What a civilized and helpful group all you Fodorites are!
Mar 27th, 2014, 09:45 AM
#23
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Aside from any random nonsense that occurs around here leslie, my husband and I have benefitted so much from my finding Fodors back in '04. Every trip we have taken since then has been unbelievably enriched and improved by the feedback we get here. I guess I should say "I" as I am the member but he derives the benefit to our traveling equally.
We had a wonderful trip to Italy in '00 that I mostly planned and it was great, but I cannot help but wonder if it would have been even greater
if I had already been on Fodors then….
We had a wonderful trip to Italy in '00 that I mostly planned and it was great, but I cannot help but wonder if it would have been even greater
if I had already been on Fodors then….
Mar 27th, 2014, 09:52 AM
#24
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<i><font color=#555555>"sandralist is well-known in these parts, but under the name zeppole"</font></i>
Interesting. I vaguely remember the greasy donut. Helpful at times, but terribly unhappy. I'm so not good at sniffing out the dupes, except for Thin. His voice tends to sound like family, but then again, his sig is an obvious giveaway.
<i><font color=#555555>"What a waste of awesome knowledge."</font></i>
Someone once said that about me in the Lounge. But that poster assumed things about my Fodor's personality. A lizard tends to crawl among scraps on the ground.
<i><font color=#555555>"The lecturing, superior tone is unmistakable."</font></i>
Careful dear. I'm happy to loan you my mirror.
Interesting. I vaguely remember the greasy donut. Helpful at times, but terribly unhappy. I'm so not good at sniffing out the dupes, except for Thin. His voice tends to sound like family, but then again, his sig is an obvious giveaway.
<i><font color=#555555>"What a waste of awesome knowledge."</font></i>
Someone once said that about me in the Lounge. But that poster assumed things about my Fodor's personality. A lizard tends to crawl among scraps on the ground.
<i><font color=#555555>"The lecturing, superior tone is unmistakable."</font></i>
Careful dear. I'm happy to loan you my mirror.
Mar 27th, 2014, 09:56 AM
#25
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<i><font color=#555555>"It's just sad really."</font></i>
Really? Are you really sad? Geez. I can think about many things in this world that could make me sad. The antics of anonymous posters on a travel board isn't among them.
Really? Are you really sad? Geez. I can think about many things in this world that could make me sad. The antics of anonymous posters on a travel board isn't among them.
Mar 27th, 2014, 10:39 AM
#27
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<i><font color=#555555>"It's an expression"</font></i>
It's an expression that expresses a negative judgement. Maybe it is time for a break. It's never a good thing to take internet chat too seriously.
It's an expression that expresses a negative judgement. Maybe it is time for a break. It's never a good thing to take internet chat too seriously.
Mar 27th, 2014, 12:15 PM
#30
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I would like to agree with the OP. Although I have had my share of sarcasm thrown at me, I have reaped the benefit of information and suggesttions from many others who have travelled before me. I have had four wonderful trips which I planned with the help of Fodorites.
I enjoy the site and it would be a shame to paint all the Fodorites with one brush.
I enjoy the site and it would be a shame to paint all the Fodorites with one brush.
Mar 27th, 2014, 12:32 PM
#31
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Unmistakable indeed.
She is over on Slowtrav these days as well. After bad mouthing it for years. What a waste of awesome knowledge.
Oh exactly, Bob. It is amusing to read her 'have to have the last word' thoughts on Slow Travel these days considering the outrageous trashing of ST she used to do here. I have probably seen at least 6 of the 10 or more name changes myself. And the comments here to the OP are extremely self-serving. I will concede the awesome knowledge, just waiting for the firecracker to explode.
I find most people here to be genuinely helpful, especially to others whose questions are thoughtful and sincere. The snarking most often comes, IMO, from the "hi guys, plan my trip puhleeze!!!!!" poster, whose thread often just collapses into a sort of travel fatigue.
She is over on Slowtrav these days as well. After bad mouthing it for years. What a waste of awesome knowledge.
