Actually it's interesting to hear how some have their lives centered around this site. So, wouldn't it follow that this site is no longer, for them at least, about travel, but about how they establish their main relationships in life? I suspect with some it's easier on the web than over the fence or at parties (do you ever notice how few here ever mention a party or event with other people, only fodors GTG). I think it's marvellous that the ones who need the cyber experience have this site to come to each day and night. Long may it last! But lets not forget that for many of us, this is primarily a travel resource, so hopefully posters will not grow too tired to tell us about their travel adventures. We need more Elaines!!! IMHO.

Sergio, you could not BE more off the mark in your assessment of my social life. It's rather funny, actually.

OK, lets stipulate your social life is funny, but pardon if I don't recall your posting ... ?

Uh, directly above yours? It certainly sounded like you were replying to it. But of course I should have realized you were talking about someone else, right?

Above mine ... oh, whoops, missed you, but nope, nobody special in mind. Some are indeed tireles, as peeky first noted. That much is true. How, I wonder, are they able to roll out of bed in the a.m. and start posting and they're still at it a midnight? 24/7!! My goodness, I bet Al Gore never thouight it would lead to that!

I check my email with my 2nd cup of coffee in the morning, and usually check in on fodors as well. If I'm home, my computer is on all day, so while it may look like I am posting 24/7, I am actually doing lots of other things in between. But you know, my time, like my money, is mine to spend as I wish. Perhaps I "waste" some of it on here, but just think of all the ways we "waste" time -- mindless tv, shopping for things we don't need, chatting on the phone, reading the funnies, playing with pets. Who among us can say they don't ever "waste" time?

<<...but just think of all the ways we "waste" time ... playing with pets.>>

Hrmph! My pets are highly insulted!

Well Marilyn, obviously you never owned a pet. I would give anything to play with mine again. It was never a waste of time to me!

Marilyn, sounds like you lead a very enjoyable and reasonable life, have a good day.

Whoa, cmt and Lori!! I was being ironic! Not only do I own (and totally spoil) two cats, I volunteer at a wildlife rehabilitation hospital. I'm an animal nut. :-D

OK Marilyn, I forgive you O:)

I thought it was obvious it was joking. I wanted to post under one of the pets' names, but it's too complicated to register another ID. But they want me to tell everyone that it is never ever a waste of time to pet and play with one's pets, never.

... wow, make that very reasonable, Marilyn. I never really relate to anyone not covered in cat hair. You are definietly my kind of puuuuuuurson!

Poor Marilyn :D

It is days like this when I can think I quit caring, when posters like Sergio who was TravelsLaughing last week, posts over and over the same complaints...that some Fodorites are on Fodors all the time!!
What a Crime! What an aberration!! To post on a Travel forum!! And he counts the hours and keeps up with the days!
Talk about obssessed!
So that would be my reason for quitting, if there were not enough nice people to make up for the tiresome trolls who come along.

I enjoy the trip reports the most of all.

It is true that people here seem more real to you after you have read their reports. You become to know them after a while. You can pretty much tell a person's personality over the long run after reading here for a while.

I can see why alot of you are addicted to Fodors and to travel both are alot of fun and harmless.

By the way I used to post alot and I was a regular on an exercise health forum and alot of us became cyber friends too, it is normal.

2ND By the way: I did get fed up with some of the goofballs who posted on there after a while, they had less tolerence than the Fodorites.

It's a question of the balance between shouting 'who cares' at the office in-tray or at some of the questions on here. Some days, it's one, some days it's the other.

But I try not to shout it online.

>It's a question of the balance between shouting 'who cares' at the office in-tray....<

After many years as a minor government functionary, I finally realized that if I buried everything under a pile of paper I could respond only to those people who sent me a follow up and let the other stuff go.

Every six months I would throw away everything on my desk and start over.

((I))

Yes. I have to take breaks from time to time. I love all the travel stuff, but the cattiness, pettiness and name calling is really tiresome. I feel like I'm back in junior high school on some threads. So many times I want to hit reply and merely type, "Please, get a life", but I behave and do not.