Tommy's life is ruined, and we feel his pain. BUT - what's your record time on Fodor's/net travel planning?
 

No question...Being here is often better than being any place else (except E.) and often, better than being 'present' in our real lives. But what's your own personal record? How long a sustained time have you spent on Fodors (or Fodors and other internet travel sites) planning/dreaming/scheming? <BR> <BR>I'll own up to last Friday...when the ENTIRE day - (with time out to slosh together a batch of chili) - was spent on the net, exploring for our March trip. 11-12 hours total. (of COURSE I'm ashamed...but recognition is the first step tohealing, is it not?)

like I'd admit to that... <BR> <BR> <BR>haha?

Two years.

Such a relief to learn that I am not as bad off as some of you people. <BR> <BR>I left the house for like, over 90 minutes today! <BR> <BR>Dude! <BR> <BR>I'm cool, right? <BR>

cul-ero!!! (I'm a Spanish major...) <BR>Yea, you're cool enough...

Who counts sustained time? The most telling is when you have definitely broken away for good and find yourself back there again, for the tenth time that day.

cool-arrow... <BR>in other words. <BR>(Just in case you do speak Spanish...)

Arjay---- I got you beat :-)!.... I was on Fodor's ALL last weekend compiling, summarizing on to a Microsoft Word file to print and take w/me to Rome next month. <BR> <BR>I got hooked in late 1996 while planning a trip to Paris. Ever since, I visit Fodor's every day, several times (addicted?...who's addicted?? I can quit whenever I want.....) <BR> <BR>I even remember the first "troll" post I answered.... so much fun, so little time!!!

Hi Maira, <BR> <BR>I'ma relative newbie... How "populated" was this board back then? Was it as fast? It must have been pretty different without all the personalities we know and love today! <BR> <BR>:-) <BR> <BR>Beth

Back then it was pretty basic, all the questions were listed as one liners one after the other, and the screen was not split. It was soooo slow, though. There wasn't a search function, the Fodor's staff eventually listened to the recurring petition to add one and to improve efficiency. Germany, London and Paris were still biggies back then. Spain and Ireland weren't as popular as they are today. Needless to say, although always popular, the forum had much less traffic, but it has always attracted serious (for the most part), vey smart independent travelers. Thankfully one thing that has not change is that there are regulars from back when (Wes, BOB, Al, Lee, Sally F.) that consistently continue to offer priceless useful advise.

A far as personalities, .....well Tony was around back then :-) Oh, and people will sign their names and the "troll" questions were less frequent and far more clever. Topper has always been around. He/she is the house ghost.

I have concluded that cyberspace is a form of electronic progeria. Only in it can you become "old" in five years or less. Personally, I welcome all the new and serious entrants. They are seekers after truth and useful stuff. What I most like are the participants from countries all over the world. I have tried to wean myself from this addiction, but...at my age...what the heck. Enjoy. And try to be civil, helpful, and sometimes even funny.

Cyber-age is an interesting phenomenon. I'm 6 1/2 years old on my "real time" sites, almost 4 years old here. In the meantime more and more people have found the 'net, more sophisticated programs for spamming have been developed. The 'net, like "real life" has become increasingly less civil. And my apologies for the times I have contributed to that aspect of life here at Fodors. And Tony is still here:)

And oh yes. <BR>I am addicted. And I DON'T CARE! So keep your straight jackets and deprogramming away from me:) <BR>I mean it's better than online gambling right?

You bet.

John, that was clever. <BR>S. Fowler, you have never been uncivil that I can recall, in my 3+ years frequenting this forum. <BR>This place has made all my vacations so much better that it is worth the small price of admission, er, addiction.

