Plese do not ask for a "great" hotel
Nov 25th, 2008, 02:33 PM
#41
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Spirobulldog, your key words are "without much research".....while this topic has been covered before, I believe that people should at least have done a little research before asking people to put forth the effort of helping them.
My flippant dismissal of the expression "must sees" is that to me it suggests a kind of trivializing of the whole experience, as if their trip is no more than a list on which you tick things off.....I realize it is a personal prejudice, but it is just a pet peeve. People can ask any way that suits them and others can respond, or not, to their liking. That is the great thing here! All is voluntary!
My flippant dismissal of the expression "must sees" is that to me it suggests a kind of trivializing of the whole experience, as if their trip is no more than a list on which you tick things off.....I realize it is a personal prejudice, but it is just a pet peeve. People can ask any way that suits them and others can respond, or not, to their liking. That is the great thing here! All is voluntary!
Nov 25th, 2008, 03:24 PM
#42
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Another pet peeve is "kids".
I hate when people say they are traveling with "kids" and what should they do, where should they eat?
People on this board are not mind readers. Do you have a 2 and 5 year old? Do you have a 13 year old boy and 16 year old girl? Do you have a boy scout troup with you? And kids have specific interests too.
Really, asking people to give info with no input is actually quite rude!
I hate when people say they are traveling with "kids" and what should they do, where should they eat?
People on this board are not mind readers. Do you have a 2 and 5 year old? Do you have a 13 year old boy and 16 year old girl? Do you have a boy scout troup with you? And kids have specific interests too.
Really, asking people to give info with no input is actually quite rude!
Nov 25th, 2008, 10:42 PM
#46
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I can't figure out a "great" way to say without sounding harsh but there is no ownership on this board. Everyone is free to ask any question they want.
Not everyone is an insider who goes to GTGs or even wants to. Some people ask questions that take some probing by responders but they usually get better over time. If you spent 15 minutes on another board then you obviously had 15 minutes to give...why feel frustrated just because you don't share the same definition of a word you identify as having no meaning?
I get that nytraveler said "please do not ask" which is nice but if you really feel that way then why not just decline to respond? All this energy towards modifying others behavior where there is no malice intended seems like a clique mentality to me.
Would you think this about your family members and friends who approached you for travel advice in a similar way or asked you this same question? I wouldn't.
And for the record, my intention is not to attack anyone. Rather I'm only saying everyone's different, that's life.
Not everyone is an insider who goes to GTGs or even wants to. Some people ask questions that take some probing by responders but they usually get better over time. If you spent 15 minutes on another board then you obviously had 15 minutes to give...why feel frustrated just because you don't share the same definition of a word you identify as having no meaning?
I get that nytraveler said "please do not ask" which is nice but if you really feel that way then why not just decline to respond? All this energy towards modifying others behavior where there is no malice intended seems like a clique mentality to me.
Would you think this about your family members and friends who approached you for travel advice in a similar way or asked you this same question? I wouldn't.
And for the record, my intention is not to attack anyone. Rather I'm only saying everyone's different, that's life.
Nov 26th, 2008, 02:56 AM
#47
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I'm with you parrothead!!! I was going to go back on some of these posts just to see how they asked a few of their first questions on here. I started with nytraveler. After 8500 posts I gave up and that was only 2 years worth. I can't figure out how to go back without constantly hitting previous page button. I agree with you, just don't answer if it bothers you that much.
Nov 26th, 2008, 03:05 AM
#48
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Sorry -
I see nothing wrong with telling people how to get better answers to their questions. And if all the people who are asaking for more information had it up front - it would make life esier for them - and more productive for the OPs/
And it;s not a clique. It's just a better way to do something.
Parrothead -
in your world you would never explain to someone what they're doing wrong to help them do it better - and things would never improve. You wold just ignore then, and they would miss a lot of useful information.
It seems to me that offering suggestions is better than ignoring ignorance.
I see nothing wrong with telling people how to get better answers to their questions. And if all the people who are asaking for more information had it up front - it would make life esier for them - and more productive for the OPs/
And it;s not a clique. It's just a better way to do something.
Parrothead -
in your world you would never explain to someone what they're doing wrong to help them do it better - and things would never improve. You wold just ignore then, and they would miss a lot of useful information.
It seems to me that offering suggestions is better than ignoring ignorance.
Nov 26th, 2008, 05:51 AM
#49
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Add me to the list (and I think it would be a long list) of people who think suggesting HOW to post is a great idea. Anyone who thinks it makes sense to let people ask questions the wrong way to get GOOD answers must have a problem with something, but I can't imagine what. Why isn't it always a good idea to help new posters by suggesting a better way to get good answers? I've seen some people here scold others because they dared to suggest to a new poster that they'd get better answers on the Europe board instead of the US board when asking about Paris. And others seem to be so overly sensitive that when asked "what price do you consider reasonable?" go off on a tagent about the asker being rude. Sorry, I just don't get it. If people want good responses to their questions, these are points which need to be made.
I have always welcomed suggestions on how to get better responses. And I can tell you now that my very first posts here were asking about Turkey. Although I was asking in the Asia Board, I welcomed responses to repost on the Europe Board. Sure enough -- that's where I got answers -- even though the bulk of our Turkey travel was in Asia.
