ilikeanswers

1 hour ago, MacMadame said:

While I wouldn't put all that info in public, I find it hard to believe that thieves spend time on CC looking through Roll Call threads and trying to access M&G spreadsheets to decide who to rob. What are the chances that the robber is in the same area as the people post TMI? Slim, IMO. It's not a very efficient way to find empty houses to rob.

I was thinking exactly this. On FB you can search for people via location so it makes it more feasible for thieves to use it as a target finder. CC you can't do this even if we list what city we live in so it would be very hit and miss to trawl through every roll call in the hope of finding that one close enough you don't need a plane to reach. And those who have the skill to track someone via the internet would have far more lucrative opportunities than what they could possibly earn from robbing a house. 

26 minutes ago, Aquahound said:

My hope is that the reporting up there is much more factual and much less opinionated and satirical than it is down here.  However, based on the few conversations I've had with my northern friends, it is not. 

We had a prominent TV journalist retire recently and she said whenever she interviewed a left leaning politician she would get hate messages claiming she was pandering to the left while also getting hate messages that she was unnecessarily aggressive to the interviewee and showing right wing bias. Then when she interviewed right wing politicians she got hate messages that she was unnecessarily aggressive and showing left wing bias while also getting hate messages that she was pandering to the right😂. It reminded me of a meme that said "Facts are the opinions you agree with, opinions are the facts you disagree with".

Reading some of these comments I'm wondering if I misunderstood what political talk actually is. When I wrote my first comment on this thread the situation I was referring to we just happen to have interest in the same issue though different opinions about its legislation however we never talked about politicians, political parties or elections. I guess it makes me wonder when does a shared interest in an issue end and political talk begins🤔? 

We wanted to visit Yowah on our QLD road trip but we hit lots of rain and the roads flooded. Looks like an interesting place.

Another location where we were thwarted by rain. Looks lovely in the photo but behind us was a storm brewing so we just missed out on the highest point. Identify this Island:

4 minutes ago, CPT Trips said:

No, it’s bigger than that. Do a search on “satanic conspiracy taylor and chiefs” (although I don’t know whether your location will skew the results. 

Googled and I probably lost a few brain cells 😵‍💫. Though I'm starting to understand why people want to talk USA politics. No one discusses Satanism in our elections😂. 

2 minutes ago, CPT Trips said:

And many politicians and commentators that see a “Satanic conspiracy” in the Chiefs win . . . 

That witchcraft just keeps rearing its ugly head through catchy pop tunes and sequined costumes🧙🪄

1 hour ago, CPT Trips said:

We could spice it up and discuss the Ashes and the Cricket World Cup.

You mean sore losers complaining😜? 

46 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

“Taylor Swift - person of the year”. — wow, just wow!

I am no Swifty, there is only three songs I enjoy from her but even I can recognise the woman has achieved a lot. Creating a multi billion dollar music business is no small feat. And she did it without trashing hotel rooms, going on benders or turning up late for shows. There are far more vacuous celebrities out there than Taylor Swift, I would rather talk about her than many reality stars. 

Yowah? 

52 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

Perhaps the new topic to be avoided is Taylor Swift :).  

If there is one topic I enjoy it is the Taylor Swift Ticketmaster controversy. Anything that brings a little pain to Live Nation brings me a little joy😜. But that is a story for another forum obviously (or a cruise😂). 

12 minutes ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

I didn’t ask the Brit about their thoughts about Harry & Meghan, but I unfortunately was seated nearby and had to listen to a laundry list of how awful they (H&M) were, how awful Harry’s book was, etc.  I also overheard an Aussie being asked about H&M and they were not complimentary either.  I made a note-to-self to never ask anyone from the British Empire their thoughts on Harry & Meghan.       ;  )

As someone from the British Empire if you brought up Harry & Meghan I honestly would not mind. We are not all obsessively hating them😂. I enjoy talking about pop culture. It doesn't rile me up the way it does some people. 

Eulo? 

9 hours ago, ldubs said:

Seems there is a heavy dose of confirmation bias on both extremes.  

Extremists aren't usually great conversationalists😜. In my experience they are generally uninformed about the topic that is suppose to be their passion and just quote Tweets (or is it Xs now?) and memes shared on a chat room. If someone's educational resource is a meme I am not discussing anything with them let alone politics😂. 

19 minutes ago, Kristelle said:

is what do you/did you do for a living a bad question??

 

When meeting people on vacation or day trips or anywhere this seems a common  ice breaker question to me - have been asked that many times and never thought it or found it problematic for anyone.

To be honest I would rather talk politics than what I do for a living😂 as it usually leads to questions I am tired of answering and comments that make me uncomfortable. Anyway now I just don't tell the truth and everyone can be happy. 

5 hours ago, clo said:

I went through that for just too long. Too far apart for me is just tiring and doesn't accomplish. And, hey, I'm on vacay!

Sorry I am a little confused by what you are trying to say. Did you reply to me by accident? 

I once had a conversation about politics with a stranger on a cruise who was more opposite to me in my politics and we were able to keep it respectful. Overall we both gave each other something to think about. So I do believe it is possible but I think it comes down to whether both parties are willing to listen as much as be heard. 

