asia

Everyone please don't get so upset, yes I should have done my research then...why soooo negative about everything...if you don't want to advise me on anything then please feel free to pass by this message....yes I have always posted information for my fellow asian travellers or also for first time travellers eventhough I would have to repeat it....I would gladly help anyone of you guys....please visit asian forum as it is the right category.<BR><BR>I think we can stop with this question now as I feel that people are getting very negative...this was not my goal at all...all i wanted was for your kind advise since you guys are more seasonned travellers to Europe..I myself don't know anything about it or haven't even touched Europe's soil.<BR><BR>Elvira, please don't get mad, i really do need your advise and since you indicated that going to the library is a good idea, then yes I will definitely visit one this week. <BR><BR>Reading everyone's opinion on what can be posted or not and what one can ask or cannot ask is sad as I believe that we can all post any type of travel questions and also make friends in the meantime (not to post non travel, politically incorrect messages instead)...your advise and tips on travelling to Europe means a lot to someone like myself who will be making a first time trip there. I feel that I will have to look elsewhere to ask my questions as I don't know if it will offend anyone or not, I really don't know what questions to ask or if I am allowed to at all...this is how I feel right now after reading some comments out there....ouch!<BR><BR>so I have narrowed down my search to Paris, rome and madrid...and someone suggested (thank you by the way) to take Madrid out as it is out of the way....sounds logical...therefore I will go do some research on the net and library.....everyone thank you for your kind advise again and if I need any more information on where to stay and where to eat, I hope that I can post a question like that on this forum....thank you again and cheers!

Blimpie

Vague airhead questions like this are why I got the hell outta the travel business "I have two weeks vacation and I wanna go somewhere nice. Where should I go?" Duhhhhhhhhhhh

Rex

I hope you will come back Asia... bad "wording" was your greatest "crime" - - and jumping on you poses a much greater "threat" to those who ARE doing as etiquette suggests - - lurking for a while and reading the board, before asking any questions. I fear for how many "newbie" visitors get scared off and never ask a question when a thread gets started - - and yes I have been guilty of it myself too, trying fos satire/sarcasm.<BR><BR>An all France trip could be a great intro to Europe - - if you are intent on Paris AND Rome, then consider a side trip to Belgium (Bruges? or Ghent?) for a day or two, and then take advantage of the VERY low fares on www.virgin-express.com to get you to fast and cheap to Italy.<BR><BR>And keep coming back!<BR>

carol

Asia's question was a little inappropriate and yes, she should've read the forum for a while to see what the normal MO is. But if she had, she'd have seen a dumb question a while ago from some truly obnoxious guy who was flying to Lisbon and wanted to be spoon fed about whether to go to Spain or Portugal and what's there and how to see "flamingo" [sic] dancers, etc. And for some reason, while some people reacted as I did, so many other people sucked up to him and gave him far more generous advice than he deserved. So it's funny how people get their "buttons" pushed by different things. I felt like ringing that John guy's neck, but I was ready to just ignore Asia until maybe she focused her question a little better. <BR><BR>Also keep in mind, by the way, that when writing in a foreign language many of us sometimes comes across as a little clumsy or graceless or tactless or just plain too blunt. I've been fortunate to have my occasionally too-blunt writings in foreign languages tolerated by native speakers. English is not Asia's first language, and I think most or all those of you who found her so offensive are native English speakers. <BR><BR>And I do think Elvira was over the top on this one, though we all have our "buttons" pushed by something, and Asia's questions, though not presented maturely or properly and not designed to make a very good impression, just didn't happen to push mine.

xx

It wasn't asia's ignorance that bothered people. It was her snotty attitude toward those trying to assist her. <BR><BR>Maybe we should all just go back to doing what we used to do with questions like this: let it drop like a stone.

nothere

I really think we have the making of a wonderful troll here: Asia said: "Everyone please don't get so upset, yes I should have done my research then...why soooo negative about everything...if you don't want to advise me on anything then please feel free to pass by this message...." Excuse me, but didn't Asia post the same thread like 3 times and then complain because no one had a crystal ball to know what he/she wanted to do? Give me a break. Elvira was not over the top on this one. You only "get" if you "give" a little. Unless, of course, you just want to stir the pot in a trollacious manner!

