www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Matt, sorry I phucked up your name.

I always respond when people libel me, no matter what.

I don't write much about CR anymore, guilty as charged. But is still do. I posted some advice two or three days ago to a CR newb who was planning his trip and had a crazy itinerary. But if you have a beef over the interest in Colombia or the Medellin threads on this board, take it up with the owners and admins. You pay them, not me.

Yes I've made my preference for Medellin over the Gulch known. So have many others on this board. But I am not in the CR Sucks club. CR is a beautiful country. I'm maybe a member of the "mercenary Del Rey hookers suck club". But I've never ever said I don't like Costa Rica.

I appreciate the offer of a beer at LL. While you're at it, buy Hicotane a beer and the two of you can debate whether I'm trying to get CR guys to come to Medellin or keep them out. He thinks I'm trying to scare all the gringos away and keep Medallo all to myself.

Anyhoo, hope this all is just some latent frustration in combination with a bad day and it's nothing personal. I wish you the best and no hard feelings on my part. Have a shot of Centenario and some pu*sy, you'll feel better.


Vince

The board has been slow for months! To post something takes several minutes! I am sure Orange isn't the first one that has left.

Not so fast Captain I did not Read the Thread before I posted:




The only thing that pisses me off more than a slow board, and posts about how great Medillin and Colombia are, is someone who does not read the thread......

Just phucking with you, Georgee

I'm sure there are reasons the board is slow(I also don't buy that someone bought CRT with the idea of screwing it up - then again, I could take you to businesses in CR that you would swear that was the end game ) , but I don't buy its because of the increase in membership, or b/c more are posting

I also find the timing troubling b/c one day it was fine, and seemed really screwed up the next - message to the owners - you need to fix this problem; its not something a few malcontents dreamed up.

have a Medellin section. its been suggested before.
and keep the board cleaned up.
merge threads about the same thing and delete flaming posts and/or posters.
not all that hard when it comes down to it.
boards need moderation.

_________________
im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

Wow. This indeed is troubling news. But I can't say that I'm surprised at this decision, nor do I blame you. We have been friends for many years, and I can certainly understand how you feel. Personally, I myself am hanging on by a thread, but I have not given up yet. Almost... but not yet.

Orange - your contribution to CRT over the past several years + has been phenomenal, and the information you've posted, along with your never-ending effort(s) to help newbies, has always been truly admirable. You've taken more time and effort, posting pertinent and informative posts, than any single member that I know. Yes, it definitely seems that CRT of late has taken a huge, sad turn for the worse. Many of us who used to post all the time are now sitting on the sidelines, simply lurking, waiting to see some kind of improvement. We all still talk via back-channels, and we all still meet in different locales throughout the year, both in CR and other countries. But because of the current "personality" of CRT, many long-time members have chosen to travel "below the radar". Regardless, it's still sad to see what has become of this site.

If nothing else, I am grateful for the true gentlemen that I've met along the way, and the great friendships that have been forged, through and because of CRT. The site may be on life-support for the time being, and it's anyone's guess what the future of CRT will be. But at this point (for me personally) it really doesn't matter. And simply because of business obligations, I will still continue to travel to CR with frequency.

I still get numerous PM's from new members, as well as long-time members, and I have always done my best to answer them to the best of my ability. Eventually, I too will probably fade into the sunset, as so many others already have done. But nevertheless, it's been a helluva ride while it lasted.

Orange - I wish you the very best of health and happiness, wherever life's roads may take you. And I look forward to hooking up with you again for a cocktail or three (wherever it may be) for many years to come, with or without CRT!

Respectfully,
Mucho Gusto

_________________
You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

We have a Trip Reports from Around the World or something like that section, we all know what I am referring to, where considerate guys post their non CR trip reports or info. That's so guys like me who are not ever going to Colombia or Thailand do not have to waste time reading about stuff in places they are never going to go.

So when I log on and hit the button for latest posts and see a bunch in that Trip Reports from Around the World or whatever CRT is exactly calling it, I know I can ignore those threads.

Please don't change that and force us or a new CR traveler to read a thread only to figure out it's not about CR in the 1st place, it's about Medellin, on a supposedly dedicated Costa Rica board. As it is now, I think it's 50-50 CR v CO posts on this CR board, which is kind of stange. But, easy to ignore as per the above so don't change that. That part ain't broke, don't fix it.

Vince says he is quitting this board to start a dedicated Medelllin board. Based on the Medeillin posts we get on this board, I think he has a great idea.

Mkink,

I think it's safe to assume that the requests to hear from sponsors was in hopes of putting pressure on Admins to do something about the performance issues.

Perhaps you can organize the sponsors to get Admin to delete the "Trip Reports and Information from Around the World" section. Which is where non CR guys post. Or, you, like everyone else can simply ignore that section.

I think Vince's post are valuable and informative. You don't. So don't read them.

And more importantly don't get snotty with anyone who posts. Why take a chance on chasing away potential members and contributors. Also, posts denigrating other members reflects poorly on your character and by extension to your business.

Interesting that until you posted about Vince I had never read one of your posts (that I can remember) and had no idea who you were. Why? Because I am not interested in the subjects you post on so don't read them.

