The only problem with a 12 step program would be deciding whether to to do 4 steps, then 3 steps and another 3 steps, returning to the first 2 steps before going home .... or six different 2 steps ..... or ??????

mmr41
Once you start talking about steps, then you will have to decide if you should get a hotel at the top of them or not, how many to the next station, then you have to post here to discuss it...
I don't think 12 steps is enough

MY name is Mary C. and I am a Fodors addict! The worst kind, I try to turn my friends into addicts too! Every trip we've taken since 2000 has been planned by ALL OF YOU on this site. And you know what. Its only the Europe forum. The others do not hold a candle to the intelligence and personality that come thru in the posts on this site. I'm hooked and I'm happy!

Dear Mary C
That's what we like to see, a happy addict!
Fodors has claimed another victim. Your soul is now ours! (is that fiendish laughter I hear?).
Thats right my precious dont fight it embrace it!
Yield to the power of the great and powerful Fodor!
Cackle,cackle!
No dont take me away !!!HELLLLPPPPP!
cm

I have tried to get my friends on, but know one got into it. What does that say about us....them? The good thing is that they just ask me for info and I have a reason to continue.

SoBeTraveler admits that he posts here when there is nothing to do.
I would think that most people here, find the time in a busy day full of things to do, for enjoyment of Fodors and contact with other people with like interests.
CountryMouse, very funny ( I DID hear fiendish laughter!!)

Okay, okay, I give up already!

I AM a fodors addict! My new motto is "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em." I simply can't stay away and my husband says I'm going to run him into the poorhouse with all the trips I want to go on--trips I read about on Fodors!

mmr41, how are you doing? Any trips to Italy coming up? We're visiting France this year, but I know we'll be back to Italy again (soon).

I am definitely addicted to this forum and nothing but grateful for having it here to be addicted to.

I've been here awhile, more than 2 years for sure. The forum has made me a vastly better trip planner, I have learned so much.

Someone asked about other places to possibly become addicted to: here are mine:

the Morningstar site - its discussion boards, especially Vanguard Diehards, where there are some brilliant people who understand personal finance very well and are amazingly generous with the kind of [really professional-level] help they will give. Someone who doesn't know much but wants to learn about finance - good place for that.

and the Internet Movie Data-base -IMDb.com - how to get addicted: 1) read members' reviews of every movie you see
2) write your own reviews 3) read/write on message boards about every movie you see 4) get involved with topical message boards, e.g. European movies, Indian cinema, etc.

Elizabeth, thanks for the movie database! My husband already reads Morningstar but I love to read about films ~

Elizabeth...you just opened Pandora's box! As much as I enjoy fiddling with Morningstar's tools, I had never noticed that little "discuss" over on the far end of their tool bar! Are they friendly waters?

I'm working on my addiction, one tiny step at a time and am amused to know how extensive a problem this apparently is--how many others share this boat. Marilyn, #8 for your list, ask yourself: Is your husband/wife/SO also getting to know Fodors posters by name, both the amusers and the abusers, and the traits of each? heehee...anyone want to play "I spy" in the list above? I confess...my husband can pick some from both categories out of the crowd.

Another psych major...and wouldn't the board make an interesting social study!

Whenever my boyfriend and I would discuss our trip to Italy before we left, I found myself starting many sentences with "Well, the people on the travel board said," or "I asked the people on the travel board and they told me to...". That is definitely a sign of addiction...

It is addictive because you can post any question, no matter how small or seemingly inconsequential, and are almost guaranteed that someone knows something and can answer. I learned so many things that made my Italy trip more comfortable and pleasant. Little things mostly (for example, that the trains list the final destination, not necessarily the one you are going to) but things that surely prevented stress/fights with my boyfriend about which train to get on or whatever. My trip was made wonderful in part by the advice I got here.

Hi OO! I must have it as bad as you because my husband knows the names of all the regular Fodorites, as well as their traits. OMG...I need serious help.

Include the Yankee in the list of husbands who know certain posters by name.
He is not addicted but could be called an Enabler, since he will ask...What do your friends on Fodors say?...

Another husband bites the dust. Mine knows them all, I think!

I picture a Fodor Spouse GTG in the future LOL

There used to be "football widows" meetings in malls on Sunday and Monday nights.

How about "Fodorite widowers" GTG's where they can tell their stories of neglect at the hands of their wives addictions.

Phil Flash used to give me a bad time about being on here so much, but I am happy to say he has come over to the Dark Side. He's not on here himself, but he sometimes asks if there have been any amusing threads that day and he definitely knows some of the personalities.

Few, including our spouses and children, can understand this addiction, nor the relationships that develop here. There is one funny tale of a Fodorite inviting another to their house and being chastised by their children: &quot;MOM, you invited someone over you met on the <i>Internet</i>?! LOL Then they all waited with baited breath until that someone showed up...wondering what sort of creature might step out of that car! I still giggle about that, you-know-who! I do wish I'd thought to arrive in some sort of outrageous costume.

I have just printed out this thread (all 18 pages-what a waste of paper!!) to prove to my DH I'm not the only &quot;nut&quot;

To OO - question about discussion boards on Morningstar - the one I look at most is Vanguard Diehards, as it is grounded in a financial philosophy that interests me. It's almost unfailingly friendly and civilized, actually pretty successfully self-monitoring against offensiveness.

I think it may be the nicest one. I do look at others sometimes too.

I say - click on everything!! do various kinds of searches!! post lots of questions so you can check for answers the next day!! etc!!