The things I love about fodor's and the things I hate about Fodor's
 

I love visiting Fodor's for the insight and knowledge of experiance travelers that truely want to help novice travelers (like we are) get the most out of their vacations to new places.
I love reading the trip reports.
I love reading about the restaurants.
I love it when we are warned about scams.

I hate it when so called Fodor's regulars belittle posters for asking a question that doesn't fit into their idea of a place to visit or what to eat.

My momma always told me, if you don't have something helpful or nice to say... don't say anything at all!

Instead of just passing on making a helpful commit or suggestion some people here go out of their way to be rude,smartypants or just down right mean! I don't get it?

I love 98% of everything Fodor's and it's regular has to offer to us novice travelers however, The 2% of rude repliers makes it almost not worth coming here. That's just my opinion.

I would agree with you. You should have read some of the remarks I got on the US Forum because I didn't know what Ball Dropping was!!!

Um.... What is ball dropping?

Sounds like something that happens to a young boy?

football game in the rain...

OK, I'm not sure if I'm right...or justgrumpy...

But..sometimes...I get...a little..irritated, when people ask questions without (IMHO) doing any research. Is it the fault of Fodor's...maybe. Maybe the 'search' feature is not displayed well, I don't know. This forum has been around long enough that a LOT of questions have been asked and answered ad hominen. Maybe we need sub-pages where some of the common questions are answered in FAQ's (like how to get from CDG to hotel).

But when people say they want to go to Italy, where should they go....or that they need a reasonable hotel in Paris...have they researched anything at all? At least to say...looking at Rome and Venice...or something in the 6th around 200 euro?

I'm planning on going to Turkey in August. I'll be buying guides, reading posts, web-crawling...then I'll ask my questions. I wouldn't feel right saying "what should I do in Turkey" without having done any of the above and giving some idea of my plans.

I enjoy being able to offer any advice I can...but what is the 'responsability' of a Fodor's poster...none of us are travel agents, all of us are posters because we love travel. Is it rude for a poster to expect answers to such generic questions, which to me says they have not done a lot of research...or am I just grumpy...?

Today..my answer will be grumpy :)

If it isn't male puberty, is it New Years Eve in Times Square?

Fodor's is not my main travel site, but sometimes I snipe both here and at the other one when the questions are too intolerably lazy or stupid (not to be confused with naive).

"I'm going to Paris next week? What should I see? I heard somewhere that Parisians are nasty. Is this true? How can I stop them from robbing me?"

I have to agree with Kerouac and with Michel.

Some posters are simply needier than others such as the ones who insist on posting about their every single travel move and when nobody responds they top their own posts!

But if you think their question is stupid, just ignore it. It's not like any of us are paid travel agents having to work at this. I just post for fun and to try to help people with places I am familiar with. I don't mind if someone says "I am going to Tennessee, or KY, or Germany, what should I see?". I am sure people do research, but they also want to hear other people's opinions. You can of course politely ask for more information regarding their travel desires, but I see no reason to snap at people. Oops, I just snapped at the snappers :)

Ball dropping is a mystery to me.

Michael Paris: you are under no obligation to answer every, or any queries. If you think a query, or a poster, is stupid, don't answer. What's unpleasant is when people go out of their way to TELL people they're stupid. This is not the place to make these judgments.

As for frequently asked questions, the truth is, the answers change. The best wey to get from CDG to the hotel might not be running the month I'm there. The Bristol Industrial Museum might be closed until 2009 (grumble, grumble). A policy might have changed.

It's quite common, endemic even, on a list or forum, for long-time readers to be impatient with new arrivals asking old questions. It's not reasonable to expect new people to have spent the time to have read the amount of posts that you have over the past howevermany years; that's what makes them new. That's the whole point of a forum: helping new people find answers.

If there's something they're missing, even something incredibly basic like not having looked at a map, the best answer is not "I can't believe you came in here and disturbed us without even having looked at a map!" but rather "here's the name of a good map; go to Borders and buy it".

Not everybody is born knowing everything before they start out (unlike me, of course). Some people are traveling for the first time. Some people may in fact be operating at less than the maximum wattage, but that doesn't mean they don't deserve courtesy, even if they don't fully understand how to express it themselves.

I'm with Jaane on this one. My motto is "be slow to take offense, and slow to give it". I wish I lived up to it more often.

