I don't know how learning starts, but a questioner will get better answers here if he/she will simply <i>turn on the light</i> with more info. ((*))

My favorites are the one-shot wonders who appear out of nowhere with a totally nontravel related question that generates lots of responses, and then never show up again!

Two examples off the top of my head:

Best man toasts
How to get my coop deposit back

Things that make you go &quot;huh?&quot;

Nah, aileen, the &quot;inexpensive&quot; food question never bothers me. It makes me think of my mother- a wonderful woman, but that's her first concern eating out on vacation. And if anyone had only recced McD or BK- by golly, that's all I would have eaten, and we would have missed some truly wonderful experiences! My family will eat just about anything on vaca- as long as it's good and mom doesn't have to cook it.

Maybe a ride....LOL! But then again, what my hometown is really known for right now- wine tasting- an activity that I truly don't understand. Even wierder than foodies, yet I meet folks from all over who come for the wine. Cool, but I wish they came for something else- a lot more things to do than wine. So, to me, &quot;not touristy&quot; means &quot;off the beaten path&quot;- and I think &quot;oooh, the tourist has finally developed a brain!&quot; :)

And also- some of you get awfully upset over &quot;stupidity&quot;. Chill. There's always morons in the world- I've found the best way to deal idiots is to ignore them- not react. But then, I spend too much of my time around high schoolers, and I lurk also in fandom (for entertainment). So the lowest of the low at fodors- STILL a welcome dose of sanity!

ooh...JJ5! Forgot!

&quot;It IS a dart thrown in the dark.

So is political freedom, tolerance to difference, inclusiveness, empowerment for the lowly, or...&quot;

A new favorite quote! Thanks....and so true, too.

Sounds like a lot of you need to chill.

Exactly!

As a &quot;long time poster&quot;, I answer questions that interest me, that I happen to know about. Sometimes the very vague ones are the most fun and I am more likely to have something to contribute than a very specific inquiry.

SAB- The beauty of Fodor's forum is, as you've discovered, don't like a question, don't answer it. Problem solved.

OK- I will agree and as was mentioned early on on this thread... I am puzzled when people say &quot;I'm coming to Seattle (LA, Rome, Amsterdam), what's there to do there?&quot;

Why would anyone buy a plane ticket to a place having no idea what they wanted to do? That does seem strange. And stranger still that they would admit it here without thinking it an odd question.

suze- I don't think most really mean &quot;I bought a plane ticket for a popular destination and I have no idea what there is to do there&quot; when they ask what is there to do. I think it's usaully just a poor choice of words. What they really mean- What attractions do locals/frequent visitors really enjoy, and what will be a disappointtment/waste of time? 'Cause, you know, the fodorites are, like, mind readers! (Since this forum is for opinions, rather than a one sided guide book) :)

But are we not constrained to respond to the words we are given rather than the ones we suppose were intended?

Well, yes- and the OP's poor phrasing leads to most of the misunderstandings:)

I agree with Suze. Why would someone buy a plane ticket, without researching? Unless you were flying somewhere already on business or to see family, and wanted to explore further.

I know ttt, DH etc. But, now, what is an OP? I assume P is for post or poster. Right? How about the O?

I should of said &quot;without researching the area&quot;. :-)

OP is Original Poster. :-)

I have always thought that some of those general questions were from would-be journalists trying to get an article together to sell without actually visiting that area. We are all probably quoted in some way for free.

What irritates me is after I and other travelers give our many painfully perfect thoughts and advice, the poster cheerily decides to &quot;get more information&quot;. This can go on for days. I am saying to my computer &quot;stop dithering and get on the road!&quot; I think I actually wrote that one time.

I know I have quit even looking at many questions. Moreover, there are many questions about places I know fairly well, like Yellowstone, that I honestly don't know how to respond.

Then, there are several questions I sometimes respond to somewhat acidly just to exercise my ornery disposition. Questions like: &quot;I want to go to Canada. What should I see?&quot; usually stimulate that aspect of my personality.

Questions like &quot;What is the best xxx in yyy?&quot; Are best ignored. None of us as a general rule have visited place yyy enough to know which one of several places of the xxx variety is the best.
It is a personal choice anyhow.

Oh, yes. Questions like &quot;Canada&quot; also bring out my ornery disposition. What is there to do in the PNW? is almost as annoying.

I have not yet figured out the mystery of ttt?

ttt is To The Top. :-)

Suze -- I was as I have now stated a number of times just expressing a frustration and seeking to determine if other felt the same way, which apparently numerous other posters do as witnessed by the responses. I do not expect anyone to provide a &quot;solution&quot; to my frustration. So, thank you but I was not seeking advice.