The Vague Award
 

OK ,Sam. You win with your nomination of "a nice hotel in Boston for a meeting". I was going wiith a hotel "not too terribly pricey." Why is it so difficult for people to give the type of specific information that would allow others to help them out. Is there some unwritten law about this? Is it considered bad manners? Is everyone else clear on terms such as "reasonable" , "moderate", "not too terribly pricey" ,etc ? And God bless each and every one of you who take the risk of being clear about what it is you want and/or what it is you are specifically interested in. "What are the must see/do's in the USA?" Wait, I've just been notified by the Academy that the the nominations are still open. News at 11:00.

Hey, I've seen MUCH worse. I recall a question which was something like, "Want to get away for a much needed vacation...where would you suggest?" <BR> <BR>Ummm...where do you live now? <BR>Where have you been? <BR>Budget? <BR>Tastes? <BR>Age? <BR>Any kids going? <BR>What time of year? <BR>What do you enjoy or seek in a vacation? <BR>Musts and mustn'ts? <BR> <BR>THROW US A BONE HERE!!!!!

Mea Culpa. I should have said the nomination was for "todays Vague Award". Nothing more embarrassing than being caught at being vague yourself. I should have also included that my nomination was for "a 3 or 4* hotel" "not too terribly pricey." Not entirely sure how the Vague Awards work. Possibly a daily award , most vague of the week , quarterly , most vague of the year, Honor Roll , Oh , My God. Vague again. I apologize to the posters who may recognize themselves as todays nominies. But you need to give in order to get. Thank you kindly for your consideration.

ok runner-up... <BR>take a deeeeeeep breath...and GET A GRIP! <BR> <BR>

Sorry, but my nomination goes wholeheartedly to: " I have two tickets to anywhere in the U.S, but I can't really decide on the best place to go! What do you think?"

It's not really "vague," but one of my peeves on this board is "Anyone ever heard of...", especially when it's something stupid like "Anyone ever heard of Bellagio?" I always resist the urge to reply "no, no one has ever heard of this place, much less stayed there...move on."

Well, now that you've got me going, I do have a "vagueness" pet peeve. People who use titles like "Anyone been to . . . ." What, you couldn't type out the destination too? Are they thinking we'll click on the thread because we are so dying to find out where on the planet they might be going? Mother of Joseph!

What's worse, Lori, is when these people are your CLIENTS! lol

How about "where should we stay?" or "Hotel". I am to the point of just ignoring these and moving on. If you want responses, you've GOT to put the name of the city in the header. Period.

Oh Bother !!!! Get a life!!! <BR>How rude and arrogant can you be! <BR> <BR>Who cares if someone is vague. Maybe they really would like to know a wide variety of opinions on the best possible destinations to visit. Also and very importantly - One person's version of "Very Pricey" may be "Very Moderate" to another person - Just as "active" to one can be "lame" to another, etc., etc. <BR>When I read recommendations on a forum such as this I would personally prefer to see all possible options and then, of course, I make my own decision. <BR> <BR>People who complain about things such as this are not dreamers or changemakers. They are like people who sit in business brainstorming sessions only seeing the obstacles and not the possibilities. <BR> <BR>Get over it all you "in the box folks" and the rest of us dreamers will keep asking questions and looking for possibiliies!!!

I've seen this happen lots on travel boards throughout the web. What makes me laugh the most are people who (rightfully) inform the "vague people" that "the USA is HUGE! There are different regions, etc etc.. where exactly do you plan on going in the USA?" But then those same people will ask a really vague question about travelling to Canada - "I'm going to Maine, Vermont - and Canada". "I;m going up to Canada this weekend. What are the best restaurants in Canada?" <BR> <BR>"Canada is HUGE! There are different regions, etc, etc... where you you plan on going in Canada?" <BR> <BR>Hehe... that always makes me chuckle...

Jill, I think you just made the poster's point."Also and very importantly-'One's person's "Very Pricey" may be "Very Moderate" to another person'". If you give us "your" price range there will be no confusion as to what "you" mean and are likely to get better advice. It just stands to reason that the clearer you can be about what you want the better people can assist you. "Rude"? "Arrogant"? My ,goodness. Perhaps you should also take Sharon's advice and "GET A GRIP".

If people don't want to read or answer a "vague" question, that is their choice. This is not a professional travel service and no one here is required to do anything. If a person posts a "vague" question, they should expect a "vague" answer. People who are bothered by vague questions should move on to the next. This is not a job and posters to this forum are not travel agents. <BR> <BR>I can understand the frustration of the travel agen above whose time is wasted by clients with "vague" questions. Travel agents can be a great resource for discovering new ideas of where and how to travel. Unfortunately the current system doesn't allow informative travel agents the compensation necessary to spend the needed time to help a client "brainstorm." This forum fills the "brainstorming" purpose well - no one has to answer and, therefore, no one is wasting time or losing money by helping a fellow traveler answer "vague" questions.

I'm always amazed that people actually get responses when their title is something like "Help!!!!!" or "Advice." I don't bother with these threads because I don't have all day to sift through vague questions. Are there really people out there clicking on headings that give no indication of the question posed? If so, why do you do it?