What are your "Pet Peeve" questions?
Jan 23rd, 2006 | 07:27 AM
#63
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,052
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I don't have too many pet peeves, but I do get annoyed by the "I'm going to Paris (or Rome, London, etc.) in one month....what should I see" questions. I don't have any problems with giving or getting advice, as that is what we are all here for, but I have to wonder why someone would choose to visit a city or country without even knowing what some of the sights are. I assume that this is exactly the information that one would research before they decide where to visit, but aparently not for everyone!
Tracy
Tracy
Jan 23rd, 2006 | 07:46 AM
#64
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,000
Likes: 0
<i>Poseurs</i> who don't speak a language misusing it in their posts.
"Paris, France" or "Munich, Germany" or the like.
Using <i>i.e.</i> when the context requires <i>e.g.</i>, and the converse. (The mnemonic is <b>eg</b>zample.)
"Paris, France" or "Munich, Germany" or the like.
Using <i>i.e.</i> when the context requires <i>e.g.</i>, and the converse. (The mnemonic is <b>eg</b>zample.)
Jan 23rd, 2006 | 08:15 AM
#66
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,194
Likes: 0
< "Do", as in "I've done France, Italy and Germany, where shall I go now"... >>
Oh my god yes... I always want to know what are they going "do" <i><b>TO</b></i> France! Didn't Hitler "do" France?
But on the flip side of the coin...
<< "How do I get from <airport> to <city>?" >>
This is the kind of question a person might well get the best possible answer here. Ideally, the website of the airport itself is the best source - - but Fodorites can often have personal perspectives on what one mode or another is like, from a passenger's viewpoint. For many cities (increasingly in the US, as well as in Europe), the public municipal transit (metro, whatever) is very much a mode of choice.. in other cases, a taxi or car service might seem attractive, but it can be helpful to know about traffic patterns (especially arriving during morning rush hour, after a sleepless transatlantic flight - - say... at LGW, for example!) and how the traffic congestion might add critically to time and cost estimates.
I rate it a rather good question to ask here.
Oh my god yes... I always want to know what are they going "do" <i><b>TO</b></i> France! Didn't Hitler "do" France?
But on the flip side of the coin...
<< "How do I get from <airport> to <city>?" >>
This is the kind of question a person might well get the best possible answer here. Ideally, the website of the airport itself is the best source - - but Fodorites can often have personal perspectives on what one mode or another is like, from a passenger's viewpoint. For many cities (increasingly in the US, as well as in Europe), the public municipal transit (metro, whatever) is very much a mode of choice.. in other cases, a taxi or car service might seem attractive, but it can be helpful to know about traffic patterns (especially arriving during morning rush hour, after a sleepless transatlantic flight - - say... at LGW, for example!) and how the traffic congestion might add critically to time and cost estimates.
I rate it a rather good question to ask here.
Jan 23rd, 2006 | 08:32 AM
#67
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,738
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I am mostly cranky when someone is deliberately rude and unkind , I could care less how they spell, if they make typos ( my kind of typing) or if they ask a question that I have seen before.
I have met some people who might spell like champions but they are not very nice people..so what difference does it really make?
I think if someone is so burned out from seeing so many "stupid" questions from so many "morons", perhaps one should take a break?
I think the reason we post on here to begin with, aside from Asking for information, is to provide it.
If that becomes nerve wracking, it is no fun, one gets cranky, etc~
I have met some people who might spell like champions but they are not very nice people..so what difference does it really make?
I think if someone is so burned out from seeing so many "stupid" questions from so many "morons", perhaps one should take a break?
I think the reason we post on here to begin with, aside from Asking for information, is to provide it.
If that becomes nerve wracking, it is no fun, one gets cranky, etc~
Jan 23rd, 2006 | 08:51 AM
#69
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,099
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I agree Scarlett about the rudeness of ahem, some people on this board when it comes to often-repeated questions.
Personally, I LIKE answering the question of "What do I wear to Paris?"
and I don't call into question someone's self-esteem for asking what they need to wear to be comfortable AND fit in.
I think the more specific question there is, the more hope there is to get a real answer. And it doesn cross my mind sometimes why someone doesn't crack open a single guidebook before posting a question...but then maybe they don't really expect an answer!
Jules
Personally, I LIKE answering the question of "What do I wear to Paris?"
and I don't call into question someone's self-esteem for asking what they need to wear to be comfortable AND fit in.
I think the more specific question there is, the more hope there is to get a real answer. And it doesn cross my mind sometimes why someone doesn't crack open a single guidebook before posting a question...but then maybe they don't really expect an answer!
Jules
Jan 23rd, 2006 | 09:05 AM
#71
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hi all!
Probably the most irritating question that I see is one along the lines of "My spouse and I are thinking of going to either country A or B. Which one should we go to?"
This is followed VERY closely by:
"My spouse and I are going to France/Italy/England for 5 days. What should we see?"
Rocketing up in third place is: "How do we get from the train station to our hotel?"
These types of questions bug me because they imply that the Fodor poster will be happy to do their research for them about their trip. I think that we all might have questions about which is the best restaurant/best hotel/best value-for-money according to one's experience. BUT I think it is a bit over the top to use this forum as a pseudo-travel agency, and expect fellow posters to research the possibilities regarding someone else's trip. Hey, if you can use the internet to pose these sorts of questions, you can also use it to figure out how to get to and from the train station, and what the top attractions are at your intended destination!