Unless they have MOVED CDG the answer about "the best way" to get from there to Paris probably hasn't changed all that much.

Fresh posters ARE doing research. Please take it easy on them. We don't want to discourage people from participating.
Some people are mean and some are nice, is it nature or nurture?

What is ball dropping?

I do not think it is rude to ask about a place even when the poster has done no research. The poster who does that probably thinks that's what this kind of site is for.

I also do not think anybody has a responsibility to answer a question he or she thinks is too vague or lazy or stupid. I do think I have a responsibility to answer whatever questions I decide to answer without making anyone feel bad about posting the question. If I can't do that, I shouldn't answer.

But I do not believe that the code of conduct I use for my own internet behavior can be imposed on anybody else.

There are people here who become really frustrated at things that don't bother me at all, such as vague questions or unresearched questions. They believe that asking such questions violates their code of internet behavior. But they are not going to be successful at imposing that code on people who do not subscribe to it, either because they haven't thought about it or because they have a different code.

For the new poster who encounters replies that make him or her feel bad, my best advice is to understand that you have to have a fairly thick skin on an internet forum, and if you approach it all with a sense of humor and keep at it a little while, it will get easier and become fun.

Hey, I'm a nice guy, really ! :)

Should the web page be re-organized? You have to admit, there are some questions that come up daily...if a re-org of this site would make first-timers find some of their answers...faster, that would be good no?

With 'Wiki' technology, we could do a Wiki_europe where answers to common questions (currency,ATM clothes, transport, hotels, restaurant recs) could be posted, and updated regularly.

Sligthtly less grumpy...

I have asked some incredible questions on various forums in the past (like where to buy cast iron Japanese-style teapots in large quantites in Bangkok -- for friends who were opening a café in Paris), but at least I have taken precautions to explain why I am asking a question that appears to be either outrageous or foolish and I have never received a nasty reply.

Some people just blurt out something stupid and some of us blurt right back. No offense should be taken in such a case. It is simply time to reformulate the question to receive an appropriate answer.

Sure, some of the answers could readily be found by doing a search, but I for one don't mind acting as a search engine for those who don't avail themselves to that feature. I mean, this is what this forum is all about- so what if the question's been asked a gazillion times. Just ignore it if it annoys you.

But who knows- I'm fairly new here...maybe I'll eventually end up jaded like some of the regs here.

If that ever happens, I hope I don't go out of my way to post a reply for the sole purpose of making an OP feel stupid.

(Okay, but if I do, please don't rub this post in my face.)

Bloom

If one poster asks a question without doing their research, maybe they are new to all of this...So be nice.

My Mom who is 62 and can hardly check her email went to a site and asked a question, someone thought it was stupid and was very mean, now SHE WON'T ask any questions...Not very nice.

If the questions are beneath you...let them be and don't answer.

JMHO.

Well what should I do in Turkey?

My feeling is that urging a new poster to do a search <i>is</i> being helpful. If they're asking a question that's been asked a thousand times before, chances are they aren't going to get the number or quality of answers that they can get by doing a search.

Once they've read through at least some of the old posts and are able to post more specific questions, they're going to get a lot more help. The regulars here are wonderfully generous with their time and their knowledge. But they're not getting paid to do this. Why should they feel it necessary to answer the same questions over and over?

Back to OP - Idaho Jane - this question or one very similar to it was asked on 2/3/02 so if you had done your research you wouldn't have wasted all the above respondees time and they could be answering better questions like, yes, what's the best way to go from CDG to the Hotel de Dernier Resort in the 15th district?

I'm thinking of going to Europe in the next year or two. Where should I go, where should I stay that is reasonable, what should I eat if I don't like salt, should I travel by train, car, rented limo, and what should I see? Where should I exchange money or are traveler's checks best? How do I pack eveything into 3 36&quot; suitcases? How long should I stay. What cell phone should I use? How do I not get robbed?

I'm sure I'll have more questions, but I'm worn out and don't feel like doing any research.

Thanks for all your help!!

Curious

My favorite thing is a new poster who comes with an incredibley broad series of questions - which make it apparent that they have never even looked at a guidebook.

Then other posters ask pertinent questions and suggest that the OP do some reading first.

Then the OP (who apparently feels that the board is a free travel agency for their personal use) becomes highly indignant (either because the info asked for it no one's business, or they don;t like a suggestion to do a little pre-work - or even think about what they want) accuses everyone of being rude to them. And announces they will never use the site again.

