To xxx: <BR> <BR>I am sorry if some people insulted you, but I can't see why you're blaming the "regulars." If the rude people posted under their names, you know with whom you should be irritated. If they posted anonymously, well, then how do you know they were "regulars?"

Dear Regular Gal, <BR> <BR>No one insulted me and I'm not blaming anyone for anything. The person who started this thread was called "Where" while I posted as "xxx". Confusing, isn't it, with all these anon. handles.

Dear xxx, <BR> <BR>I was referring to the other xxx, who said he/she was made to feel like an idiot. <BR> <BR>Aren't you glad I didn't chose xxx as my handle also?

Andrea: This is exactly what I am talking about. <BR> <BR>I don't care at all about someone disagreeing with me, in fact, if I am wrong about something and someone knows better, it's the right thing to do for someone to say so. Can you disagree with someone without saying it was "outrageous, erroneous and subjective" as you stated above? That's my point. <BR> <BR>I can disagree with someone diplomatically and not make them feel like they broke some sort of law. <BR> <BR>I'm talking about supporting the fact that someone tries to help someone else instead of making him or her feel like a criminal. I don't think you get it. <BR> <BR>When I said "OK, attack me", I thought that I was being humorous. <BR> <BR>I have never seen so many critics in one place.

I guess I am darn near the prototype of someone known to "go around posting on every little topic just for the hell of it... who... tend to be compulsively communicative to the point where they irritate people..." <BR> <BR>and yes, my compulsivity does go through cycles... and the past month or so has been a peak. I checked last night and there are over 250 threads since March 1 with my name on them - - and that doesn't count the ones on which I don't give my usual closing... <BR> <BR>But what kills me is the people that attack me for posting too much - - and yet, as far as I can see they will let very sincere, serious and good questions sink with no answer. If my attackers think I am jumping on too many questions - - why not lift a finger to help someone find some answers? You know, sometimes searching the internet for someone IS the right thing to do. I can find in three minutes (at least sometimes) what might take someone else an hour. And I find things on Yahoo! France, Germany, Italy and Spain that are not easily retrieved on Yahoo! (regular) - - I don't entirely understand that. I realize that - - especially for newcomers - - searching on a search engine that isn't all in English is intimidating. So I am happy to do it for them. Big deal! <BR> <BR>I'm not saying that somebody died and put me in charge of "cleaning up the board" at night. But it's just like I work the Jumble in the newspaper most every morning. I like doing it. Must it draw such vitriol? <BR>

Rex, I certainly hope you're not referring to me! Though I can't say I didn't think of you when referring to the unnamed compulsively communicative types, I did also refer to you by name as being helpful and "informative", and I have thrown no "vitriol" your way, ever. Just because I singled Paulo out for praise doesn't mean I was damning you. I like your leads to search engines, etc. But some people have a lower energy level and are touchy about intellectual snobbery and your constant advising and verbalizing and pontificating about everything drives them crazy or makes them insecure or insults them. I'm just as touchy and insecure, but different things set off my emotional buttons so you don't bother me. But MUST you view the slightest hint of criticism as "vitriol"? Can't you take little bits of praise and appreciation where you find them? There's more to life than this. Can you relax and be your usual smart self and be rightfully proud of yourself but maybe just a tiny bit less wound up?

Yes, I can be a little bit less wound up - - and don't assume that this is a singular dialogue between you and me - - whoever you are. <BR> <BR>And if you think I haven't had vitriol slung at me on other threads - - well then you simply haven't seen them all. <BR>

I've seen many of them, been horrified, and several times I've objected to them (anonymously). It's time for me to stop playing on the computer now before someone says I'm compulsively communicative, too. I'm definitely not your enemy (not a "friend" either, but who needs fake cyber friends anyway). Be happy.

Re the last few posts: <BR> <BR>Yes, this board is just too weird. I have started a fair number of "fun" threads over the time I have been on the board. If I start them under my own name, they die. If I use a fake name, they often draw a huge response, and we all have a good time with them. So I conclude either that everyone detests me personally, or people just won't support a fun thread if they think a particular person is going to get "credit" for it. Very, very strange indeed.

i don't think that everyone detests you personally, pzl <BR> <BR>starting threads just for the fun of it simply isn't that fun, if they come more than once a month. <BR> <BR>questions. it's about questions. <BR>

I'm alive and well There are times when crises pop up at work and I've indeed been busy the last 2 weeks almost 'round the clock <BR><BR>On the other hand, traffic has increased sharply in the last couple months (there are currently 215 threads dated within the last 24 hours!). With an increased number of contributors, most questions get answered in one way or the other. <BR><BR>As a consequence (lack of time + increased number of contributors) I am indeed being somewhat selective (trying to help out primarily where no adequate help has yet been offered). Also, once I've last been to Italy in 97, there's no point in contributing with "perishable" stuff, like hotels &amp; restaurants.<BR><BR>I agree 100% with Rex this forum is all about helping people out. Like him, I'm also able to unearth certain info that is available on line with ease. There were times in the (somewhat distant) past that I used to post a lot. Most probably in a similar rate that Rex has been posting recently. If he or anybody else is now going through the trouble to find an answer, I can only be thankful because it saves me from doing the job. The end result is just the same: one more "customer" taken care of <BR><BR>With the increased number of posts, many of which are repetitive, we're in urgent need of a link ability to older threads (have you given up, Rex?). Otherwise more and more posts will end up unanswered. I know that Fodors is working on it but there are still unsolved technical problems (specially regarding the whole search function application) and a new application should be lounched only when these problems are sorted out.<BR><BR>Paulo

