Can you see the Matterhorn at all from Bellinzona Switzerland?
Apr 22nd, 2014, 12:12 PM
#7
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welcome to Fodor's and not all Fodorites are rude - please give us another chance with other questions - some find it hard to put themselves in the shoes of a yes naive foreign tourist unfamiliar with the terrain and geography so that question invited such comments - but again they are unwarranted and a polite 'no it is way too far would have sufficed.'
I know most of these posters and they are usually polite and helpful.
Don't throw the baby out with the bath water.
To you it did not see to be a crazy question but to folks familiar with Switzerland it was - like asking can you see the Empire State Building from Washington DC.
I know most of these posters and they are usually polite and helpful.
Don't throw the baby out with the bath water.
To you it did not see to be a crazy question but to folks familiar with Switzerland it was - like asking can you see the Empire State Building from Washington DC.
Apr 22nd, 2014, 12:27 PM
#8
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Bellinzona is at the crossing of three deep valleys, you can see only the very closest mountains. In order to see the Matterhorn from Bellinzona you should be at an elevation of about 2000 meters, so obviously you could see it only from a plane over Bellinzona. But if you checked a map or Google Earth that would have been quite easy to realize.
The only Alpine peak that can be easily seen from a distance is Monte Rosa, close to Matterhorn but larger, higher and more exposed; it can be seen from the Milan plain. You need a very clear day (say, only a couple per month qualify) and an elevated point of observation - a window no lower than an 8th floor looking north west, or the Duomo roof.
The only Alpine peak that can be easily seen from a distance is Monte Rosa, close to Matterhorn but larger, higher and more exposed; it can be seen from the Milan plain. You need a very clear day (say, only a couple per month qualify) and an elevated point of observation - a window no lower than an 8th floor looking north west, or the Duomo roof.
Apr 22nd, 2014, 03:13 PM
#9
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I really do not think it a dumb question as many seem - Bellinzona if high enough could possibly afford a view of the Matterhorn like it does Monte Rosa - after having been to Switzerland a zillion times I would not know how to answer that question.
Apr 22nd, 2014, 09:44 PM
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Bellinzona is one of the lowest places in Switzerland and even from high vantage points Matterhorn is elusive. From the top of Mt. Generoso south of Lugano you can clearly see Monte Rosa but Matterhorn is barely visible. As for the rudeness, there are as many trolls as rude people around....
Apr 22nd, 2014, 10:12 PM
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Well . . . I personally don't think it's a good idea to reward ignorance/laziness.
I teach college English, and I see this problem almost every day with (some of) my students, who either don't read my instructions or don't understand them. They ask questions that are answered in the instructions, or they turn in their assignments violating the very basic requirements. If they have a question that requires a bit of research (college policies for instance), they are utterly helpless.
College used to be a place where students learned how to think, but now it's a place where (some) students make the minimal effort and expect the highest grades.
There are consequences for what people do or don't do. So, if someone doesn't want to make the effort to do basic research with google maps, then that person is open to our reaction. We are not obliged to be polite; we are free to give our honest and open reaction.
In the best possible world, that person will learn something and will be able to find answers to the rudimentary questions him/herself.
s
I teach college English, and I see this problem almost every day with (some of) my students, who either don't read my instructions or don't understand them. They ask questions that are answered in the instructions, or they turn in their assignments violating the very basic requirements. If they have a question that requires a bit of research (college policies for instance), they are utterly helpless.
College used to be a place where students learned how to think, but now it's a place where (some) students make the minimal effort and expect the highest grades.
There are consequences for what people do or don't do. So, if someone doesn't want to make the effort to do basic research with google maps, then that person is open to our reaction. We are not obliged to be polite; we are free to give our honest and open reaction.
In the best possible world, that person will learn something and will be able to find answers to the rudimentary questions him/herself.
s
Apr 23rd, 2014, 04:44 AM
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In the best possible world, that person will learn something and will be able to find answers to the rudimentary questions him/herself.>
Yes but the answer does not need be rude - does it? I guess you are condoning rudeness - surprising coming from you!
Yes but the answer does not need be rude - does it? I guess you are condoning rudeness - surprising coming from you!
Apr 23rd, 2014, 05:11 AM
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What is rude about the answers? Considering that the question shows that the poster has never even bothered to look at a map and check the distances? Better get used to European sense of humour...
Apr 23rd, 2014, 05:56 AM
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A simple, "check google maps, you will find your answer there", would have been easy enough. I would have appreciated that information, as I have never had a reason to use google maps before.
Apr 23rd, 2014, 06:11 AM
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Considering that the question shows that the poster has never even bothered to look at a map and check the distances>
it does not show that - could well looked at a map and seen it is not that far as the crow flies.
Keep up the Fodorgarch rudeness - well done - be proud of yourselves.
it does not show that - could well looked at a map and seen it is not that far as the crow flies.
Keep up the Fodorgarch rudeness - well done - be proud of yourselves.
Apr 23rd, 2014, 07:26 AM
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No, I'm not condoning rudeness, PalQ. I'm only saying that if you do "x," don't be surprised if folks say, "Hey, that's x!" I don't think we should expect folks here to ignore that big old "x" or to pretend it's not there; that would be neither honest nor real.
Again, the things folks do have consequences.
For "x" insert "stupid," "lazy," "w/o common sense," "ignorant," etc.
s
Again, the things folks do have consequences.
For "x" insert "stupid," "lazy," "w/o common sense," "ignorant," etc.
s
Apr 23rd, 2014, 07:44 AM
#20
I am sorry if the OP thinks my own response is "rude" as I was simply trying to be helpful. "Are you kidding?" can means all sorts of things. Even "no" around this place can sometimes mean all sorts of things.
In terms of what is "obvious" that is irrelevant since there are "most favored posters" who, if they had asked the same question, would have been GIVEN all sorts of "help."
In terms of what is "obvious" that is irrelevant since there are "most favored posters" who, if they had asked the same question, would have been GIVEN all sorts of "help."