Iveseenkinders

Didn't your momma teach you not to say anything if you don't have something nice to say? The snippy replies to Asia's poorly phrased post is the equivalent of "she started it first and I'm gonna get her back!" Just because someone else lacks manners or proper etiquette is unequivocally no excuse for anyone to behave unjustly themselves. The higher road is always the mark of the mature person. We must always make choices with a clear mind and this "battle" should have been left unfought.<BR><BR>"Anger blows out the lamp of the mind."

Art

TROLL ALERT, TROLL ALERT.<BR>The more I see the more convinced I become that this was the best troll I've seen. For those defending asia, remember that the first few answers were simply, we need more information to give you good answers. Than she/he came back with feathers all ruffled and stated the lack of time to do research and that we should do it form her/him. There have been just enough responses from asia to keep this going and she/he has softened just enough each time to keep interest. I spent some time on the asia forum this morning to see over the last few weeks that there were no such posts as this one, and if there had been, the responses would have been simular.<BR>

Girls

GERRY....<BR><BR>I LOVE IT THAT YOU MADE THAT CEO A WOMAN !!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for breaking the glass ceiling!!

Rex

I say that this is not a troll, Art. But the very best trolls are when it is SO hard to be sure.<BR><BR>But let's turn this into something positive. Who wants to start a new thread and let this one die?<BR><BR>Call it "a re-post for Asia, seeking advice on how to choose additional destinations to add to our fall trip to Paris."<BR><BR>Let's have a contest of both how best to phrase the question - - and how best to answer it.<BR><BR>Of course, the winning re-phrased question would actually come FROM Asia - - with more info about likes and dislikes.<BR><BR>I am no stranger to the need, sometimes, to simply start over, and try re-posting...<BR>

asia

rex, thanks for the invitation to come back however I believe I have been scared off by the responses i received from my questions...reading one negative statement after another has convinced me that this thread has to stop. and by the way what is a "troll" - excuse my ignorance but I truly don't know what it means...but it sure doesn't sound good, i certainly don't want to be the beast under the bridge in fantasy stories! Anyway, I am ending this with a thank you to all the Europeon fodorites/travellers who have given me such good suggestions...and by the way Carol...i just use asia as a username as i like travelling to asia specifically for this site, i use another name in the asian forum...english is my first language and I am Canadian...don't worry no offense taken. by the way, I would NEVER EVER resort to name calling...it is not in my nature and it is not adult like - again this is my opinion.<BR><BR>Rex, if you ever need some travel advise or tips to asia - and if you ever ask questions like "where should I go in Asia"...I hope you will know that you will always be welcomed in the ASIAN forum and you know where to find me, I would gladly advise you on Bali, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia....last night I found another forum on Europe travel tips/advise which I feel more comfortable at......thanks again everyone....I will be looking seriously into Paris and Rome.<BR><BR>by the way, if you read this, please note that my messages have never resorted to any type of name calling specifically to any user here...the only thing that I might learn from all of this is that there are some temperamental users out there whom I can't help but think that you are out to start something negative when someone who is serious about travelling has questions eventhough you might find it not suitable to your requirements of what is appropriate to ask and what isn't. do you not remember a time when you yourself ask that primary question "where should I go if I have X number of vacation weeks?"...remember all the excitement about deciding where you should go when you have some time off? when you get excited you ask a basic question...where should I go? Well this is my basic question...<BR>no harm intended only dependence on your kind suggestions and ideas...nothing else, I was not trying to start something negative, but if I have I apologize to those who really care about giving out advise but I sure am not sorry towards those who have been tremendously rude just because they wanted to be just that.Anyway Rex, thanks for being positive and I agree with you that everyone should start a new topic such as the one you suggested...i on the other hand will have to leave this site as I do not want to cause any grief with any of my questions. good luck with your future travels to Europe and I hope you will also venture out to asia too.<BR><BR>cheers<BR> <BR>

My Alias

Asia:<BR>Sinse you used an alias, you can simply change your name and post again anything you want. Unfortunately those on this thread who used their real names and e-mails don't get to do that.<BR>By the way I too have vistited and saw that they have many more threads that go without a reply than on the Europe forum. And, I didn't see any multiple postings.

