If you figured out…

Only with a PM

Might be fun to drop hints to them about eccentric relatives you have in common on a thread they’ve posted on. Like things that relative habitually does during the Thanksgiving dinner.

Just be sure the idiosyncrasies you refer to are not THEIRS!

It shouldn’t be too difficult for them to catch on if Toby is not a pseudonym.

I did notice one personal friend posting on this site. I always say hi.

I noticed someone. But they were a one and done and I know they would have been mortified to have been “caught”.

I guess it might depend on the post. If it was something we discussed and they didn’t accept my answer or was something negative about traveling with me, I would definitely ignore and never acknowledge it. Even though it would bother me.
If it was just a general question I would PM them or even text.

Why not?...

I wouldn’t say anything on the forum, but I would give them a friendly call to say we have travel in common & hear about their upcoming trip. : )

This happened to me! It was my BIL! Instead of posting, he called to ask for more specific advice on where he was going. LOL!

I saw a work colleague on Tinder a few years ago. We knew each other pretty well so I was able to have a laugh about it with her.

This is what social media does to people?

Toby!!!!! I wondered if that was you!

I agree with the suggestion to drop them a PM.

What would you get out of outing them? It might ruin their fun.

What would you get out of outing them? It might ruin their fun.

I guess after 3 years this is the approach I am taking. Although a note to all those posting personal items like surgeries and spousal arguments that online may not be as anonymous as assumed.

I haven't seen any talk of surgeries and spousal arguments here !

Depends on our relationship with this relative. If everything's good, I'd just PM them (I know it might feel awkward to "meet up" under another person's post). If there's a bad tension, I'd probably avoid contacting them. It's not like I'm going to go out of my way just to not talk to them, but if there's a way to not interrupt each other's peace, I'm going to take it

I have several travel buddies from RS tours that post on here, too and we acknowledge each other frequently. Maybe I’m missing something, is there something to be ashamed of when posting on this site?

is there something to be ashamed of when posting on this site?

Well, my opinion is that frequent posting is a bit of a mental/social disorder, which I am guilty of also.

Good point toby! There is a clear correlation to insanity and posting frequency. I hear once you go over 700 posts all hope of normalcy is lost. And the more you post, the worse it gets.

Happy travels.

What an odd little thread.

Gerry, you, at over 2000 posts, probably see "odd" as positively delightful!

Happy travels

It's the folk with high post counts that keep the forum active and alive. I've found it quite easy to run up 2000 posts because there's something to talk about so often here. I think it's one of the most courteous and wholesome places for discussion I've ever encountered on the internet. I personally don't think there's anything to be embarrassed about in being a user on the RSE forum. I wouldn't have a problem in acknowledging someone I know from real life, or if I were to encounter any of the users here in person.

I dunno there Gerry. I find it hard to respect any forum that would allow me to post on it.