BUGGED

Are you like me? I seem to have less and less time for the posters who don't seem to to a stick of research on their own. It sounds like some of these people haven't even popped for a $25 guide book or two. People you are spending big bucks to travel invest in some knowledge or go to the library! Or how about people who post the same question over and over after getting great responses from us? Doesn't it make you not want to take the time to ever do that again? Or how about the people who never give a word of thanks for any info given? Or how about maybe using the search engine every now and then? Would that be so wrong? Or doesn't it make you crazy when someone has posted a legit question and others answer by pointing out spelling errors? Have you thought they might be typos? <BR>Thanks for the rant I needed that! <BR>Just one persons views, how about yours?

xxx

My peeve is with persons that continually clutter this board by topping messages that are ancient. <BR>There is a search function that anyone can use to find information.

ChurchLady

Yes and it bugs me that people get upset over the fact that they can't wear their obscene halter tops and short shorts into the house of god. Isn't that Special! <BR>You will all burn in hell for dressing like fools while traveling abroad!

Bugger`

What bugs me is that I just can't believe how many people obviously don't work at their jobs and are on the forum. I need to find a job/boss so that I can do that! I am home sick today and that is why I am online

Me

Yes, you are turning into a snob.

Rex

The protest from "xxx [email protected]" just doesn't hold water with me anymore. Topping is the only good way to help some newcomers find ceratin very good (but very old) posts. <BR> <BR>I'll close with a postscript that I intend to use with a lot of messages on a better way that Fodor's can and should be brining to us - - preferably sooner than later. <BR> <BR>If this forum had an easier way to locate and direct readers to a specific (previous) posting by a unique identifier (timestamp), it would not be necessary to repeat information so tediously. This is my new crusade, and I plan to add this postscript (when applicable) to every new reply I make here. If you agree with me, then please write to Danny Mangin or David Downing - - [email protected] - - and encourage them to move forward with this improvement (and any others they have up their sleeves) to this best-on-the-web travel forum!

Ess

It isn't that you're a snob. You're an addict. It requires a more concentrated jolt to juice you up anymore. The same-old-same-old postings don't do it for you. Maybe taking a break from the forum for a while will help. I did that and when I came back there was an uproar going on. That was fun - it was around the time of the last full moon.

christine

Actually, I'm so glad you brought this up! I'm new here and I really do want your expertise and I *tried* posting a few times but got either one response or no response. I was going to post and ask what I need to do to get more responses, but I think you've answered some of my questions. <BR> <BR>I think part of my problem is that I've ordered guide books from amazon and they are taking forever to get here and someone on the board (thank you, by the way) told me I need to start booking NOW. And, well, guidebooks are long and I'm not even sure once I get them and read them that it will become clear to me where I should go and where I should stay. But I *will* do my research and then ask some specific questions (but only after checking the search engine to be sure my questions haven't been answered). And then I will be sure to thank you. <BR> <BR>Actually, part of the reason that I didn't say thank you earlier is that I didn't want to "top" my own message when it seemed clear that the regulars weren't really interested in answering it. <BR> <BR>Christine - who will be back as soon as she gets her darn books and has time to read them and use the search engine, etc.

novice traveler

the only flaw i find with your argument (the first poster) is the lack of first-hand information and anecdotes in travel books. personally, i enjoy the flavor and personality people bring to their responses to specific questions asked regarding practically every destination.

Santa Chiara

So glad you brought this up. I have a major pet peeve and several minor ones. My gripe is ANY question that starts off with or includes the phrase "is it worth it?" No matter the place or the reason for going, it is worth it to someone, least of all the people who live there. So, harumph. <BR> <BR>I know this is minor compared to the really lazy people who don't do a modicum of research--and I suspect some of these are trolls, especially recently--and this really bugs me, too. Sorry, not getting the books from Amazon.com in time doesn't cut it as an excuse. <BR> <BR>Having said all of that, I am guilty of not thanking people, in particular Sheila (thank you, I would have responded sooner but I am mad at my son, so right now, no fishing trip to Scotland for this lad). More, piu tarde.

toby

Do you ever hear from Fodor's? I mean does a real person that works for Fodor's ever respond to anything...I am new at this site so I do not know. I agree that after a question has been responded to 34 times there should be a way to direct a new person to those responses....hello Fodor's are you listening?

xxx

I can NEVER get the text search function to work. Hate to ask the same questions but don't know how to successfully access the old info. Any suggestions?

