Agree or Disagree: Trip Reports?

[Gromit]

Good one CA Girl!!

[jimg20]

Could it be that that "professional writer" might be a writer of technical manuals or instructions for putting your kid's bike together? Maybe that's why she/he doesn't appreciate pictures of toes in the sand! LOL! [/color]

My thought, that I didn't want to post over there, is that the post was written by a profoundly unhappy person who seems to have zero empathy. Empathy is defined as the ability to feel what others are feeling. She had none of that in this message. That makes the message that much sadder.

Since others have said that this is uncharacteristic for her, perhaps she is in the middle of a personal crisis. As Jimmy says, "You need a holiday."

Please excuse any grammaical or spellling errors you find here.

JIM

[liamsaunt]

I love the trip reports, and try to read all of them. I love looking at people's pictures, no matter what they are of. I feel like I know a lot of people on this forum from reading about their St. John adventures. If you don't want to read something, just skip over it. It is not that hard.

She sounds like a very dissatisfied person. Oh well.

[PA Girl]

As Jimmy says, "You need a holiday."

JIM

I love that song! the cd is always in my car changer.

[jimg20]

As Jimmy says, "You need a holiday."

JIM

I love that song! the cd is always in my car changer.

The live version I hope.

JIM

[chrisn]

Just WOW! I haven't been over to TA since we got back from our trip in June but had to pull it up to see what everyone was talking about.

I'm also familiar with this poster and I felt this post was pretty uncharacteristic of the majority of her? postings. Very negatively opinionated and also kind of insulting to the work and fun that most TR writers put into their writings.

I write TR's just as much for me as I do for you. I want to remember and have a laugh later on down the road, and it also make me feel good to think that I may have contributed in some small way. Adding experiences and knowledge. Paying it forward you know?

I LOVE TR's! I can gain something good from almost every one I read. I like the short ones. I like the long ones. I like the detailed ones and I LOVE all the unique pic postings to go along with all of them. And I agree, if I'm not digging on one I am reading, I just close it up and continue on my way.

Of course I have my favorites, but I almost always appreciate each and every one I read and certainly all the time and effort everyone puts into them sharing their journey and knowledge.

In other words...I completely disagree with the OP's thread and well...You guys and your TR's ROCK!

[jimg20]

Chrisn,

If she had a problem with some of the reports, she would have had a stroke when reading yours. That's why were are here. Keep up the TR's. We love them.

JIM

[stjdeb]

Good morning! I admit I have been a long time lurker, only because I felt I didn't have alot of information to offer. We have been to STJ three times now and I am still learning alot about that little island from all of the forums. I can't imagine the forums without trip reports!!! I remember so many of them, and they were all helpful and beautifully written.

Liamsaunt and the turtle pics(or food porn), WOW! Should that have been missed? I think not! Caribert just had a day on the water and that looked like alot of fun! Should that have been deleted? NO! A few weeks ago there was a trip report about a couple getting engaged on Honeymoon, should I have skipped it? Of course not - it made me cry. Chris and her family had a ball for two weeks - did we need a trip report for every day? H**l yeah!! I guess what I'm saying is the trip reports are a wonderful mini trip for me while I live vicariously through someone else. Well, I guess that does sound kind creepy, but I'm sure you know what I mean. I can buy magazines with professionals writing the articles - do I? NO - I prefer this. It's personal, fun and sometimes very touching.

I guess for a first time post - this is a little wordy - what can I say? Sorry

Deb

[pjayer]

Welcome, stjdeb!

[mbw1024]

all good words, Deb. welcome!

[Gromit]

Go Deb and can we have a forum "Amen!" ?

[Beesmom]

I tend to lurk but I'll throw in my 0.02$ - I live for St. John trip reports, no matter how small or large, or well or poorly written (especially since I won't be seeing STJ again until sometime in 2010 ).

So for everyone who has ever posted a trip report here:

THANK YOU!!!

-Beesmom

[cass]

Welcom DEb, and you made a GREAT point! Anybody can buy travel magazines, but they are filled with articles by people who are PAID to make the place sound like heaven! Me - I would rather read real opinions, stories, etc. by peers who work hard so they can play hard, and find enjoyment in little things like: had a visit from the cat, that lives by the house, that has the dog... you know things like that! I love it!

[JT]

Hey,stjdeb! About time that you came out of the closet. Welcome, and watch out, for some are known to develop forum O.C.D. hanging out around here.

[stjdeb]

Trust me, I am well acquainted with forum OCD. My husband is constantly amazed when I tell him about servers leaving the island to get married or restaurants closing or re-opening with new owners, etc. I've not told him how I know these things, better to let him wonder. I can't even explain how much this forum has helped our trips. For many years we did not vacation other than weekend camping trips, very close to home. I work in the construction industry, so vacations must be taken in Feb (after W2s are printed) or March. April is the beginning of the season and I have to be here. There is not usually alot of backup in the office, so unless I went to Florida during peak season, we had no vacations. We did go to FL a few times while my daughter was growing up, but we never really cared for it. Once I talked my husband into venturing to the Virgin Islands, we were hooked. He has alot of anxiety about traveling, so the more I know, the more comfortable he is. That is where trip reports and the forums are invaluable. From the moment he arrived and saw the blue water and green mountains, he was hooked. After our first trip in 2006, several months after coming home, he built a beach bar in my backyard. The closest beach - Lake Erie - is 10 miles away, but somehow it fits. Although I still miss the real scenery!

Thanks for the warm welcome. I would probably still lurk, but this was a topic that hit close to home.
Deb