Oh exactly, Bob. It is amusing to read her 'have to have the last word' thoughts on Slow Travel these days considering the outrageous trashing of ST she used to do here. I have probably seen at least 6 of the 10 or more name changes myself. And the comments here to the OP are extremely self-serving. I will concede the awesome knowledge, just waiting for the firecracker to explode.
I find most people here to be genuinely helpful, especially to others whose questions are thoughtful and sincere. The snarking most often comes, IMO, from the "hi guys, plan my trip puhleeze!!!!!" poster, whose thread often just collapses into a sort of travel fatigue.
Mar 27th, 2014, 01:01 PM
#32
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I'd like to agree with the OP. The tips and advice that I have received from so many of you have helped me plan several trips to Europe, saving money and precious travel time. I just ignore the occasional rude or sarcastic post. My experience has been so good that I have recommended this forum to many friends. Thank you!
Mar 27th, 2014, 03:35 PM
#34
But if I find anything "cringe-worthy" on Fodor's travel forum is reading the cheerleading for these reports of people who regale the crowd with tales of how they ate until they threw up or were in dire pain and whose trip otherwise consists of getting lost and showing up at places they didn't realize would be closed. >>
sandralist, I don't recognise this picture of fodorland at all. Fortunately my experience has been far closer to that of the OP. I've learnt a whole lot of things here, and been given the courage to do many things that I would never have done before such as rent apartments in Italy, tour Sri Lanka independently, and do a long trip to Australia and New Zealand booked entirely on the internet. if I read a trip report that is full of the sorts of things you are mentioning, i just ignore it, but most trip reports are interesting and informative.
if you find these things so cringe-worthy and uninteresting, i wonder why you're here so much.
sandralist, I don't recognise this picture of fodorland at all. Fortunately my experience has been far closer to that of the OP. I've learnt a whole lot of things here, and been given the courage to do many things that I would never have done before such as rent apartments in Italy, tour Sri Lanka independently, and do a long trip to Australia and New Zealand booked entirely on the internet. if I read a trip report that is full of the sorts of things you are mentioning, i just ignore it, but most trip reports are interesting and informative.
if you find these things so cringe-worthy and uninteresting, i wonder why you're here so much.
Mar 27th, 2014, 03:54 PM
#35
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Like you, ann, I've never in the gazillion years I've been on Fodors read a trip report that mentioned eating until someone threw up or was in dire pain. I think I'd remember if I had, though.
The only reason SandraList or any of her many other incarnations is or has been on Fodors or any other travel site is to attempt to play Hall Monitor and intimidate people into thinking they can't possibly be experiencing Europe the way she thinks it should be experienced. Nuff said. Huge PITA no matter what screen name she's using. But it's REALLY hard to believe that, living in Camogli, one can have adopted so very bitter an attitude toward just about everything.
The only reason SandraList or any of her many other incarnations is or has been on Fodors or any other travel site is to attempt to play Hall Monitor and intimidate people into thinking they can't possibly be experiencing Europe the way she thinks it should be experienced. Nuff said. Huge PITA no matter what screen name she's using. But it's REALLY hard to believe that, living in Camogli, one can have adopted so very bitter an attitude toward just about everything.
Mar 27th, 2014, 04:37 PM
#36
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I didn't realize that Sandralist was zeppoli. Too bad. She had so much to share but was so rude and vociferous that I just stopprd following her.
I feel fortunate to have found this and the United States Forums. I have learned a great deal and hope I have generally made a positive contribution. Janisj is my goddess.
Different people will like and find useful different fora. My wife and I spent eight days in Old Florida at the beginning of the month, I would say at for this trip, we never found a useful TripAdviser post. The tastes of the posters were so different to ours that neither their recommendations nor their warnings were useful. On another trip to different places, that might not be true at all.
I feel fortunate to have found this and the United States Forums. I have learned a great deal and hope I have generally made a positive contribution. Janisj is my goddess.
Different people will like and find useful different fora. My wife and I spent eight days in Old Florida at the beginning of the month, I would say at for this trip, we never found a useful TripAdviser post. The tastes of the posters were so different to ours that neither their recommendations nor their warnings were useful. On another trip to different places, that might not be true at all.
