" Sorry, Dickie, never been to an anger management class, so wouldn't know what you are referring to."

Fodors is my anger management class. (insert smiley face which is beyond my IT skills)

>Ah, but Provence is not Disneyland

Of course not! It's more expensive, and the toilets aren't as nice.<

I don't know, mr_go.....I think the toilets at Disneyland are just fine. ;)

Dickie: a smiley face is a colon : followed by the parentheses key ) no space in between. Some time ago, a very helpful, skilled Fodorite took pity on those of us who are Tech Challenged and gave a list of what key strokes result in what emoticons. Perhaps that brilliant person would be so kind again (since this Tech Challenged soul can't find it).

Here you go tenthumbs:
http://www.fodors.com/community/smileys/

I guess people are still reading this . . .

One tactic/style that I find rude (and one poster does it quite frequently but there are others) is to start with "Um". e.g.

Um, it is the height of tourist season.

No need and it clearly implies "hey stupid". Simply leave it off.

mg

Now I’m relieved to hear
That you’ve been to some far out places

I just can't quit this James thing...

Ah, but Provence is not Disneyland

Then who was the guy dressed like Dopey?

Hetismij2~you just proved how very kind and helpful Fodorites and be!! ((f))

*can* be......... :")

Hi everyone, I just wanted to let you know that I'm new to this site and planning my first dream vacation to Italy. When I first posted my "silly"questions few months ago, it was my first time ever asking anyone about Italy. So just remember ...many times this is the first place people go to when planning a trip! Even before buying a BOOK! Because you guys are so HELPFUL and made me feel so welcome. I still remember the names of the people who took the time to reply to me...bobthenavigater, jamikins, nytraveler, easy traveler
love you guys!!!
I'm still planning!
keep up the great work

Since when is "off topic" a Fodor's crime? I for one was very interested to know which towns are Stu's wife's favourites for shopping, these are the incidentals which make trips memorable.

Snarky replies don't bother me, but what I find inappropriate is when posters give suggestions about a place they visited 10-15 years ago ( usually once) without disclosing it.

Johnnlilian: Thanks for your gracious remarks!

It's invaluable feedback like yours and your enthusiasm for travel that keep us grumpies going on Fodors. :)

Well we can say it in a nice way, but sometimes people do post crazy stuff (most often impossibly ambitious itineraries) and we do need to tell them their plans won't work as originally stated.

easytraveler: you are so welcome! I have learned so much in the past 8months just reading all your great suggestions! We are finally going to Italy in March ( I know the weather might not be that great in march but DH gave the go ahead for March and I jumped on it!)
I can't wait to share our adventures when we get back!

Amazing suggestions and lovely people here. Thank you to all of you who take the time to help new travelers with me!
Happy traveling!
L

yes, there are some"unusual" postings.
One time, someone asked advice regarding the proximity of a hotel to downtown Barcelona
They listed several hotels as a possible choice.
One of the hotels was in Tarragona. - about 50 miles from Barcelona.
I resisted the temptation......

Johnnlilian: very happy for you on your exciting upcoming trip! You'll have a great time because you have taken the trouble to plan well far ahead of actual travel.

Looking forward to your trip report on your return!

danon, I do tell people when their proposed hotels are from the place they are planning to visit. I would want someone to do that for me.

Yes, I did point out to the poster the distance between Barcelona and the city of Tarragona is 50
miles.
What I did not do is tell them to do is look at the map.- How can a hotel in another city be close to the attractions in the center of Barcelona?

Some people don't bother to check a thing themselves. They may deserve a less than friendly reply.

I’m thinking of a holiday at pick-a-place. Is hotel XXX any good? Can I get a bus from the airport? What sort of food do they eat there? Can anyone recommend a place to eat?

Yep, you can get a bus.
The national dish of pick-a-place is deep fried albatross.
The bus runs every ten minutes.
The café third on the left is OK, but often crowded.
It’s not deep fried albatross, it’s baked albatross, with traditional herbs.
The bus is way below my price point. I use the helicopter transfer. And I’d not be seen dead at pick-a-place anyway.
I’ve eaten at that café and got food poisoning.
Albatross tasted like chicken to me, or maybe it was polenta.
You would never get food poisoning from polenta.
I found that the people on the helicopter were all wearing Crocs. The Hummer limo was better for me.
I didn’t have the polenta, I had the tigers testicles on toast.
I ordered the albatross, and I think they served seagull.
Limo-schimo. I use the private helicopter. Roberto drives it.
That was not seagull, they only serve juvenile albatross. If you can’t tell the difference, then you should stick to polenta.
I’ve given up on the helicopter – I maintain a steam launch and crew to transport me to my hotel.
I like Hotel XXX – good staff.
I found a hair in the bathtub at Hotel XXX. Complained, negotiations continuing.
There’s no way that poster Z maintains a steam launch. Pick-a-place is in a desert.
I found a dead body in the bathtub at Hotel YYY. It’s with my lawyers – hotel would not change my room, so I could not take a bath. Had to use the shower stall.
Pick-a-place might be in a desert, but before I arrive they flood the irrigation canals, to float my boat.
I found a dead elephant in the jacuzzi when I rented the penthouse at hotel XXX. Issue is with the United Nations.

I’d never take a vacation at pick-a-place.
I’d never take a vacation anywhere.
I take vacations fifty five weeks a year.
I get paid to take vacations.
Getting paid to take vacations is so tacky – I take vacations for free.
I donate my vacations to the poor people of Colombia.
There are no poor people in Colombia – they are all drug barons.
Christopher Colombia discovered America.


And so the saga continues.

No Peter, we don't take vacations. We travel!