StCirq

Guys: <BR> <BR>I've been an ardent supporter of the "no anonymity" concept since I found this board a couple of months ago. It certainly would have cut back on or eliminated numerous off-the-wall and slanderous posts directed at me, among other things. On the other hand, I do understand why some people might not want to "expose" themselves to the wrath and bitterness of OTHER anonymous posters. Yes, the problem feeds on itself, and I don't like it - but I don't automatically reject as untrue posts by anonymous posters. This one seemed legitimate to me. You make some good points as to why it might not be. Bottom line - we'll probably never know.

Unknown

Does anyone else think John Young's English rather stilted? <BR>"However, it must be determined the nature of her "suggestions", which brought someone of Roman Homes to reply". <BR>"It seems that many can't help feeling somehow interesting by bashing or giving a negative report on " <BR>Interesting...

John W. Young

My, my, my...what are you up to? Give us a lead, Mr. Interesting. <BR> <BR>John

ger

All this "Dr. Abate" stuff happened before I found Fodor's Travel talk. The postings pique my interest (in addition to confusing me regarding who was real and not!). So, I did a search on "Abate" and found some of the original posts. Very interesting! I would recommend any new browsers to do the same it they are interested for a complete understanding of the issues and the history. <BR> <BR>By the way, my name IS Ger, I always post under this "alias", but this is not my e-mail i.d., as I don't want any more spam than I currently get, and I have no issue with registering with Fodors and committing to posting under no other "alias" then this one. <BR> <BR>Regards <BR>

x

ed @ TWENJ.COM wHAT IS YOUR REAL NAME AND EMAIL???????????????????

Ed

Dear x ([email protected]): <BR> <BR>Do you have any reason to doubt that's a real address. Or is this another case of an anonymous poster slyly casting aspersions on others? <BR> <BR>Why not send a message to the address, being sure to include your real address, and see if you get a reply. Fortunately for you you'll find that no portion of the address is upper- or lower-case sensitive.

Shelly

We are going to Rome in a few weeks and will be staying at a Roman Homes apartment. I'm looking forward to it, the place looked great on the web. The best part about the reservation is that Abate faxed a full page head shot with the other reservation documents. Funny. I'm always up for adventure.

Paul J

I followed the original "Dr Abate" posting with amusement and I did not participate. I will let everybody decide for themselves. My only comment is that those who post anonymously (sp) seemed to be saying they do so because of "spam or worse". Well I've been posting for at least three years under my real name and as far as I can tell, I've never received spam one time. I don't get it. This post may open the floodgates however!!! Paul J

Brent Lawstone

Shelly, since you will be staying at a Roman Homes apt. shortly, perhaps then you can write us about it once back home. <BR>I don't understand what you mean by "Abate faxed a full page head shot with the other reservation documents". When I rented he sent me the rental contract, and before the arrival I was given the arrival and payment instructions. Please inform. <BR>Also, which is your unit? <BR>There are a few persons in this thread who rented an apartment from this company. Perhaps they will be able to advise before, and compare after. <BR>The apartment I rented was: <BR>http://www.romanhomes.com/monti-bernini.htm <BR>It was in a quarter I knew little about before renting, but which I loved once there. What's your location? <BR> <BR>Brent.

xx

What is this nonsense about those who post anonymously? <BR>EVERYBODY on this board uses an assumed name. <BR>Apologies to Ed Fodors if that's your real name, I just doubt it somehow. <BR>Are we all supposed to turn up at your house to ask if we can post? <BR>How about posting your real name and house address then? Nothing else is real here. <BR>Please stop accusing people of being "sly".It's unpleasant and not needed. <BR> I find it cute that you can "judge the merit of what anyone has to say on this forum" just from knowing their "real" name. <BR> I use phrenology, obviously I'm not as advanced as you - are you eviscerating chickens?

hoho

This just gets funnier. <BR>"Brent Lawstone"is even better than "John W. Young" <BR>Next up? <BR>Clark Kent? <BR> <BR> <BR>

