This board needs a "travel critic"

Old Jul 11th, 2003, 08:57 AM
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This board needs a "travel critic"

For months I have looked at the postings on this board, got a laugh from a few, mostly bored from many. I find most postings are incredibly politically correct and overly positive. Rarely is the truth about a city or vacation destination described. In a few times someone is honest and the PC crew is all over them!

We need more honesty on this travel board. We need more people to be candid about over hyped/oversold attractions and cities.

Will somebody please tell us the truth?
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Old Jul 11th, 2003, 09:07 AM
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Please supply us with examples of such overhyped/oversold destinations, so we can be educated. Enlighten us!

And define what you mean by "politically correct". That is usually used to smear people into silence-- "You have something nice to say about something *I* hate, and since my opinion is the only correct one, you're being 'PC'".

This board is primarily for information, after all, not entertainment. Air opinions, sure. But if one posts an intemperate or intolerant or flat-out wrong statement, expect to be called on it.
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Old Jul 11th, 2003, 09:09 AM
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Message: Please supply us with examples of such overhyped/oversold destinations, so we can be educated. Enlighten us!

San Jose.

Ha, ha, ha...

/puts on flame retardant suit
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Old Jul 11th, 2003, 09:11 AM
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Loki, you're the best!!
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Old Jul 11th, 2003, 09:25 AM
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There are loads of critics on this board.

Unfortunately, most of them are critics of one another, not of travel destinations.
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Old Jul 11th, 2003, 09:28 AM
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All I can say is: you get what pay for!
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Old Jul 11th, 2003, 09:28 AM
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People come here to see what the average Joe has to say about a place.

Opinions are those of the poster and need to be kept in that content. What one person likes might not be what someone else likes. I love nature and don't like cities. I let people know this.

You show me where I posted something that wasn't the "truth". I'd like to see it.

Utahtea
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Old Jul 11th, 2003, 09:37 AM
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I think the point is, and I would agree, that negative opinions come under much heavier attack than positive ones, as if the negative ones are "wrong". I've found this to be typical of other travel boards. People seem to take their favorite travel destinations very seriously, like I can't believe how many people here in the northeast put those imitation euro stickers on their cars for OBX, MV, CC, VT, BI, ACK, etc. So when you tell them that you think Cape Cod is just a hard to get to overrated colony for obnoxious yuppies from New York & New Jersey with oval stickers on their cars, they go through the roof. Not saying that I share that opinon, I've never been...
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Old Jul 11th, 2003, 09:37 AM
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Maybe some clarification is in order:

Do you believe the hype put out my travel books and articles in travel brochures? I do not! They are paid off and make the dullest place seem like heaven.

I am just looking for some critical thinkers who will tell us "their truth" regarding both the pros and cons of popular city and attractions?

Were you bored at Universal Studios? Tell us why!

Was New York City run down, tell us why?

Was this National Park the most beautiful spot in the world? Tell us why?

Get beyond the hype and the spin!
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Old Jul 11th, 2003, 10:11 AM
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I agree with you travelcritic, but more people come to the board AFTER they've decided to go someplace & are seeking advice on accomodations & sights. They're not interested in hearing negatives at that point.

I remember an instance where someone wanted recos on places to stay on Block Island. I begged them not to go (I think it's a dreadful place) but many others were quick to disagree. To each his own.

I hate the Times Square area in NYC & couldn't imagine staying there, but lots of out of towners LOVE it so I take that into consideration when giving info. As they say, beauty is in the eye fo the beholder.
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Old Jul 11th, 2003, 10:17 AM
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I think I have been non PC. I have the flack and disagreements to prove it!!!
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Old Jul 11th, 2003, 10:17 AM
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I think that Travel Critic (IDale5) makes a valid point & one that is worth thinking about. Case in point: A recent poster on the Carib board became extremely agitated over the fact that his/her chosen destination (Beaches) was consistently criticized by Fodorites. Instead of saying "Thank you for your feedback & the heads up!" what does he/she do? Digs in his/her heels, totally dismisses the negative feedback & insists that there must be something wrong w/ ALLLLLLLL of the Fodorites who do not like Beaches! Why? B/c they said negative things about the place that the agitated poster is about to visit.

When people offer an "opinion" it is just that: an opinion! Not right. Not wrong. As readers of a post we can choose to "take it under advisement", dismiss it or agree w/ it. If people can't express their "true" opinion w/o fear of reprisal then what's the point of having a Travel Talk Forum?
I'm with Travel Critic on this one!
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Old Jul 11th, 2003, 10:28 AM
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Loki,
What are imitation euro stickers? I live in the NE also and don't think I've ever seen one.

Travelcritic, my only complaint about this board is that it seems that some of the frequent Las Vegas travellers feel that the only good hotels there are the Bellagio & Venetian, when in fact, not everyone is looking for whatever it is that they offer at twice the cost of most of the other nice hotels in the city. A hotel room has to be clean, but it's simply a place to sleep. Las Vegas has a lot more going for it than just luxurious hotel rooms.

Everyone's version of "the truth" is different, as different as peoples' values.
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Old Jul 11th, 2003, 10:34 AM
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Opinions are like belly buttons, everyone has one.
Personally I don't see what the big deal is with Snoqualmie Falls (and I'm a Washington native), but every one who comes to Seattle is told to see them. Yeah sure, it's a great sight, but after 15 minutes I was ready to leave. Personally I'd recommed Mt. Rainier or the coast.
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Old Jul 11th, 2003, 10:34 AM
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Eurostickers: White oval decals with the countries initials/code in black.
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Old Jul 11th, 2003, 10:35 AM
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Eurostickers should not be confused with eurotrash.
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Old Jul 11th, 2003, 10:42 AM
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Okay, to be honest-
1) I have no earthly idea why people spend good money to go to Disneyworld (more than once.)
2) I have no idea why people go to Las Vegas to spend lots of money inside huge, climate-controlled buildings, when there's some breathtakingly gorgeous natural beauty within a 2 hour drive.
3) I have no idea why so many people obsess about Hawaii. Sure it's gorgeous, but it's become sooo commercialized it's not even funny (anymore).
But, that's just my opinion.
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Old Jul 11th, 2003, 10:43 AM
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We have lots of those stickers in California too.
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Old Jul 11th, 2003, 11:23 AM
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Many of us avoid the negatives simply to avoid being flamed. Case in point, I remember a few months back on the Caribbean travel board I answered a woman's query about traveling to the Caribbean while being pregnant. I cautioned her to pick a location with good hospital facilities just in case the improbable happens.

Her response was (after calling me a weirdo) to stay out of her pregnancy and mind my own business. Keep in mind that I have had first hand experiences with the improbable happening.

From that point on, I generally avoid negative comments or avoid dispensing warnings to travelers.
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Old Jul 11th, 2003, 11:33 AM
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I generally try to avoid negative posts (if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything...) to avoid being flamed. For example, I think the Florida Panhandle (particularly Pensacola Beach/Destin/Panama City Beach) is a dreadful place (beautiful beaches, but too much commercialism), so when I see a post asking for advice about it, I just cringe and move on. I've found that lots of people don't want to hear bad things about places they've already decided to go.
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