but they're common sense really: be respectful, don't swipe stuff off other boards and pretend it's some hot Indian babe u found working in Chungking Mansions, put or request proper RA on fotos, don't post hotel names, etc. but most of all, respect the girls. without them, we wouldn't have much to write about, would we?
with ALL internet forums, most people lurk and don't post. i've done it myself. but i've found that if board-members are courteous, an ongoing dialogue between strangers with a common interest can be fascinating. and often, it's the quiet/shy people, those who think they don't have anything to contribute, who tell the BEST stories. don't worry about perfection. forget that stuff the English teachers said. just write what you feel. no one knows who you are, but if you have something to say, don't be surprised if u find u have a LOT to say.
if you're out punting in HK/Macau/China, or even other areas, u've got experiences, and you CAN write them down. just keep reminding
yourself: i CAN, i CAN, i CAN. it's like anything difficult: cooking a great meal, running a 10K race, whatever. first one's the toughest. after that, things get interesting. but u gotta get over that first hurdle. you CAN. your opinions/observations matter. just tell us what happened. it's that simple.
OK, over to you. and thanks.
JtB | |
