Nimrod

Thank you Nikki.

LoveItaly

Hello CAPH, well I didn't see the other post so thought it was directed to me. I guess it wasn't. Thank you dear one for your explination as I was truly trying to help that poster. Take good care, I know this has been a trying time for you and your family. I send all of you my best wishes and hugs.

LoveItaly

Hello again CAPH, went back to that other post...I did not see the MS post originally...I don't know why. But know I do understand what you were saying to me. Thanks again!

francophile03

It would be more helpful if the requesters read at least one guidebook to get information first. And then ask specific questions here. How can anyone expect someone else to plan their trip for them without knowing what things they like to do and see, whether or not they want to stay in 1* to 5* deluxe hotels or apartments, etc.

socialworker

Yes, francophile, that is exactly what I meant when I referred to a "modicum of effort"--(which seemed to amuse gyppielou , but honestly, I do use that expression often in many contexts.)

Cali

You both said it better than I could, Nikki and Clifton. I try to answer questions that I know something about and I enjoy everyone elses replies to questions which help me in my future travel planning. Most people on this forum are very nice and accomodating. Thank you all!!

mrkindallas

My two cents:

Although a question I post may be quite general and sound like I haven't done any research, I prefer to post my question in a way that doesn't limit the responses. If I restrict my interest to budget accomodations, then I completely miss out on having someone recommend someplace that I might look into and decide to splurge on. For instance, if I was looking for budget accomodations at Disney World, I would probably be referred to somewhere off Disney property. When I was planning my Disney trip, I left my options open (although saving money was important) and learned about the benefits of staying on property and made it my goal to find a more affordable way to stay on property -- and was thankful I did.

If I don't set the limits in my post, then I would be open to all types of recommendations from others. Just tell me what worked for them and what DIDN'T work for them. Since I am new to Fodor's (and didn't know about this great forum before), some of my favorite places that I have seen were found only because I happened to come across something somewhere that recommended it although it wasn't in any of the travel books I read - and I wasn't specifically looking for it. Invariably, I only came across that by accident, going several pages in depth into a Google search, running random Google searches that just happened to pull up interesting links, or clicking on a random link on some website...spending a LOT of time (not that I regret it). In fact, I've been known to spend all my free time for 2 weeks creating an itinerary for a trip that wouldn't last nearly as long...simply because it takes so much time to learn about the destination, the distances between here and there, the weather, the available accomodations, the local activities and attractions (before even narrowing them down), etc. There is so much information available that it takes time to filter through. In fact, even after spending tons of time on planning trips, now that I know about this board, I wonder how much I missed that Fodorites recommend to travelers going to places I've already been?

Some people don't have quite as much time to become so knowledgable about a place -- or sometimes you can tell that their research is sending them down the wrong path. Whatever the reason behind their question posted here, it doesn't really matter as long as SOMEONE is able to help...and NOBODY is EVER obligated to respond to ANY post in my opinion...so skip it if you don't like it.

I don't think that I have ever read a post where someone specifically asked someone to plan their entire trip for them. I think that some Fodorites (myself included) often go a little overboard in the amount of advice they provide and actually go through the effort of thinking through a possible itinerary or doing a lot of research and posting thoughts -- and perhaps seeing such a response may cause one to think that was what the OP asked for when it was really just the respondent who went out of his/her way to be helpful.

But that's what makes this board so great!! Where else does a traveler have such easy access to people with such a large amount of knowledge about a particular region? Where else can one ask such a general question and get so lucky as to have someone actually put so much trouble into typing such a complete response?

In return for asking questions that I have, I make sure that I try to answer questions that other post where I can be the most helpful. I personally give as much information as possible about the places that I've been and have done extensive research on. It's not a direct repayment to the person who helped me, but it furthers the community feeling of the board.

And even if the OP decides that nothing I posted is going to be useful for him/her, then I believe that somebody at some point will probably find it useful. In looking for useful old posts on this board, I find that the most useful are those that started out as a general question and had very helpful Fodorites reply with lots of information. Without those posts, what would we have? A bunch of very specific questions that could come across as somewhat snobbish to the newbie and would only have responses helpful to the OP -- rather than responses useful to many others planning a similar trip in the future.

I'll agree that there are some questions that people don't ask in a way that gets across what they really meant to ask or where it's obvious that the OP doesn't have a clue about the place they plan to visit, but I tend to just pass right by any posts that are too annoying for me...there's no need to complain about them...or make the OP feel unwelcome.

karens

What's refreshing about the latter posts to this thread is that not everyone agrees with the idea that posts must be a "certain" way (or that it's annoying if they aren't).

I don't think that always comes across here.

Wednesday

I like it when someone asks what the weather has been like in the city where I live, then wants to argue about it...

suze

My pet peeves run more to people who post in a negative way... "How rude are waiters in Paris?"

Also when someone posts a topic, gets a series of responses from informed Fodors posters all in agreement with each other, & the OP argues why their (false) impression surely is correct and all of our answers wrong.

shaz60

I have received lots of help on this forum and hopefully have provided some. The thing that irritates me about the responders is when they do everything possible to discourage OPs from their destination. "It's cold/hot" "It's expensive" "It's subject to hurricanes, tornadoes, mosquitoes, etc." "There's not much to do". Jeez, you want people to research a destination and when they do you do everything possible to discourage them from going there.

Patrick

shaz, maybe you're talking about something different from what I see, but I'm well aware of a lot of posters who say something like "should I go to Florida in August" or "planning on a beach week at South Beach in September". Let's face it, it would be unfair for people NOT to let them know that all those things you mentioned are potential problems. I don't think anyone is necessarily talking them out of the trip, but as a poster I'd sure like to be aware of the concerns like weather or bugs if they are likely to be a problem. Also I think more often than not the poster has actually asked about the potential problems.

karens

I've warned people about the heat in the Southwest. I wouldn't if someone said they are definitely going, or could only go at a certain time and their plans are all set. I don't think some people realize just how miserable and uncomfortable a summer in humid Orlando or 105 temps in Las Vegas can be.

Scarlett

Actually, having been to both places, I would prefer Las Vegas in the summer . That is when the meaning of Dry Heat really sinks in.

Underhill

While we're talking about constructive criticism, I think it would be very nice if more people would say thanks for the excellent advice they get at no charge. It's amazing how many don't--or don't even say please when asking for assistance.

socialworker

Yes, Underhill, I know that topic has been covered before and there are different points of view, but I agree w/you about saying thank you or *at least* updating people on how the query was resolved.... That was why I began this thread in the first place. This forum consists of people helping and exchanging information w/other people. IMO, all should remain cognizant of *how* they ask for assistance and how they reply to it. I am not talking about anything beyond using common sense and common courtesy in the way one asks others for their help.

tovarich

I remember having seen a movie about American tourists on a tourbus in Europe with the title"If it's Wednesday then this must be Belgium." illustrating that some people just dont want to bother with planning their trip or holidays. I personnally find it wonderful.Working with maps and guides,sending mails to the different tourist organisations...Paul

A_Traveller

Actually the title of the movie was "If it's Tuesday, this must be Belgium". It was a very funny movie in it's day.

fiona

I have been told by somone in the Europe forum that I should post this helpful link for using the forums
http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting.php

cd

How funny!!!! And oh so appropriate.