Neil

It has been a week now, it is time to move on and start talking about travel again. If you want to talk about the bombings there are a number of other message boards and chat lines for you- this is a travel site.

If this upcoming war is going to last 10 years or longer I can just see this board ruined by an analysis of each bombing or loss of life until the year 2011. Sure the war is something people will want to talk about, but is this site the place for it?

In the meantime when can be go back to some period of renewel?

I look forward to the days people will ask again about such routine topics as:

What is the best casino in Las Vegas
What city is nicer Toronto or Montreal
Is it really that cold in Minnesota in March?

Come on people, this is a travel site, not a political site!!

L

Really, Neil ... isn't that a bit strong given the circumstances? I imagine we'll continue to dicuss what matters, and what is affecting travel like nothing we've ever seen, as long as it seems relevant to do so. The interesting thing about people is they know when to turn it on and off, and we will do so when it seems appropriate. Until then, no single person can tell anyone what to feel or what to post. I'd suggest a lighter approach might be in order. Just an idea. Have a good day. Ciao

givemeabreak

Oh for crying out loud! Maybe a week is a long time to you, but here in New York we still have to look up at the sky and watch the smoke rise. Right now nobody gives a sh*t if they still wear capri pants in New Orleans in October. People come to this board to talk about travel and since

givemeabreak

sorry hit "post" too soon. What I mean to say is that NY is a major US travel destination and some of us aren't ready to "move on". Right now we're just trying to carry on. I have a co-worker who's mourning her mother today. My husband can't sleep at night because he closes his eyes and sees the people jumping to their deaths. People on this board are supposed to be a community of friends and we all need encouragement from where ever we can find it. I realize that this is not strictly the forum but I can't believe that there's no room for exceptions in a case like this. Have some compassion.

al

Neil, come on! 6,000+ people lie dead in the Trade Center ruins, the country is going to war, and the weapon of mass destruction was everyones main means of holiday travel. How can we move on when we don't even know what the US response will be? You can't blame people for being scared and for wondering what lies ahead. It's some pretty serious stuff. We're all trying to put our best foot forward but right now it's very hard to do. Some very awful stuff could go down and I'd suggest concentrating on keeping yourself and your family safe and out of harms way to extent possible. If we all pay attention to our surroundings at all times and do what we're supposed to do we'll all be bitching back and forth about travel and who-knows-what else before you know it. But for right now, the best casino in Vegas just doesn't really matter.

OliveOyl

Neil, Haven't you noticed? Gradually we are returning to normalcy. There are more and more travel posts, and fewer posts on the tragedy.

It's impossible to just click it off. It takes a while to work this out of our systems, and it'll never be completely "out", over and done with. We were all in shock but we are beginning to move forward. You just can't put a time limit on these things..."it's been a week now". Have patience. It'll happen gradually and happen within everyone's individual time frame.

If we were back in school and taking a soc course today, I'm sure we'd find that there is a different type of community to study, the internet community. Many of us "know" each other, and there is a need to discuss these horrors with those we have considered to be our friends and neighbors, just as there is in any other community.

Now....anyone want my opinion on Gatlinburg yet?

D.J.

Neil you are the only one who is thinking straight. Oh,I've seen you regulars around before-L,Al, Olive Oyl, you're all a bunch of vultures just waiting to attack. I'm still waiting for the rest of the gang to show up here and don't worry they wont let you down.It's not normal or healthy for people to go on grieving 24hrs a day- ecspecially people who were not directly affected. We do feel for you, but enough of your selfishness, stop trying to drag the rest of us down with you.

Robin

Because of chaos and limited communications, some stories are just coming out. Less than an hour ago I heard the harrowing tale of a man in my office who was in NY on business, and looked up to see the first plane hit, as well as all of the subsequent horror. As we continue to hear from friends and acquaintances it helps to talk to others.

As I said on another thread, I think this is entirely relevant to travel. Of course interest will decline in these topics over time, but it will take longer than a week.

al

ME, a regular???

I'm not grieving 24 hours a day, but I'm not ready to go out dancing either. New York is, after all, my home. But I realize that we're all different and if none of this concerns you, more power to you.

