Connecting with forum locals in Paris

Old Apr 18th, 2014, 11:56 AM
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Connecting with forum locals in Paris

Looking to meet up with locals here who'd be willing to contribute to my research at the Sorbonne. It's so interesting to watch how you all share information and I'd like to hear more about your work here! Feel free to get in touch. My name here is my Twitter handle, just in case. Looking forward to hearing from you!
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Old Apr 18th, 2014, 01:53 PM
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What is your research that strangers on an internet travel forum can contribute to, just out of curiosity?

They probably have some expat Meetup groups in Paris or something. Please don't tell me you have some disseration based on comments on travel from strangers on the internet. I've seen enough of that on here from students at questionable schools, but can't believe the Sorbonne would allow that.
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Old Apr 19th, 2014, 02:50 AM
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Thanks for your reply, and no I am not basing a dissertation off comments from strangers on a travel forum. I'm interviewing journalists, bloggers, and forum contributors all in person and looking at their practices, trying to parse through what each one contributes to the flow of travel information online. I'm re-evaluating the role of the travel journalist in an internet era and forum contributors (like it nor not) play a role in disseminating travel information to consumers. Since so many forum contributors are nameless and we know nothing of their profiles, I find it fascinating how travelers will still consider their information and treat it as valid, often without too much questioning (in the same light as WebMD).

I guess you don't want to participate?
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Old Apr 19th, 2014, 03:12 AM
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Don't forget the thousands of us out here who wouldn't post a question in this forum, recognizing that so many of the responders have their own strong biases they (usually) refuse to set aside (e.g. slow down, you lose half a day each time you switch cities, jet lag etc etc).
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Old Apr 19th, 2014, 03:16 AM
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PS one exception being the recent 14 cities in 15 days thread where the open minded posters finally showed up in numbers.
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Old Apr 19th, 2014, 03:32 AM
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I take it you are interested in talking to people who say they "trust" people here and have yet to meet them.
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Old Apr 19th, 2014, 03:34 AM
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That is a great topic by the way. I'll buy your book.
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Old Apr 19th, 2014, 08:22 AM
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You are making an assumption about trusting a stranger's advice with no basis for that trust. That is actually not true. Based on my own experience, and reading the advice offered over a period of time, I can make a pretty reasonable judgement about advice offered.

If I know that much of the advice by a poster is correct or applies to my travel needs or style, it will follow that I can rely on other advice by that poster.

There is often enough advice given that if a traveler also checks guide books, maps, etc., they can sort out what works for them.

Sometimes travelers do meet each other and have an even better idea about the advice offered.

There are posters on Fodors who have been posting for a long time, and posted detailed trip reports, so there is ample travel information from them to evaluate the value of their advice. If you read their reports, you can determine if their travel style syncs with yours.

Examples: if one particular poster who lives in France part of the time finds a place interesting, I can be pretty sure that I will also and can tell others to rely on their advice about how to do thing logistically in France. Another poster spend weeks touring and has written many itineraries which he generously shares and gets lots of feedback. Another is quite an expert on the logistics of traveling in S Italy.

The advice is not one bit of random of advice from one stranger. It is collective advice, mostly from people who have posted for a long time. There is also often healthy discussion about the best way to accomplish something and that leads, I think, to the traveler learning about more options and figuring out what is best for them.
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Old Apr 19th, 2014, 09:25 AM
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Well, I already contacted Bryan elsewhere and received no feedback, so I guess I am an inadequate contributor.
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Old Apr 19th, 2014, 10:11 AM
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Kerouac, hadn't I responded asking about an interview in person? I didn't hear back yet.
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Old Apr 19th, 2014, 10:18 AM
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Sassafrass, that's the kind of stuff i want to talk about in my interviews if you'd be available!
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Old Apr 19th, 2014, 10:19 AM
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The OP is interesting on others share information, but cannot get in touch with those who wish to share.
________
Cold, was the last book you bought?
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Old Apr 19th, 2014, 10:23 AM
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I believe it was:

http://www.npr.org/2012/04/26/151457...anged-baseball

But I might have shoplifted it.
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Old Apr 19th, 2014, 10:31 AM
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I don't think interviewing locals alone, especially just in Paris, is going to yield impressive results. There are only a handful of locals, really, on Fodors, and while their advice is invaluable, so is the advice of many people who live in other parts of France, people who spend vast amounts of time there, and people who've been contributing to this and other forums for years/decades. Narrowing it down to local Parisians isn't going to give you much to go on.
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Old Apr 19th, 2014, 03:06 PM
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StCirq makes an excellent point. While locals of any place may know good restaurants or interesting things to do, they may not know the best way to get around or lodging.
I live in Baltimore and can make great recs for museums, etc., but since I drive my car most places, I can't tell a visitor how to get around on public transport. Someone who visits even once without a car could give better advice on that than me, the local.

Sorry, WhereisBP, I have no plans to be in France any time soon. Good luck with your research though.
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Old Apr 19th, 2014, 03:11 PM
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If you are inadequate, kerouac, there is no hope for any of the rest of us!!
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Old Apr 19th, 2014, 04:23 PM
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I'd just like to add that I live in Paris and I have met with Bryan before and he is a genuinely nice guy and what he is doing is for serious research (though I understand that is difficult to explain to strangers on an internet forum) so hopefully everyone will cut him a bit of slack.
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Old Apr 19th, 2014, 04:34 PM
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I'm more than willing to cut him some slack, but he needs to explain more clearly what he's after.

And I totally agree with Sassafrass. I can't give hotel recommendations beyond generalities in the Dordogne because I've never needed to stay in a hotel there.
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Old Apr 20th, 2014, 01:31 AM
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All research has to start somewhere I'm in Paris, hence why I'm looking at those in Paris -- of course willing to interview other people who may be passing through or who live elsewhere in France, but I don't have a travel budget to head abroad for in-person interviews. It's a thesis, not a book, so I need to keep the focus tight.
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Old Apr 20th, 2014, 01:50 AM
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"of course willing to interview other people who may be passing through or who live elsewhere in France"
I am a local and I live elsewhere in France
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