TalkBoard Elections/11 - Question 6: Do you have a role on other travel sites?

From a member:

Are you an administrator, moderator, or do you hold any financial interest for any other travel-related web site and/or travel discussion forum?

Do you believe that a TB member who holds such a position would have a conflict of interest, or at the least, give the appearance of a conflict of interest with FT?

Are you an administrator, moderator, or do you hold any financial interest for any other travel-related web site and/or travel discussion forum?

No.

Do you believe that a TB member who holds such a position would have a conflict of interest, or at the least, give the appearance of a conflict of interest with FT?

That's likely, but there may be exceptions. For example a site dedicated to charity would probably not create any conflict or perception of conflict.

From a member:

Are you an administrator, moderator, or do you hold any financial interest for any other travel-related web site and/or travel discussion forum?


Nope.

Do you believe that a TB member who holds such a position would have a conflict of interest, or at the least, give the appearance of a conflict of interest with FT?

If it is a site that is just like Flyertalk, then I think they would be a conflict of interest. But, if it was some random website that was not related to Flyertalk, then I don't think it creates a conflict of interest nor an appearance of one.

Delta747

From a member:

Are you an administrator, moderator, or do you hold any financial interest for any other travel-related web site and/or travel discussion forum?

Yes, I am very active on aviation-related forum. I read the aviation-related forum for everyday and see what happened the airline and etc. I always be more respectable to others. In particular, I didn't have a chance to post in OMNI very often. Because it was too many personal attacks in OMNI/PR. Too many politics, religious and etc.

From a member:

Are you an administrator, moderator, or do you hold any financial interest for any other travel-related web site and/or travel discussion forum?

No I do not.

Do you believe that a TB member who holds such a position would have a conflict of interest, or at the least, give the appearance of a conflict of interest with FT?

Depends. If it is a financial interest, the most definitely. The member who receives some financial incentive for promoting a specific topic will clearly be blinded from being unbaised.

From a member:

Are you an administrator, moderator, or do you hold any financial interest for any other travel-related web site and/or travel discussion forum?
No.

Do you believe that a TB member who holds such a position would have a conflict of interest, or at the least, give the appearance of a conflict of interest with FT?

Yes and no, obviously if he/she spends a lot of time on the other site, yes, but if he/she uses the interest to help him/her do better as a TalkBoard member then yes it helps.

From a member:

Are you an administrator, moderator, or do you hold any financial interest for any other travel-related web site and/or travel discussion forum?

Do you believe that a TB member who holds such a position would have a conflict of interest, or at the least, give the appearance of a conflict of interest with FT?

1. No

2. Yes it could be a conflict of interest if it was a site identical to flyertalk, but would have to be examined on a case by case basis.

(1) No.

(2) It could be. It's something that should be handled on a case-by-case basis, in my opinion. If the member has a financial stake in a site that could take members away from FT, then I think it's a conflict of interest that should preclude the member from serving.

I don't think this is a problem now, though.

From a member:

Are you an administrator, moderator, or do you hold any financial interest for any other travel-related web site and/or travel discussion forum?

Do you believe that a TB member who holds such a position would have a conflict of interest, or at the least, give the appearance of a conflict of interest with FT?

I'm not an administrator, moderator, nor do I hold any financial interest for any other travel-related web site and/or travel discussion forum.

The Balance of the Post has been edited and submitted to the Community Director

No I am not involved with any other travel forums.

I think Flyertalk is so well known and respected now in the industry that no other travel type forum comes close.

However I do believe you cannot do a role effectively if you spend time on multiple forums and certainly not in any voting or management decisions.

I do not hold any role or have any financial interest in any other forum of any kind.

Although the TalkBoard does not really have any kind of influence on decisions that would be affected by a conflict of interest, it absolutely makes sense to me that accepting a leadership role here is best served by being free from any influences or interest in a competitor of FlyerTalk.

I have on occasion posted on other forums (some travel-related) on the Internet, but FlyerTalk has always been and will continue to be by far my primary home community.

I cannot say that I do. I am a member of Airliners.net but haven't posted there in over a year.

I can see the worry about a conflict of interest but I do not think there should be limits on whether a Talk Board member can also serve in an administrative capacity elsewhere. I'd like to think that everyone running for this post is mature and trustworthy enough to know to keep their business here separate from their business elsewhere.

I cannot say that I do. I am a member of Airliners.net but haven't posted there in over a year.

I can see the worry about a conflict of interest but I do not think there should be limits on whether a Talk Board member can also serve in an administrative capacity elsewhere. I'd like to think that everyone running for this post is mature and trustworthy enough to know to keep their business here separate from their business elsewhere.

One thing I learned from my officiating world is that just the appearance of a conflict of interest is enough to erode the trust in someone. So, for example, I think Gary made the right decision when he resigned from TB and from being a moderator here when he took on a formal role on MP.

To me, though, this is more of an academic question. It's up to the member to disclose such a connection and stay away from a leadership role if he/she chooses.

From a member:

Are you an administrator, moderator, or do you hold any financial interest for any other travel-related web site and/or travel discussion forum?

No. I'm a member of another travel-related site, but that's it.