Rex

Toby, <BR> <BR>Danny Mangin has responded here a few times in the past 15 months or so, to the best of my knowledge - - once after the "revolution" of fragmenting the forum into individual countries, and once to acknowledge the visit by Dr. Betty directly to the Fodor's offices (this was soon after the "re-unification"). <BR> <BR>But otherwise, they rarely police the site, not even to clean up the most offensive language. And I have been unable to get any responses to direct e-mails to them, on the subject of an easier way to find individual threads ("unique identifiers") - - even with putting "Please reply to me" directly in the subject line - - not even so much as an acknowledgement of receiving my comments. <BR> <BR>And the final comments in anguish from xxx is the number one reason the functionality of this board needs to change. It strikes me as ironic that the NUMBER ONE potential audience to buy Fodor's books keeps getting such a bad intial experience here - - yelled at for not using a search engine that seems not to work. <BR> <BR>My only tip for better usage of the search function, xxx, is that you should only search for a single word. That means sifting through thousands of threads for something like "Paris" - - returned to you with no sort of "ranking" or "relevance" score - - and no ability to further search within this subset. <BR> <BR>Call me an ingrate if you will, but I rate this aspect of Fodors a D-minus. <BR> <BR>And responding to the readers here a big fat F. <BR>

Santa Chiara

My dear Rex, if Fodors response to your whining is such a problem, then I strongly encourage you to migrate to another forum.

Dawn

I'm relatively new here as well, and I'll admit that my first post was probably one that annoyed the Fodor's snobs....but, because I was so excited to find a place to get "real" thoughts, I just posted without searching. Later (after the advice of someone saying to search), I realized that my question was asked many times before. Sorry! <BR> <BR>As far as guide books; I have purchased a few and have literally read them cover to cover. The problem is that I can't ask the book a specific question! Here, we can, and we can get a well traveled answer. <BR> <BR>Anyway, the way I see it, like any board, if you don't like the questions asked, don't answer. Don't read them, simple. <BR> <BR>My gripe: I don't like that people don't use the same name, so when someone whats to vent, they easily hide behind another name. That's annoying! <BR> <BR>Anyway, don't be bugged. Those of us that are traveling far away for the first time, need your input.

Sheila

Dear Bugged <BR> <BR>I was on here when you posted and saw why you did. I found myself smiling because I had eactly the same reaction. Only today I didn't need to kick the cat and was nice instead. <BR> <BR>I was irked by the 3 posts saying the same thing; and then I saw the Stoke on Trent question and was so nice, I think I deserve an ice cream <BR> <BR>It's human nature on both sides, chaps. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

Terri

The only thing that I hate about this forum is people (like the first poster) whining if things aren't to their expectations. I say SO WHAT to every complaint the first poster made. Skip posts that bother you. Don't get on here and start berating people. If you can't add to the value of this forum shut up and go away! <BR> <BR>Also, why does someone have to have experience and complete knowledge of this board before the people will give them advice without first scolding and ridiculing them? If you keep scaring away the newcomers this forum will get as old and stale as some of the regular posters. <BR> <BR>Personally I have gotten some great advice from this forum on 4 different trips in the last year and I really appreciate it. I do my own research but nothing beats getting some advice from someone with first hand experience. <BR> <BR>Got to get back to work now. <BR> <BR>

elvira

The search feature works if you don't put too many words in the text search, and narrow your search by picking a country, an example: text: maze country France will get you posts containing the word maze and France. If you don't choose a country, you'll get every post that ever mentioned maze. You also have to spell the word exactly as it appears in the posts, so you've got to know how the place is spelled (if you search Versailes, you won't find anything). Be specific: if you want London hotels, don't type London accommodations, or you'll get apartments, b&bs, etc. posts mixed in with hotels. <BR>Posts fall to the bottom if there's a lot of new posts opened that day; if 51 people all open new posts within 5 mins of each other, the first guy's post is on page 2. <BR>It's very difficult to keep answering the same questions over and over, so I don't. Maybe others feel the same, so they don't. Now the poster feels ignored. This forum is just that, a forum. There is no obligation to answer posts, yet how many times have you seen a "topper" of some sort *will someone please ANSWER THIS??*? If a post is not being answered, and someone helpfully volunteers "try posting with a more revealing title", I've rarely seen that done. Why wouldn't the original poster not take the time to re-enter a post with a better title? My immediate impression is they couldn't be bothered...and my reaction to that is...why should I bother to answer? <BR>And, lastly, the posts that BUGGED brought up - hi I'm going to Italy what should I see? - are unnerving. I have no idea how to respond.

Lisa

I, like Santa Chiara, haven't said thank you those people who answered the questions I've asked earlier, because I didn't want to "top" my own message. <BR> <BR>For the record….. I really appreciate the personal, first hand information (not found in the guild books I've purchased or borrowed from the library) that can be found on this board. <BR> <BR>I would like to say thank-you to those who are willing to share their experiences and insights with those of us who are just beginning to experience to joys of travel. <BR>

Capo

I'm always a little puzzled when people ask such broad questions, like "Can you recommend a good hotel?" without any kind of explanation of what they consider "good" (e.g. location, price, amenities, etc.)