After following this forum for about one year, it occurs to me that there are really only six or seven legitimate threads--something like there are only a few real plots in liteture. they are <BR>1. Which hotel is better, or can you recommend one. <BR>2. How far is it, which train, etc., etc. <BR>3. What to pack or not <BR>4. What is the weather <BR>5. How to tell a real tourist <BR>6. How long will it take me <BR>7. What about kids, (fat people, old people, etc.) <BR> <BR>The rest is drivvel. We should ask Fodors to just let us contribute under the aforementioned subject titles, and all else (all the trashing of each other) should be listed under brand X, then quickly deleted by the editors.

Oh yes, forgot the most important, so change that to 8. Will I be mugged, assaulted, killed in which towns, neighborhoods, cities, etc.

Sandi, that is a stupid idea. Ever look up the definition of a FORUM? What are you, one of those annal everything-per-the-list type? <BR> <BR>I got #9 for you--- Sandi's Drivel.

sandi: Why don't you start your own website that suits just your personal opinion? These threads do have titles, so there is no need for you to go into any that would be on your censor list!

Aren't you glad you don't know some of these people who are so hard-core, nobody-asked-you opinionated?! What about the people who have to work with and, worse yet, live with them!

I think it is a very bland idea to take out the personal experiences shared in these posts, and while many of the same questions may be asked(usually in creative ways) never is there a similar answer. Not for one. Everyone's personal experiences vary and therefore the responses become personalized. That's what I like about these forums. <BR> So, yes, reduce the number of questions to 8 categories --if we are all robots --but since we are humans looking for shared personal experiences I think it might miss out on the meaning. <BR> <BR>Patricia

how sad that you feel that way, since it strikes me that you have missed most of the fun of the gazillions (sp?) of postings I have read since I found this forum late last summer. <BR>I had just finished my fourth week-long trip to Paris, and didn't know about: Angelina's for chocolate, La Samaritaine for the view, and to head to Rue Mouffetarde for the best street-side crepes. But when we all return next year, I will head for each of these, and many more spots in Paris, and now know to hit the Ceremony of the Keys in London too! (In the interest of brevity, I will not mention the many other ideas cramming my folder already for my trip!) <BR>And yes, I will be on here asking perhaps a hotel question, and realizing how blessed I am to be returning again to Europe, and that I already have knowledge for Sandi's #2 et al. If the forum was really so redundant and grouchy as Sandi feels, I would surely hope I wouldn't be finding it so addictive! <BR>Kind thoughts to all of you that make for such enjoyable reading and interaction!!!

Sandi, you're an idiot!

Sandi has hit the nail on the head. Travel is a much too serious an endeavor to be sullied by silly information and personal observations. Everyone, listen up!! This forum should be kept to facts, just like guidebooks. Under no circumstances should the reading of this forum be enjoyable or entertaining. By doing so, we encourage people to think traveling is fun! All of us know that's not the truth - why mislead all those new to traveling? <BR> <BR>And, all the information I've gathered from those non-conforming posts? I'm truly sorry I used it. It has made my trips fun, and that's a rotten shame.

Well, I was sure Elvira would have something to say...funny that she always does, and yet travels so much. Maybe she has a double. I still say that we should confine our forum to travel related subjects, and how fat people are or are not, simply doesn't relate. There are quite a few chat rooms for folks that just want to ventilate or be hateful. My point is, we should have catgegories for opinions and suggestions, then we could go there and not spend time looking at stupid contributions that are just one person, (one very lonely person, obviously) stupid remarks./

Sandi, you're calling other people's remarks stupid? Ho, ho, ho! Look in the mirror, lady!

What the #@%!??? "All the trashing of each other"!!! Aren't you the one who started in on Elvira a few weeks ago and wouldn't let go? If this forum doesn't suit you, then go somewhere else! PLEASE!

Sandi, <BR>Take two aspirins and don't call us in the morning.

"Sandi" you are starting up again about Elvira. Go back to daycamp and just think, you'll be in junior high in September! And study your spelling mistakes. Maybe you'll qualify for the National Spelling Bee and a trip with your teacher to D.C. if you work on words like "Drivvel" (yours) and "liteture" (for "lite" weights--you?) Leave this forum for grownups.

The not knowing what's going to turn up on this forum is what makes it interesting and fun. I would hate to be tied by rules as to what you can ask and say. Think of the great threads we'd have missed: Moments of Lunacy; Richard's 40th; the various biography threads, etc - what a loss that would have been. If all we want is straight travel info, it's obtainable elsewhere. It's the roaming kind of communication between like-minded people that I find fun.

"Travel Lounge is a place for travelers to talk to travelers -- you can ask <BR>questions, get advice, or share great <BR>stories from your trips. But please no rudeness and no commercial promotion." <BR> <BR>Sandi, I think you have truly missed out on the spirit of this Forum. Traveler's experiences are much too rich and varied to be pigeonholed into categories. Why have forums at all, under your advice, we should all just stick to the nuts and bolts of a guidebook-ahhh-but many of us wish to go beyond the information gained from a guidebook. <BR> <BR>And as far as "six or seven legitimate threads"-who are you to judge? Sure you may see questions posted time and time again, but many people have never been to this forum before-not everyone has been here for as long as you, and for many people they are planning the "trips of their lifetime" and perhaps have never traveled abroad and don't know what to expect. <BR> <BR>Geez, lighten up will ya-you'll be much happier for it. Don't take those posts you deem to be "drivvel" too personally, other people obviously enjoy reading them. Start your own forum if you don't like the format here.

Sandi, Can't you admit when you are wrong?

sandi - <BR> <BR>Thank you for your thoughts. <BR> <BR>However, some of us like the give and take of discussing all aspects related to travel, and this is a convenient location. It is fun and interesting, and we will continue. Of course, we will respect all opinions, write in good nature, and not call names.

I am trying to stay out of these type of threads, as one usually gets blasted by the Rude Ones. <BR>But ,it is funny. <BR>We are all entitled to our opinions, but wouldn't it be nice if there was no name-calling, no telling people they are stupid, or inmature? <BR>I just recommended the Europe board to a poster on the American board. <BR>She posted that it bothered her when people broke into a thread with the response, <BR>"this has nothing to do with travel" <BR>And now there is a string of postings, half telling her to get a life. <BR>I told her that people on this board are generally more polite, etc. <BR>The Rude Ones are making a liar out of me.Too bad. <BR>Nancy

It is hard to decide if Sandi is narrow minded, lacks a sense of humor, envious of Elvira, or one of those control geeks. Obviously the forum is enjoyed by many, to the point of addictiveness. If you check out Fodors question on monitoring I think you will see the general consensus is NOT to monitor more. Ideas for travel are terrific, not only on the forums, but by people who follow up individually. The generosity of sharing ideas, adventures, complaints, etc good and bad is really great! Granted I could do without some of the snide remarks etc, but if you do not like it as said above, do not open/read it.