But say we had the F2F in Chicago again- You'd still not have the money and not have been to NO.

I'm not seeing your point at all.

If I go to NOLA for the F2F I feel like I will have to choose between hangin' with the 'istas or seeing the city. Since the reason I would go to the F2F in NOLA is the F2F...I would not be seeing the city.

If I go to NOLA for, say, a vacation...I will be seeing the city and will not have to choose.

If we were to have the F2F in Chicago, I would not even be thinking about NOLA.

I would be thinking "Crap, Chicago's got all this stuff I should see...but I wanna hang with the Buffistas!"

I don't think it's fair to ask people who would like to have extra attractions available to forego them to "protect" folks who wouldn't and can't trust themselves to pass up the temptation of non-Buffista activities. Theoretically we're all adults here, and capable of taking responsibility for our own vacation choices—regardless of whether those choices are exclusively group activities or involve sightseeing on the side.

I think her point was that if you go to NOLA and don't see NOLA, or you go to Chicago and don't see NOLA -- it nets the same -- Buffistas seen, NOLA unseen.

You just had better food in the former case.

So it's a problem for any city?

I don't think it's fair to ask people who would like to have extra attractions available to forego them to "protect" folks who wouldn't and can't trust themselves to pass up the temptation of non-Buffista activities. Theoretically we're all adults here, and capable of taking responsibility for our own vacation choices—regardless of whether those choices are exclusively group activities or involve sightseeing on the side.

I'm not asking anyone to "protect" me. I'm stating a preference. You don't like that preference, that's your bag.

Personally, I don't think it's "fair" to ask people to travel to an amazing location to see people when it's going to be difficult to both see the people and experience the amazing location.

And, you can take that "Theoretically" and...change it to "actually".

And, speaking for myself, eat...a lot.

In my world, regional food counts as atmosphere.

I don't think it's fair to ask people who would like to have extra attractions available to forego them to "protect" folks who wouldn't and can't trust themselves to pass up the temptation of non-Buffista activities. Theoretically we're all adults here, and capable of taking responsibility for our own vacation choices—regardless of whether those choices are exclusively group activities or involve sightseeing on the side.

And yes, this.

One thing for NOLA - we probably won't startle the locals.

Matt, I'm not espousing a position, sweetie. Truly. I was just saying what I thought MM meant, is all.

Me? I don't mind either way. So unless it's someplace I really have reasons to not want to visit - I am not, for instance, going to Orlando, Florida, and giving either Der Maus and Jeb Bush my tourist dollar - I'm fine with it. My caveats are more along the lines of, can I get a nonstop flight there, and is the weather going to kill me, and are there lots of rednecks?

But you are, I think in this case, experiencing the amazing location just by being there- see my pitch above about not having to go out and see the cool stuff.

The talky-meatness of us might startle them, or cause them to hand us a drink.