ncgrrl, I was not speaking of you. I cannot say that I recall your being rude in a post. If you were, I do not recall it. I am very familiar with Southern expressions and Southerners. The people on this board, some Southern, some who pretend to be (were not born in the South but give that impression) can be rude and cutting and cliquih, and it would not matter what their regional accent was. I like people from the South, in general.

I've been reading this thread since it started and wasn't going to add anything until some comments I saw today.

I agree with Patrick that a lot of people take things on here WAY too seriously. I don't condone being flat out rude (calling people stupid or idiots) but I do think that words and opinions can be taken far out of context mainly because we aren't face to face. If you don't like what someone's opinion or advice is on a thread (you started or someone else started) you should just IGNORE them in the first place.

Unfortunatly some people on here take things very personally (when they shouldn't because most of us don't know each other personally) and they themselves attack people just for disagreeing with their point of view.

Now I find it very hypocritical and unfair of someone to say they visit other negative boards and carry that negativity to this site. Additionally, when I used a comment similar to "Again, not to cause trouble but since you keep addressing me... and I'm not trying to stir anything up..."
I was accused of tying to start an argument. Apparently this person has a different set of rules for themself. Unlike this poster, I have chosen to entirely ignore this person and their comments which would be good advice for them to adopt.

I know you are all trying to be nice (and that's good), but would someone please tell me who these ill-intentioned southern bells/clique members are? It is driving me bonkers that I don't know who you are talking about!!!

Let it go lenleigh. I have responded to you since our "dispute" and thought we had moved on. Can we not call a truce?

I've stayed out of this one for a while, but I feel that I want to respond to comments about a "clique". Other posters have pointed out on this thread that there is no clique or group that excludes or ignores anyone, and I would like to reinforce that. There is a group that tends to chat about their personal lives or feelings, and some of that may not be travel-related. I will often chime in on some of those threads. The response is always warm and welcoming. Announcements about get-togethers are made for the benefit of anyone who is able to participate. What has struck me during the recent siege of Florida hurricanes was the concern and kindness shown by so many Fodorites towards each other. People were looking out for each other in a variety of ways, hoping people would check in and let us know they were OK, etc. I've been so impressed with everyone here. I feel badly when people are misunderstood or insulted, or perceive that they are misunderstood or insulted. Sure, there are some rude folks around. That happens everywhere. You don't have to take them seriously - they're just rude folks. I have a tendency to pick at typos or grammatical errors in other people's posts and have been (quite rightly) taken to task the odd time about it. As a result I try to keep my virtual mouth shut, although not always successfully. But there is so much good feeling here - let's not overlook it.

What's up with the attacks on Southerners?

Talk about attitude...

All I want to say is that there are just as many awful nasty Yankees on this board as there are awful nasty Southerners.

Whomever called us the United States of America wasn't posting on fodors. There are so many whiney nuts here. Jeez.

Ya'll done gots to getalife.

I agree. There are posters from the South who are downright mean - at every opportunity. And then, they'll drip some molasses and say somthing sweet and think that will get them off the hook. Doesn't work - and I wish they would stop.

Should we create a standard response to bullies, or know-it-alls, or fake Southerners to use when someone starts getting out of line?

Maybe for the Southerner, something along the lines of -Well, bless yourself, darlin'

Gawd, I must really be a geek. Not only am I not one of the southern folks/clique but I can't figure out who is!!!

How and why did this turn into an attack against Southerners?? There are rude people EVERYWHERE, it doesn't matter where you are from, this is childish.

I'm sorry. I refuse to be misquoted as you make your point snowrooster.

My statement was, again this is a cut and paste from the original, "I'd be embarrassed I suppose" rather than, "the original poster should be embarrassed" as you said. There is one heck of a lot of difference in the phrasing. NOR did I say he was unethical, as you stated, I said, cut and paste again, "Is it ethica?. Absolutely not". And I even cut and pasted my typo in here. I am not saying he's an unethical person. I asked if that use of the promotion is ethical. I am not attacking the person.

If you want to quote me, please go back to the thread. What you've written I said, and what I actually said, are two entirely different things.

NOW...can we leave this or would you like to continue along this vein. I hate controversy. Hate it. It does nothing for me but raise my blood pressure. I do NOT thrive on disagreement as you said you do. This is crazy!

OO, I would just ignore this person (trust me it will never end). Keep your blood pressure down!

OO - I certainly felt from your posts that you believed and were implying the original poster in the credit card thread was unethical and should be embarassed by his/her actions. If you did not feel this way and I misinterpretted your words, I stand corrected.

You need help? Well, here I am!
Me, with my snooty Northern CA Wine Country Altitude-I mean 'tude,dudes and dudettes...
Everyone knows us all to be
pretencious
(ncgirl, would you check my spelling??)
Pinot Noir sniffing snobs...
I'm with Tandoori-it's 5 o'clock somewhere...
R5

Sognatrice, aren't you glad we've managed to keep our heads above the fray? I'm trying to be positive just as you advised, even though it is hard for me to be positive with this darned tree still leaning against my house.

Here's to many more happy returns

Geez, lenleigh. I just asked if you could let it go. I am so trying to be civil to you. Can you not just drop the attacks on me?

Tadoori Girl-

You little !

RD, that's really brave of you to enter the arena two sheets to the wind. You won't even know what hit you...