TalkBoard Elections/05 - Question 16: What mistakes have you made on FT?

This question was submitted by chexfan:

"Will any candidate admit to making any mistakes or doing anything detrimental to FlyerTalk?"

Absolutely.

We are all human.

I've posted fares on Mileage Run that turned out not to be bookable. I have said things in haste in a thread that I regretted - and later took the opportunity to edit them.

Most every candidate has made these sorts of mistakes.

I will say, however, that I've never commited any infraction on FT serious enough to require a time-out. Not all of the candidates (including some of the front runners) can say that. ;)

"Will any candidate admit to making any mistakes or doing anything detrimental to FlyerTalk?"
Mistakes? You mean other than running for TalkBoard? ;)

Like VPescado said, I am sure we have all made posts we wished we could take back. I do recall responding in a way that I later thought was overly flippant after Delta announced some program changes. Even then, it wasn't bad enough for me to feel compelled to edit it out. I just wished I had given a bit more thought to the matter before hitting the reply button. I also remember being slightly embarrassed after receiving a gentle chiding for referring to a "fair" instead of a "fare". Overall though, while my writings are not nearly as prolific as those of many candidates, I am generally proud of the quality of my posts. In specific response to your question, I have never to my knowledge done anything to the detriment of this site or community.

I was involved in some pretty serious flame wars and was the recipient of a "Lifetime" ban that Randy very graciously commuted.

Since that commutation, I have been suspension free. I learned my lesson and have kept my promise to Randy that he would not regret inviting me back.

I wish I could say that the other members (Including 2 TB Candidates) who were involved in those flame wars learned their lessons, but the number of suspensions they have earned since would not support that hope.

The worst thing I have done is probably not searching enough threads before asking a question.

I'm sure I've been snippy in the AS forum on the occasion that a poster wants to lay blame at the foot of a customer service rep that they should be taking some responsibility for themselves.

I also almost ruined the last SeaDoo by not confirming the restaurant reservation the week before. I found out 3 hours before dinner that they weren't expecting us til the next day.

I may have put Randy Petersen into bankruptcy with my share of a bar tab that he picked up recently.

So yes, I've made mistakes.. but I can definitely say that I've never intentionally or to my knowledge even accidently that was detrimental to FT.

Certainly. While I earnestly try to avoid them, I've unfortunately made AT LEAST my share, and probably more, having posted over 45,000 times as my seventh anniversary as a part of this fine community approaches. My apologies. :)

Yet I'm not sure the FT servers can handle a complete listing of all my gaffes. :D

Probably one of the most common, and the most difficult to avoid, was/is in unnecessarily responding to what I perceived as a personal attack(s). My personality is to stick up for myself and not to ask others to intervene. So its tough to fight ones nature.

Oh... spending too much time on FT, and consequently posting too much! :D

We all make adjustments in our lives, however, online as well as off! :)

Mark

I may have put Randy Petersen into bankruptcy with my share of a bar tab that he picked up recently.


You had some help on that bar tab, missydarlin, so I'll have to share in the "blame". :o
I have never done anything that I would consider detrimental to FlyerTalk.
As others have stated, I've made a few posts that would have been better left unsaid.
Otherwise I feel I have been a good citizen of the community. (Where's that angelic smilie when you need it??)

"Will any candidate admit to making any mistakes or doing anything detrimental to FlyerTalk?"It's impossible to hit 11k posts without any mistakes. Probably most of my mistakes I catch before I hit the 'submit reply' button. I exit posts all the time . . . fortunately. ;)

Biggest mistake? When I was testing the senior moderator function for Randy I thought I was hitting reply to a thread in the Starwood forum, instead I hit the 'edit' button on one of 777 global mile hound's posts and I completely eviscerated it by mistake. I sent him much apologies!

Not searching hard enough before asking a question or not noticing that another thread is already open on a topic....I try to make sure that any info I pass on is correct and based on fact or at least put out the disclaimer, "this is my experience" or "someone else might know more"....hopefully my info/advice has be accurate and helpful...sorry if I have mislead.... ;)

Well clearly my very first mistake was choosing Stimpy as my handle. But like all of the mistakes I've made on Flyertalk, I stand by it. I won't go back on anything I've posted here. I might have changed my mind later, but that was what I was thinking at the time.

I've said incorrect stuff and made inappropriate comments.. sure.. but who hasn't?

Within a few days after I became moderator of the Southwest forum, I posted a dollar-denominated travel credit for sale at half price. This is permitted by the airline, but not being a user of Coupon Connection I was ignorant of the FT rules that (a) trades belong on CC only, and (b) cash transactions are not allowed on FT, regardless of whether the airline allows them. Another member explained this to me. I read the rules and I had to agree that they prohibited my post, as harmless (actually helpful) as I thought it was. It's Randy's site and Randy's rules.

The result: my very first action as a moderator was to delete my own thread! How embarrassing.

Can you guys top that? :D

I think a particularly interesting aspect of this question is if there is anything in this campaign that you've done, that you know think was a mistake.

I'll go first:

In my own case, I extended some discussion regarding a particular moderator's actions (see debate question 3). She had no way to defend herself in that thread, as she is not running for TB. I later updated my post with my regrets.

