Originally Posted by
thijsseh
No need for helmets, pith or otherwise, I would have thought.
This seems so obvious and I am completely with you.
You will remember the person last week that you advised to go to Vienna. I fully agreed with you, but I also offered the idea to see Salzburg or Innsbruck. Why? Not that this would be what I'd do myself for a 3 day stop, I would do Vienna by itself, just like you. But a significant number of FT'ers have got this travel mania and always need to be on the move and 'see more'. So I added that 'option'.
It is especially difficult (or irritating actually) when someone (usually from across the pond) asks someting like: What are the best 3 cities to see in Europe. Or maybe even worse: Is Stockholm better than Madrid? Huh? For what....? I then wonder how the question 'Is Denver better than Houston' would go down.
So, I decided some time ago already that I will only offer my advice when I have sufficient input to make it valuable.
You have my support for your 'campaign' ^
It's sad really but I was quite relieved to read your post because I was quite certain I'd be in for a bad time ..............
The strength of FT is knowledgeable, helpful intelligent people offering information to people that want it and hopefully appreciate it. It really concerns me that people who often clearly brag about their limited knowledge - "I've been to Bloggypoo three times ....." - offer detailed advice to people who have clearly provided insufficient information. Insufficient knowledge and insufficient information provides a fairly disasterous bit of advice. It is though the poster is simply seeking the opportunity to relive their trip rather than provide useful assistance in response to other FT'ers.
If you were to go to a doctor and say "I have stomach ache" you'd expect some more questions before a solution or prescription were provided. If someone says "what's the best restaurant in London" surely you have to ask " "what food do you like and how much money do you have" before you answer!? That is what irks me. The preparedness to answer without even the need for sufficient information.
As it happens ..... I have been to Paris ... for reasons that I will not bore you with ..... literally hundreds of times. I use to visit once or twice a week for several years. I have family and friends there and now just visit a couple of times a year. I know it well. I've been to Amsterdam a couple of dozen times - sometimes work .... sometimes rice tables. It's so close I've taken an extended family group for the day!
How on earth can you advise a person on how to split their time if you have no idea what interests them? You may as well simply say "split it 50/50 .................."!
I think if we as "co-owners" of FT are to preserve FT then we need to (1) welcome new people (2) provide replies ONLY if we are sufficiently knowledgeable to answer the question - and resist the temptation if we don't and (3) if the question provides insufficient information then ask for it first. In return we should expect the posters to return and engage and provide reciprocal support.
That's me done ................. but thanks again!