Thanks, Paulo. <BR> <BR>And no, I have not given up on the timestamp crusade. But I have toned back on it. I speculated that its overuse might be one of the things that were called "annoyingly" too much of "me" in everyone's face. Not one person has ever cc'd me when they wrote to [email protected] (but then, I never asked them to do so), in response to my "postscript" crusade. <BR> <BR>But maybe I will start up again - - I still try to use it once or twice a week, at least. <BR> <BR>And I'll add it here, again, now... <BR> <BR>Postscript: If this forum had an easier way to locate and direct readers to a specific (previous) posting by a unique identifier (timestamp), it would not be necessary to top (and repeat) information so tediously. This is my new crusade, and I am thinking about adding this postscript (when applicable) to every new reply I make here. If you agree with me, then please write to Danny Mangin or David Downing - - [email protected] - - and encourage them to move forward with this improvement (and any others they have up their sleeves) to this best-on-the-web travel forum! <BR>

I've been reading this forum for over three years now, though I rarely post. I would like to say, however, that I do miss some of the regulars, especially Elvira!!!

Thanks Lee for remembering me! I'm still here, but these days I've been extremely busy at work, planning our trip to Greece in May and Italy in November. And now considering adopting a puppy on Sunday! So, I've been busy working on that. Thank goodness I have my area fodorites to meet for luncheons as some of them keep me up to date on this web site. And for a while now, I have had people email me directly. <BR> <BR>I think this web site has changed somewhat. As Lee mentioned, one could easily see the "regulars" all the time. I know they're still out there, but maybe being more selective in their postings. I'll be around for a long while!

I assume, when a question is posted that's been asked previously (like a recommendation for a budget hotel in Paris), that the asker is self-reliant enough to have consulted guidebooks, the web, and this forum (obviously, my suggestions didn't suit the person, so it would be foolish of me to repeat them). <BR>With so many visitors to this forum who travel, I'll skip a question, assuming others will answer, maybe with a fresher viewpoint than I have, or with different ideas (that help ME too!). <BR>The silly threads (like the limerick ones) are fun - it's enjoyable to see others' humor and get a peek into their personalities. <BR>I try to avoid the threads that are diatribes; I deal with that sort of thing at work, so I don't want to have to expose myself to the same thing when I'm on my own time, or trying to take a break from that very thing when I am at work. <BR>Constructive criticism is never enjoyable, but I'm willing to contemplate it to improve; nasty insults and rudeness are a part of life, like crummy weather, so they don't have much affect. <BR>

Well, I'm still here! Like Paolo I'm reluctant to respond to questions regarding accommodations or areas that I haven't visited recently. Case in point: a charming family owned and run hotel in London's Little Venice in which I stayed in '95 cost just less that $100 a night including full English breakfast. Today, with the same name but owned by a consortium, it offers the same room for slightly more than $400 a night, minimum three night stay, but with a three day lease of a Jaguar or Triumph sports car. Obviously, not the hotel I knew. I can speak to Belgium and the Netherlands and Luxembourg and a good part of Germany, particularly areas off the beaten path and to Vienna which I most recently visited. The Low Countries seem, unfortunately, to hold little interest for the novice European traveler; so too do the rural areas of Germany. Because I travel almost exclusively by auto, I can't offer meaningful advice re train travel other than to cite a website or two. <BR> <BR>I've found, increasingly over the past four or five months, that I am receiving three to five emails a day from folks who have seen a posting of mine which included an invitation to email me directly for information. I find this type of correspondence more rewarding. The correspondent invariably is quite detailed in defining his interests, budget constraints, duration and season of travel, travel companions' likes and dislikes, etc. It's a lot easier to respond intelligently to that kind of query than so many of the Fodors' postings that ask for information but give none with which an informed response can be made.

Wes, are you saying there are no intelligent opinions given on this forum? <BR>I get ten to twelve emails a day asking for help and still feel my responses to people at this site are "intelligent".

He's not saying that at all. Please don't pick fights with one another again.

I've had an increase in personal e-mails too, though I was never getting that many until recently. While I agree that the interaction can be good, I support the concept here, and would greatly prefer to see questions well asked here, and answered here. <BR>

on behalf of countless others like myself, who stay on the sidelines and simply read and learn, I feel compelled to say "thank you" to everyone who takes the time to post (straight) answers to seemingly endless and repetitious questions. I started planning my first trip to France a few weeks ago, and based on all the helpful information I received here (websites, hotel reviews, itineraries, what and how to pack, you name it, etc.), I feel that I have never been so prepared in my entire life to take a trip. thank you for sharing, and please continue to share in spite of the "critics" (sometimes this message board reminds me of my office) or the lack of appreciation. For every person you help, there are 10 others like myself who are also being helped. Merci!