Dear Friends, <BR> <BR>I have been reading and posting on this forum for several years now and for the most part I have enjoyed it. However, in the past few months a select few (and you know who you are)have decided to use this board to conduct their own private little cat fights. <BR> <BR>Using this forum to slam each other and to abuse one another is hardly what i would consider "travel information". In the event that some of the "regulars" do respond to a legitimate question, it is usually in the form of some rude response, or to tell the poster to look it up themselves. Did it ever occur to you that by posting a question, they are looking it up for themselves. They are mearly using this forum as a search engine. <BR> <BR>We come to this forum for advice,information and mostly for fun. For those of you who no longer participate in the above and continue to carry on with your petty diatribe, I would suggest that a chat room is the place you need to be. In other words, take it outside! <BR> <BR>Signed <BR> <BR>If you can say something nice, dont say anything at all. <BR> <BR>

I agree. <BR> <BR>But sometimes the mean ones are funny. <BR> <BR>It does not take too long to figure out the "rules" of this board. There should be some kind of warning before you enter that you just might become the object of much ridicule.

If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen!

"In the event that some of the "regulars" do respond to a legitimate question, it is usually in the form of some rude response, or to tell the poster to look it up themselves" <BR> <BR>That quote speaks volumes about whatsinaname. <BR>

The original poster wrote: <BR> <BR>"In the event that some of the "regulars" do respond to a legitimate question, it is usually in the form of some rude response, or to tell the poster to look it up themselves." <BR> <BR>What's with the need to bash regular posters, anyway? Most "regulars" use a consistent name and provide consistently solid travel advice, for free. They don't "usually" hop on a thread to bash someone. The real problem, in my opinion, are the nameless people who get off on being nasty. They will be with us always. But I disagree with the notion that the "regulars" are somehow causing the board to deteriorate.

Yes, <BR>The are times that people do use this forum to critize others, and even if it is annoying and uncalled for, it happens. <BR>I just click onto another post, or try to ignore the comments, but I will reply occasionally, esp. if I think that my silence could be construed as agreement. <BR>Try and ignore what you don't like and enjoy what info you do get from here. <BR>It is a great site regardless of the bickering that goes on

I'll admit that I am one who frequently asks someone to do a search on this forum, but ONLY do that if the question was very recently answered ususally in the last 50 posted questions. Sometimes it's very obvious that someone is asking a question without ever reading some of the others. I don't feel that's rude at all.

I am a regular to this forum for quite a while now and am also getting tired of seeing so many negative postings. However, I do not respond to those messages. I may read a few, but I move on to the main subject here: travel! <BR>I know it’s probably difficult, but if people would just ignore those ridiculous postings, I think this web site would get back on track. Everyone knows that someone is out there just to get a rise out of people. As a regular poster here, I have never slammed anyone. I love to travel and love to meet others with the same interests. I love to help others with their planning and giving suggestions and ideas. I too disagree: regular posters do not slam others. Enjoy this web site for what it should be: people getting together and talking traveling. <BR>

I read this post and agree with the author. <BR>There seems to be alot of back-biting going on here. This is no place for arguing, it is a travel board! But recently it sounds more like an elementary school playground! Everyone needs to get back to the issue at hand. Travel. <BR>What is being suggested by the original post is, if you have a beef with someone dont clutter up the message board with it.

Sorry, but it is kinda rude to tell people to do a search. It's like when you ask someone how to spell a word, and rather than just tell you, they tell you to look it up. Better, I think, is to ignore the post if you really can't help, or better still, respond that you'll do a search and top a few really useful posts for them.

X, <BR>when I tell someone to do a search,I explain how to do it, because I think there are new posters to this site, and they just do not know what the <BR>Text Search box is all about,( if they even recognize it.) <BR>I did not know about text search until someone clued me in. <BR>So, I actually feel as if I am helping when I alert posters to this function. <BR>I also will usually top a post for them through a search, so they can see that info is there to be retrieved.

I don't really think it is rude to tell someone to do a search if an explanation of how to do it is given. It is far better to do that than to ignore the post and have it slide down unanswered.

I am a regular here, and I use my name and email. I try to give accurate info when I have it available, I try not to be rude even when I want to be, although I was curt yesterday. I believe that most folks, even newbies get some aid here even if it's to top and redo their question. I found that most rude comments are from folks who use bogus names and emails. <BR>

PS&gt;&gt;&gt; I don't think that someone who has a name like whatsinaname should be calling others out. If you have a challenge use your name.

hiya!!! <BR>i think that the purpose of a travel forum is to learn through others experiences... we use this board to ask questions and get advice..and use that advice or not as we choose. <BR>i have always welcomed anyones comments on a question i've asked..or given advice to someone when i am able. <BR>lets all be nice to each other here.. goodnes knows theres enough mean people in the rest of the world. <BR> <BR>happy travels.

<BR>Dear Friends, <BR> <BR>It was just as I had suspected,the select few (and they still know who they are)have decided not to respond to this post. <BR> <BR>We serious travellers can only hope at best that they have taken my advice and found a chat room. Or worst case scenario, they have verbally beaten each other up and need time to lick their wounds. Hopefully, when and if they come back, they are shamed by their behaviour and can get back to talking travel and not trash. <BR> <BR>Regards.

If the people that use this forum want it to function as a chat room, especially if it is for in-offensive banter, then whose place is it to say that they shouldn't or can't. At the library, people read nuclear physics and People magazine under the same roof. This forum is what anyone wants it to be who comes here. If a thread makes you roll your eyes, then just move on! <BR> <BR>YKWIA <BR>

As an irregular poster, this post makes me want to go. <BR>