I use the TripAdvisor Forums every time I take a trip to a new destination and lots of times, only for dreaming of a new destination. I've been doing this for years. I'm able to sift the wheat from the chaff, thank you very much.
I will agree that it may be a bit harder for someone that just signed onto Tripadvisor to be able to do the same.
Sorry you are having a bad experience with TA. Why not tell us what brought it about for you?