I can't help but wonder if these complainers about "ownership of the board" are the same people who stand and watch people in amusement waiting for the "walk sign" to change without telling them there's a button to push to make it change? Do they enjoy watching people NOT know how to make something work to their own advantage? Does it upset them if others try to help them? Clearly it must, but I have no idea why.
I have always welcomed suggestions on how to get better responses. And I can tell you now that my very first posts here were asking about Turkey. Although I was asking in the Asia Board, I welcomed responses to repost on the Europe Board. Sure enough -- that's where I got answers -- even though the bulk of our Turkey travel was in Asia.
I can't help but wonder if these complainers about "ownership of the board" are the same people who stand and watch people in amusement waiting for the "walk sign" to change without telling them there's a button to push to make it change? Do they enjoy watching people NOT know how to make something work to their own advantage? Does it upset them if others try to help them? Clearly it must, but I have no idea why.
Nov 26th, 2008, 08:07 AM
#51
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Wrong forum?
monik, what forum would you have suggested? Most new posters, particularly looking for hotel advice don't go to the lounge. So this seems the perfect place to suggest how to ask about hotels (at least for US ones).
monik, what forum would you have suggested? Most new posters, particularly looking for hotel advice don't go to the lounge. So this seems the perfect place to suggest how to ask about hotels (at least for US ones).
Nov 26th, 2008, 09:49 AM
#56
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Monik -
Sorry that a type bothers you. Never said I was perfect.
And, no, this doesn't belong in the Lounge. People coming asking for hotel info don't usually go to the lounge.
I guess I could have put it in europe - but was in the US when I thought of it.
And if hotel info doesn't belong here - it doesn't belong anywhere.
Sorry that a type bothers you. Never said I was perfect.
And, no, this doesn't belong in the Lounge. People coming asking for hotel info don't usually go to the lounge.
I guess I could have put it in europe - but was in the US when I thought of it.
And if hotel info doesn't belong here - it doesn't belong anywhere.
Nov 26th, 2008, 10:01 AM
#57
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I'm not sure why the lounge (which is for non-travel related posts?) would be the right forum for this. I peruse, and post, here often, but I've yet to visit the lounge (well, maybe once, but I really wasn't interested).
Nov 26th, 2008, 10:14 AM
#58
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Yes, if you ask better questions you will get better answers, but there is no need to give a snarky answer to ANY well-meant question. If it's too broad to give a reasonable answer to, of course it's appropriate to ask the poster to narrow it down, but it's not an excuse to be mean. Yes, some people are not good at asking questions, or not familiar with the customary form, or forget that they have not included some very basic piece of information in the post, but they still deserve your courtesy. What happened to "If you can't say something nice..."?
I have occasionally seen things on these boards that have made me wonder if the posters should really be allowed out by themselves, but at least they did think to ask, and are not wandering around getting themselves into trouble. I think sometimes people use a board like this to start the research process, or the research they have done has not given them good answers (or the answers were valid-but they did not believe them since they fell outside of their normal experience-a lot of NYC advice could easily fall into this category).
Of course there are people who want six impossible things before breakfast (and have no clue that these things are in the realms of fantasy), but many rational people will sometimes not know if a thing is possible or not. Especially with budget considerations.
I have occasionally seen things on these boards that have made me wonder if the posters should really be allowed out by themselves, but at least they did think to ask, and are not wandering around getting themselves into trouble. I think sometimes people use a board like this to start the research process, or the research they have done has not given them good answers (or the answers were valid-but they did not believe them since they fell outside of their normal experience-a lot of NYC advice could easily fall into this category).
Of course there are people who want six impossible things before breakfast (and have no clue that these things are in the realms of fantasy), but many rational people will sometimes not know if a thing is possible or not. Especially with budget considerations.
Nov 26th, 2008, 10:48 AM
#59
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First, NY'ers unless they are in the travel business or wish to impress their paramours would know less about NYC hotels than a visitor. What I know about NY hotels is from business associates and friends and relatives I do not like well enough to put them up in our home.
Second, 90% of the visitors to NY from this board, want the tourist experience, rather than the NY'er view of NYC. Once again the NY'er view is not needed and a recent visitor has greater insight into expectations and needs.
Third, there is great repetition in the questions and answers. The people who do no or little research, do not even search this board for past topics on the exact same issue.
As my long gone grandfather used to say, "You can lead a horse to water, but a pencil must be lead."
Second, 90% of the visitors to NY from this board, want the tourist experience, rather than the NY'er view of NYC. Once again the NY'er view is not needed and a recent visitor has greater insight into expectations and needs.
Third, there is great repetition in the questions and answers. The people who do no or little research, do not even search this board for past topics on the exact same issue.
As my long gone grandfather used to say, "You can lead a horse to water, but a pencil must be lead."
Nov 26th, 2008, 05:17 PM
#60
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To me this seems like a conversation or complaint. It doesn't seem like a trip report or a question about any restaurant, hotel,etc. I didn't think the US Board would be a place to voice a complaint about the way people ask a question. If so, you might as well make this post ov every single board. I didn't know that people could just start making up the rules her on fodors. Yes, I will admit there are better ways to ask a question, but this takes time to learn. I don't think very many people would read this post before they asked for a Great Hotel. I don't really see how this post is going to lower the amount of that type of posting. It just sounded like someone complaining about the way some people begin a conversational post. If I don't like a post, I don't answer it, simple enough. There just isn't any tact to the original post.