Second favorite is the poster who keeps asking the same questions, getting the same answers, not liking them - and accusing the responders of being rude and unhelpful.

What I actually like is all the real questions - and OPs who come back with follow-ups - and even say thank you.

I like Fodors for the diverse opinions on places I know, the recommendations to places I have not yet been, the useful advice on transport links etc, and for the odd belly laugh at some of the humorous responses.

I particularly dislike people who ask questions, then fail to return and comment on, or thank people for, advice given (I understand some don't know how to look up previous posts).

I dislike people who make unsubstantiated allegations, and then &quot;flee&quot; a thread when asked for evidence.

I dislike generalisations &quot;All gypsies are thieves&quot; &quot;Everybody wants to live in America&quot;

I'm fairly new to Fodor's and one of the first questions I asked was a &quot;common&quot; one. How to get to Waterloo from Heathrow. I don't recall receiving any negative responses and have since learned how to better searches on the site. I think most people's instinct it to ask first. Let's face it, it's easier.

Would I still be here asking (and answering) questions if the replies to my first question had been derogatory? Probably not, so thanks to all the positive responders.

I have been around long enough to notice the recurring questions, and yes they can be annoying. However, I agree that the best policy is just not to ignore any question that offends or frustrates or annoys etc. Why waste the energy/time being negative.

&quot;All I am saying is if you see a question that has been asked a million times, why even answer it?&quot;

Because I genuinely would like to see them get some help. And if I can gently suggest that they do a little &quot;homework&quot;, they're more likely to get it.

I have, however, gotten so that I ignore the ones that say &quot;I'm going to Ireland in two weeks. What is there to see and where should we stay&quot;! :D

I suspect that there are a fair number of posters who are relatively new to the online forum world.

It might be helpful to have an easy to find Forum Directions page that gives basic instructions about how to search, how to make your post specific, etc. This might eliminate some of the constantly repeated questions.

I have found a wealth of information in this forum, but I also am a fairly experienced online researcher.

Calling a spade a spade is rude??? whoa!

NYTRAVELER; My sentiments exactly.

I should have added to my earlier post, that I know there is a FAQ page on the forum &quot;home&quot; page, but for newer people, it might be helpful to have a link to this actually in the specfic forums. Also, it could include aforementioned directions for creating a clear post.

not ONE person has been rude to you idaho . . . yet you spring w/ the d***head.

Real class, lady! Now - was that rude enough for you????

Can we please get back to what we like about the forum? I mean, all discussion boards have their own sets of quirks...but on this one, the good outweighs the bad by a considerable margin!

In a word, I admire this board's <b>generosity</b>. People here are willing and able to help, and that is a very valuable thing indeed. We take the information we need, but we replenish it with our own observations when we return. It's that spirit that keeps our knowledge base vital, fresh and alive. That's a beautiful thing, man.

I love it here, and I don't care a bit if it gets snarky from time to time (or if the noobs insist on being clueless).

Just my $0.02.

I love the fact that there are people out there who love paris as much as I do, and that there are people here who produce travel reports on their visits to that city that read as well as any well-written novel...I can see myself walking down the street with them, feel their excitement, taste their food, hear the sounds of the street, see the neon cafe lights...

Makes my day and makes me aspire to visit again.

I'm feeling a real sense of pots calling kettles black! Who is rude? Because some of the &quot;regulars&quot; respond in a fashion not considered appropriate by the OP, the OP now feels it isn't hypocritical to do what she's accusing the regulars of. Interesting &quot;logic.&quot;

What I love about Fodor's are wonderfully helpful responses to what I consider reasonable questions.

What I hate about Fodor's are the occasional posts by &quot;newbies&quot; who find it necessary to chastise the &quot;regulars&quot; for being mean, hateful and the most recent rant &quot;d**kheads&quot; in their responses to the sometimes ridiculous questions! Now let's once again begin a discourse on being rude.

I think the OP is yet another persona of one of our brilliant, if unbalanced, regulars.

Plays a good game but it reeks of underemployment.

