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.

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.

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????).

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!