Probably the most irritating question that I see is one along the lines of "My spouse and I are thinking of going to either country A or B. Which one should we go to?"
This is followed VERY closely by:
"My spouse and I are going to France/Italy/England for 5 days. What should we see?"
Rocketing up in third place is: "How do we get from the train station to our hotel?"
These types of questions bug me because they imply that the Fodor poster will be happy to do their research for them about their trip. I think that we all might have questions about which is the best restaurant/best hotel/best value-for-money according to one's experience. BUT I think it is a bit over the top to use this forum as a pseudo-travel agency, and expect fellow posters to research the possibilities regarding someone else's trip. Hey, if you can use the internet to pose these sorts of questions, you can also use it to figure out how to get to and from the train station, and what the top attractions are at your intended destination!
Jan 23rd, 2006 | 09:07 AM
#72
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,193
Likes: 0
Scarlett ~ totally agree. Perhaps if something is no longer fun, it is time to turn off the computer and turn to other pursuits until one can enjoy themselves again.
These are people coming in search of information. Not everyone is going to do it "right" or "your way." Some people research, some don't. If a person asks an annoying question (to you) ignore and let some one else answer it. Thankfully, I must have got a lot of people on the right day when I asked such mundane questions regarding rental cars, ATMs, PINs, and credit cards - items not easily found in guidebooks or even online. Patience with those who are "newbies" often goes a long way, IMHO.
These are people coming in search of information. Not everyone is going to do it "right" or "your way." Some people research, some don't. If a person asks an annoying question (to you) ignore and let some one else answer it. Thankfully, I must have got a lot of people on the right day when I asked such mundane questions regarding rental cars, ATMs, PINs, and credit cards - items not easily found in guidebooks or even online. Patience with those who are "newbies" often goes a long way, IMHO.
Jan 23rd, 2006 | 09:14 AM
#73
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 662
Likes: 0
Don't really have any pet peeve questions ... if I don't care for a question, I don't answer it.
However, the one thing that mildly annoys me is when an OP posts an itinerary and solicits feedback. People are kind enough to evaluate the OP's plans based on their own experiences and basic knowledge of traveling logistics, providing valuable, thoughtful feedback. Then the OP becomes testy about having his/her itinerary critiqued. Seems to happen quite often - particularly with what can euphemistically be termed "whirlwind" itineraries. If you don't want honest critques, specify that in the initial post.
Otherwise, thanks to all who spend so much time here and generously offer their input ... it's invaluable information to mine when in the planning process.
However, the one thing that mildly annoys me is when an OP posts an itinerary and solicits feedback. People are kind enough to evaluate the OP's plans based on their own experiences and basic knowledge of traveling logistics, providing valuable, thoughtful feedback. Then the OP becomes testy about having his/her itinerary critiqued. Seems to happen quite often - particularly with what can euphemistically be termed "whirlwind" itineraries. If you don't want honest critques, specify that in the initial post.
Otherwise, thanks to all who spend so much time here and generously offer their input ... it's invaluable information to mine when in the planning process.
Jan 23rd, 2006 | 09:14 AM
#74
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 164
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Being a bad typist isn't the same thing as being a bad speller, perhaps cut people some slack? If it's a place name, it is nice to include the correct spelling somewhere in the reply, it will help with a search later.
For every question that you've read 100 times, this new person is presumably asking it for the very first time.
It's the same thing with giving people dirty looks when they arrive late to a concert or play. I don't like being disturbed either, but it could very well be that this is the very first time ever, that this person arrived late.
One day, one time, I might be late myself. One day, one time, I might ask a badly-spelled, or ignorant, or silly, question.
Also, things change. A search on past posting on ATMs, or the Orangerie in Paris, or the Tube terminal at Heathrow, might not give you the very latest information.
For every question that you've read 100 times, this new person is presumably asking it for the very first time.
It's the same thing with giving people dirty looks when they arrive late to a concert or play. I don't like being disturbed either, but it could very well be that this is the very first time ever, that this person arrived late.
One day, one time, I might be late myself. One day, one time, I might ask a badly-spelled, or ignorant, or silly, question.
Also, things change. A search on past posting on ATMs, or the Orangerie in Paris, or the Tube terminal at Heathrow, might not give you the very latest information.
Jan 23rd, 2006 | 09:22 AM
#75
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 941
Likes: 0
My pet peeve is with people who use the word tourist in a snide manner.
People who announce they are “travelers” not “tourists” and certainly don’t want to waste their time on the typical touristy places, where they’ll see nothing but a crowd of ugly Americans, but oh by the way this is their first trip out of the US.
You’re a TOURIST!! We’ve all tourists, get over it; it’s not a dirty word.
People who announce they are “travelers” not “tourists” and certainly don’t want to waste their time on the typical touristy places, where they’ll see nothing but a crowd of ugly Americans, but oh by the way this is their first trip out of the US.
You’re a TOURIST!! We’ve all tourists, get over it; it’s not a dirty word.
Jan 24th, 2006 | 12:58 AM
#77
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,719
Likes: 0
"To "do" a country or city or other location is a perfectly acceptable idiom with a particular meaning."
I wasn't saying that the term is wrong, just that I dislike its usage and implications when applied to an entire country. It implies that one has seen all there is to see, and this irks me. This thread is about "pet peeves", after all.
I wasn't saying that the term is wrong, just that I dislike its usage and implications when applied to an entire country. It implies that one has seen all there is to see, and this irks me. This thread is about "pet peeves", after all.
