I'm sorry but I have had just about enough of the stupid answers to some people's legitimate, sincere questions. Sure you can spot the trolls - looking to start a war, but to many people these forums are the single best way to get answers to their questions. For many, this trip might be the first ever out of their own country. I live in Colorado and once in a while puruse the Colorado forum and can't believe many of the questions, but have to stop and think that to a German tourist on his first trip to the US, the questions is entirely legitimate. Many of the "regulars" here seem to spend more time polishing their comedy routine than they do helping people. Give it a rest.

Thanks, Ted. I totally agree!

Dear Ted,<BR>Ever since the divorce, I just can't agree with anything you said, including this.<BR>Mary

Ted,<BR><BR>I have only been aware of this forum for a few months. What is a "Colorado forum"?<BR><BR>Personaly, I think some of the anwers are incredibly clever and occasionaly very funny. I think you just have to "go with the flow".<BR><BR>Dick<BR><BR>Dick

I agree with Dick.<BR><BR>Also, Ted, have you ever considered that the funny answers also have the effect of bringing good questions up to the top again, where they may be seen by someone who does have information? It's not necessarily done maliciously, just slightly more original than saying "topping".

I you want to believe that one, check out the thread titled "How do you address a Catholic Nun." Some of the responses bordered on filthy. I believe it was a legitimate question by a non-Italian speaking person who wants to be polite. I'll say it again, some of the answers are not at all funny. I wouldn't trust even the few apparently "honest" answers. The poster might be calling a nun she's addressing a whore.

I agree with Ted. Some of the answers are legitimately funny, but some are simply condescending. Plus, they waste everyone's time. They're the forum equivalent of spam.<BR><BR>

If you are looking for sheer seriousness and direct answers this is the wrong place for you. People come here for a variety of reasons; travel advice, comradrie, humor, entertainment..... The nun thread is a good example. It was obvious that the poster got the correct answer at least once and at least once more it was verified by another poster. Certainly an Italian speaker could have figured out what was valid and what wasn't. The original poster's nasty comment with regard to the other posters was uncalled for. It's simple enough to skip over the parts you aren't interested in. If you aren't trying to be clever yourself you wouldn't be using the name and email you're using!

Even though some in this forum have called me a foul mouthed hooligan, which I challenge anyone who thinks that I am any those terrible things to copy and paste a comment where I was anything but the perfect polite gentleman. Anyway, even though I'm Protestant, I've always addressed a Nun as either Sister or Ma'am. Ma'am would usually be the way I would address a woman with any prominence or authority.<BR><BR>So what's the big deal. Just be respectful.

I agree with Ted and actually was thinking about this topic yesterday. When I first came on this board 2 years ago, there was none of this question bashing and it was helpful to read the Q & A's. One could post without fear of reprisal. I think a helpful reminder of how to search for a hotel or whatever is a good response, but if you're going to spend the time to type and bash, why not just type useful information.

Thank you Ted!<BR><BR>I felt bad after asking about tipping with $2 bills. I even researched it and pasted the site where I saw it. It was a legitimate question and I am trying to do the "proper" thing.

I totally agree...

Sure, some of the messages try to be funny and aren't, and some of the threads are provocative or worse. But "wasting our time?" Good grief, how long does it take you to read the title of a thread and decide if you're interested or not? How long to point your mouse on the "next 50 messages" line? If you're that busy, try ctl-alt-delete and get back to work.

Mary<BR>Appreciate the stolen moments we shared, and you are good in bed, but I was married to Jane Fonda.<BR><BR>Love Always <BR><BR>Ted

I agree 100%.BUT THERE IS MORE.<BR>When I need some inside help, from people that live or have visited places I am going to, my questions may sound "absurd", but to me they make sense.<BR>I posted a question the other day, on the US forum, asking about how many days would it be advisable to visit key west, everglades and Keneddy space centre. Only one person helped me, and I thank her, for the help, and more recently I was in Rome, and asked for an information on some fancy restaurants, and nobody helped me.<BR>So, this questions might sound absurd, but they are for real, and either you get no reply, or you get some bad one.

I cannot agree with anything that someone named Dick says.

Anybody else wants to &quot;polish their comedy routine&quot; ?

Over the years some questions have gotten the answers they deserved. The funniest one was a guy who wrote in and said he just loved &quot;wimmen&quot; and wanted to know where the best place was in Paris to find some.

At the end, we had him dressed in tight Levis with a big buckle, bare chested with fake hair, Stetson hat, bandana, drooling tobacco juice, bare footed, and clutching a six pack of Bud in one hand and a fistfull of Yankee green in the other. He was to stand on the street in Montmarte and belch to attract attention. I thought it was the best answer to a such a question.

On the other hand, there have been some people who made fun of non native speakers of English who should have kept their poison pens in their pockets.

I draw the line at poking at people whose knowledge of English is still developing.

On the other hand, native English speakers who don't know the differnce between advise and advice and cannot spell &quot;itinerary&quot; and misspell Salzburg and Innsbruck don't show off our educational system very well. I cringe when my foreign friends point out obvious errors in English made by Americans. They know our native language better than some of us do.

Hey Brookwood!

I saw that guy last time I was in Paris! He looked a little lost so I went over to help him. Said his name was Uncle Sam. ;P

I have to disagree withthe previous poster -Gail. It is a more tame forum now than it was a few years back. since we are required to register it has less troll garbage and less ridiculous and foul mouthed answers....at least most of th4e time.

happy Monday!