This place is like travel: It's fantastic people watching!
Dec 24th, 2004, 11:05 AM
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This place is like travel: It's fantastic people watching!
May I add my wish for a Merry Christmas to you all, and express my appreciation for the generous input you provide to people seeking advice on travel.
I also want to add my thanks for another aspect of this medium: the entertainment factor. It occurred to me today that the reason I keep coming back to this page is only about 20 percent information-seeking and 80 percent to read what folks are talking about, to see if we're getting along or in one of our dark side periods.
In other words, Fodor's (at least to me) is just like travel in a striking way: it provides great people watching. All of us can sit at our monitors, make a comment here or there, help a person out or demean their wacked logic, or just observe. We sit and watch the world go by.
As we scroll down the screen, we often see a parade of trolls, from which we turn in disgust (albeit with an occassional chuckle); old friends in trouble, either health difficulties, or personal challenges, and we wish them well. We find total strangers, dropping by to ask for a bit of help; and, most importantly, we see the kind-hearted souls who are here virtually every day and on whom I depend so much for good guidance, good will, and superb advice.
I count myself as a fringe player here. When there are opportunities for me to help, I try. But, there is a lofty status in Fodors in which a few people who travel extensively speak out willingly and freely every day, obviously because they have been to so many places and done so many things that they can advise on virtually any subject. Ahhh, that's my goal: to see it all.
No particular point to this rambling, but a personal expression of thoughts about this place. It's like a friendly pub in Dingle, really: drop by, have a pull of the good stuff, listen to a little harmony (and discord), express yourself to your neighbor, and head home, full of new thoughts and appreciative of the experience.
Great times to all of you!
Jim
I also want to add my thanks for another aspect of this medium: the entertainment factor. It occurred to me today that the reason I keep coming back to this page is only about 20 percent information-seeking and 80 percent to read what folks are talking about, to see if we're getting along or in one of our dark side periods.
In other words, Fodor's (at least to me) is just like travel in a striking way: it provides great people watching. All of us can sit at our monitors, make a comment here or there, help a person out or demean their wacked logic, or just observe. We sit and watch the world go by.
As we scroll down the screen, we often see a parade of trolls, from which we turn in disgust (albeit with an occassional chuckle); old friends in trouble, either health difficulties, or personal challenges, and we wish them well. We find total strangers, dropping by to ask for a bit of help; and, most importantly, we see the kind-hearted souls who are here virtually every day and on whom I depend so much for good guidance, good will, and superb advice.
I count myself as a fringe player here. When there are opportunities for me to help, I try. But, there is a lofty status in Fodors in which a few people who travel extensively speak out willingly and freely every day, obviously because they have been to so many places and done so many things that they can advise on virtually any subject. Ahhh, that's my goal: to see it all.
No particular point to this rambling, but a personal expression of thoughts about this place. It's like a friendly pub in Dingle, really: drop by, have a pull of the good stuff, listen to a little harmony (and discord), express yourself to your neighbor, and head home, full of new thoughts and appreciative of the experience.
Great times to all of you!
Jim
Dec 24th, 2004, 12:38 PM
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Is that virtually every day, JimF, or every day virtually? 
I'm sure it's both.
Well, I do hope you come out of the sidelines, dearie, as you obviously DO have something to say, and say it well!!
Cheers, Happy Holidays, Festive Felicitations (as m_k2 says) & Merry Christmas!!
I'm sure it's both.Well, I do hope you come out of the sidelines, dearie, as you obviously DO have something to say, and say it well!!
Cheers, Happy Holidays, Festive Felicitations (as m_k2 says) & Merry Christmas!!
Dec 24th, 2004, 03:57 PM
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It is somewhat like a pub at times.
Merry Christmas, Jim and to all the European board Fodorite, as well.
It's zero degrees f. in Chicago but no snow- wind is brisk- and therefore my head is very clear. Waiting for my friend and then off we go for a block Christmas Eve dinner. Who says big city people are not friendly?
Merry Christmas, Jim and to all the European board Fodorite, as well.
It's zero degrees f. in Chicago but no snow- wind is brisk- and therefore my head is very clear. Waiting for my friend and then off we go for a block Christmas Eve dinner. Who says big city people are not friendly?
