Phillyboy I agree with you on the IT MUST BE NICE comments. The fact that I buy used cars and don't waste my money living beyond my means is lost on these idiots who are so leveraged that can't afford to pay a tv repairman if their huge flatscreen they bought at Walmart is broken. I also get sick of the "I'd like to go someday" (said in a moaning and/or whining voice) by the same people.

cigale - I was looking at a post in the Lounge that referenced marms on this thread so I googled the word (had no clue what it was). Here's the link.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=marm

cigale,

You most definitely are <i>not</i> a Fodorite marm!

That Urban Dicitionary definition strikes me as rather narrow and literal. I'd say the posters above who compared being a marm to Margaret from Dennis the Menace hit the nail on the head. But of course there's always that ineffable gap between signifier and signified, etc., etc.

I would like to speak as someone who has occasionally asked for information and then NOT written a trip report upon my return.

I'm intimidated. I love reading trip reports of others. Some have been so written so well that I feel I'm right there with them and when they finish an installment I can hardly wait for the next leg of their adventure. And all you great writers with your great trips, I thank you. But I'm not really ready to get my trip report feet wet. Maybe next year on my first solo trip to Paris, which I will undoubtedly find be amazingly awesome and uberly worth it.

Agree re out of this world, to die for. But awesome, quaint, magical, amazing... while over-used, can apply. Sometimes. The interior of Chartres Cathedral is awesome...truly... Awe is exactly what I felt when I stood there taking in the form and grace of its columns.

sorry dont get it
sure words are overused
vocabulary is limited
not all are wordsmiths
not everyone enjoys writing but still might want to share information

if certain words are used over and over
we all get the pictureanyway- kinda

not going to sit with a thesaurus and try to outclever myself
things are 'amazing'
and they are 'magical' and 'delightful'
and maybe if youre tired of these words then pick up chaucer or shakespeare
or try learning another language

in the meantime simple words and amazing experiences will do me just fine

You tell a colleague that you start your holiday soon (so they won't be wondering where you are when you don't turn up at 9 a.m. on the given day). They reply, "Ooh, where're you going - anywhere nice?" (every time). It's the "anywhere nice" that annoys me. I'd love to answer, "I should bl**dywell hope so", but I never do.
And, I'm sorry to be pedantic, but does anybody on Fodor know that " it's " is an abbreviation for "it is" or "it has", NOT a possessive adjective?
And there's a Preview button - Use it!

Using words like amazing, awesome, and magical is lazy writing and not instructive. If you want to convey the enjoyment or the spectacle that you have seen, then describe it. Justifying the use of the words is unconvincing.

People are having amazing meals, awesome experiences, and magical moments every moment. It doesn't say what tasted good, why you were elated, nor why you were elevated.

No, most Americans weren't taught the proper use of the apostrophe - along with the distinctions between <I>there, their, and they're</i> and a thousand other homonyms, as well as even a rudimentary knowledge of logic, mathematics, history, or geography. They are abysmally ignorant of even the basic functions of the government that controls their lives, and vote for the most charismatic candidate rather than the one with the best ideas.

They think that Michael Jackson is somehow important, and hang on every word about politicians who cheat on their taxes or wives, but never those who cheat their constituents.

Their brains are so saturated with pop cult that there's no room for any practical knowledge. I hope I have answered your question adequately.

And we wonder why people say they feel too intimidated to post trip reports.

They should not be intimidated but consider it a challenge to write an engaging trip report. They were moved by their anger to write, so let them be moved by their exceitement.

Nikki,

I just came back from Europe and have been procrastinating about writing a trip report. I don't like writing trip reports.

After reading this thread, I originally thought - to hell with it, why bother writing a report when some Fodorites don't seem to realize that 1) people don't have to write trip reports and 2) if you don't like a trip report, don't read it - I rarely read trip reports.

But now I'm tending towards writing a report, but the title will be "My magical, amazing, and awesome trip to Europe" which should be fair warning that some people shouldn't even open it. :-)

Shanti, I'll read it!

I really don't care if people use these words, as long as they vary them. Don't call every single thing in your trip amazing - some are magical, some are awesome :P

I suppose I'm guilty of using amazing and magical too much - but they are really what I feel when I visit places like Stonehenge or York Cathedral. :) And I've tried to stop using quaint, now that I realize that Brits find it patronizing. I try to use awesome only for those things that truly inspire awe.

However, my own pet peeves include the aforementioned 'is it worth it?' question. Everyone experiences things differently, so what is worth it to one person will not be to the next.

I also hate the trip reports that are all one paragraph, or one sentence, making it difficult to read. And the Americans who think that all things are measured by American standards. I had the misfortune of traveling with a friend who thought that way, to Ireland one vacation. By the end of the trip, I was ready to toss her out of the car. She also disapproved of they way my other friend and I drank pints every night. Bleh.

I guess that I should have realized by reading a thread that has the word "peeve" in the title that responses would be from cranky people. I appreciate that people take the time to write trip reports at all. I'm not sure I'd bother if it meant having my every thought judged and to be found lacking.

bluzman, don't be intimidated, just write the report in your own words and ignore the critics. People who read trip reports are interested in a particular site, want helpful information and want to read about your experiences.

Yeah, I write mine for several reasons. For the folks here is just one of many. I write them to keep my own memories sharp, for my own family to read, for my friends, for my website.

Oh, for heaven's sakes! (please note correct use of apostrophe!).

The thread's a release, you know? Not to be taken too seriously. Mainly we're all wonderful, and never bug anyone.. (how boring would THAT be?)

Shouldn't it be for heaven's sake?

Gee not much I see as a pet peeve. Very interesting comments from most people except..................of course there is ALWAYS an excepton..........when some get all angry......lol......followed by me giving my head a shake.........and thinking..........uh did I miss something???!!!

'Lose' and 'loose.' You didn't 'loose' your backpack. Advise and advice have already been mentioned but are nails on a chalkboard for me.