11 -12 hours KK? I got you beat by 1hour.....And I can not believe I actually took time out of my precious life to answer this silly thing.... I got IT BAD!&gt;? Judy ;-0

s. fowler never uncivil? Where were you kk,you, my sole defender of gypsie threads gone by, when s.fowler resorted to name calling on the "Guy" thread. I disappointed MS. Fowler by crossing gender loyalties when I tried to give the poor guy some helpful advice. As if that wasn't bad enough, I was then referred to as "antideluvian." I am tempted to take up "Auntie Deluvian's" crusade and shock you all with autobiographical stories of my "pre-marital" escapades and chance quality encounters with the opposite sex <BR>when travelling alone, both here a abroad. <BR> <BR>So MIZZ fowler... would you be happinin' to extend one of those apologies to me? <BR>What do you expect of me anyway? Look, it was your suggestion that I followed up with when I carted that bottle of wine to NYC. I think it would help to make things a whole lot better here if you brought ME a bottle of wine. <BR> <BR>Dr. Betty <BR>

Me, I got the bug around May of '99 and haven't stop since. Two trips to Italy since then and now my husband and I are talking about Spain. At least that gives me a legitimate reason to be here...right?

Oh, Dr. Betty, mea culpa, mea culpa. What you recount escaped the confines of my memory banks (as a lot seems to be doing these days, but ah yes, that is indeed another story). Since you and s.fowler are two of my favs on the forum, this is a toughy, so I will amend my above post to say, s.fowler is almost always civil. Does that work? <BR> <BR>You know something? I think I never even read that thread that you quoted in which you and she mixed it up. Upon rereading your post, it rings no bells at all. I don't recall your ever having been called Anti Deluvian, and surely to heavens my memory isn't that bad that that is utterly gone. So, I must conclude that I am indeed innocent of malice and simply had missed that particular thread altogether. The wine suggestion, now that I do recall. <BR>Wish you could come to our Texas Fodorite gathering in Austin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 29, dear Dr. Why not make that tiny plane ride? It would be grand to see you! kk

Re: "Dr. Betty's" Nope. That's as good as it gets. I apologized in general for my aberative moments and trust that my positive contributions to this forum make up for them. I was objecting only to one small part of what you said. When it comes to the ways women have been objectified and been subjected to unequal expectations in the workforce I will speak out.

MIZZ fowler, <BR> <BR>I may need your advice on some travel plans in the future. In the mean time, get a nice bottle of red wine and drink it by yourself.

??? <BR> <BR>Great passions make for great emotions....agreed?

Hi Beth, <BR> <BR>I too have been around Fodors.com since about 1996! My planning takes me about 5-6 months, but love doing it. For my May trip to Greece, I only recently started my planning! I should have started in Oct/Nov. I don't even have my tickets yet. Yes, I too am addicted to this web site. But it's been great!

Monica introduced me to Fodors several months ago and now I'm hooked in a big way. Thanks a lot, Monica! No really, I can't imagine planning trips without it! I don't want to talk about how much time I spend here planning trips. Those of you that read all the posts know. I'm still in denial about it.

Okay,okay,okay! Why don't we both get a nice bottle of red wine and meet somewhere in the middle? We can both talk about what we "really" meant to say and then make a speedy recovery back to travel talk. <BR> <BR>With all due respect, <BR>Dr. Betty

Prof. Sally and Dr. Betty, if Tony and Elvira got over the tiff they had two years ago, so can you too. So cool it. <BR> <BR>Topper, the Ghost

Hey, who says we're over it? If I had any mind left, I'd give him a piece of it when I see him in March. <BR> <BR>SOP for the big trips in the fall: at least 3 Saturdays at the library, then virtually every night, from May thru takeoff, on the web or scrabbling through guidebooks and my copious notes on dozens of index cards. <BR> <BR>That doesn't count the time at work that I pop into the web or Fodor's to check out *one* more thing. <BR> <BR>I am not obsessive I am not obsessive I am not obsessive I am not obsessive

