is this site racist?
 

i noticed that everybody think that all users of this site are americans. does it occur to you all that not only americans go to europe. some people who actually use this site are europeans, asians and africans. is it just a mistake or do people here think that only americans have the right tp use this site????

I think that would be "nationalist", not racist. (I hope none of us are "Nazionalists", though I have long wondered how many people realize the near-zero distinction between "Nazionalismus" and "patriotism" - - semantically and etymologically speaking, that is). <BR> <BR>I, for one, make quite a point in reminding people here that just because you post in English, it helps to say what country you are from. To people who ask "what is a good fare to get to Paris" I am quick to reply - - from where? You speak the language of people from Miami, London, Sydney, Vancouver or Johannesburg. The airfares from those cities to Paris are all very different. <BR> <BR>As for race, there are almost NEVER any references to the race of travelers on this site, whether referring to travelers from the United States of America or not. There have been a few questions about safety or attitudes that Black or Hispanic Americans might encounter in Europe. In general, I think that most travelers have provided information that would reassure anyone concerned about such matters. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR>

That isn't racism (unless you make it so). It might be nationalistic or tunnel vision but it really doesn't make any difference. The advice is the same. If you want advice from your country you can ask and it may be answered.

No, dumbass. Statistically, like it or not, the U.S. has the heaviest concentration of users of the internet. So... Most people on this site will be Americans. They write about what they know. <BR> <BR>"Do people here think that only americans have the right to use this site???" <BR> <BR>*sigh*... You stomp out stupidity one place, and like a weed, it just pops up somewhere else.

In addition to comments already made, consider: <BR> <BR>1. Most Fodors guidebooks are sold in the US. So who's going to go looking for a travel website? <BR> <BR>2. The website is based in NYC. While websites can be based anywhere and still be used by the whole world, that means that it follows the rhythms, often, of what's going on in the US. Think about time-zone issues. <BR> <BR>3. It's written in English. Many people speak and read English, but Americans are going to concentrate on sites that are in English. <BR> <BR>4. Americans like to talk and remain seated when they get information. Using the internet to get information and chat has become -- for better or much worse -- an essential part of the way of life for the middle- and upper-middle classes. <BR> <BR>5. Americans come in all races. <BR> <BR>6. Americans come in all shades of smart and dumb, parochial and world-savvy. So if you encounter posts from people who seem to think America is the standard to which all else in compared, you are just seeing evidence of one -- but ONLY one -- mindset here. <BR> <BR>7. There is nothing written anywhere here on anywhere in the Fodors websites that specifies who has a "right" to use the site. We all use it knowing anyone can. <BR> <BR>8. One of the things that you probably find most irritating about Americans is their tendency to make sweeping generalizations about other cultures. Make sure you aren't guilty of that yourself.

Bravo Calla! <BR>I am not an American and I am using this site for over a year. It seems that regardless where we are from some of us have too much time and are coming up with some imature questions. Don't spend too much time at your computer Lea or you may become Rex. How sad. It seems this guy is on a computer all the time. Go and do something useful or answer some travel related questions on this forum.

thankx for the people who replied, i have had a personal experience. when i posted a message once and it had my email. so don't say the problem does not exist. but anyway, it is nice to know that not eveybody is like that that i was only paranoid. the purpose of the message was to inquire, that's why is had question marks. <BR>PS: there is no need for obscenity or insults. if you can't have a debate or a conversation without drooling with insults then this shows that you are the one who is stupid Kolmogorov. ok.

Kalla, what a wonderful, thoughtful response! <BR> <BR>lea, re: "i have had a personal experience. when i posted a message once and it had my email. so don't say the problem does not exist. but anyway, it is nice to know that not eveybody is like that i was only paranoid." <BR> <BR>I'm not sure what you're saying...someone emailed you and made racist comments because of something you wrote here? If so, I'm sorry to hear that. Sure there are probably racists (and hyper-nationalists) in any country or society, but I'd like to think that people who travel, and/or are interested in travel, are FAR less likely to have attitudes like that.

I always assume that posters are from the USA (not the same thing as American) unless they're obviously not. <BR>As the vast majority of posters are from the USA it would seem superfluous for them to identify themselves. <BR>Not arrogant, just commonsense.

All Fodors users have negative biases toward blacks, jews, mexicans, Germans who hate jews, and especially gypsies.

Just for the record, I post appropriate questions and answers under this "xxx" as I am at work and cannot afford to receive spam. However, the above rude and ignorant comment is not from me.

To assume that everyone on this forum is from the US is ethnocentricism. At worst it's arrogant, but it's *not* racist. As some who who travels and works in the Balkans where nationalism are rampant, [The plural there is intentionsl] I cringe at the inaccurate use of words that have incendiary power.

