Where are the old posters
 

I have been out west,no not Oregon, digging gold the last two months. <BR> <BR>Today I checked on Fodors (my favorite travel place (even though they have deleted me a few times)and didn't recognize but one poster. Have all the old posters left or have you changed you names. I didn't even see a thing about Maui Heidi. LOL

You've been out west longer then 2 months if you've just noticed that Maui Heidi is no longer with us.She's been outta here for about a year or more(R.I.P.). Did ya strike it rich or at least make some trip money??

The names have just changed. There are still daily posts starting with "I'm planning a honeymoon to Hawaii and I'm confused..." that are just begging for answers. Of course, a good travel agent can always help!

M.M. maybe it was a little longer. You know how it is = "time flies when you're having fun". <BR> <BR>Since the presidential politics are over, I guess most everyone has gone back to travel. However, I did enjoy the Bush= Gore stress threads. <BR> <BR>Yes, I did find it out there. Now have to determine "cost against recovery values".

I think a lot of the regulars have left because of the rudeness and trolls..

J.J. you are probably right. The last few weeks that I visited Fodors I noticed that a lot of regulars, and others, were letting trolls and rudeness destroy their personality. In a lot of cases, however, they brought it on themselves with snide remarks. I got dumped on for my poem to Maui Heidi but I can take it goodnaturedly as well as dish it out. I had fun with it. It's too bad some people wear their feelings on the tip of their tongues. <BR> <BR>Cheers everyone.

Pthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhht!

One person's "snide remark" is another's witty comment. Really, this forum would improve if posters were a little more tolerant of others and less defensive about opinions. After all, aren't opinions what this forum is supposed to be all about? I too enjoyed the political threads. Very revealing. Now, if only we knew who said what..........:)

<BR> <BR>I know just what you mean. I'm a very old poster...damn ninety-three. But it's hard for me to remeber who's who. I do recollect when this site was realy something. Back before computers even. Back when we had to have that little guy Jeff run our postings from house to house telling everyone that the DC3 was landing on Tuesday or Wednesday depending if they had enough gas in Wichita. <BR> <BR>Remember when we used to get to smoke on the plane and the Stew would still give us booze even when we were bombed out of our minds? And if your baby cried everyone either ignored it or smiled and said how cute the little rascal is? Those were the days. <BR> <BR>Damn, I remember when "One Traveler's Opinion" bitched about the foot-traffic-tie-up at the Polo Grounds. Took only fifteen pages back then. These days seems like it goes on forever. <BR> <BR>You're absolutely correct. This site's going downhill like a snowball with a corked-rubber Plutonium center.

I used to answer questions much more frequently on the US forum (since 1997), until it became apparent that when I did, a whole lot of "banish the travel agents from this forum" and "keep Hawaii separate" posts appeared. I found that ridiculous because I have no connection to the travel industry - I'm just a 30-year Hawaii resident that loves to travel and knows a few restaurants, etc. in an area that I know well. (Although getting called a SLICK travel agent may have been some kind of back-handed albeit off the mark, compliment.) <BR> <BR>When Hawaii got briefly segmented out, several real travel agents started openly soliciting there. It seemed that with less people monitoring the Hawaii board, they could pitch their message more effectively. Many more "email me directly" and "this is my web site" kind of posts appeared. <BR> <BR>So, I have become more of a receiver of information here on the U.S. forum. Like some Europe posters, I get rather tired of the "where shall I spend my honeymoon" <BR>and what is the "best" hotel kind of questions. I like questions about Hawaii that go to learning something beyond the superficial. We have a unique culture as well. <BR> <BR>But, although the questions may be repetitive, they seem genuine enough to me. Check the Europe forum for repetitive questions, too. Face it, people like to go to Hawaii, and maybe they post their questions here? <BR> <BR>So xxx: who are you and what's your problem? <BR> <BR> <BR>

I have seen rather innocent looking questions get turned into nasty free for alls that have gone so far off the main question it is ridiculous. Add to that all the nasty, political threads and the non-travel related stuff that clogs up the board and very little monitoring from Fodor's, no wonder the regulars have left.

You can often get old posters through frame shops.

What I wouldn't give to have my old SNL cast poster that I took with me to college in '78. I may have to check those old frame shops.

The 2 posters above are the reason everyone has left. They think they are funny, but they come across as sarcastic jerks and their answers have nothing to do with the question that was asked. It's too bad Fodor's doesn't either require registration or monitor this forum....