Mar 27th, 2014, 06:18 PM
#37
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Actually I have been a very active member of TripAdvisor, both for researching and also posting reviews myself. However, I use it more for getting reviews of places to stay, not as much where to go. It does have a fantastic thread following the comment "What did you wish someone had told you?" before going to Paris. It was posted in 2011 and currently has 1,122 responses!!! Many of the replies I found super helpful, although they did tend to repeat after awhile ("be sure to say your Bonjours.."). If anyone reading this post is going to Paris for the first time and hasn't seen it, you should check it out.
SlowTravel I used more for the last trip to Italy (BobtheNavigator! Thanks, I used many of your suggestions). Think I need to check out the latest there; thanks for reminder.
Anyway, I stand by my opinion about the people on this board in general...and of course, that's all it is, my opinion.
SlowTravel I used more for the last trip to Italy (BobtheNavigator! Thanks, I used many of your suggestions). Think I need to check out the latest there; thanks for reminder.
Anyway, I stand by my opinion about the people on this board in general...and of course, that's all it is, my opinion.
Mar 28th, 2014, 06:46 AM
#39
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I do recognise some of the things Sandraslist is describing - trip reports that border on fiction and a bias toward corporate hotels and food critic rated eateries which I just find a bit uninspiring. However, there is more than enough helpful information, credible TRs, photos and blogs to outweigh the downsides of Fodors.
Regarding the unwelcoming atmosphere to newbies, I find that tends to manifest with lazy posters who are asking for info easily found by Googling e.g nearest tube station to their hotel, opening hours of an attraction, or who simply want someone to plan their whole trip because they cannot be arsed. It may not be the most adult response to be rude to someone like this, doesn't reflect particularly well on the board, but if I'm being honest, sometimes I cannot help but think it's deserved.
Regarding the unwelcoming atmosphere to newbies, I find that tends to manifest with lazy posters who are asking for info easily found by Googling e.g nearest tube station to their hotel, opening hours of an attraction, or who simply want someone to plan their whole trip because they cannot be arsed. It may not be the most adult response to be rude to someone like this, doesn't reflect particularly well on the board, but if I'm being honest, sometimes I cannot help but think it's deserved.
Mar 28th, 2014, 10:19 AM
#40
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The rude abuse of first-time posters has bothered me for a long time here - clueless first-time posters who come up with outlandishly impossible itineraries - requests for info like RM says is easily Googled, etc.
It is usually the overly ambitious through ignorance of European travel that brings the most caustic bromides - "beyond crazy" "sounds like a forced march"; totally idotic;, etc. - when those exact same things could be said in a kinder gentler way.
And then those comments often end up with others piling on with the same exact criticism but even more caustic - trying to outdo others - I can recall several posters who were so so denigrated they were brought to tears (figuratively)
and I think the common comment 'you
're lazy, do some research on your own,' are uncalled for - no need to make any response in that case.
Fodor's makes money not on Fodorgarchs who would never buy any guidebook these days or click on banner ads, etc but make money on newbies and for those to be chased off the site by often downright rude remarks causes Fodor's to lose those potential revenue sources - such comments hurt Fodor's and that is why IMO they simply should not be done in the bombastic way they are often done.
It is usually the overly ambitious through ignorance of European travel that brings the most caustic bromides - "beyond crazy" "sounds like a forced march"; totally idotic;, etc. - when those exact same things could be said in a kinder gentler way.
And then those comments often end up with others piling on with the same exact criticism but even more caustic - trying to outdo others - I can recall several posters who were so so denigrated they were brought to tears (figuratively)
and I think the common comment 'you
're lazy, do some research on your own,' are uncalled for - no need to make any response in that case.
Fodor's makes money not on Fodorgarchs who would never buy any guidebook these days or click on banner ads, etc but make money on newbies and for those to be chased off the site by often downright rude remarks causes Fodor's to lose those potential revenue sources - such comments hurt Fodor's and that is why IMO they simply should not be done in the bombastic way they are often done.
