Looking at the thread/rant which inspired SpeedBuggy's post here: does anyone else find it funny that the ranter didn't even bother to answer the OP's question (what's the best month to visit Alaska) on that thread? Nary a word from ranter about that, just a bunch of unrequested info on an itinerary. I think some people should try to give relevant advice, rather than just attempt to show how much of an "expert" they are while ranting at others.

As far as I'm concerned, SpeedBuggy was more helpful in answering the OP's real question than the ranter was.

If you have experiences to share, by all means do so!! Welcome to Fodorville. Dave

Regarding the Mooseley threads. I agree that a couple of the threads got a little too much "stream of conciousness" but perhaps a kinder/gentler approach would have worked as well? JAGIRL and I got our hands slapped for hijacking a thread to play with colors and fonts. It was a well-deserved slap and we took it like adults. "Mature" adults (in a self professed non-clique) on this thread often digress into silliness on a regular basis and I've not seen the ganging up that Mooseley got. I was told in no uncertain terms last week that someone thinks I post too much. I'm sure I've irritated more than a few Fodorites - and the reverse is true as well :-). I don't know. I do know that I've enjoyed Moosely's previous posts and I think, because she is a college student, she got ganged up on. I hope she continues to post.

"I've not seen the ganging up that Mooseley got" You've got to be kidding me!

And the idea that Mooseley was "ganged" up upon because she was a college student is absurd. There are lots of college students on this board, who make valid points. Geez.

I scan read the posts when I got back last night. That was the gist I got. I'll reread again later to see if I got the wrong impression.

I think the true travel experts are less and less on Fodors all the time. Of course that's not anything but my opinion. You are fine, SpeedBuggy.

happytrails, I think you have coined the best phrase I've heard since the turn of the century. cyberbullies

That's exactly percise phrasing.

Actually, some of the newest posters do make me bonkers. And not the constant posters as much, but the ones who come here ask a good OP question and ASK for an opinion and then when it isn't what they want to hear (and damn don't give them specific details that don't fit into their concept or are physically impossible)- then they bully and disdain.

And rudely too. I could give several prime examples but I won't. Yes, you can not be sensitive here.

...doesn't that sound like a good name for a movie/book Thriller?


"THE MOOSELEY THREADS"

Actually, the full screen name is kinda cute IMO.

SpeedBuggy, so I guess you now realize the overwhelming vote is to 'hang in' with us. Add mine.

All you can do is the best you can, be well intentioned, admit mistakes and hopefull enjoy sharing!

Anything that goes unappreciated due to difference of opinion, should just lie there, IMHO. It happens from time to time and will continue, I'm sure.

When it does, just take a deep breath and move on. At least, that's what I try to do.

With all due respect, Starrsville, reading just that thread, which by the way has been pulled, doesn't give you the full story. There were actually several threads that led up to that situation.

I do very much regret some of what I said to Moosely. But I stand by my contention that she got carried away with posting about things with which she had no experience. And in a way that offended people or gave misinformation. I think we all know that the surest way to rile mothers is for someone who isn't a parent to give parenting advice!

However, as a result of this post, I clicked on her name and read back through most of her posts. I was impressed with the quality of her advice on many of the PNW threads. Having not been fortunate enough to visit that part of the country, I don't often read those posts.

Had Moosely stayed with what she knows (and I'm ashamed to say that her body of knowledge is definitely greater than I gave her credit for yesterday), and limited her opinions to the fun threads, I seriously doubt that this whole bruhaha would have occurred.

I really did start out, on the Boston at New Year thread, trying to gently steer her away from annoying people. I went overboard yesterday. And I truly apologize to everyone who was offended by that. I'd like to think that I've learned something from this experience!

What a nice post CAPH. I scan read the post VERY late last night and had absolutely no recollection of who even had posted on it. But, the impression I got was "Wow! She's getting a lot of grief". I was not online for a couple of days so I missed the buildup. But, PRIOR to Wed. I had really enjoyed Moosely's posts. What I DID read, I agree that she was "talking too much" - treating this more like a chat room than travel forum. I guess I just read the climax, so to speak and missed all that preceded it. Because I wasn't "here" to read it all, I tried to make clear that what I wrote was just my impression - and it could be very, very wrong. I do hope she posts again. I liked Moosely's "energy" - at least before things went south, so to speak.

:)>- , ((L)) and 8-)

I think here it gets crazy here after some sort of tragedy. After Katrina, this place was a bit nuts. And I think people have been upset by the recent news in the UK, and that's affecting the tone here. (And, to some people, the re-election of Bush was a tragedy, and the boards were very vocal, in an over-the-top type of way, back then, too!)

I do think that there are a minority of people who do think that being a long-time poster gives certain people a more important opinion. I saw it somewhere in the craziness y-day where someone warned someone that a long time poster told them do something, and they were best to heed those words. That seemed odd to me - how would someone new know how long others have been here? To me that's the job of a moderator, and there aren't any here ("officially").

I seem to get taken aback by what exactly sets some people off. Some people (including me) will post strong opinions, with not a ripple, and then someone says something that seems pretty innocuous to me, and then gets dragged all over the carpet for it. Even as someone whose been here a bit, I can't figure out sometimes what will set people off and what won't.

So don't worry about, SpeedBuggy. There's room here for everyone. Just because someone's new doesn't mean they don't have valuable info/experiences to share. And the school of life can give people a pretty great education!

it's just like road rage. only here, you're behind a computer instead of the wheel of a car.

peace

JJ5,

Sorry but I can't take credit for "cyberbully." I read an article in the New York Times that included the word, and I, too, thought it was apt. When I googled "cyberbully," I got 19,500 results!

HTTY

CAPH: I have no idea what post you are referring to ( and, not meaning to hurt your feelings, don't care to find it), but I really respect you for apologizing when you feel you've wronged someone.((F))

Thanks, starrsville and OSB!

"I think that most of you unpatriotic terrorist sympathizers should be banned from posting on this website."

...perfect example. See what I meant earlier SpeedBuggy?

No matter where I've gone, I know there's someone around here who is much more of an expert on that place than I am. I tend to run a pretty wide gamut with my trips, while some others really fall for a place - or maybe even live there - and have had a number of different experiences.

A lot of times though, when I'm *asking* for advice, I appreciate the views of someone who just went for the first time, as much as I do a repeat visitor. Why? Because their perspective is closest to what I'm about to experience. Once you go someplace many times, it may be that you forget those little differences that would surprise a first timer.

As long as people are posting what they know first hand, I find it useful.

"I appreciate the views of someone who just went for the first time, as much as I do a repeat visitor. Why? Because their perspective is closest to what I'm about to experience"

Although I hadn't really thought about it before, that's a really good point, Clifton!