To FedUp: You are right. I thought I was funny. I didn't mean to be a "sarcastic jerk" though. I just thought a little levity was needed here. Ironically, you may have demonstrated why this forum has problems: No sense of humor. I would suggest adding a little roughage to your diet.

Kalena, haven't you noticed that just about ALL of the Hawaii posts sound just alike??? (Honeymoon confusion, which island, which resort, blah blah blah) I do realize that many people go to Hawaii. I personally love the place and have been several times. HOWEVER, I don't believe there are as many people posting about Hawaii as the rest of the US combined and sometimes the ratio really is 50-50 or higher in Hawaii's favor. (Tonight it's not. I just counted!)

xxx: <BR> <BR>Thanks for your civil response. From what I have seen, it goes in spurts. Maybe a lot of June weddings? Hawaii questions have been almost non-existent over the last day or two. But watch a whole lotta fake posts come on just to rebut this. <BR> <BR>I agree a lot of the questions are not particularly creative, but maybe first-time travelers on their honeymoon ask precisely the same kind of questions? <BR> <BR>My point is that the travel agent angle is just so ridiculous, and I have seen it drive some "old" posters away. Most major hotels and resorts are fully booked during peak months anyway. So how's a mention of a hotel name or an island here going to make any tangible difference? <BR> <BR>But I guess that until we register, anyone can say anything without backing it up, and the Hawaii "travel agent" conspiracy theory just won't go away. ;) I wish that travelers could post here without getting harrassed. It DOES seem so against the intent and spirit of this board, harassment, that is...? <BR> <BR>As I said before, check the Europe board to see how many times "Paris hotel" comes up daily. It too is a popular travel destination, and often the questions on that board are no more creative than those you find here. But, are we to exclude first-time travelers from posting here because we don't like their questions? <BR>k

Not to start a fight here, but I am a B&B owner who recently had a guest who LOVED the advice of Maui Heidi. My guest said Heidi's advice was among the best she received. <BR> <BR>I hate to admit that I don't know much about Ms. Heidi or her evil money-making ways :-) However, I do agree that we're quick to jump on the travel agent bandwagon around here.

Junk-Just because you didn't like what someone posted doesn't mean you have to throw insults back. It has nothing to do with a sense of humor, but with maturity and class. That is why the regulars have left, because people are attempting to be humorous and they come across as rude, insulting and sarcastic. And, why must people stray from the original question to interject their warped sense of humor? <BR> <BR>IMO, respect and niceness have deteriorated on this board. Maybe some type of registration or stricter monitoring would help alleviate this and the trolls would go elsewhere.

Maxine: Oh, please. My "adding roughage" can hardly be considered a serious insult. Geez. Does anyone smile or laugh anymore? Must everything be considered a competition and hurtful? For me, travel is supposed to be fun. Where is the humor? If we are required to register, I hope we will all be required to disclose our level of tolerance. Low tolerance = just the facts, don't try to make me smile. High tolerance = willing to give and take. etc.

Maxine sounds a little bit uppity. She should go to the European board. She would fit right in with the other pretentious posters. <BR> <BR>Geez, lets have some fun. Like Junk said, isn't travel supposed to be fun. Not so uptight. You can have class and a sense of humor at the same time ya know. <BR> <BR>

Yes, you can have class and a sense of humor at the same time. However, I've seen neither here.

Yeah, humor and sarcasm get a bad rap on the web -- and particularly in this forum as of late -- since you can't always read the "wink" in a person's comments. <BR> <BR>Ever have that family member that just doesn't "get" The Far Side, let alone Peanuts? Comics shouldn't need footnotes. ("You see, it just doesn't matter. Lucy will ALWAYS pull the football away from Charlie Brown. It's a no-win scenerio... get it, Uncle Wally?") <BR> <BR>Lately it seems you can give a good travel trip, include a sly joke, and get criticized by idiots who just want to call names and put you on the block to explain yourself. <BR> <BR>Hey, it's not a soapbox, so I'll shut up. <BR> <BR>Dr. Bitterpants <BR>(not a real doctor, but play one on the Web)

Hi all, <BR> <BR>I would say I'm an "old poster" who tried to help a lot of people on their way to Hawaii - but I got so tired of the silly "you're a travel agent" and "let's attack Noach" threads that I just didn't want to bother anymore. It's a shame that Fodor's doesn't register us. I don't know why this Forum deteriorated so - it wasn't this way a year or two ago! And Kalena, I do remember your helping a lot of people. There are quite a few first-timers to Hawaii (it's such a popular place), and I think most of the posters asking for info are serious, and since people usually aren't there very long, it made me feel good to help them hit the high spots, since I've been there several times and have practically every guidebook written on the place. <BR> <BR>This simply doesn't feel like a travel forum anymore, and I'd prefer Fodor's to register us!