I'm a regular,
I LOVE fashion,
I don't think I'm rude,
I always welcome newbies,
I admire nice posters like Nikki
Who, like me, doesn't respond if they don't know the answer.
Yes, there are some here who think only their choices where to eat or see are the last word. But that doesn't count because you should make your own experience not follow in someone's footsteps. My favorite village is not someone else's. I don't drive, can't answer about differences from here to there like Stu.
We travel long distances, often with no plan,so that some posters shake their head at.
My trip is mine, like it or not
Idaho, you need to apologize.

I don't hate anything about this board. My DH and I have only had the opportunity to travel to Europe in the last few years and the help, information and support I've found here has been wonderful.

What I love though about Fodors is when someone says 'thank you' for the help they have been given or come back and let us all know how their trip was.

milley

Kerouac...The Asia forum is quite civilized. We don't have a lot of snippiness as has been found on other forums. Happy Travels!

I agree milley_5, I have spent the last 9 months or so visiting this site nearly every day planning our family trip to Italy. (We leave this Saturday) The information and personal experience that you find here cannot be found in any guidebook or with any amount of research. I have never visited an open public forum where there weren't snarky people. That's just the way it is. I find it really easy to ignore them here because for every 1 of them there are 10 others ready to offer helpful advice with good cheer.

I love hearing about others trips when I am between trips, makes me feel like I am constantly on a trip!

I love well organized trip reports, any fashion will do,: day by day, categorized by hotels, restaurants, sites, general observations, etc. What I don't like is unending paragraphs: Write in short paragraphs.

I love some of the people here although I have never met them; there are many, but just a few pop out immediately: brotherleelove( always gracious with Greece), LoveItaly and Sea Urchin( fantastic with Italy advice and so complimentary of my trip reports), tcreath( tracy) such a nice person willing to share about Croatia; I could go on and on, but appreciate smart, solid questions to my own and other posters

I love that about the advice I have got since 2002, about 98% of it was useful and accurate and I love the insider, first hand knowledge
I love the warning about scams, museum closings, events, all the little things that having a board of travelers where someone is always on a trip, helps so much!!

I love trip reports in progress!!

I love hearing the weather report of someone who is in a destination I am about to arrive to. What I 'hate&quot; about myself is that I so am weather sensitive!!( note to self: you have no control over the weather, keep telling yourself this, obviously yrs of travel haven't transformed you yet: keep trying!) But I do find it helpful anyway!

I love the different expressions we all use from around the world: a better education than school! It's fun to hear how various terms are used!

I love that I can give back and help someone avoid some mistakes I have made or just make someone's day because my answer was EXACTLY what they were looking for! It makes my day too!

I love sharing a passion that both me and DH have, some of our friends have, but not enough of them do, so it's fun to &quot;hang&quot; out here.

What I don't like:

Yes, among the others who have said it before: I don't like when someone posts &quot;What should I do, where shall I go&quot; with no obvious research on their part. I don't think anyone on Fodors is asking the OP to know everything ( otherwise they would not need this board), but a little preliminary research please, just to show you are doing something on your own trip. I often find when people ask such general questions, they are all over the place and it ends up being hard to help them anyway.

I don't &quot;hate&quot; but my eyebrows get raised every now and then when people are really rude. Some are funny and so tongue n cheek ( Margiela, margiela( formerly thingorjus), but some are not. I remember one poster, was downright antisemetic.

I don't like the overly political tones sometimes a thread gets to. I live in DC, thank you very much ,and I'm pretty much up on the scene. It's fine to interject political views as really and truly they do fall nicely sometimes in describing a place, but when the discussion just goes way off course, I skip right over the thread.

And I hate it when indeed a thread that starts out right on point with good vollying between posters and then it takes a bad turn and ends up way way off topic and with lots of slamming of this and that; I think what a shame!

I hate ( although hate is pretty strong for this one), when budget travelers think luxury travelers are wasteful of their money and luxury travelers can't understand why some people would rather cook on their trip and save a few bucks. To each their own! I hate it when some people say if you can't afford it, just stay home
Equally I hate when luxury travelers nit pick over their accommodations, making sure its so perfect to the point of ridiculous( I'm a luxury traveler, but know that when I pick these places to stay, I am pretty much guaranteed a nice room and I don't worry about it or make a fuss, narrowing the places down though can be a challenge, but not a nit picky worry)

I like this question

I hate that I have to go now and test a recipe.

&gt;...a LOT of questions have been asked and answered ad hominen. &lt;

That's what the OP is peeved about - all those ad hominem remarks.

((I))

Did you mean ad nauseum?