Trying to navigate the forum, it seems my posts need approval to be published, and it takes quite some time(days).
It seems in some info here that there should be a share-button on both topics and posts, but I can’t find any.
Is this due to membership level so it is temporary? I know forums with similar set up has levels where you need approval to get more functions. Or is it just a clunky forum?
Hello. There’s no level of members. This forum is mainly moderate by us, volunteers ambassadors, so yes some posts can stay a few days pending if we are not available. Thanks for your understanding.
Does that then mean that all posts need approval? In that case I am not surprised that nothing happens here. I’m a member of another forum with same set-up, and we have long conversations between different members in real time. If each post is pending, that wouldn’t be possible and all activitiy comes to a halt.
Is it so also that the share-button mentioned does not exist in reality?
And some are never published Tailwag
I had the curious idea to create a discussion asking where there are hot springs in the USA (so i could see if there are some listings around) and it was never published…
Then HE is surprised that the forum is not so popular as it could be…
Not each comment, only new posts. I don’t know what you mean by sharing button sorry.
Each new post is reviewed by our volunteer moderators, or me, prior to being published. This is to ensure that all posts follow the rules of the group. It is to keep this a welcoming and inclusive space for all 
Comments on posts are monitored however they do not go through the same process as new post and should appear instantly. A little reminder here of the Forum community rules: 📙 Community rules - Forum HomeExchange
After reading carefully the rules Melissa, i am curious to know why a post asking where hot springs are in the US was not published.
It is the same principle as asking where we can ski in the US.
There is a chat / papote group on the forum , totally empty.
Are all the discussions blocked like mine?
I’m sorry Natalie, but it was not me who declined your post so without reading the whole post I wouldn’t be able to say. Discussions are of course allowed in the Forum provided they are related to HomeExchanging
I don’t remember ever seeing a post about hot springs either. However if it didn’t specify that it was with the aim of looking for exchanges in the area I can see why it would have been refused.
So it is normal the chat / papote group is unsuccessful.
It means that we can’t speak of nothing if discussions like « where can we ski ? / where are hot Springs? » are not published.
To make a forum interesting and successful , free discussions should be authorised.
Rules don’t say it MUST be HE discussion.
Even if the link between members is to exchange.
And it is quite obvious that requests for information about things to do and where to do them are linked to a touristic aim.
IMO it would be an advantage to have a forum on the website that is active. As long as it is not (much), I would think it would be an advantage to have discussions on a broader scope of travelling with home exchanges than it seems it is.
Questions like - where can we ski or find hot springs - would help members to figure out where they can search for listings. To me, that is home exchange-related enough.
To be precise, the forum is just a plus, the main discussions happen in social networks now, especially in Facebook groups which are really active for years with dozens of posts everyday.
Then it is really strange why this Forum here was introduced, it is practically dead and if all new topics need to be approved and can be pending for days, and the allowed topics are few - why use resources to be here?
It is another factor here. When HE choose to use social media, that is not neutral. Then other companies (like Meta/ Facebook) get to control the data of Home Exchange and the members. As HE is American, one might not have the counsciousness of personal data like Europe and the legislation of the GDPR, but at the same time if a company has business in Europe it needs to follow it. It goes beyond just compliance - from a business point of view, why wouldn’t one want the data on the platform of the company - being able to have control of it. It should be a concern. Just the last days ther has been incidents (TikTok) where it seems that the new owners of TikTok suddenly interfere with both public content and private messages. So from a business - and member - point of view - control the data. After all, HE is the data. Not much without. IMO.
It’s not dead cause we are talking on it right now it has only a year, while Facebook groups run for 15 years or so. It’s to offer a place for members who don’t use/don’t want to use Facebook or others social medias (like you said, tiktok or Instagram which is popular for HE too). But most members use Facebook and find it easier ( myself included ). It’s also for members from countries which don’t have Facebook groups in their language, they have a space here in their language ( example Italiano and Portuguese). Last but not least, HE is legally American indeed but main office is in France, so the staff follow rgpd rules yes, don’t worry about it.
Dear Melissa and Etienne,
This forum was created AFTER the facebook groups.
To say now discussions are on social media is not correct.
Airbnb launched a forum with great success.
It is a very active forum with a lot of tips and interesting discussions.
The strong point is that it is structured – like this forum – so people go directly to the area that interests them.
In addition, conversations on the same topics appear.
Whereas Facebook is a complete mess. Guest requests and discussions about new features are all mixed up together.
It’s much less pleasant to read.
Etienne replied many times to members to go on facebook instead. It is correct in addition but strange if it’s instead.
Are we supposed to promote this forum or to kill it?
Suggestions for improvement:
I haven’t been here long, but it seems actual members are lacking, as so many talks is with moderators.
Personally I don’t want to share much info with Meta/ Facebook, and especially public groups I avoid. As I am a professional I want to and need to control my data and don’t want my business aquaintances to share my private life, for instance. Could be other reasons. I come from a forum on Trusted Housesitters, which is very much an active forum, and I believe is an important asset both as a base for knowledge, business improvement and also in recruiting members.
They handle it a different way (hence my questions, lately). They have member levels on forum so that you need to be active (and probably abide by the group rules 
) with some limitations and after a little while you are free to post overall. It works very well, and it is hardly ever necessary for moderation it seems as it is an active community and members themselves flag posts for moderation if necessary.
I just share this to make HE better for all. 
The HomeExchange Community Charter
Respect and courtesyCourtesy, kindness, empathy, respect and tolerance are the core principles for a positive community. So let’s apply them! Think of others (including those who are not currently in the group) when posting or commenting.
Let’s be friendly, understanding and caring.
Posts related to HomeExchangeHomeExchange is a home exchange platform so posts related to rentals, or explicitly referring to the sale of services or products, will not be accepted.
Respect for privacyWe share and will continue to share a lot on this forum, but please keep in mind that anything you publish will be public. The privacy of others, and your own, is paramount; be sure you have explicit consent before sharing information such as photos of home interiors or listing references. Never share your private correspondence.
Add your listing link to your exchange searches (recommended)When you are searching for an exchange or for guests, it is highly recommended to share the link to your own listing (or at least your home ID) - even if you’re looking for a GuestPoints exchange. This will make it easier for other members to get an idea of what you’re looking for.
As a reminder, the forum is open, but people who are not registered on HomeExchange have only limited access to the content of the listings (For example, they have no access to the location of the home, to the calendar, and their access to photos is restricted).
Personal cases and member serviceThe forum is not intended to replace Member Support. Personal questions are to be dealt with exclusively by our Member Support Team or the online chat option on our site.
Add a tag to your postsAdd at least a tag to clearly indicate what your post is about (exchange search, guest search, anecdote, suggestion etc.)
Non-compliance with Forum rulesIf your post or comment was unapproved/deleted, it’s probably because it did not respect one or more rules of the Forum.
Use the search function liberallyBefore creating a new post to ask a question, check with the search functionality in the Forum if there’s already been a discussion with the answer to your question.
LanguagesPlease communicate using the language of the forum. This means that on the English forum, we’ll only be accepting posts in English, with the listing links in English. To change the forum that you’re on (from English to French, for example), please click on the globe icon in the top right-hand corner of the screen.
No advertisingThis is a community forum dedicated to home exchange. Advertisements are not allowed here.
Other improvement :
The possibility to modify / cancel a pending request.
I have a pending request since the 22nd of January and i would like to modify or cancel it and there is no button to do that.
This forum is not designed by HE and don’t have this option. I cancelled the pending post.
Merci Etienne.