Sorry Junk-The roughage comment was indeed insulting as were your other posts.

Hey Lani, good to hear from you. <BR>Aloha, <BR>k

It is a good thing there are fresh faces in any group or organization. Fresh blood and fresh ideas are the food for improvement Major companies make it a practice to hire or move around young people to improve themselves. Not always popular, but I am encouraged new people are contributing. The bad comments on this board are easy to ignore. <BR> <BR> <BR>

Where are the old posters? I can only speak for myself... <BR> <BR>This old poster has been worn down by a group of thugs that mistake sarcasm for humor, cynicism and bathroom humor for wit, and rudeness for democracy. This old poster got tired of seeing juvenile flamers hiding behind "[email protected]"; flames being done with no apparent reason other than to deride others. <BR> <BR>An aside to "mine" above: Fresh blood and fresh ideas are indeed the food for improvement, and corporations and organizations do in fact bring in new talent all the time. But organizations also separate the prospective long-term contributors from those whose sole attribute is their youth, and the latter quickly get shown the door.

Neal, things haven't changed. You're still a pompous ass!

P.S.: Of course, that's just one traveler's opinion!

Sorry about the rudeness directed toward you yet again for no good reason, Neal. <BR> <BR>I certainly agree with you. I used to post entirely under my name. No aliases. But I went through a few weeks where people started entire threads to hammer me for nothing. So now I'm another faceless X. <BR> <BR>To answer the question, some of us "old posters" are here. We're just incognito because we're tired of the zingers.

I'm one of the old posters, and I thought "Junk" and "Lori" were hilarious. I have a bigger problem with snobs on Fodor's than I do with people trying to be funny -- succesful or not. <BR>

Neal-I agree with you 100%. <BR> <BR>"Still"- Why do you feel the need to call someone else a name? You don't even know Neal. If you disagree with Neal fine, but don't go calling him names. It shows a complete lack of respect and courtesy.

Chuck, aren't you being a bit presumptuous to assume that I don't know Neal? How do you know that, hm? <BR>And, speaking of snobs, I'm with you all the way, Angel, in what you said! (No, no, Angel's not a snob. I'm agreeing with what he said about them!)

It's because of the name callers and those who can not add anything but their vile anger and jealous smallness. <BR>Neal, you have thicker skin than I do and I do & did appreciate a lot of your travel tales. Thanks! <BR> <BR>And if you think they are easy to overlook, poster, than you haven't been around this forum too long. Some of the worst character assults I have ever heard reigned here within the last year.

If you don't like someone's post, don't read it! Why get nasty and call people names. <BR> <BR>Neal, the majority of us enjoy your posts, ignore the critics and the "trolls." They probably have such pathetic lives they are jealous of everyone else and have to make trouble.

I, too, am an old poster that got fed up with the nastiness. I used to use my real address and developed a few delightful e-mail friendships in the process. I was a first-timer to Hawaii and received some very informative and useful information before my trip. I also shared my trip information when I got back. Then the rudeness started. I tried to complain to Fodors and got no response. You will find rudeness on most web sites that are not monitored. I put most of the blame on Fodors for not monitoring the message boards. I now resort to just reading the posts once in a while and rarely respond. What ever happened to the good ol' days?

It strikes me the "good old days" are gone every where. There's way too much traffic, my neighborhood is changing with familiar long time shops being replaced with crappy chain stuff , my favorite restaurants are being driven out of buisness , my wife even has the nerve to say I'm not what I use to be. You have a choice ,either deal with it or move on elsewhere. I laughed at the posts by Junk and Lori. People must have it really easy in their life if what happens on this board is the major source of irritation in their life. Or perhaps they are in need of a real life so this won't bother them so much. I'm really amazed that what happens here can bother people so much.

Right on, John!

ThereNoMore, I have a feeling that you were not inquiring about the habitual Hawaii posters or aspiring authors, but rather about the old helpfuls like Brian in Atlanta, Christina, April and so on. True? <BR> <BR>Too many people, both old and new, are here to sell something, whether it's their travel agent services, a stay at their hotel or B&B, a meal at their restaurant, a spot on their guided tour, or copies of the travel book they plan to write. IMO, these people overwhelm the place with their constant postings and drive the truly helpful people away. Just visit the Europe site and check out the eight-hours-a-day postings of wannabe tour guide Rex Bickers for a current example of this.