Anyone else want to admit to any campaign mistakes? Perhaps 'fess up to vigorously bumping old threads to get your sig noticed (and increase an already enormous postcount in at least one case)? Admit collusion with other candidates (which actually isn't very sinister in itself as long as you are upfront about it)? Maybe bribing Randy with drink chits? :)

I've certainly been guilty of posting a question without doing a thorough search. However, less of this "mistake" has happened in the recent past. I'm sure I'll do something similar again in the future though :)

I tried to organize a Do once (Times Square, NYE 2004, for those who got the $110 Marriott Marquis rooms on Priceline). Was like herding cats. Never again....

It's impossible to hit 11k posts without any mistakes. Probably most of my mistakes I catch before I hit the 'submit reply' button. I exit posts all the time . . . fortunately. ;)



And making over 25,000 posts makes twice as many. Wait on - I've made a lot more than twice as many. @:-)

Tell me more about that "exit post" button? I need one of those. ;)

Another major mistake was offering a year's free BEER as a callow vote getting bribe.

I am going to amend that to a year's free UPGRADES. Heck did I near miss the target audience here with THAT one. :cool:

Obviously like all politicians, I will deliver on neither election promise, and offering $10,000 cash per vote did seem kind of tacky for some reason. :)

Hmmm...someone above seems to have left out:

Drinking too much at the Freddies, passing out, getting carried up to an FTer's suite (by other members trying to keep you from being ejected by hotel security) where you proceeded to vomit profusely in front of the head of an airline loyalty program who promptly left the party.

I believe that would fall under "anything detrimental to FlyerTalk".

Edited to add: Since someone PM'ed me about this - I wanted to be clear - it wasn't me. However, I did help carry him, convinced security that he didn't need to go to a hospital, and pitched in for the very generous tip we gave the cleaning person. Never heard a thank you though.

I've made a few mistakes on FlyerTalk - back when I was relatively new to FT & flying in general, I posted about a deal from Priceline which gave $50 or $100 off of bidding flights - then someone nicely pointed out that you can't earn miles on PL flights! Oops!

As a moderator, I had closed down a thread back in April because I thought there was already a thread on that subject - again, I was wrong & a member pointed that out to me. So, I went back, reopened the thread & admitted my mistake.

Another mistake (this can be argued though! ;)) I made was pointing out the way that people could get free iPod mini's in the SPAM forum. Although a lot of people got free iPods (and free flat screen TV's), the reason why it may have been a mistake is because it caused a huge influx of new posters in SPAM who were only here on FlyerTalk for the freebies - not for the main purpose of this site - points & miles. I'm on a mileage run right now (sitting in LGA as I type this) - and I've got my iPod mini with me right now - and I'm sure many other FT'ers travel with theirs, so it may not have been a huge mistake! :)

Whenever I make mistakes - I always appreciate it when FTers point them out to me - not because I love the feeling of having made a mistake - but because I look at it as a learning opportunity to better myself & my contributions to this website that we all love.

This question was submitted by chexfan:

"Will any candidate admit to making any mistakes or doing anything detrimental to FlyerTalk?"

Hi
Yes my biggest mistake was not joining Flyertalk sooner. As for other mistakes, well replying to something in the wrong thread or even forum.

Apart from that nothing else that I can think of but your welcome to have a good dig around.

I am sorry to say that your question seems to be very loaded and aimed at someone who is standing for FlyerTalk. I for one dont really like it as it seems you do want some sort of dirty laundry dragged out, maybe I am wrong in my assumption but.........

regards
RadioMan

Another mistake (this can be argued though! ;)) I made was pointing out the way that people could get free iPod mini's in the SPAM forum. Although a lot of people got free iPods (and free flat screen TV's), .


Hi

Well, another mistake I made has just come to light. I never even knew about the free iPods. Ah well will just have to keep an eye open next time.

regards
RadioMan :D

For me, sometimes my patience is too long. Certain posters that I have had to Moderate should have been banned rather than just asked to edit.

I tend to be a stickler for the rules, and sometimes an edited post might have been left.

Other than that, No I think my contribution has been positive.

The voters could of course disagree, at which point they can vote for someone else.

"Regrets, ther've been a few, but then again, too few to mention......I did it my way" :)

I've had some...the biggest was deleting some of my posts

Fascinating answers. I'm running against a bunch of angels! :o

Let's see. There are so many to choose from.

I've done some things that others, including Randy, feel were mistakes and/or detrimental to FT.

I've been reckless in my postings, particularly in the language that I use.

I've thrown a few bombs at moderators when I have felt inconsistently or poorly moderated.

I have called some community leaders on their .... when they, imho, have crossed the line, including posting portions of 'private' TB deliberations (that happened to be derogatory comments about me). But only their ...., never THEM.

From my perspective I can sincerely say that all of the trouble that I have made, all of the stunts that I have pulled and all of the Molotov cocktails that I have thrown online (I make no excuses for my behavior at Dos, natch) have been in what I believed to be the best interests of Flyertalk, whether others have seen them as such or not.

Another major mistake was offering a year's free BEER as a callow vote-getting bribe.

I am going to amend that to a year's free UPGRADES. Heck did I near miss the target audience here with THAT one. :cool:

Obviously like all politicians, I will deliver on neither election promise, and offering $10,000 cash per vote did seem kind of tacky for some reason. :)

My campiagn manager has rectified this glitch - no more free beer .. all upgrades now. ;)