You are correct. The board started out as a resource for CR. It quickly became a sight for all kinds of information from all kinds of places. IMHO, that's a good thing.

FWIW

"And more importantly don't get snotty with anyone who posts. Why take a chance on chasing away potential members and contributors. Also, posts denigrating other members reflects poorly on your character and by extension to your business." My reputation stands intact Goodtogo - Been around 7 years and we are well known with an excellent reputation to being fair and open minded. Nothing denigrating in my post - just calling it the way I see it and Informing people to review the source of the information (i.e. review all poster's past post before taking it as gospel) - Nothing is more frustrating when I read a post that is inaccurate or outdated by someone who has not been to CR in years. Re-read Vince's response and tell me you can say the same. Obscenities, personal attack..... Not good for a board that wants open communication! Again, if you don't want to post - don't post. You asked the sponsor's to respond and we did. This board has been helpful to many over the years - I find the abusive nature of a few members to be more of a problem than the site speed. JMHO.

Vince wrote

"Truth be told, the Sportsmens Lodge is the only thing I miss about San Jose. And not because of the chicas.

Good luck in the future Bill. Thanks for helping me enjoy my visits there. Who knows, maybe hell will freeze and someday I might somehow end up in San Jose again, though I doubt it. Buen suerte.


Vince"

Hardly informative Goodtogo and hardly objective - just one persons opinion - Again went through your posts - all about MDE - Nothing about CR. Not sure when was the last time you were in CR as it appears you live in MDE, and you are right I do not post much UNLESS I am sure that the information is accurate and not just my opinion.

Last but not least

"And more importantly don't get snotty with anyone who posts. Why take a chance on chasing away potential members and contributors." Good advice to follow - I do not post much (and many others) because of the Flaming done by people who post inaccurate, outdated or slanted information. I received many PM's thanking me for my post and I personally am happy with the new moderation. Maybe it will add validity to the forum and not just be an avenue for people to push personal agendas. ISG moderates all the time. Admin is working on the problem and hopefully will fix it soon. Good luck with the new forum if that is what you wish to do.

Matt, bro, good job digging back up that hatchet I'd just buried.

Now I have to correct your wrong conjectures and outright lies yet again.

One - I was in Costa Rica last year and 3x the year before. I just didn't post a TR here about those trips because a few bad apples had already soured me on posting those here.

Two - what outdated info and lies exactly am I posting about CR here? Is saying that the Sportsmens Lodge is the only thing I miss about the Gulch a lie? Or is it just a true statement of how I personally feel that you don't like? If I've posted a lie about CR or outdated info, quote me on those supposed lies in this thread and I'll gladly eat some crow. But unless you can quote me on lies and misinformation, take a chill pill.

Three - what personal attacks did I use against you? I'm sorry for using adult language on the monger board, and for pointing out that you came after me personally out of your vested interest in CR monger tourism. A veces la verdad duele amigo!

Fourth - if this is supposedly a CR only board - do like GTG aptly said - tell the admins to delete the Trip Reports from Around The World section that has saved CRT from near-total irrelevance the past couple of years.

Finally - this is where I say enough is enough. You've had an itch to bitch and you've scratched it. This is not helpful for anyone. I'm just one of many guys who are fed up with the direction CRT has gone and who had some great times before in CR and have since moved on to a place we ourselves like better. This isn't a diss against the guys who love the Gulch or to the guys who first brought me here to the dance that we call mongering in Latin America. I'll forever be grateful to CRT guys like Orange, True_Sportsman, GoodToGo, BlueDevil, Phoenix Rising and of course Medellin Paisa (Noah) who left a trail for me and others to follow. But I have my reasons for taking a leave of absence and I don't need to justify them to anyone least of all a guy who doesn't know me and has never interacted with me before on this board until he publicly called me a fraud and a liar.

Now then Matt, if you've got it in you, please let me finally make my peaceful motherfucking exit without further provocation for Phuck sakes, that would be terrific.

For everyone else - talk to ya soon, que te vaya bien!


Vince

Hey guys.

We are currently looking into upgrading our hosting service again. Behind the scenes we are working ALL THE TIME to keep CRT up and running. Making improvements, fighting off attacks. Looks like we are going to have to beef up again.

I don't want to go into too many details because I don't want to give our attackers any usable information that would help them improve their hacking attempts on us.

I will say that we are going to make a massive upgrade to our hosting service - all this means for you guys is that the site will operate MUCH faster.

We are also implementing some changes to the new VIP Gallery to make it faster as well. Thanks to all of you who gave us feedback and for all the kind words about our work in bringing the gallery back! Your input has been extremely valuable and has helped us make a GREAT VIP Gallery.

I will post again and make a general announcement once our upgrades are complete. Should be by wednesday at the latest. In the meantime the site seems to be running smoothly.

Thanks gentlemen!

