Pal: sorry but you are (as usual) totally wrong. But that never stopped you before so carry on. The OP has very little credibility, and neither do you.

While I agree that it is regretable that the OP had this experience, I also agree that it could easily have been avoided with a little bit of research.

To those Fodorites who provided relevant information to this OP, and anyone else who reads this thread, about how to avoid parking tickets and who did so without judging the OP (not to mention other Fodorites) -- well done! :tu:

I think it's important to mention that another recent post praises the efforts of fodorites in taking the time to provide advice and information gathered from their own travel experiences. Admittedly, some here do not bear fools gladly ( I admit I'm one ) so on occasion we might make our impatience known but seriously doubt that any ill will is intentional. Unfortunately honesty is often mistaken for animosity and hyperbole is never helpful.

@ historytraveler: As the OP of that other thread, I agree that there's a big difference between honesty and animosity. I also readily admit that I don't bear fools easily. Nonetheless, I think there are ways to say things that are respectful and constructive and helpful, and I think there are a lot of ways to avoid explicit denigration or disrespect of either OPs or other Fodorites. JMO. And to be clear, I know that I don't always achieve my own goals -- I err much more often than I'd like!

We really liked Polignano a Mare. We not only read signs but we also look on the ground whether we have to pay for parking or not.
In italy:
-white stripes = free parking
-blue stripes = paid parking
-yellow stripes = reserved parking
-in green zones parking is forbidden on labour days between 8:00 and 9:30 am and 2:30 and 4:00 pm
Doing a bit of homework before heading somewhere pays off.

99 percent of the time, "not bearing fools gladly" is the classic excuse for being smug and condescending. Contrary to what some Fodorites clearly believe, rudeness and/or arrogance are not actually virtues.

If anything, this attitude is the reason many well-traveled and knowledgeable Fodorites have cut way down on their contributions to this board or have abandoned it altogether, opting for sites like the FB group.

So a good 'Fodorite' should always be nice towards OP's who just come to rant, show off, insult whole municipalities or countries ?

Parking rules can be confusing in Europe, sometimes due to language, custom and variances among communities. But the same can be said right here in the US. One trend that is making things better for all of us is the use of parking apps on your smart phone. We have found them helpful in the US. And last month, while in St-Malo France, we were having some difficulty figuring out where to park in the middle of a busy construction zone. Then we noticed a familiar parking app logo, Whoosh, that we sometimes use. We opened the app. It immediately located us and even the parking station where we were. It already had our credit card; all we had to do was enter the license plate of our rental car. We weren’t sure how long we would stay, but, as with most apps, it gave us a warning and an ability to extend from the restaurant where we were eating. Look for more areas to be covered by such apps.

Not bearing fools gladly has little or nothing to do with being smug. It has everything to do with not having the patience to deal with the whiners, the obstinate and the difficult. It is not necessarily a positive attribute but certainly not a negative.

Pal: sorry but you are (as usual) totally wrong. But that never stopped you before so carry on. The OP has very little credibility, and neither do you.>

another example of a haughty Fodorgarch who constantly insults others - and insists she s right and you are wrong. Folks can say things without being rude - like 'sorry you got that ticket but......' and that would be enough but no folks have to pile on and repeat same stuff over and over, automatically assuming the OP 'has little credibility' - how do you know that except in your assumption, etc. I believe the OP and also believe that these things happen and city is not out to get tourists. There is no need to be rude - so rude.

Enough said - make your criticisms but no need to be insulting and rude.

I’m no Miss Manners, but it seems to me that some people might consider it rude if someone were to tell an OP to expect victim-blaming and rebukes or especially, if someone were to call other members of the community insulting names. JMO.

Pal, you really can't cover up your ignorance and prejudices by using unfathomable and puerile insults to "Fodorgarchs" and such.

You, of all people, are rude to the folks here on Fodors like janisj who unfailingly provide useful information - factual and UP-TO-DATE (something you are incapable of, among many things). There is nothing at all wrong with people who have the actual facts at hand, which you rarely do, putting them forth clearly. That's what a travel forum is for. It doesn't prove useful in the long run for addled, molly-coddling Auntie Palskie to come along and pat the hand of supposed "victims" of injustice. They are better served, especially those among them who claim to be "experienced travelers," to learn some new lessons - in this case about very identifiable and researchable parking rules in Italy.

Yes criticism may be justified to OP but can be done in a way that is not outright insulting as many above are. How does janis known OP 'has little credibility'? No way of telling and IMO I'd give benefit of doubt to OP - who would take such time to presumably do this on every travel forum around because they are so teed off. No one can tell and those who insist OP has little credibility have nothing to go on to make that statement.

Yes tell OP if you want that they are really at fault for not doing whatever but no need to verbally abuse OP and scold him/her - just gently remind them of what they did wrong in your opinion.

And automatically letting the city off the hook is another assumption - I believe that those things do happen - probably not but perhaps.

so criticize but be polite and assume that OP could be telling the truth.

On the internet, nobody knows if you are a dog, but everyone knows if you are discourteous. Let's save the personal conflicts for the Lounge, shall we?

don't waste your breath on that - some of these folks just want to out do the other in withering criticisms from know-it all travelers. Ain't gonna happen. Sane folks everytime - that's why it was easy to predict. And then they attack others who have sympathy for the OP! Enough said.

Palenq - I fully understand the opinion that some of us here are just waiting to jump on other's errors - but if you post in the manner of the OP, suggesting some sort of entrapment, and using terms such as " racketeers ", then you should expect a backlash.
Others have pointed out that Polignano a Mare has parking policies that did not seem hard to work out.

OK fair criticism and I do not think any city would willingly do that but I do see how foreign tourists may feel that way - again rebuke but in polite form and who knows what a city may do - judging by my experience in U.S. there are indeed speed and parking traps sometimes - let's just give OP benefit of doubt and put oursevles in their shoes and gently tell them why they may have jumped to wrong conclusions perhaps. I just think OP was very frustrated and naive and all that and thus wants revenge - bad attitude too I agree and Mea Culpa on that.

And this is a good lesson for folks planning on motoring trips to Italy so something positive can come out of it and maybe OP realizes they are jumping to wrong conclusions most likely.

Here how Rick SteveOgarchs answered the same exact thing - no sympathy there either.

https://community.ricksteves.com/tra...lignano-a-mare

Poor OP must have posted everywhere and got skewered over and over!

PalenQ: Please, please, PLEASE: Stop insulting other posters.