Do you believe that a TB member who holds such a position would have a conflict of interest, or at the least, give the appearance of a conflict of interest with FT?

In what way? I don't see it, but perhaps if the member can explain how it would be a conflict of interest. Perhaps, if I used my influence of TalkBoard to "bring down FlyerTalk," ensuring that the other site, in which I hold a financial stake, succeeds. But TB isn't the same as the board of IB.

Are you an administrator, moderator, or do you hold any financial interest for any other travel-related web site and/or travel discussion forum?No

Do you believe that a TB member who holds such a position would have a conflict of interest, or at the least, give the appearance of a conflict of interest with FT?I cannot say that one who holds such a position would (n.b. would) have a conflict of interest as that is solely up to them ;) but as to giving the appearance of holding a conflict of interest-YES. Imho, if there is even a remote chance of it appearing as a conflict of interest, that person (again, imho) loses integrity with others (both board members and others in the community) and that could lead to behind the scene "issues" between members which could in turn lead to nothing getting done.

Now I'm gonna go out on a limb (and probably get myself in trouble ;)) but I'll extend the subject of conflict of interest to forum moderators also being members of Talkboard and vice-versa and say that imho, that should not be allowed as for simplicity’s sake, one makes the rules and the other enforces the rules and imho, never the two should be combined.

Now I'm gonna go out on a limb (and probably get myself in trouble ;)) but I'll extend the subject of conflict of interest to forum moderators also being members of Talkboard and vice-versa and say that imho, that should not be allowed as for simplicity’s sake, one makes the rules and the other enforces the rules and imho, never the two should be combined.

I disagree. While what you say could be analogous to a Legislator/Cop, I don't see that as the case. I believe the moderators of FT do a good job of enforcing the rules that are in place. And I don't see the issue with that.
Besides, it's no different than any parent or teacher, or even perhaps boss, who both make AND enforce the rules.

I disagree. While what you say could be analogous to a Legislator/Cop, I don't see that as the case. I believe the moderators of FT do a good job of enforcing the rules that are in place. And I don't see the issue with that.
Besides, it's no different than any parent or teacher, or even perhaps boss, who both make AND enforce the rules.And I'll see your disagree and raise you with my disagree :)

First off, I never said that the moderators don't do a good job at all and quite the opposite-they do a very good job (and imho, at times it's a thankless job [meant in a good way :)])

Now as to your parent/teacher analogy, yes a parent both teaches their child and governs their child at home but in an educational system, the parent has no say in how the teacher teaches their class as that is deiced by the teacher based on rules set forth by the school committee. The parent may question the school committee as to how they set the rules via school committee meetings but it is eventually the school committee who enacts the rules.

Now as to a boss, unless the boss owns the company and reports only to themselves as opposed to a Board of Directors, they do not make and enforce the rules. The rules are set forth by the BoD and then enforced by the boss.

Now I have referred to F/t as a family and we are a family but the family lives in a community and the community has rules and those rules are laid out by TalkBoard and enforced by the moderators. And with that, going back to the question of a conflict of interest or an appearance of a conflict of interest, it's the latter that I'm getting at-not saying it's true by any means but it's about "appearances"

I am not an administrator or moderator, and do not hold any financial interest for any other travel-related web site and/or travel discussion forum. I'm a member at one, but that's the extent of it. :)

As far as the potential for conflicts of interest, I think there is the possibility of such, but that it should be examined on a case-by-case basis.

Are you an administrator, moderator, or do you hold any financial interest for any other travel-related web site and/or travel discussion forum?

No. The closest I come is writing my travel blog, but it lacks advertisements and affiliate links, so it's not much of a financial interest.

Do you believe that a TB member who holds such a position would have a conflict of interest, or at the least, give the appearance of a conflict of interest with FT?

This is really something to consider on a case-by-case basis.

1. Hell no. I'm a FlyerTalker through and through.

2. Hell yes. TalkBoard members should be FlyerTalkers through and through. Their perspective and intentions should be pure.

1. Hell no. I'm a FlyerTalker through and through.

2. Hell yes. TalkBoard members should be FlyerTalkers through and through. Their perspective and intentions should be pure.

I tried to like MP, I really did. I would never withhold a vote from a candidate just because someone was active on MP. However, a person who's going to serve the TB should be a regular here. And probably not have any financial or management stake on a competing site.

I offer reviews on Trip Advisor, but that's the extent of my role on other travel sites.

I offer reviews on Trip Advisor, but that's the extent of my role on other travel sites.

Ok, I do that too, and yelp! as well. ^

But when it comes to talking miles and points and milepoints, FlyerTalk is my alpha and omega.

Further, I pledge to never, ever use any position I hold or my participation in FT to make money or build a brand. To me that's like taking toilet paper and soap from a public bathroom and selling it as your own product. Not cool.

For example, there was a blogger who lifted a tip from FT and presented it as his own 'find' on his blog. When the FTer who posted it complained to the blogger, the blogger denied, denied denied. Seems that the blogger's 'brand' as an expert would be dinged if it turned out that all he was doing was repackaging FT posts. :rolleyes:

That just sucks. But that's what happens when some decide to turn our shared passion for travel and miles and points into an opportunity to make money or build a brand or otherwise monetize the FT posters.