nameless

Wow. I'm very sorry that this caused such waves. I simply meant to provide a counterbalance to the conversation. In fact, Ed, I have posted under my 'real' name several times, and have appreciated your helpful responses to my questions, but this topic seemed so inflammatory that I didn't want to open myself up to unpleasant e-mails. Your point is well taken, and in the future I'll opt not to participate if the subject is this touchy. <BR>Again, I'm not saying that Roman Homes is a bad company. Clearly, some of our fellow travelers have had great experiences. My experiences were odd enough to make me move on, and I simply shared them in response to the original post. If others think the events were trivial, by all means, use the company, and enjoy your trip. <BR>I didn't mean to stir things up this much. Please accept my apologies to all for my portion of the controversy. <BR> <BR>I reviewed my e-mail correspondence, and for what it's worth: <BR>Excerpt from John Young's above posting: <BR>"It also has the best map of Rome I came across with. It is hosted in one of their satellite sites: www.romanholidays.com/rome-map.htm <BR>(though it can be reached from links all over the main romanhomes.com site)" <BR> <BR>Excerpt from an e-mail from Dr. Abate: <BR>"If you looked better, you would have found that we have the best map of <BR>Rome, linked from many links in the site. Although you have access to it from our site romanhomes.com, you will find the map though at this address: <BR>http://www.romanholidays.com/rome-map.htm" <BR> <BR>Is it just me, or is the language and message surprisingly similar? <BR> <BR>

Faceless

Three observations: <BR> <BR>1. I think it is kind of rude and unnecessary to question the bona fides of someone like the person who shared his/her negative experience re this Dr. Abate. If a person wishes to remain anonymous, readers can take that into account and give that fact the weight they wish it to have. <BR> <BR>2. Ed, you keep harping on your wish that registration be required. OK. We got it. Enough, OK? Some of us don't agree. Personally, I like to post anonymously on contentious threads. That way, people snipe at me less when I choose to post under my "handle" as a usually do when offering pure travel advice. Honestly, I don't see why you should have such a problem with that. <BR> <BR>3. Is the e-mail suspiciously similar to the testimonial above? Yes.

XXXXX

What a hoot! How could anyone believe that long testimonial contradicting nameless? <BR> <BR>If someone posted something negative about a business that you liked, you'd probably just ignore it or maybe post something specific about your own experience. You probably wouldn't take the time to research the website in question to make point-by-point refutations of someone else's experience. <BR>

John W. Young

Now I see what you guys are after, you suspect that the doctor suggested what I should write, or what? <BR>What got my attention when reading "nameless" message was that in one of my first queries to Roman Homes I asked them where I could find a map of Rome. That's were I got the internet address of my previous posting (I went back and read their reply, which I kept - might been influenced by the doctor's writing - made a small manual for my Rome visit out of his messages). <BR>Now speaking of interesting things - something Mr. Interesting or Unknown surprisingly missed - I can see that this thread was started by someone practically asking references on Roman Homes. Previous tenants wrote recommending the company, but then someone (xxx, nameless etc) showed up with insinuations, also attacking whomever endorsed the company. Strangely, someone recommends "as alternative" another company, and Nameless says that he / she eventually used this company and had a "perfect holiday". Mmh... see what I mean? <BR>And if this is not the case, it would be interesting to read not only the doctor's reply to Nameless, which seems normal to me (not snippy at all), but his /her message in reply to him as well. Chances are that he/she was aggressive or rude with the doctor, but that of course we will never know, right Nameless (or is it Truthless)? <BR> <BR>John

John W. Young

XXXXX, <BR> <BR>You would have done it too had you experienced the dedication and hospitality that the guys of Roman Homes - not only Dr. Abate - had for me.

nope

Jean-- <BR>In response to your original post, if what you're looking for is apartments in rome, here's a few references from old discussions: romanreference.com, rentvillas.com, guestinitaly.com, domulintl.com, parkervillas.com. italianitineraries.com, vbella.com, initaly.com <BR>None of them seem to have either the fans or teh critics of Dr. Abbate's services. <BR>Trying to steer this discussion back to something useful.

ClarkKent

It is fairly predictable that on any attack thread StCirq, who is famous for her aliases, will claim she never uses them and join in the fray. <BR> <BR>That she knows nothing about the subject has nothing to do with it. She gets her jollies by fighting with people. <BR> <BR>It seems to me that we have here one poster with a bad experience and with an alias. Without a "real" name, I rate his posts with a big shrug.

anon

Yes, StCirq always has her six shooter at the ready to slam someone--even when she knows nothing about what is going on. <BR> <BR>Then, when someone slams her back, she is wins the Academy Award for playing victim. <BR> <BR>I freely admit to knowing nothing about romanhomes.com, but, if StCirq dislikes him that much, I'd rent from him.

dahlia

This St. Cirq person is all over the board. She is very opinionated and thinks she knows everything (it's always the person who does not know that much who acts like that). I started seeing her name in France-related threads, now in Spain, where is she going next? It's good that a lot of people in this forum travel a lot and can correct her "declarations and exaggerations" right away. This person is the worst we had in this forum. Watch how when you see her name, the thread becomes a World War III or a pissing contest.