SueHuml

Being a former Brit myself who was born and raised in the Cotswolds in England, and that I still return "home" about once a year, I checked out the Europe Fodors Talk site in view of the current travel situation to and from the UK. Having enjoyed all the back and forth here on the Asia board and learned so much, and loved all the fun banter and gentle ribbing, I was truly shocked and agahst at the level of outright nastiness on the Fodors Europe Talk site. Phew, there are some real crazies on there and, some in the blame/hate America first crowd. I don't think I could stomach going back to that board again. Makes me really grateful for all you lovely Asia Fodorites.
Sue

rhkkmk

we welcome you here....we have a few crazies too...we try to let them know we love to hear from them, but not often...

we try to keep it informative and sharring....we all have our favorites and we tell why, but most of all we all learn about new things here and that is what makes it all so perfect...

angethereader

I started on this board because we were planning a trip to Japan.
Everyone was so helpful, it made the planning much easier.
I went on the Europe board to post a GTG message. While I was there I read through a few threads. WOW! I couldn't believe some of the acid comments and the knock down drag out fights.
That's not why I belong to a forum.
Even though we have no plans to go back to Asia in the next year or two, I still keep touch and try to help others out, just like I was helped.

Neil_Oz

Depends on your tolerance level, I suppose - personally I like to tune into a robust debate in which all sides give as good as they get. Maybe that's because I'm an Australian political junkie and sometimes listen to the debates in our national parliament, after which even the Europe forum can seem bland and irritatingly polite.

One of my favourite exchanges between two Members of Parliament (which could be used to illustrate the boundaries of acceptable debate on the Europe forum):

MP: The Honourable Member opposite hasn't got the brains of a sheep.

Speaker: Order! The Honourable Member will withdraw the last remark.

MP: Mr Speaker, I do withdraw, and unreservedly apologise. The Honourable Member HAS got the brains of a sheep.

Nothing however will ever eclipse a fabled exchange between two members of the British House of Lords:

- "You, Sir, will die either on the gallows or of the pox!

- "That depends, Sir, on whether I embrace Your Lordship's principles, or Your Lordship's mistress."

Femi

Neil:

Kathie

Sue, I agree that this is a good group. People are so willing to share their "finds." I've been going to Asia for over 20 years, and I can always find new ideas here,

Gpanda

At the Boston GTG, we have some Europe Fodorites. They are cam, civil and interesting. One wonders what electronic communication does to some personalities.

I do note that I've posted a few times on the E forum with very specific questions and got prompt helpful answers.

Jed

It is much better now than before registration.

SueHuml

I don't understand what you mean Jed. What registration?
Sue

Kathie

Sue, you now have to register to post on Fodors. Back in the old days, no registration was required, and you were more likely to run into people behaving badly.

SueHuml

Thanks Kathie, I can only imagine what it was like before.
The Editor for Fodors did come on the European site and tell them to quit the fighting and get back to the topic or be cut off.
Again, we rarely have anything that comes close to what was on the Europe site here... Kinda goes with the aspect that connects me so strongly with Thailand, everyone seems so nice, not just there but here too, it really does seem to be the land of one thousand smiles.
Sue

rhkkmk

did you see that crack pot on here yesterday....where did he come from...

AnselmAdorne

rhkkmk, that poster comes out from under a rock every once in a while, signs up with a new name, and winds up a few people who don't recognize his provocative style. The editors drive a spike through him every time, but he has a habit of re-inventing himself.

I read both the European and Asia forums every day. There certainly is a difference in tone and atmosphere. Inexplicably, I like them equally well. The European forum is edgier, but both are highly informative. (Speaking of which, I owe this forum a report on our trip to Beijing and Hong Kong in April. I'll get right back to it, as soon as I finish renovating a bathroom.)

Neil, great post. I don't think Canadian politicians are capable of being that funny, at least not the Conservatives.

Anselm

kappa

> I read both the European and Asia forums every day. There certainly is a difference in tone and atmosphere. Inexplicably, I like them equally well. The European forum is edgier, but both are highly informative.

I agree completely. Perhaps, you have to grow a thicker ski, you will get to used to it over there. Even then, people say compared to some other forums, Fodor's Eropean Forum is rather tame. Don't know if that's true though. And before registration, there were more nasty posts but more fun posts too. Perhaps that's just a nostalgy thing.

Guenmai

True...there is more hostility on the European forum and more American bashing...but to experience a really high level of both hostility and American bashing then go on lonelyplanet.com. It's can get beyond ridiculous over there. Happy Travels!

shedridt

My husband travels often to Shanghai on business & his response to nastiness toward Americans is that CNN brings it on ourselves - it's the hate America first last & always now network & let's share our views with the world about how awful we are. Happily, we found nothing negative toward Americans or Europeans in Chinese reactions toward us - everyone is SO friendly & happy that we are there to share the Olympics or whatever with them. A sweeter people I have never known - we just love the Chinese people to bits & hope they'll never believe our own press about us!

JamesA

Quiet a few years ago we had the idea to go to Italy, so I wandered over to the Europe forum to ask about places we could stay, would not be peak summer but a little after and we wanted somewhere for the 4 of us around US$150 anight.

I was torn-apart to be so dumm as to expect to get anything for that price, ok, a few suggested some hostel type place but others were simply rude.

Such a shame, anyway we went down to Australia instead and had a great time for a lot less!

Without getting too serious, it really is such a shame that although so many people travel now, there is so much hostility against people based on where they are from, when I have looked at some other forums over the years there seem to be a lot of very unhappy and agressive people around, very sad indeed.
I guess in the past people would have hoped the more that different people's traveled to different places that such views would have faded away.

Gpanda

Don't I qualify as unhappy and aggressive?

Smeagol

no of course not, your just rude and agressive to Bob, but then that is to the amusement of us all (sorry Bob)

rhkkmk

glad i have one defender in this wide world