Humbug!
 

Enough with the goodwill toward men.
Perhaps: a) I have post holiday letdown; b) four weeks of booze, cakes, pies and cookies have left me hazy; c) I resenting being back at work when all my friends and family are off for the week.
Whatever.
A few things I hope NOT to see next year:
Multiple screen names and other unbalanced posters.
Posts asking to compare the three most obscure hotels in a city (usually located miles outside the center).
The same tired 12 restaurants rec's for N.O. on the US board (are there no others?)
People wanting itneraries to see "all of Europe" in one week.


I'm feeling better already, I'll skip the rest.

Cheers.

I'm thinking that actually maybe you haven't had enough booze yet ;;)

I know how you feel about the repetitive questions (or the questions with the titles like "Need Information") but, pollyannaish as it sounds,everyone was a newbie once, and although the question is frequent it's the first time that this particular person is asking it. When I'm feeling impatient I think it's time for me to skip it and not answer.

The unbalanced posters have been especially annoying this month, but I keep hoping they'll be gone when kindergarten resumes in a few months.
We really ought to try to really ignore them and just go on posting around them---it's the ignore the spoiled brat approach.

oops, resumes in a few weeks, god willing

I hope it resumes in a few days!

Minutes...

Resentment is apparently quite powerful.

Darn and I wanted to be the official Fodor curmudgeon....anyway I'm going to Italy for 2 weeks...anything to do there? :))

Italy? I have it on good authority that the wine is wonderful! ((b))

this is already a curmudgeonly thread, no whine in Italy allowed

And no more posts containing the words "romantic".

I want to be curmudgeonly too!

Can we eliminate the word "best" in requests while we're at it?

:-)

Here here! Indy! I was gonna post that...

I want to be curmudgeonly.

How about no more questions about hidden gems of a hotel in a large, tourist oriented city. If it's mentioned here more that 2 times it's not a hidden gem. And I would like a professionally run hotel, where the people in charge know what they're doing.

No more questions of "What is the best" My idea of the best probably differs from yours.

Also forget about "the best" but "reasonably priced" I'm probably going to differ with you again about the word definitions.

And finally, I want all members of the spelling/grammar police to go on permanent vacation. If people can get what you meant to type instead of what you did type, hold your tongues/fingers.

Sure, Indy! When we meet next month in Boston, I hope you can give me a list of the 5 most mediocre places in Italy!

Sure, Indy! When we meet next month in Boston, I hope you can give me a list of the 5 most mediocre places in Italy! :lol

BC

Dang. I was going to ask the best places to eat in Italy, most romantic places to stay in France, what to see in Greece and how to do it all in one week. Sheesh - you guys are no fun at all. I'm heading for the booze...

Can I use my US$ just about everywhere in Europe?

;-)

BC, you can say that again!! lol~

I thought the trip to the mall today would destroy any good feelings I have left for my fellow man, but everyone was SO Nice!! What is up with that???



Happy Humbugging ~

Please help me!!!!! I have wanted to go to London my whole life and now I am going next month. What is there to do there? Humbug back at ya'!!! LOL

Where should we go and what should we do once we get there??? AGGGH!!!!!

Ok, I'm in.

Disclaimer to the casual reader: anyone who is posting here is feeling (temporarily) curmudgeonly, cranky, bratty, and impatient. Too much fruitcake, too much family, too little booze, or Santa was unkind. So if you don't want to read complaints, do as Dionne Warwick said and 'walk on by.' We're not harming anyone, just venting.
Most of us know this is trivial stuff in the scheme of things.
Eventually most of us will recover our good humor and go back to being patient and attempt to be helpful. But perhaps not this week.

pet peeves:
vague titles: "Need Advice", "What todo?" "Looking for hotel", "and my all time favorite, "Help"

questions on ATMs (and my own first question here was about ATMs)

Travelers checks (get with it, people!)

"Is this worth it?"

"Help me plan my trip"

When can I get the best air fare?
(the person who answers definitively will get my business as an investment advisor as well)

I'm looking for a clean hotel
(as opposed to the type of hotel that everyone else is looking for)

I've booked my hotel.
What do you think of my hotel and does it have a good location?

What are the top things to do in London/Paris/Rome?

In Venice, is a canal view important?
(To whom?)

Could I add one?

Try to relax and enjoy the camaraderie of the boards and stop feeling the need to command people to post only about travel.
What to wear and recipes should not be so upsetting to people :)

This is similar to elaine's "top five", but I really wonder about those who pick a destination, then ask, what are the "must-sees" or "must-dos". I remember a post a while back quite accurately stating that the only must-sees we all have in common are the inside walls of a restroom. And the must-dos?

