Will the real hypocrites please stand up?
 

Certain individuals on the board have taken to posting sniping criticisms at others. One Fodorite's detailed expression of a substantive opinion today was met with an admonition to "Get a life". Others have had their writing style criticized. The snipers often defend themselves or their ilk by claiming they are entitled to express their opinion, and accusing others of being hypocrites who attempt to silence opposing viewpoints. <BR> <BR>Perhaps we need an understanding here. For purposes of the forum, we should be able to agree that anyone can express their thoughts about the SUBSTANCE of a post and respectfully disagree. On the other hand, personal insults are uncalled for and unwelcome. So if you find yourself about to post, and your post is an attack on a person rather than their ideas, you should try to stop yourself. <BR> <BR>But you all knew that, didn't you?

I must agree. I only come to this board now when I am really really bored because I know there will be someone on here trying to pick a fight. A troll I think they call it. I just replied to the Maui Heidi thread, telling the jerk to "get a life". I don't understand why this forum degenerated so quickly to criticism and sniping so quickly after I discovered it. Hippo has a great idea here. I suppose I am part of the problem instead of the solution. But gosh, if I make a typo by accident, SOMEONE will rip me to shreds for it and call me suncloudy or moron! Its a given on Fodors. Reread Hippo's post. Then read it again.

A message board takes on a life of its own. Trying to organize it is like herding cats....

I think I have a fair amount of travel knowledge to share and I was once willing to do so. However, the contentiousness of this board is just so great that I rarely post anymore. In looking through the postings, I find that many of the old, knowledgeable posters are no longer answering questions. Perhaps they are traveling on their own at this point of the year, but also perhaps they are just sick and tired of this stuff on Fodor's. This is a board on the decline. Maybe when the kids go back to school it will get better? Who knows? Who cares?

<BR>People who can't stand the heat in glass houses shouldn't throw stones at black kettles in the kitchen. Or something like that.

My observation is that any deviation from mainstream or general consensus opinion, no matter how it is expressed, is met with condemnation and indignation from the "mainstream." In most instances they seem to be the ones telling the dissenters to "get a life" or "don't post if you don't like it" or "ignore it." If you disagree with the ruling clique you are labeled "rude." They feel free to hurl names and insults but can't seem to take what they so readily dish out. Every post here about children traveling is a perfect example. Defensive parents are the first to hurl insults when anyone disagrees with them. <BR>It obviously frustrates some people so much that they had to create an entirely separate thread to complain about it, yet again. All participation here is voluntary. You can't control what is posted and you never will. Much of the frustration I see expressed is the result of people feeling powerless to control what others say here, and that's just laughable. You can't control others -- only yourself. You'll be a happier, less frustrated person once you realize and accept that fact. <BR> <BR>If this forum is causing you that much stress perhaps you should find something else to do with your time.

O.K. Jeannette/Hippo, do us all a favor please and shake off your perceived slights on this board and move on with your life. It's not worth agonizing over and all the posts here in the world won't change anything. <BR> <BR>How about just not responding to the things that are making you burst a vessel? You have no obligation to do so and it's the best way to treat posts you don't like -- do not acknowledge them in any way. Haven't you ever had a conversation with some ornery boss at some time who refused to acknowledge what you were saying and proceeded as if you hadn't said anything? Refusing to acknowledge someone gives YOU the power.

As leader of hypocrites throughout the free world may I say that I totally agree with everything said in this thread.....

i see one of the problems here---the poster who says they only come here when they are really, really bored. this is a problem----one more time---get a REAL life. then these things won't be so important to you. <BR>

I'm with Figgy!! <BR> <BR>Seems like many posters make themselves targets, then complain about criticism. (I liken this to those who dress very suggestively, then pretend offense when the opposite sex notices them.) <BR> <BR>

Oh ,Fiddlee Dee!

to michael: I have used this board in the past for travel information when I went to California and most recently the Florida Keys and Miami in June. I had every intent of posting a complete travel report when I got back. But as I used it more and more, I got really rude responses and people contradicting me and calling me names for a typing mistake. So now at this point, I only visit this site when I am really really bored because I know there will be a thread about how rude people are here, and I do have something to say about that!

I have a REAL LIFE, it's CRAP !

What do we have so far? We have "Follow" saying that the real problem is that people who are personally attacked just can't handle a viewpoint that deviates from the mainstream (whatever that is), and those people should leave. We also have "007" saying others are making themselves targets by expressing their opinions. Someone else even responded that people bothered by insults should "Get a life." <BR> <BR>None of these argument, in my humble opinion, justifies a personal attack. I think a freewheeling debate on an issue is great fun. I just don't like personal attacks. I'm really starting to think that perhaps some folks genuinely don't know the difference, and that is kind of sad. I hope some of you will give this some additional thought, because personal attacks do bother the person attacked, and they also diminish the pleasure of the board for bystanders who witness it.

<BR> <BR>Maybe all nasty posters should be confined to the Europe forum for a one-week lesson in manners. The vitriol common to this site is nonexistent there.

Wow Hippo, thanks for the helpful analytical summary of all the posts here. I don't think I could have made sense out of all it without your incisive recap. <BR> <BR>Do you get this worked up over everything in your life that bothers you? This is an INTERNET board, for God's sake. Your sanctimonious lectures and self-important criticisms of everyone else's shortcomings here are exactly the type of thing you are complaining about. Rise above it or move on. Or hey, have a coronary about it, who cares? <BR> <BR>Now let's see if my post will have the glory and honor of being recapped, analyzed and summarized by our resident scholar! hehehehehehe <BR> <BR>Yes, this IS a place for the bored, isn't it?

If you think I'd give my true name to this thread, you're nuts. Just a couple of thoughts. No matter how nasty folks get, perhaps it's best to just ignore them, and never comment. When you comment, it always generate more of the same - heat and no light. Secondly, this site is very valuable, so lets not waste time debating whether it has degenerated. It contains highly useful information - personally it has aided me countless times this past year or so. What would I do without it? So, for those who dislike what's happening, and overlook the good, go someplace else. If folks wish to be nasty, let them. Who cares - they are just jerks who want attention. Ignore and let them learn the price of being destructive - no one wishes to associate with them. And lets get back to the real reason we use this site - to get advice before we travel, and then to help others when we return. Bye for now.

Hippo, as some of these posts demonstrate, some people clearly do not know the difference between an opinion of substance and a personal attack. Nothing can be done. Sorry.

See, that's what fred was talking about. Now You Were Right is debating semantics. Sunstance? Persona Attack? Who cares!!!! Nothing can be done? You give up tooo easily, and that's where you're wrong. Just stop adding to this crappy thread, and get onto something better. No more canctimonious comments. Let it end here, PLEASE. Get a life and move on.

Hey, who deceided that you get the last word?