I thought this might have been a troll post because of the curious timing of it. It was posted about the time when another one that was done as a joke-troll-post was getting losts of hits. I thought this might have been a copy-cat post to piggy back on that one. Hey, it's happened before!

-Bill

That's funny , I thought perhaps you were the troll , looked like you did not post often on the Carib. forum , I was suspicious etc., lol ! Oh well , alls well that ends well . So , no-ones a troll !!!

Well, we still haven't heard from the OP (original poster ;-) ) and although *I* wasn't very helpful, many were.

I guess I'm just too OLD-fashioned, but a post here means a *please* and responses should merit a *thank you*.

Marion

fathie,

I have been a little more active on this board lately because I am starting to get excited and anxious for my first trip to St. John in June!!!!!

-Bill

I'm with you on that one Marion. Perhaps the OP is busy now. In general though a thanks goes a long way.

Marion, agreed about the "thanks" to folks who take time to write a response!! It's also nic e to go bck and let ppeople know if their advice helped, even if it's mopnths later, but this is ahrd to do as sometimes the original posts are hard to find.
So, adding let me add another thanks, this to Carrybean , for explaining both the Op and his/her (????) name.
Bill, I know what you mean!! I too have been here on and off, recently off, then back on, \ since first trip 2 yrs ago to USVI, then off for a long time while planned trip to CR (which hasnt yet happened) and Europe.
Thanks to all who continue to give great hints for us relatively inexperienced or newbie Carib-goers --including Caribdreamer ?

Thanks for your post Calinurse.

This board is very easy to navigate. There's no need to find your original post to give a trip report...just start a new post !

Marion

"Carrybean , for explaining both the Op and his/her (????) name."

I'm a her (she?)

Faith,

I thought I'd bury a message to you in this thread, which I assume you are reading.

I lurk on the US board and post about Maine and Boston.

But tonight's controversy is really something.

Just wanted to tell you I agree with all that you said. And as always, you said it with great kindness. I need to learn patience from you ;-) !

It's a scary place to post and the inside jokes/banter are annoying.

I hope Fodor's will consider establishing a separate Hawaii board

Anyway, you spoke eloquently !

Marion

Thank You Marion , my little daughter had an issue with some bullies at school this week ( grade 4 girls ) . She is the type of child who follows no "clique" , rather, does her own thing and is not intimidated by others . This brought out the worst in a group of little girls who wanted everyone to toe the line . Oddly enough I saw a similar thing happen with a group of adults who did not even realize they were doing it . This and the Latin America board is quite tame in contrast . Thank You once again ! Faith . ( P.S. sometimes I need to know when to stop though , I always hear my mom in the back of my head and I bite my tounge so to speak )

Faith,

While you are biting your tongue, I am often (yes, often, folks ) sitting on my hands ;-) !

Little girls can be beastly..but I know you are giving your daughter wise advice !

And she will hear your voice for years to come

Marion

Marion, Fathie

Grade 4??? It appears to be more High School to me!

Faithie, there's no worse pain than feeling your child is picked on or badgered, is there? I think it is almost worse for the parents hearing about it, than for the child.
As for the controversy...no specific comment abput it right now from yours truly, 'cept to say, I thought your reply to my original post -- "Forgive me, it was stronger than me" about "hijacking" a thread, was funny and sweetly teasing and added a bit of much needed non-accusatory humor.
Until now, the most "heated" thread I was aware of was one about Pura Vida in CR. I think you and I both were on that one-- with different viewpoints!! There were definitely some strong replies (from me, for one) but it was an interesting discussion, without snideness or rancor.
Pura vida!!--Calinurse

Exactly , one can have a difference of opinion , and leave it at that . I actually think people mis-read "greatly" the point of that whole thread though . Had absolutely nothing to do with the poor fellow being sick(terrible on vacation ) or dis-liking a destination , that was absolutely A-OK.... More with the fact that he insisted we( L.A. fodorites) should have warned him not to drink the water . (none of the regulars had ever been sick and we did drink the water, so we just said so , along with use your own judgement ) But it turned into a argument of whether he had the right to say he disliked Costa Rica and should say negatives ( he HAS the right and we NEED to know negatives ) Know matter how many times I tried to point this difference out it fell on deaf ears , it was like beating my head against a wall . Incredibly frustrating . Still is as you can see !!! After that , he searched day and night for every little obscure article ( negative of course ) he could find about some crime or bad thing that happened !! Every time I logged on there would be a new post with a link to the article , in the end no-one would reply to them because it became a bit obvious (.... Hopefully it is clearer even to you now .

And , lol , I AM a dreadful and self admitted " highjacker" , incurable ....

Thank Goodness , it was deleted . (sorry Caribdreamer , you know my history lol !!! )

Faith,
My 11 yr old son sounds just like your daughter.He does not follow any particular "click"..he is friends with all kinds of kids.I am just glad that he is his "own person" and does not follow anyone.(might be the high IQ..130)

Last year a kid who is into soccer was really mean to him on the playground.He asked the kid if he could play soccer with the kids and the boy said "no" and as my son (Taylor)was walking away..the kid (Levi)hit him in the head with the soccer ball..so Taylor took the ball and started running with it.When Levi caught up with Taylor..Taylor ended up fighting with Levi and won.While I do not suggest that my kids fight..I do tell them to stand up for themselves.All of this happened while the teachers just sat there.

Would you believe that this year Levi is in Taylor's class and now they get along.

Kids can be so mean,especially around 4th and 5th grade.

Just be glad that your daughter is being her own person.

Christie

She is indeed a character , very loyal , strong willed and stubborn .... I would not have a clue where she gets it from !!! lol !!

Sounds like we have twins..adult and kid. lol!

All I know is I'd pay to see Faith and Christie have a go!