I'd like to acknowledge whoever designed this great looking website! I love the way it looks like a horizon at the top and the whole layout is very pleasing. <BR>

I am not as traveled as many of you, I am more traveled than some of you. But I have valued so much of what I have read here in the year since I discovered this website. It has helped me book hotels in Paris and now London. Thanks for the thought-provoking post, Wes, and thanks to all of you have contribute your thoughts and opinions. Ahh, the information age! Thanks for "listening"!

Wes Fowler: In the past, I have always learned from your posts. Lately, you put up a point that seemed especially appropos to another site that I frequent. Your point was valid AND one <BR>that I concurred with entireley. So, I copied, edited and posted it there. Now people there are upset at me, even tho' <BR>I credited the message to you. I kept <BR>Fodors out of it, because Fodors is not Wes Fowler: You are. Please read it, and if you feel an injustice has been done <BR>to your thoughts, feel free to call me on it. <BR>The website is www.eurotrip.com and the page you go to is europub: the post is titled 'Eurotrip may be dying' <BR> <BR>Thank you. <BR> <BR>Kris

I have amixed reaction to this one. <BR> <BR>Yeah be polite etc...but we ARE NOT in someone's home ...this is the net, an entirely different medium to live speech. <BR> <BR>I am sure there are many people who type things they would never say IRL (although I dont credit myself with being one of them). <BR> <BR>I'm not gonna spend my life knavel-gazing and fretting about stepping on someones toes.. <BR> <BR>Lisa, although I dont share your godly beliefs, I do agree with one point you make: don't let's make a mountain out of a molehill.

Thanks Wes for your comments! I totally agree with you. I have found this web site to be very informative, which I have learned a lot. And I also have enjoyed posting messages about my trips. I always try to ignore those postings that start flame wars and move on to the interesting ones. I never tire of seeing the same question over again as I know that it's a new fodorite seeking information for their 1st trip to Paris or Rome or ... Thank you Wes.

One mans meat is another mans poison! <BR>Both the Thorntree and Eurotrip, have places to talk about things other than travel. <BR>Some people like debate and sarcasm.Fodors get with the programme and create a space. <BR>

Thank you Wes. I share Monica's attitude as well -- helping someone plan their first trip helps me relive mine again, and that's fun. When I was younger I worked in service positions and was asked the same questions many times every day, but it never bothered me. I enjoy helping people, and I love this site because I've met many others who like to help people too.

I think this forum is a place for people who would be travel agents if they had not taken up other professions for various reasons.

A nearby posting advocates the use of this web site as a place for sarcasm and incivility. Sorry, but I must disagree. <BR>Fodor's seems to be a haven for those who sincerely wish to exchange travel information and have a good time while doing it. Some other web sites contain bad language, juvenile scatology, echoes from the drug culture, and all-round bad manners. Let's keep Fodor's just the way it is -- an adult web site for adults.

Dan, You are exactly right! I wish I could be a travel agent! Half the fun of a trip is the planning (getting the best price, etc.)and figuring out what to see and do. That is why this forum is so great! I for one, enjoy the research of the place I am going, learning part of the language and finding out about the history of the city/country. The more information I get, the more fun I have while there. Again, this forum has helped greatly to achieve this.

Wouldn't it be nice if this post had had the desired effect, but I notice this morning one particular poster's entries at several threads concerning Turkey, rife with contentiousness and offensive language. Doesn't the Fodor forum-meister watch over such things?

The Forum-meister wears many hats, I think, and can't check the forums as often as many of us do. In the spirit of gracious guesthood, you may want to notify our hosts if you spot a guest out of control (eg, being rude or advertising). Go to <BR>http://www.fodors.com/contact-us/ and explain the problem. They're usually quite fast once they're notified.

Dear Wes: <BR>I couldn't agree with you more! I have used this forum extensively to help me plan my trips to Europe as well as the U.S. The knowledge and helpfulness of so many have made planning much easier. I, in turn, am always eager to share my experiences with others and relive those trips. <BR>Let's do consider ourselves "guests" of this forum and behave more politely. As those of us who have traveled abroad, it is often the Americans that appear to stand out due to their "incivility". <BR>At any rate, thanks for the posting!

Thanks, Martha for the suggestion. Dena, the person I mentioned happily identified himself as an "Aussie," so while I agree with you re:the incivility of some Americans traveling (or even at home), it's not always Americans (and not even always Yankees, at that)!

Thank you Wes for starting this post. Lets not lower our standards to match other sites where people make up names and ridicule each other. <BR> So much of the time the experience and knowledge shared here is done with respect and kindness. I look forward to checking in at the end of a long day. <BR>I wonder how people first found this site to begin with? Since I read Fodors and Frommers books, I guessed they would have websites about three years ago, the forums often have povided more insights, and humor then the books. <BR>Perhaps more people on this site have read the guides, and experienced the many wonderful places out there to explore, which results in a more "mature" audience. I agree with Al 100% lets keep Fodors and adult website for adults.

Are these the old timers that left?

That Wes, my kind of guy! <BR>And thank you Brent for acknowledging us.

I never looked at it that way Wes, but I agree. I never say anything that I wouldn't say to a group of people at a party. Sometimes it's politically incorrect, sometimes off color, sometimes humorous and sometimes provoking but when I have a party, I don't necessarily want all my guests to be completely well-behaved and, well, boring! What fun would that be if you couldn't get a good debate going? Two of our favorite guests at home is a women and man (not married to each other) who can always be counted on to come up with great put downs and have great sarcastic wit. Those two are invited to so many parties because they can be counted on to liven up the room! <BR> <BR> <BR>So, while we do have a responsibility as guests, lets not forget our responsibility to contribute some humor and provocation as well.

Wes: Well put and no additional commentary is neccessary. You have said it all. <BR> <BR>In response to some others: A little bit of provoking (to make us think) is warranted. Certainly humour (not belittling) is desireable. Mean-spiritedness, sarcasm, name-calling and plain profanity are better placed on some other boards that appear to thrive on that kind of nonsense. <BR> <BR>I think Fodor's provides us a great forum to share information, help the new traveler and satisfy our passion for travel. On occaision, it is nice to participate in a fun thread (How much should I tip the pilot) or a feel good thread (Where are you right now) and I hope Fodor's will indulge us with these departures from pure travel as long as we don't abuse the privilege. But, remember, it is a privilege. Fodor's provides us with this board and has the right to set the standards for participation. If we don't like the standards, we have the right to go elsewhere. I, for one, am staying right here). Thank you Fodor's.

I had read half of this thread before I realized that it was two years old! I get two messages from that: first, we haven't yet learned our lesson. But second, let's not overreact to the nastiness-- apparently it's always ben there, and it probably always will. <BR> <BR>Don, above, expresses my personal view-- ignore what offends you. You would bolt for the punchbowl if a boring or otherwise obnoxious person got a hold of you at a party, wouldn't you? We have the power to do the same here. <BR> <BR>I do hope Wes is still around to see his words revived.