Katherine

I've been reading this board for only a week now. I've gotten some great tips and become intrigued by the dynamic of the board. One thing I find very peculiar, however, is the number of people who post with made up (and sometimes oh so clever) email addresses. I understand anonymity is kind of seductive. It would seem to me that it detracts greatly from one's credibility if one is not willing to go public with one's name. (Especially since, with the plethora of free email addresses you can get one just for this purpose). Also, it gives one a place to send offline questions or comments.

x!x

...And your travel question, kwatt, is??

?*?

Perfect response!

Quesswho?

After being properly flamed broiled one becomes less likely to reveal one true identity which at times is irrelevant-How would you gage ones credibility with just a name anyway?

Surlok

Do yourself a favor, and read Katherine post again, slowly, and attentively. <BR> <BR>What she asks is simply that you post at least a Nick name, or a handler, and a real e-mail address, any yahoo, hotmail, aol for that matters, but an address to where one can send offline questions. I find it absolutely sensible. Don't you? <BR> <BR>Surlok

yeahright

NO, I do not, Surlok, no one is required to answer questions from anyone or give anyone their email address to get unsolicited mail, and she also said she wanted people's "names". Also, she doesn't just want to ask questions but "comment". Read between the lines and do yourself a favor, you snot.

dick

I agree with Katherine. I hope the purpose of this and similar boards is to share information. I find this board to have an exceptional number of people who do not put in their email address or have less than flattering comments. It would be a shame to have to sign in and be monitored for every post. We are guests here and IMO should behave the same.

Surlok

What's wrong about comments? <BR> <BR>Or is this forum suposeddly to serve people like yourself, jerks, who do not have anything meaningful to say or to contribute with unless bull..hit? <BR> <BR>Surlok

Katherine

Well, I guess I for one will continue to post with my name and email address. So far in answer to my previous travel questions posted I've gotten some very interesting itineraries by email. And I'm happy to respond to anyone who emails me offline. I guess that rude comments made anonmously is just part of this and while people are all free to voice their opinions

Les

Katherine, <BR>As you can tell from some of the anonymous replies to your posting (and elswhere on this forum), the reason they wish to remain anonymous is probably because they're ashamed to identify themselves. Their postings are generally rude, off-topic, and/or trolls. In fact, I think this forum is frequented by quite a few misfits who like to see their inane comments "in print" because they have no other recognition. Just take a look at some of the idiotic topics that get posted in this forum (more than any other I've found). <BR>There are (thankfully) still some of us that give real names and/or addresses, and are interested in helping other travellers, or getting travel help. It's too bad that we have to wade through so much crap to find that help. It will eventually (if it hasn't already) cause the serious traveller to frequent other forums. <BR> Les

debbie

"When oh when" will people just look at this site for the travel info? Why spend even a moment wondering about others reasons for privacy? The "oh so cute" poster that started this all would do better on the psychology board. There you can ponder what the "real" meaning of people and their posts are.

StCirq

Those people who are interested in contributing genuine information on this site generally give their "true" names and addresses. For one thing, that way people can contact us directly for more information. I get lots and lots of direct e-mail, which I am happy to answer, within the constraints of my "real" life. Some people contend that if they use their real e-mail addresses, they are barraged with spam mail - something I've never experienced. Yes, I think I find information to be more genuine if I think the poster isn't hiding behind a screen name. And it's certainly obvious that people who are here solely to poke fun, be sarcastic, insult others, and generally cause havoc never use real e-mail names - they are, as you point out, the ones with no credibility. One has to wade through a lot of junk on this site to get to the real information - just like any other internet site, IMO.

noneofyourbusiness

she has a right to wonder why some of us value our privacy-some dont like being ridiculed for misspelling,"stupid questions"or lack of knowledge .If I have anything of value to communicate I leave my address-- the thing I am "afraid of" is junk mail!! Everyone has a right to be a jerk or what ever they feel like-- that's why they call it a forum. Not all of us anons are rude and mean ----that is a gross generalization

Surlok

Debbie, <BR> <BR>Would you classify travel info, serious travel info as "meaningless"? <BR> <BR>Come on, give us a break! The problem is that the threads/posts asking, or giving helpful info about travel are infested by these posts that are nothing but bull ..hit, so, those posters who intend to get or give relevant info have to drag through all the bull..hit to get the real thing. Do you think is this what Fodors forum is, or should be about? <BR> <BR>Had the posters to log on under a previously registered e-mail address, as happens on other travel sites, all this junk would be reduced. <BR> <BR>Surlok

harekrishnahalleluya

Surlok, <BR>I wholeheartedly agree with you. <BR> <BR>I just emailed you (at your personal email address) just to re-terate my support to you. I noted how troubled you seem to be with all these posters with phoney email addresses. In my email to you I have included a few pages or excerpt from my personal publication "The True Virtues of a Unrepentant Email Fakers". I will also personally ensure that you become a regular in my weekly distribution list. <BR>Thank you and goombaya.

Surlok

And you think you're smart! <BR> <BR>A-m-a-z-i-n-g !!!! <BR> <BR>Surlok

Cindy

Katherine, to answer your question, some of us don't want anyone to have our real e-mail. In my case, I use it for business. Anything I can do to reduce the chance that a nut will get my real e-mail and send me a virus is a good idea. <BR> <BR>You should know that at least one person on the board reported receiving a very unwelcome e-mail. Others have been spammed. If it is worth it to you to reveal your real name and e-mail, go ahead. I'll politely decline. <BR> <BR>If someone wishes to disregard my travel advice because I offer it anonymously or without an e-mail, that's their choice. No harm done. I was trying to assist them, and it doesn't bother me if they decline the help. <BR> <BR>As for using a "real" name, lots of the best contributors do so under obviously made-up names. So long as they use the same "handle", I know who they are well enough. I don't need their birthnames. <BR> <BR>Remember, it's a jungle out there.

Surlok

Cindy, <BR> <BR>As far as I know, the only way your computer can be virus infected is when you open an attached file, otherwise, you're safe. <BR> <BR>As for spam, both, yahoo and hotmail offer you some features by which you can avoid it ( but never completely, and not because you have your e-mail address made public here). <BR> <BR>I still prefer to deal with spam, and have the possibility of exchanging useful info with the ones that have it, or want it, than using xxx as an address. <BR> <BR>This said, I have anything else to add. <BR> <BR>Surlok

I've Got One

Why should I bother to get a second Yahoo account to provide to you folks on this board? I would never check it, so your message would sit there unanswered for all eternity, and you would have your knickers in a twist about how rude I was to not answer your question. <BR> <BR>Don't call me; I'll call you.

Cindy

Surlock, <BR> <BR>I appreciate your thoughts, but if you had my e-mail, you could send me an e-mail with an attachment with a virus, right? And I might even open it if I recognized it as coming from you, right? As it stands, my e-mail is a big secret, and I get no spam at all. <BR> <BR>As the previous poster explained, some of us don't want multiple accounts because we don't want to check them. And if I'm never going to check the account, why should I use it on this board? <BR> <BR>Face it. Some of us want to limit our contact with Fodorites to this board. What's so wrong with that?