Bardo1:

You have one more week to go before the official season ends...on the calendar anyway.

I think the boards are in transition and folks are pushing the "limits"...like kids do when school is out. Remember our fearless Danny did resign and "home-alone" may be the mind set for some.

I hope to NOT see or get impatient at:
* HELP!!!

* Where Should We Go?

* Need Your Advice Right Now

* Leaving Tomorrow

* Shall I Wear...( I have been here since 1999 and a gal can hope right?)

I am also TIRED of folks whining about the USA dollar. Put up and shut up like many from other countries have done for centuries.

I want Fodor's to start a FAMILY thread for all those questions about babies, tots, kids, grandkids, step-kids and so on.

I want Fodor's to start a political thread for travellers who want to talk politics with other travellers.

I want Fodor's to start a food and drink thread for travellers.

I want Fodor's to allow posters to know the hot topics, number of views on a post and I want Fodor's to have a front page worthy of reading(sorry, but its true).

Finally, I want my Fodor's pin from the early 2000's to have meaning...real meaning!!

I just WANT a Fodor's pin!!

I don't feeeeel curmudgeonly right now. Am I the only one??

For the newbies here,

To the Suggestion:
"Try to relax and enjoy the camaraderie of the boards and stop feeling the need to command people to post only about travel."


Response: (directly quoted from the editors, even if you and friends choose to ignore it almost daily):

Forum Rules
Travel Talk is a place for travelers to converse with other travelers. Ask questions, get advice, or share great stories from your trips. But please keep to the topic -- travel.

Oaktown, You touched on one of my pet peeves and I'm sure I'll catch flak for this: "Where to go in <insert destination of choice> with a baby" my advice: LEAVE THE BABY AT HOME!!!! You AND your fellow travelers will have a much better time and the baby will never know the difference.

Hightide:

At the risk of totally hijacking this thread...WORD! I have not had the guts or mood to say what you said but have felt it more times than I could count.

Ok, I hear the flood gates...This is a good time for doorbell-ditch on this post...

Happy New Year!

Actually, I have to agree with you both!
I LOVED my babies when they were babies but to take them on a trip? When their eustachian tubes are underdeveloped and the flight is sooooo long? Please, leave the bébés at home!

Here are my two: How long does it take to "do" (fill in the blank). What are you going to DO to it? And What is the dress code? You're no longer in private school folks.

With respect to the "other" discussions. Why not post those on the "other topics" board? Then everyone can have their way.

I never expected Fodors to be so grouchy at the end of the year! Is everyone trying to unload their peeves so as to start the new year on a good foot (hope hope hope)?

I have lots of humbugs too but they're outweighed by the hurrahs. ((l))

okay grasshopper, you've piqued my interest and at the risk of invoking the ire of the censors, does it take a longer time or a shorter time to do <fill in the blank> in a private school uniform???? Just wondering.... =)

My goodness, am I one of the few on Fodors feeling happy and content?

Sure hope all of you that are feeling grumpy and unhappy will get a good rest this week so you can have a Happy New Year and start 2005 with a smile.

Truly I do. :-X

LoveItaly, we're on the same page. Gotcha.

Nah, not really totally grumpy, just feeling and sounding grumpy. Blame it on cabin fever? One good trip and we'll be happy campers again....

And while were on it, shouldn't everyone in the world speak English and use the Dollar? :)) It would also help me significantly if the Foderites gave me the answers before I ask the question.

Ar ar, fromMA - they HAVE given you the answers already! You just have to search for them in the searchbox (would that be another pet peeve everyone????).

:D

Posting more on the Other Topics boards is a good idea. I will try to remember that..might save me some weird emails LOL

to grasshopper,
"With respect to the "other" discussions. Why not post those on the "other topics" board? Then everyone can have their way."

You raise an EXCELLENT point, but somehow, I doubt any of the people who make a habit of posting "other" topics and non-Europe related topics on this forum will have the ____ to stand up and address this issue willingly, or openly.

Surely they've been around long enough to know about the "other topics" forum, and are simply choosing to blatantly disrepect the focus here.

My other pet peeves will go unmentioned, since I've learned the art of dodging some of these "fluff posts". But newbies looking for actual travel info might not be so lucky.

You never know where the good ones will come from. While nellyanne et al. made me nuts recently, I thoroughly enjoyed Bambi & Faith's thread awhile back. PLMN was a nervous newbie packing and planning her heart out, but upon return has one of the most entertaining and active trip report threads I've seen here in ages!