I know I will get slammed for this (so what's new) but many people seem to know enough about the Internet to use this website, but then ask questions that could also be found on the Internet quite easily.<BR><BR>For example, a recent posting about the Euro being used in Finland, Norway, etc. It is quite simple to go to a search engine such as google and do a search on Euro. Or the weather in different countries, etc. In fact, half the time, that's exactly what I do when I am trying to find an answer to someone's post.<BR><BR>I understand if you are asking someone's opinion about a hotel, airline, etc., but for hard facts or information, why not look it up yourself?<BR>

Even worse, Betty, often the info is available right here on The main Fodor's page, if people would just look.

Bravo! My thoughts exactly. How about exchange rates, time zones, airline information regarding equipment, schedules, airpots, etc.

People like reassurance; people like to hear it from someone else rather than read it from a timetable etc..

No slams from me, either, betty. The yahoo/goggle search engine is actually usually easier than finding something basic like that on Fodors!

Randy, where do you think the respondents are getting their information, eh? Why not go to the source for this stuff?

I can empathize with bettyk's complaint. There are times I'm in line waiting to access Fodors, only to be told some doofus ahead of me is asking about local toilet paper regs, something one might easily obtain on google by searching on paper products rear. Talk about your annoyance.

jen you miss the point, people want to hear it from others.

Yes, Randy, I understand that they want to hear it from others. The only makes them doubly stupid -- not understanding how to work a search engine, and not understanding that the factual information they get here from "real people" is often gotten from search engines in one way or another. Do they really think that Fodorites know more than Google about which countries are using the Euro??<BR><BR>For a delightful saga of internet obtuseness, check out this week's Onion:<BR><BR>http://www.theonion.com/onion3822/getting_mom_onto_internet.html<BR><BR>

Thanks, Jen, that was hilarious!

Hi<BR><BR>I agree totally.<BR><BR>I've stopped replying to stuff that I've seen here over the last couple of days, is easily available with search engines.<BR><BR>Also I dont answer the " I've got 6 months in Europe ........... what are the must see places ?" sort of questions.<BR><BR>Peter<BR>Languedoc, France<BR>http://tlp.netfirms.com

The nuttiest ones of all are those who ask about weather. I swear I recently saw postings that go something like this:<BR><BR>Post 1: What is the weather like in December in Rome?<BR><BR>Post 2: Generally wintry.<BR><BR>Post 3: Thanks!<BR><BR>

Why do you care if someone asks a question which they can access thru the Web? If you don't wish you tell them how to do it, why not pass. I'm sure when I first found Fodor's I asked a very vague question. So what!! Just pass or offer a helpful (not sarcastic) response as to how to search. As my mother always said, "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!"

nancy, I think that bettyk's original question is partly just academic curiosity about human nature. And partly it's concern for the questioners. As you yourself have advised, lot of basic questions jsut don't get answered here. And sometimes they're answered incorrectly. So I think the implication is that the questioners would get their answers more accurately and more quickly if they searched than if they asked here. This is a great site, but it has its greatest strengths in the subjective and very detailed info that people offer rather than easily-researched facts.

Jen, I think Lillian's mother's dilemma is more basic than her difficulty using the Internet! LOL

I have been wondering about that Rome December weather question. Now I can rest easier.<BR>

Nancy, I think you will see that the tone of my message was not nasty. My question was based on my observations. I have readily helped others with these types of questions in the past, but wondered why they couldn't have found the answers just as easily as I did. I wasn't trying to pass judgment on anyone. Lighten up.

I like the suggestion: "Lighten Up". We're getting ready for an exciting first visit to Europe in September. I'm fairly proficient in surfing the internet, and with Road Runner you can get around from site to site pretty quickly. However -- nasty remarks and all -- I find the exchange of info here very positive, helpful, and usually quite witty and fun reading stuff. My vote is to keep the questions coming, no matter how dumb, available on websites, etc. Lighten up.

Worth repeating judging from some of the current posts.

Bettyk,<BR>Do a search on FAQ. This topic has been covered many time over in this forum.<BR>