I would like to do a poll of favorite posters. We are all quick to tell someone when we think their posts are irrelevant, but I don't think we say "thank you" enough to the really helpful posters. I post, in my opinion, a lot of what I feel to be helpful info, but don't really know if other people are finding it to be so. With a poll, we could tell people we appreciate them.

Some people who come to my mind on the US Forum are: Annemarie, Bart, Martha Python, Dan Woodlief, cmcdaniel, Frank and Joseph. Many others have helped me a lot, but their names aren't coming to me at the moment. Anyway, guys, thanks!

Until this posting, you were.

This post is irrelevant!

What is this? Another travel agents stroking his buddies' soft underbelly?

Personally, I feel posters who do contribute a lot to this forum ARE thanked for their help, advice and opinions. The particular post seems very "junior high schoolish" to me. This isn't a popularity contest and I'm sure the mature people who do help others don't want some sort of "high fives" in their honor. Just IMHO, of course.

A very large percentage of posters use multiple or anonymous e-mail addresses, so how would you vote for them?

What a bunch of asses some of you can be! It was just a suggestion, all in good fun, to pat a few people on the back who go to a lot of trouble to help others. Junior high schoolish? Well, so what? Wouldn't hurt for all of us to act 13 once in awhile!

Anyway, I think a lot of you are just ready & waiting to pounce on anybody who says the slightest thing that you can disagree with or find "irrelevant."

So crawl back in your cages now, and wait for the next person who may be slightly off the mark, according to YOUR thinking!

Ooooh! A temper tantrum, because he/she can't have his/her way. Did you say 13? I'd say more like 3.

Pollster, perhaps you should change boards. Go to Caribbean On Line, we enjoy each other there and do thank each other for valuable info. Looks like you are just barking up a dead tree. There is nothing like us "ugly americans."

....the answer is obvious...

NOAH/NOACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't blame this one on Noah (he gets blamed for enough of his own doing, without getting blamed for mine); I'm just a back-patter who lavishes compliments on people - a little childish perhaps, but just my nature! Guess I'll just add it to my list of idea that went over like lead balloons!

AMS of course! Because he gets everyone so riled up. It is fun to see the fur fly!

Mr./Ms. Pollster:
You should be aware of the fact (if you're not already) that the 'American forum' is quite different than the others at Fodor's. The Euro forum is intelligent, witty, civilized, and quite funny. There is plenty of acknowledgement of appreciation for frequent contributors. I virtually never se anyone 'flamed' as is so very common here. The other forums seem less active, but also very civil. This one's the rude exception. Don't take it personally.

I'm one of the people Pollster named and just wanted to say--I appreciate your comments and am glad to know some of my contributions have been helpful.

Guys, is it any wonder people post anonymously? Look at these responses! They are counterproductive. There are plenty of lurkers who could make valuable contributions to this board but will never post a word for fear of being flamed. Anonymous or not, your rudeness stings and we all lose because of it. Its a sad commentary on the times.

Yes, it truly is sad, noname/nofame. Someone writes an innocent posting and a few people have to make wisecracks. Maybe there could be a separate forum for those who prefer to do nothing but snipe at one another.

I appreciate many people on the Fodor's site but obviously not most of the these dumbheads who post with phoney names & emails.

Am I the only one whose e-mail box has been filled with unsolicited travel newsletters, hotel ads, etc...since posting my real name and address on this forum? Since it's the only travel forum I visit, I know that someone, Fodor's or whomever, is gathering e-mail addresses and using them for mass marketing purposes. I no longer post my real name or address for that reason. Tired of ads and most definitely do want my e-mail available to some of the psychos who frequent this place.

Make that DO NOT want my e-mail available to psychos. Sorry all you psychos, bet you got your hopes up there.

Interesting that the names of posters who've helped you a lot "aren't coming" to you. Yet, you're hoping someone here will respond with your name, whatever it is.

Maybe the originator of this post would be seen in a different light, had he/she given their real name/addy as opposed to an anonymous one. Me thinks maybe the person is someone who feels underappreciated in their prior helpful postings, thus wanting recognition to make them feel better. Can you tell I'm wanting to go to college for a Psychology degree? ;-)

Post my real EMail address - NO WAY. I learned the hard way early on when I started using these boards. The nasty filth I received was terrible. I did feel bad about some who tried to contact me to ask questions directly, but will continue now to use an alias. I have "talked" off line with some with their permission and then gave them my actual email address. One good thing was one of the nasties was caught via his/her IP address. There are some really great people in this world, too bad some of the pent up hostility of others comes out in the strangest of places and not on their shrinks couch.