How does one get over a tiff around here? Topper, can you act as mediator? Elvira and Tony, what progress have you made over 2 yrs. and do you have any pointers you could share? <BR> <BR>I'm still pretty new at this forum. I think it will be a year this March that Dr. Betty was morphed into being. I'm not a "real" doctor and I don't have a doctorate. I'm just a poser. <BR> <BR>Travel is a constant state of mind and every time I read a trip report, I'm a gonner. I think...I've gotta go there next. Do you know how painful it is to read these postings if you don't know where you're gonna go next, or if you can even afford another trip? Tommy doesn't know pain, but his parents probably do. <BR> <BR>Europe...one big ink blot. It was through the musings here (who knows where the time goes...I do not count the time except when seeing clients)that we discovered our next destination, Scotland. Searching here runs deep and more often generates friendships and support than tiffs. So Sally, babes, talk to me. I'm not who you think I am. I have a mind to show up in March so we can share a ceremonial cup of kindness. Toast eachothers broad experience and cry 'till we laugh. <BR> <BR>Dr. Betty <BR> <BR>Dr. Betty <BR>

Okay folks. This is ridiculous. There is no tiff that I have created. What there is is a difference of opinion on gender issues and an attempt by Dr. Betty to -- I have no idea how to describe it actually. So I won't. <BR> <BR>I have acknowledged my "sins". That I have not always posted in good temper here -- but I'm not going to play into the game that is underway. <BR> <BR>Folks. I don't post as much any more here because you never know when an enthusiastic, or humorous or sharp comment will be turned into a flame. I'm pretty hardy, but I do have other things to do in my life than trying to figure out how to share my love of travel without getting blitzed. <BR> <BR>Re the issue at hand: in a private exchange it was suggested that the reason I am so sensitive to gender issues is because I've had some bad experiences. Folks. I'm sensitive to gender issues because making it harder for women to work successfully and fairly in the workplace is both morally and [and fortunately in this country] legally wrong. <BR> <BR>This IS my last word on this. I'm not going to be dragged into any cutesy tiff crap. Let's get back to travel.

I agree that this forum has hightened my interest in travel. It is not merely about the destinations, but has more to do with the wonderful people here sharing their feelings. <BR> <BR>

I read some of this thread, but it seems I have missed whatever it is that is causing the bruha(?spelling) between <BR>S.Fowler (is Sally your name?) and dr. Betty. <BR>And I am GLAD about that! <BR>I just wanted to say, S. Fowler, don't post less! <BR>Your input is valued. <BR>

It's just the tantalizing descriptions that get you hooked--we are suddenly planning a trip for March (to Normandy--shame on you posters) since our May trip is booked and settled. Yikes! Power of suggestion!

Nancy, it's "brouhaha", pronounced <BR>[broo-ah-ah], and comes from French. I think its origin might be onomatopeic, that is, the word most likely represents the noise of a lively debate, and probably has no semantic basis, since the word "brou" itself means "nutshell".

Bruja means witch in Spanish. I always thought the root of this word came from "spell of a witch" or relating to some unclear speach.

Thanks Harzer for correction. <BR>semantics, <BR>interesting posting, I enjoy tidbits about words, and am curious about howsome come about, so to speak. <BR> <BR>In italian, the word for *rice* and *laugh*, is the same; Riso <BR>

I'm with Chris.

My Husband says that I am now lost in cyber-space.(he doesn't mind much,now he has full use of the remote control) I've been on-line with these great threads for four hours. When I found this one(thread) I actually had to stop and try to remember how I got to this point. That was scarey!! It all started last week when my Husband brought home a travel guide of Paris(I'm lucky,He loves to travel) We've always used travel agents before, but since I've found this wonderful forum we'll make our own travel plans. My thanks to all. You are a wellspring of great advice. And as a newcommer I will always remember to search first and ask questions later.

between planning 2 long snowboarding weekends in Switzerland in Feb and March, one long snowboarding weekend in France in Feb. Loire Valley over Easter, Rome in May, cross Swiss Alps hiking in June, the Lofoten Islands and Norweigen Forjds in July, hosting my parents and sister around London, Switzerland, Venice, Salzburg, Heidelberg, Black Forest, and Alsace in September Africa in November, Nepal next year. I live in Fodors!!

Hey Christine! I can relate! We've got Rome next week, Seychelles in Feb, weekends around Bavaria in March, Budapest at Easter, Scandinavia sometime either end of April or June, the Amalfi coast in June and Dubrovnik sometime this spring. It's hard to keep up with sometimes!