Jody

Amsterdam! We're leaving for Amsterdam this Saturday. We'll have been there three time in four years. This time we're staying in a houseboat on a canal in the city center. Action, action, action. The town is bustling, the architecture is awesome and you can sit on the Leidesplein, drink Heinekin and people-watch to your heart's content. There is so much to do in the way of museums, shopping, day trips, concerts, etc. The "live and let live" attitude is very contageous --- it's very liberal and lively. There is also a tremendous variety of ethnic restaurants and outdoor cafes. Charming! However, if you'd like to round out your trip, you could spend one week in Amsterdam and one week in London. The Easy Jet flights from London to Amsterdam are about $100 one-way. There's lots to see in London as well. Be sure to book ahead if you want to do the "London Eye" (a huge ferris-wheel type of site seeing attraction). We couldn't get on last August as "walk-ups". Italy is another good location. We were planning a trip there, had to cancel, then reconsidered going at the last minute but the airfares were too high, that's how we decided on Amsterdam again. Italy is planned for the spring. Ciao!

Gerry

Check out "Never been to Europe" post!!!!<BR>Now we know the rest of the story!!!<BR>Personally, I am speachless!<BR> <BR>Gerry

Rex

Not sure why you are speechless, Gerry - - see my "analysis" on the other thread.<BR><BR>Although this does show that y=p did FIND the other threads.<BR><BR>My answer at 8:14 am on 6/22 shows that I knew about the other threads (there were TWO others, I think - - one "signed" and "Asia").<BR><BR>The posting and the re-posting were sloppy and poor etiquette (and perhaps the "culture" of this board is nothing like the Asia forum).<BR><BR>I think that clumsy posts by newcomers are less a threat to the continuing inflow of MORE newcomers - - than nasty answers by "us" regulars - - I have (more or less) tried to reform from my more stinging (sarcastic) responses to (most) newcomers.<BR><BR>I sometimes wish I had a collection of some of my old "zingers".<BR>

anon

Shame on Rex for scolding Elvira for simply trying to uphold standards here when his past forum behavior has included impersonating Fodor's editors and many, many condensending remarks to travel newbies!

Rex

Shame on me? for "scolding" Elvira? I said she was a "little" over the top (a comment made by "jjj", I simply agreed with it). <BR><BR>And I said that Asia "deserved" some of that wrath. My biggest dismay is that a "harsh" (Asia's word) post by someone as well-recognized as Elvira leads to all of this "piling on" - - agreeing with her or disagreeing with her.<BR><BR>Shame on you and "jjj" too - - for posting on this thread anonymously...<BR><BR>I have acknowledged previous posts that I have made that showed poor judgment, and said that I am sorry, and showed my desire not to repeat those lapses. That does not mean I relinquish for life, my prerogatives to disagree with someone.<BR><BR>But an anonymous criticizer takes no such responsibility for any such postings. Coward.<BR>

another

Get real, Rex. With as many weirdos as there are, do you really expect everyone to post with their real names and e-mail addresses? ESPECIALLY if they have something negative to say. What difference could it possibly make to you what their real names and e-mail addresses are??

Hippo

Rex, the hypocrite. He posts using fake names when it suits him, but calls others cowards for doing the same thing.

xxx

Have to say something about piling on. People are frequently insulted on this board. I have been insulted myself. When you're the victim, you find yourself wondering if everyone on the board thinks you deserved it. So it is nice if someone takes up for you. I don't see that as piling on.