_________________
Alex
The Admin

Can't we all just get along? I've been a member of this site for almost 9 years... and I intend to remain an active member... regardless of who stays or who leaves. I'm looking forward to my first trip to CR in over 4 1/2 years (staying at La Amistad). If Admin tires of my posts on Colombia... he always has the option to tell me to cease and desist or even ban me. Until that time, 95% of my posts will be about Colombia... and maybe even a TR about my trip to CR. I'm interested to see how much the gulch has changed since my last trip. Pura Vida to all... no matter where you choose to live or go.

not sure why it needs to be about one extreme or the other but many of the guys who now enjoy medellin more started out in CR.
i think all the talk about how the time they spent in CR was the best and "the good old days" is at least up for debate when the recently revived vip photo secetion was resurrected.
sure there are good looking women as well as some not so much. seems to me like thats the same today as it was back then. i see and hear guys really enjoying themselves each time down.
if the full gfe CO thing is where guys that used to have fun in CR have decided suits them better i think thats great for them. and its not without its issues as the threads here also document. i read them with interest but have zero to add so i don't.
if you have nothing to add to the conversation on CR other than it sucks then why comment at all?
it shouldn't become a look at me and how much smarter than you i am because i go to CO constant stream of pissing on CR.
pros and cons exist in every destination.
just because you used to drink coors and now drink peronis doesn't mean coors sucks right? ok well maybe coors does suck but not everyone has the budget for imports either.
to say you can't have a GREAT time in CR still is just not the truth.

_________________
im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

Just want to thank Vince the Prince, Good to Go, Blue Devil, LAdiablo and all the other thoughtful Medellin posters for their invaluable posts.

I'm a long-time CR resident and a frequent Medellin visitor and I appreciate both places. I've yet to meet any of you Medellin posters, but you all have contributed to my having richer and more satisfying visits to Colombia.

_________________
It's faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, and more money--Tom T. Hall
No man is a failure who is enjoying life--William Faulkner

Thanks! That was a very gracious thing to say.

Nobody should object to CO trip reports posted in Trip Reports from Around the World. They are easily ignorable by guys like me that don't travel elsewhere and obviously there's alot of interest judging by the # of posts. I only care about CR travel so I never go to those posts. Done.

Incivility on a board more or less comes with life on the internet. Faceless, no consequences for an insult except retaliatory rants. Especially true on a macho board with high T levels? Maybe room for moderation here, I know another board I occasionally visit the owner deletes posts he thinks are a personal attack. Time consuming I'd imagine. Maybe our Admin has his hands full right now but maybe something he ought to revisit.

I remember he posted upon his arrival that that would be the case. Hasn't happened, did close a few threads, except I do think the reason we don't hear from one guy who was a real piece of work (we all know who, the long timer with diff board names and would say anything about somebody he had a hard on for, no matter how bad or false or private) is because of Admin 3.

The Admin of the other board clamped down on this same guy, publicly saying he couldn't post, under the same name he used on this board, "or any of his aliases" The jerk was so obvious--he was posting a question under one name so that he could answer it under his main name. A 5th grader could figure it out. That Admin cracked down very soon after a couple of guys recognzied his M.O. from this board and posted about it and complained and clued him in. I haven't seen him post there at all after that.

CRT is still the best board for CR info of almost any kind. I wish it was here when I started going to CR, and man do I ever regret the time I wasted, can't underestimate it, that I wouldn't wasted have chasing and searching dead ends. New guys, if they spend a few hours and read the posts and stuff, can almost hit the ground running, at the very least they'll know the basics of life in CR and how the gulch works and where to stay and go on their first trip. How many posts from guys have you seen who made reservations at unfriendly or expensive or way out of the way places not knowing the better alternatives because when they did they didn't know about CRT, just as an example? Or the new guy that wants to know where he can find a girl at an isolated 5 star Guanacaste beach resort 20 miles away from a "town"?

I hope the search function also gets back to where it was. I know some guys think it's wrong to refer newer guys to that option on new guy posts, but on some issues: cell phones or rent cars for example, there are so many posts with many, many informed and great detailed responses that took guys alot of time to write and would answer 90% of the q's. I don't think that is wrong to do, cordially, with an added invite for a PM or follow up post if they still had a q. I often refer new guys with the link to Orange's lengthy CR for Dummies post which I see he has revised. Had to take Orange hours to compose and then periodically revise. Same thing. That's not being rude. I think referring to the search function re: alot of topics is good advice if you ask me.

I think PM's should be used more to cut the very obvious advertising spam posts of some and also for posts that only the two posters care about, like "what time are you getting to the airport?" And highly recommended for guys that have a gripe. It often works almost like a mediation before the divorce litigation bomb explodes. I think it would save alot of antagonistic posts, and maybe should be incorporated into the rules. Besides, nobody likes to read the often tasteless banter. it's supposed to be "a gentleman's board". I know that's not an easy or natural mind set in alot of siutations, but that's what this board advertises itself as being.

I take admin 3 at his word he's working on the tech problems.

CRT is really, really a great resource for CR players or just tourists, under appreciated in the wealth of info (go to yahoo or the rest on the net and see the drivel you get). But needs constant new blood now that alot of guys are bailing (I get it--they are only contributing and get nothing--they know have what they need to know about CR so why bother with slow speeds and insults and the rest); and so some babysitting from annoying new guy posts is necessary; less in-fighting; and maybe a little "judicious" moderation on the personal stuff.