OK, opening myself up here to all sorts of nasties...I admit I am a lurker. I've been checking out this forum for several weeks for an upcoming trip to Europe. Rex's posts have been incredibly helpful..he seems very knowledgeable. I don't understand why so many people seem to resent him and treat him with such disrespect. I just want to say thanks to him for his info and for seeming to "keep his head while those around him are losing theirs"!! (p.s. never met the man, don't know him, not related!)

Cmonfolks, I agree with you. Don't use the last couple of weeks as a basis to judge the forum--for some reason there seem to be a number of nasties active here. Hope they go away.

Hey--- Hey what happened to the Beatles tune" All we need is love" Ha ha...Things have gotten a bit "FUNKY" on the board. What UP??? Aren't we all fun, free spirited traveler types??? <BR> <BR>Or am I mistaken?? I am. Jcat

Yeah Rex offers sound advice though he also offers a lot of leads to urls suggesting that he hasn't experienced the travel so much as researched it. Biggest objection to Rex is his patronizing tone and his condescencion if he doesn't like the way a question or comment is phrased. Smacks of a holier than thou attitude. Notice that he's getting paranoid about whether he's drumming up business or being altruistic in his postings. He sure does draw an awful lot of attention here. Wonder if he initiates it himself to satisfy some megalomania or hubris. I wonder if he still posts to asktheexpert or if he was found out not to be one.

I am flattered "cmonfolks", and I appreciate your kind remarks. <BR> <BR>I have tried hard to refrain from even acknowledging the vicious accusations directed at me. At times I have swung back. <BR> <BR>I think my expertise is considerable, but that means that I know "something" about - - say, maybe 10% of the destinations travelers might want to see in Europe. I do think I have learned as much researching answers to questions here (and also four substantial trips that ultimately I wasn't able to take) - - as some segments of my personal travel experience. I use internet references often because I feel that they convey so much more than I can re-type into these little boxes here. I have been to Europe 19 times, 9 of which were taking other people. Much of that travel has been relatively recent, but I am always wary (and any seeker of information should be too) of advice that is not current. Excluding trips in 1969 (age 15) and 1986, the other 17 trips have been in the past 12 years - - but even that means some information too old to be reliable. So I hope that any advice I give is checked against CURRENT internet sources. Usually, I re-check a URL before I cite it (because I don't want to look foolish), but of course, I have been posting answers here for about 17 months, so there are undoubtedly some references here that are already dead-ends. <BR> <BR>I have made a lot of friends here - - and a few acid-tongued enemies. I wish they would identify themselves, and communicate their displeasure with me directly. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

Cmonfolks, Who jumped on Rex and why? <BR> <BR>With so many helpful people (like Rex) on this forum, how can people find fault with some assistance? I just don't get it.

REX!!!! Just shut up and let the rest of us handle this item!

I think that there are just some unhappy people out there that want to make others as unhappy. Remember a few months ago Elvira was the target, thsn Sally Fowler, Ben Haines, Wes Fowler etc. It seems that the most helpful people with the most knowledge are chosen to be the brunt of idiots. These idiots always choose to be anonymous cowards. <BR>By the way, I don't mean to slight anyone who has been attacked and is a regular contributor, its just that I'm on my lunch hour with limited time and my memory ain't what it once was. <BR>

Interestingly enough, it appears that you can't retrieve this thread by searching for "Rex"...

Searching "defense" doesn't work either. <BR> <BR>nor does "lurker" or "nasties"... <BR> <BR>I'm beginning to think that searching just doesn't work predictably at all, if a thread has had a post within the prior 48 hours (or thereabouts). <BR> <BR>Fodor's: care to address this question? <BR> <BR>YKWIA <BR>

Hello All, and Hi to Rex, I was just trying to get a mental picture of what Rex(you) looks(look) like. You were 15 in 1969, right Rex? Just terribly curious... inquiring(nosey)minds need to know.... I often need to visualize in order to get the the the whole concept(duh) .... any recent pics of you Rex, out there in cyberspace? <BR>Judy ;-)

Oh my goodness! He actually mailed it to me! So I put it on my web page! <BR> <BR>http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/H...hirtless42.jpg <BR>

Judy, <BR>You have go to be kidding. Do you seriously believe that this is Rex? Whether you believe it or not, it's incredibly funny either way.

Actually that's a very old pic of him. It's amazing what time and hard life can do to a man's face. For Lenny's sketch of Rex as he appears today see this web page: <BR> <BR>http://www2.nkansai.ne.ip/users/toyomi/opening.htm

Correction: <BR> <BR>http://www2.nkansai.ne.jp/users/toyomi/opening.htm <BR> <BR>

Sorry to debunk Rex on this one, but that's my buddy Keone in the picture. He's the guy that gets the great tips on the booze cruise. <BR> <BR>So Rex brah, I value your advice, but come on...Whatever came of truth-in-advertising?

Hey, Judy (and the rest of you), you have to admit that sometimes Rex has a pretty good sense of humor. Actually this isn't a picture of a young Rex, it's some guy I dated in 1942.

Ha Ha Ha... very funny...... &lt;g&gt; <BR>I am just going to take my marbles and go home. Sometimes the "real" Judy..

I like Rex! He's very helpful, and he wants to share what he knows. He's also willing to take time to research things he doesn't know about... Isn't that worth a "thank you" once in a while, instead of bashing the poor guy all the time? Let's face it, if he ever left the forum, it wouldn't be half as much fun! Now, where do I find his website?? <BR> <BR>

Thank you, Rex.