Those who feel superior to backpackers are so amusing! Don't you realize that the kids backpacking through Europe are from well-off families who have the means to support their travels while your children are spending their summers working at McDonalds? Take my word for it, I live in a very affluent area and most of the kids around here look like bums. Don't kid yourselves. What do you think, rich kids tool around Europe in chauffeur driven cars and stay at the Ritz? Please! So quit looking down your noses at the backpackers, I'm sure that someday you or your children will be working for them and they can return the favor!

I did not write the post that allegedly came from me two days ago. It does not represent my sentiments. <BR> <BR>And I don't know which is worse, the slimeball who did that, or the anonymous slime balls who call me names. <BR> <BR>Fodors has lost control of the forum.

I do believe Ed. <BR>It would have been so easy to use his correct email address, but the "stupido" fake poster didn't even bother!

Wayne, darling, you may make 150K a year, and you may have a MBA. But, what you don't have is class. If you had any you wouldn't put down a bellhop for only making 20k a year. You, Wayne, are a snob. John G.--Dartmouth '85.

John dear, I am ALWAYS nice to hotel staff...always leave a tip for the chambermaid for cleaning up my room. The reason I carry a backpack and wear jeans is that I don't associate wealth with what you wear. But when snooty hotel staff start to sneer at me thru the tip of their noses it's when I have to whip out my platinum card. Don't tell me you have never encountered condescending hotel staff in europe...

Reading these posts, one would never guess that the majority of people posting here are citizens of a republic. <BR> <BR>Why are you so worried about being seen as one who lacks funds? Surely it is a worse thing to be called a liar or a bully, than impoverished.

Ed, I'm not one of the anonymous slimeballs that called you names -- I just said that my experiences with backpackers didn't square with what "Ed" wrote -- and I'll say that, even though I didn't pay attention to the wrong email address in that post, the tone of that post did not at all sound like what I've seen from you in the past. <BR> <BR>In my opinion, impersonating someone else is one of the scummiest things anyone can do on a message board. I didn't think that anyone here would stoop that low. Very unfortunate.

Wayne....or should I call you Whine?...I am too secure with myself to care what others think of me. The bellhops looking down on you is probably just your imagination. They are just looking for a tip. I don't think they pass any judgement on you until AFTER you have tipped them. Besides, Wayne, what kind of hotels are you staying in? The majority of 5-star hotels train their employees to NEVER be rude to a guest. Another thing, Wayne, you can make only 20K a year and still have a platinum card. All you need is a good credit history and pay your bills on time. Have a good day :)

Wayne - <BR> <BR>John G. is right. Platinum cards are NOT status symbols, unless you consider having an established credit history and making your minimum monthly payments on time worthy of status. When I first started reading your post, I thought we were on the same page. Then you started talking about your salary, looking down your nose at other people based on what they earn, and basically exposing your insecurities to everyone. Not everyone with a graduate degree and/or a six figure income feels the need to do this. You seem obsessed with your platinum card and paranoid about how people view you. If you truly are comfortable with your jeans and your backpack (why on earth wouldn't you be?), you wouldn't be worried about what the hotel staff thinks about you