1 hour ago, Hlitner said:

Some of the posts have me shaking my head in confusion and wonder.  I get that places like McDonalds are an option for rest rooms or even a coke.  I even enjoy our US fast food places...when we are in the USA.  But the idea of having lunch in McDonalds on the Champs Elysees or anywhere in the world (outside of the USA) is something I do not understand.  Food/wine are a part of travel and various cultures.  Why folks would go to France, Hong Kong, Singapore, Prague, and eat at McDonalds or KFC is beyond my own understanding.  

 

We have done many overnight cruise stops in Lisbon (for whatever reason this is pretty common) and never considered eating lunch or dinner on our ship.  This is true even when we are on a luxury ship with excellent cuisine.  My goodness, we are in Lisbon which is a city with many fine restaurants and lots of delicious fresh seafood (not frozen like on cruise ships).  And consider that in Lisbon one could go to dinner shows with Fado!  Some will say they do not like Fado (or have no clue what it is) but consider that you have traveled a long way to Lisbon so why not sample a unique kind of music and wonderful local cuisine?  And passing up a chance to enjoy lunch or dinner or dinner anywhere in France, Italy, Spain, etc just makes little sense.  In these countries (and many others) their cuisine is an important part of local culture.  Why bother to travel if you want to simply take home with you....such as going to McDonalds.

 

Hank

The answer is pretty simple, people want to enjoy their trips😁. I was reading in another forum about a couple who spent 28hrs on a flight to Thailand to stay in an all inclusive resort. Two weeks they didn't leave that resort, spend most of it in their room. No local culture, eateries or shows. And they absolutely loved it. To me that sounds like a trip from hell😂, but for them it was bliss. When you're spending that much time and money on an experience the foremost thing is that it is enjoyable to you. We are all different and we all need different things to be happy. 

30 minutes ago, clo said:

And likely the most environmentally incorrect. They usually have one calf and in a typical ranch the amount of water that's required to provide them with hay is huge. 

Not to get too off topic but large scale pig farming has its own environmental issues with waste run off destroying waterways. 

10 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

Ah, probably not, as pork is forbidden by many parts of the Muslim,  Jewish and small parts of the Christian world. Beef would probably be the better guess. 

No it is definitely pork according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation. Pork is 36% while beef is 24%. If you think about it Muslims only make up a quarter of the world population while Jews less than 1% that includes those who aren't particularly observant so take away those and it will be even less non pork eaters. As for pork adverse Christians that minority is so tiny it won't make a dent next to populous countries like China, Philippines or Mexico where pork is hugely popular😂. 

16 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

I am sure you are right - but what’s the point?   I know you get a feel for whether a lot of people like something - but is that why you hang out on Cruise Critic - to see if other people might like someone else’s post - without knowing why?

One thing about people liking a post it usually means people agree with the statement made which is similar to corroborating a statement. Therefore there must be some truth to the statement if others feel their experiences match that statement enough for them to like or up vote the post. I know it is not a perfect system, and demographics would play a part in the results but I do think there is some value in seeing how others react to a post. 

21 minutes ago, Aquahound said:

The point was......it was ONE solitary meal during what was almost a 3-week trip eating almost exclusively local meals, and I happened to like it.  If you can't accept that, just move the heck on.  Good heavens. 

I once ended up having McDonalds in France. It was our first time in France and we underestimated what close everything after lunch hours meant so the only place left opened was McDonalds. Have to say the French McDonalds was the tastiest McDonalds I had especially the cheese in the burger. It felt like an up market McDonalds😂. 

12 minutes ago, ldubs said:

What is the first?  Pork?  

Yep probably due to all the ways it can be cured😄

8 minutes ago, clo said:

We've traveled the last few years on Oceania and their wifi has been fine for us. I can't remember any time we've actually NEEDED to make contact.

Some people need to check in on family, sometimes even work will butt into your holiday. Once I had an issue that didn't resolve before I left for my trip so I was really grateful for the WiFi so I could still send the relevant emails

8 minutes ago, clo said:

I really need to count the number of countries I"VE been to. (My husband traveled intl a lot for business.) But I've hit six continents. Just checked: I've been to Antarctica but they have no restaurants including fast food 

🙂

There are apps you can use where you input your countries and cities and it calculates all your travel statistics. I find them fun plus it is a great excuse to reminisce over trips😊. 

9 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

Some need to make contact.  McD is the place to go.  

 

Of all the countries I've been to (53 in total), the most common fast food seems to be KFC.  I haven't actually counted.  It just seems they are everywhere.  

Not really surprising as chicken is the second most eaten meat globally. 

56 minutes ago, K32682 said:

My interests are more in eating the real thing from genuine local vendors instead of whatever pale imitation an American fast-food giant decides to slap together to pander to local tastes.  

It might not be your thing but it is definitely a phenomenon. There are travellers who make it their mission to try McDonalds at least once in every country they visit. Funnily I have heard the same critiques levelled at cruise ship food😂.