Okay -- so I can't type:) That was "nationalismS"

Re: xxx's comment: "All Fodors users have negative biases toward blacks, jews, mexicans, Germans who hate jews, and especially gypsies." <BR> <BR>I freely admit to having a negative bias toward people who make ignorant generalizations!

And I freely admit to having a negative bias towards people who are ignorant of the meaning of the word "ignorant."

TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL TROLL.... FLY AWAY... GO BACK TO LONELY PLANET... FLY BACK AND STIR UP PEOPLE ANYWAY YOU WANT TO.

It's amazing how many ignorant can't detect sarcasm.

Sorry, meant to say ignorant "people" Capo.

How dare Lea assume that no South Americans would ever go to Europe! <BR> <BR>Hard to be racist when you can't see a person.

And I freely admit to having a negative bias toward people like myself who can't detect sarcasm. :~)

Why would South Americans be using this site? Obviously their culture is so primitive that they would not have access to computers much less know what the internet is. And because most of South America is a third world society, they can't afford the plane tickets to Europe!!!

I feel some are not racist but snobby yes. Remember I said SOME. SOME assume you will be traveling to Europe four times a year like they do-and for SOME it is their trip of a lifetime and that is it-so they do rush around to see things. But, there are many who are very nice and helpful and well meaning here too. Afterall, this is supposed to be to HELP people with trip information-not stomp them.

Attention all Fodarians: Goosestep to the Pariser Platz for an important rally.

dear david dukie go goosestep in some gooseshit-back to lonely planetto you

Hi everyone, I thought I should offer my objective opinion given I'm not American - I would assume people would think I'm from the US unless I tell them I'm Australian & have no problem with that (they may figure it out given most of my postings are in the dead of night US time!!! ;)) Statistically given the huge population of the US & high usage of the internet there most people on this site will be from the States - I don't think soemone is showing any prejudice by assuming as default a person is American if they don't say otherwise. I actually love the fact I'm in a minority hear & enjoy the quirky cultural differences (Ok I'll admit it - 'fanny pack' still makes me smirk!!). <BR>Cheers!

I'm not convinced that Lea is a dreaded TROLL, as some have suggested. I think she has a very good point. <BR> <BR>I agree that the choice of the word "racist" was unfortunate but, if English is not Lea's first language, than I can understand why she might use this word, as opposed to "US-Centric" or whatever. (Lea MAY have been born outside of N.A. and have emigrated; she may have been born in N.A. to non-English speaking parents, she may be one of the few visitors from outside of N.A. that we should be welcoming to our site!). <BR> <BR>I don't think Lea was accusing this site of being racist, in the traditional sense. However, if her question is about the extent to which non-English speakers are made welcome on this site, then I think she definitely has a point. <BR> <BR>Perhaps she is referring to some unfortunate incidences that I have observed: <BR>· Original Poster asks question, usually concerned with some controversial issue about a particular country (anything from baseball caps to gypsies) <BR>· Non-English speaker, from the country in question, attempts to answer questions (in English) and gets vilified by THE GRAMMATICALLY CORRECT FU**WITS (see Bridget Jones for translation) if the response posted does not suit their agenda. The attack focuses, not on the answer but, on spelling and grammar - at the very least, BAD MANNERS <BR> <BR>Ignore the word "racist". Maybe Lea's posting was just questioning how well the site's contributor's accept a different perspective based on language and culture - either inside or outside the U.S. <BR> <BR>Regards Ger

RACIST? Absolutely not. Do we forget sometimes that all posters aren't coming from America? Certainly. There is a post up now, for example, about Looking American, and someone responded (Patti?) saying how she hated scarves. She and several others responded that "WE" should be able to express ourselves as "WE" saw fit as Americans because that's what we were. SO American! <BR> <BR>Well, as an American who lives in Europe part-time every year, I think I have maybe a special perspective on this. I don't assume all posters are American. I will say, though, that at first when I posted, I used to put a phrase in there saying "if you're not from the USA, pardon the assumption....", which I don't any longer, only because it's a pain in the tuccus to do so. If you think there are enough Europeans or others reading these boards, let me know and I will continue to do so. <BR>By the way, when I post telephone numbers, and give them from the USA, I usually note that that's where I'm suggesting dialing from. <BR> <BR>Bottom Line: Some of us are not assuming everyone on these boards is in the USA. OK? <BR> <BR>

thanks ger, i believe that you have a point. maybe racist was a bad choice of words.

Interesting...I posted a similar question in OTHER...go, take a look at the Fodor responses...

Oaktown Traveler, could you be more specific on where you posted your message and under what heading. <BR>thanks

Lea: <BR>The Fodors Travel Talk Home page has a category called OTHER. Scroll down once you click on the topic of OTHER and you will see the question: Is there Racism in Travel? Let me know if you find it. I will keep checking this post and that one.