L

DJ, in my former life I'd have suggested you ... well, that was before. But the vulture reference was a bit ... well, let it go, I'm not much of a limb sitter anyway. Now, was there another issue you raised? Rather than make myself reread it, I think I'll just let it go at that. Oh, and by the way, if you come to DC, be sure to ask me for some recommendations. I can see you at the Hotel Harrington, for example, and that's just for starters. Oh,, I've got some choice ideas for you. Just think of me as DC's internet welcome wagon. Until then, ciao

RB

Neil: If you want to talk about travel, please post away. And if you don't want to read non-travel posts, don't read them. Simple as that. Frankly, I post here to be of help. And if that's talking about southwest US/southern US, then so be it. And if it's sharing heart with those who are trying to make sense out of a senseless act, then so be it. Peace.

OliveOyl

The point you are missing, DJ, is that every single one of us has been directly affected in some way or another.

Some of us lost friends or relatives, or know someone who did. The rest of us grieve for the families that have been torn apart, whether or not we knew them. How can you not? Don't the good-bye phone calls between husbands and wives horrify you still? What about the child, who, when told that her Daddy is now in heaven, asks Mom if she can call him on his cell phone? Even the K9 unit PAPD employee, who broke down at the thought of his 4 year old lab, waiting for him in his kennel in the basement of the north tower. How can you turn your back and go on with life as usual?

The entire country lost its sense of security. Tens of thousands of people lost their jobs this week alone as a result of Tuesday's act of terrorism. Our economy, teetering on the brink of a recession if not already in one, could now very conceivably slip over the edge because of the economic impact of the terrorist acts...and more jobs will be lost, maybe..gasp...even yours. Millions, billions, were lost in the market yesterday and the outlook is bleak for a recovery in the near future. What does that mean for the retired or those nearing retirement, who can't wait this out...maybe even your parents?

This is hardly 24 hour grieving, DJ, and it is easing. Please take a look at today's threads. I've answered several with strictly travel advice. Have you? I hardly think it is us being selfish, but you.

And Leone...such restraint! What IS this world coming to? gt;

ARegularVulture

OO-Well put!

Neil-How dare you tell us what to post here!!! You are not employed by Fodor's and have ABSOLUTELY NO RIGHT!! Last I checked America still has freedom of speech and thought!

DJ-Better to be a vulture than a souless creature like you.

curious

As a regular here who has offered and received plenty of travel advice, I don't feel that I've imposed too much on the Fodor's community by venting about the attack. Cut us some slack and allow us that courtesy. I realize that although we often disagree, most of us are caring and insightful people who can offer more than travel advice, particularly now when so many need it. We will all discuss travel again and many are already discussing it, but for the time being, would it really be asking too much of people to put up with this non-travel stuff? I don't think so. So Neil and D.J., just ignore any threads not dealing with travel and the people who post them. We wouldn't want to impose on you.

little me

Neil's getting his wish. Just look around for the missing threads. There were some interesting & poignant posts & it was worth reading thru the bickering. Lots of things I didn't know & things I'd never considered. How can we learn about each other & travel in America if we have to be politically correct 24/7 ?

D.J.

Thank You All-have just proved my point.

curious

What point would that be? that you are in the minority or that we are not selfish but rather that we (well most of us) care about each other? Or that none of us is trying to "drag the rest of us down with us", but quite the opposite. You obviously have difficulty with reading comprehension if you can't see this from the above posts. Hey, thanks D.J., I'm actually starting to feel a bit better. I haven't felt this feisty since before the attack! Thank you!

Texas

So Neil, talk travel, son.

Texas

Or is it more fun to be bossy?

Geeeeezzz

When I first read Neil's post, I didn't think he was asking everyone to "turn it off" like a light swtich. He's right that there are hundreds of web sites/forums that are specific to The Attack and it would be more appropriate for you to post there, not on a travel forum.

After all, this *IS* supposed to be a travel forum and Fodors *DID* put a reminder to that effect on the home page.

And DJ is right about the vultures. Too many times I've seen the same people "jump" at the chance to rag on somebody just because they read something in a slightly different way than in which it was intended.

And "givemeabreak": since when is this forum supposed to be "a community of friends"?? Maybe *YOU* have developed a community of friends but the majority of people to this site are strangers looking for travel advice. If your "community of friends" is so close, then why aren't you emailing each other directly??? Hmmmm....

If Fodors wanted this to be a forum for terrorist discussion and not a forum for travel, they wouldn't be deleting all the non-travel posts and putting a reminder on the home page about it.