one more thing to remember... i love this site because people are so helpful and friendly. i have planned a wonderful trip to madrid this summer thanks to everyone (and i will check out the camino when in madrid, calibasco). i think the site should remain as it is (if it ain't broke, don't fix it). once you start judging people, the site becomes a popularity pool and not a site for information and people that share a common interest. to avoid people feeling as though they are not good enough to receive five stars or that the information they are providing (which is the best they can provide)is not good enough, i would recommend disabling the rating system. in my eyes, you guys are all five stars. we don't need a rating system to show that...roses.

I, too, support the disabling of the ratings. I don't think they're really very helpful. Actually, I find them distracting - I wonder why certain people have certain numbers of stars, how many people have rated them, who I should give 5 stars to (I wouldn't dream of giving fewer)... And that has nothing to do with Spain! If someone posts information that is wrong or misleading, many fine members correct it politely and immediately.We don't need ratings. Let's get rid of them!

Well, I've not been on the board for long, but so far I wouldn't rate anyone at under 5 stars. Everyone's been extremely helpful and (generally) polite. I don't see the point of rating the members.

I agree! Let us not fall into the so-called rating. We are all members in good standing. Without this board, my recent Spain escapades would not have been magical and memorable. To MM's members who took time to share their experiece and impressions, GRACIAS!
Viva to all MM's members.

Okay folks! The masses have spoken. I don't need to wait until tonight after hearing from all of you, our honorable and -oh-so-wise members. (okay. It's getting a little deep in here. hehehe..)

BE GONE, CLASS-DIVIDING RATING SYSTEM!!!!! You have spoken!! Be gone! Be Gone! (Did I tell you I was trying out for an Off-Broadway play? I'm acting as a tree stump. Hahaha.. Just kidding)

Thanks for your input!!!

Saludos, MadridMan

Thanks, MadridMan and to everyone for posting their thoughts about the subject... no more discussions about stars, on to items involving only MADRID!!!

... well....yes. Madrid and ALL of Spain!!! NO MORE STARS!

This is starring to sound like the Sneetches!

Oh dear.......here we go again! First it was speedos, then capris.....where IS that Anglo-American dictionary?? What are the Sneetches? Oops, rambling again....I didn't mean to get sidetracked, I just wanted to give a cheer for mob rule!

Hi all,

Anchovy - Dr. Seuss from the Sneetches.

Now, the Star-Belly Sneetches
Had bellies with stars.
The Plain-Belly Sneetches
Had none upon thars.

Straight from the Seuss's mouth I guess

They sure are ugly looking critters! Remind me of the first girl I dated
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Thanks everyone for the kind words. I know that the rest deserved them, along with many that weren't even mentioned, but I'm still kind of new to these boards, and I do have a somewhat "wry sense of humor (Anchovy: humour)" Not everyone likes that.

As far as ratings go, I remember P.T. Barnum, who said;

"You can please all the people some of the time, some of the people all the time, but never please all the people all the time."

Just remember, on a personal note;

"To thine own self be true."

I'm always reminded that one of the longest running, and read items in the Readers Digest is the section called, "Humor is the best medicine." If you keep that in the back of your mind, and laugh at the misfortunes you have along the way, you'll wake up with a smile on your face, have a few belly laughs during the day, and go to sleep with a smile on your face.

If it gets any better than that... I don't know. Anyway, that's my philosophy on life.

Wolf :p