Lack of courtesy on this site!!
 

I wonder what has happened with this site and the people who post responses?!? I have used this site for several years for help with travel on 5 different continents and have helped many others with what I hope are thoughtful responses to their questions. Over the past year or so it seems that more and more of the people responding to postings here are lashing out at the person posting, insulting them, demeaning their needs or in other ways slamming people who are doing nothing more than looking for information. <BR> <BR>As an example, I asked a question regarding parking alternatives at a regional airport that I've never used before and got an anonymous response (I do despise those who feel this is a forum akin to a bathroom stall--anything goes!) complaining that I was just a cheap skate (not the exact terms) and complained that he pays $25 or more a day to park in NYC--nothing in the response vaguely connected to my question. . I didn't need the insult, was certainly not asking an inflammatory question and remain amazed that some people see their behaviour as appropriate or acceptable for this site. <BR> <BR>I just wonder whatever happened to "common" courtesy?

I guess in this crazy world there are unhappy people and this is yet another place that some people feel the need to express that unhappiness.I too have have my feelings hurt, but some(MOST)posters have been quite helpful and kind.When I first found this site I decided you just had to be tough-skinned. Kind of sad until you put the number of posts in perspective.They really are the minority!

I think I lost my original post - If I duplicate it, please bear with me. <BR> <BR>I am one who uses my real name and now, probably one of the few. I think you make a good point Randy - this is a travel forum - its intent is to assist others with travel plans, tips and in general, make their holidays more enjoyable. I truly object to the "country bashing" that has become so prevalent on this site and others (ie, Lonely Planet). <BR> <BR>It would be great if this forum got back to what it was intended to do - inform! <BR> <BR>Thanks for a great post.

To all, <BR>I agree with you Randy. I've been looking at this site the past few months seeking advice on my upcoming honeymoon. I am trying to make this vacation a once in a lifetime experience for both me and my beloved fiance. I can judged on my own ones advice on a topic. Please people don't bash someone for what you may question, instead offer the person your best own knowledge or refrain from any comments. <BR>Be kind all and enjoy life! David&Lara

I could not agree more with Randy. Demeaning our President is especially crude. This is a travel site, I too, have voiced my opinion on some of the topics that some posters seem to delight in. Nothing else to do, I guess. I am hoping this site will be only a travel site - for people who are genuinely interested in answers to their questions. It is important to those who have no knowledge of a place to have first-hand information from travellers who can advise. Great topic.

Randy, <BR>Unfortunately this site does have it's share of trolls. I simply don't respond to them. They take pleasure in stirring up trouble and debating back and forth does nothing other then dilute the purpose of this site. <BR> <BR>I was recently called a knucklehead and an idiot regarding a very benign response I had made. About five minutes later a second post, under a different name, appeared agreeing with this comment. Not hard to figure out it was the same person. <BR> <BR>It's sometimes frustrating to seed through this, but it's still a good site and I get too much good information here from legitimate travelers to let the others chase me away. I hope the real traveler hang in there!

Randy, I agree with you! I used to use this site religiously and gave out my real email address until I started getting snide, crude and rude comments and emails. Some of the blame goes to Fodors for not monitoring their message boards. There ARE ways of getting rid of the abusers. I used to forward the rude emails to Fodors and ask for their help, but they don't care. It really doesn't take a tremendous amount of effort to monitor this forum. Sooner or later they will relaize the loss of traffic to their site.

"Demeaning our president?" You mean that corporate-sponsored appointee who stole the election from the guy who had the most votes? Maybe you'd be more comfortable in a country like China where dissidents are mowed down by tanks, hmmmmm? Yeah, that's your secret fantasy isn't it? <BR> <BR>Quit whining and get some lives you people! My God, are your skins so thin or your lives so empty that you actually have to whine when some anonymous poster hurts your tender feelings on a travel board? Or God forbid, posts something with which YOU disagree!!!! Puhleeeeezzzze! Glean what you like, ignore what you don't, it ain't brain surgery. <BR> <BR>You can't control other people, only yourselves. Deal with it and stop the pathetic whining.

Correction -- the man who won fair and square, and I agree, that this is a travel site, and i wish fodor's would make people use their real names because it would abolish all of these political things -- and these snot-nosed Sore Losermans who have nothing better to do.

He didn't win jack-you-know what. The man who is the Resident squating in the white house LOST the vote by over 530,000 people. You don't think 530,000 people are much? Well why not invite them into your living room and see. He also LOST the vote count in Florida....check out this weeks papers in Florida such as the Orlando Sentinel and Miami Herald to verify that. Dumbya was *selected* by just one vote...on the Supreme Court which told American citizens their votes don't matter. In 2004 US citizens won't even vote.....the Supreme Court will just tell us who our dictator will be for the next 4 years.

<BR> <BR>...sigh...he we go again. Just to make it minimally interesting, let's wager on the results: I bet $10 the number of trite, mindless pseudo-political responses reaches 26 before this post descends to the next-fifty list. Plus or minus 3 responses.

To Janet, who posts to complain about OTHER people commenting on the election, yet feels SHE, of course, has a perfect right to do so herself, and if fact started it up again on this very thread; and who chimed in here to complain about lack of courtesy while hurling names (snot nosed) at those with whom she disagrees -- your outrageous hypocrisy is hysterical! No wonder you voted for Dumbya. You two deserve each other.

Sorry Dnorrie if I offended you the other day....I too have my real e-mail address and delight in helping people out and in return have had many kind replies to my questions. In the four years plus I've used this board I find most people are pretty helpful.Perhaps this board should have a "sign-in" policy as other boards do, i.e. he cruise boards.

As was said above, the trolls are just looking for attention. Never respond, and continue the adult conversation as if they were not there. There is nothing that you can ever say to them that won't reinforce them. What stops them is being ignored. <BR> <BR>

Hi Parrot - Don't worry, you didn't offend me by any means. I think the point you made was legit and a fair warning to others. What I was referring to was stupid posts that are only there to bash, bash, bash. Trolls for sure and just wanting to get a response. I don't respond to those but to fair questions such as yours I do. Have fun on your cruise!

Randy-I agree with you. Part of the problem is Fodor's does not properly monitor this site. I have heard Fodor's bases its ad revenues on how many hits this site gets. The more hits the more they can charge people to advertise here. <BR> <BR>Secondly-Fodors needs some type of registration system. I am a member of IVillage, and they have a registration system and no problems. If someone gets out of line in a thread, it is promptly deleted. <BR> <BR>Thirdly-because Fodor's looks the other way and doesn't delete non-travel related threads, ie the election, politics etc. Trolls have squatted here and have become very annoying. Just look at how the thread has turned into political bashing again. <BR> <BR>Maybe if enough of us emailed Fodors directly we could change things: <BR> <BR>[email protected] <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

These types of complaint threads pop up every few months or so, along with the pro registration argument. Fodor's has no doubt seen it all and heard it all before. The one time they DID change this board and subdivide the categories, because everyone was screeching about irrelevant posts, the place erupted in a near riot! Fodor's was then bombarded with posts demanding that the board be returned to its old format. <BR> <BR>They know that the posters here are just like whiny little kids -- they can get what they ask for and still be whiny, so Fodor's doesn't bother any more. Who can blame them? <BR> <BR>BTW, I brought up the last pro registration post, just so the newest complainers can read the posts of the older complainers.

You know, I see lots of good information given out on this site. And I also see lots of friendly people. Yep, there are a few jerks. What's the problem?