One Mile at a Time [OMaaT] discussions [merged]
Jun 14, 2016, 5:01 pm
#2146
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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although he does still pretty much avoid anything personal on blog, right?
he came out on blog after bringing up hotel(/country) internet censorship (not 'news')
only reason he mentioned meeting friends in barcelona was because mom scammed
he came out on blog after bringing up hotel(/country) internet censorship (not 'news')
only reason he mentioned meeting friends in barcelona was because mom scammed
Jun 14, 2016, 5:38 pm
#2147
Join Date: Jul 2009
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I guess "personal" is hard to define. I feel like he shares every poop he takes in business class, and he advertises his boyfriends services, after all.
Jun 14, 2016, 6:16 pm
#2148
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,737
Some of you might not understand how big a deal the shooting in Orlando is to members of the LGBT community, but I, someone who has low expectations of Ben, am still shocked to say he has himself made 21 posts since the shooting, as well as 1 post by Ford, and the events in Orlando have not been mentioned at all.
Yet, he has talked about what camera he is buying (sponsored by Sony), and highlighted 4 airlines owned by countries where homosexuality remains punishable by death.
I'm not talking about social justice here; i'm talking about humanity. Most blogs I read - by gay, straight, or I have no idea - have mentioned it somehow. Even the Points Guy had someone post about Jetblue offering free flights to victims' families.
Yet, he has talked about what camera he is buying (sponsored by Sony), and highlighted 4 airlines owned by countries where homosexuality remains punishable by death.
I'm not talking about social justice here; i'm talking about humanity. Most blogs I read - by gay, straight, or I have no idea - have mentioned it somehow. Even the Points Guy had someone post about Jetblue offering free flights to victims' families.
Jun 14, 2016, 6:25 pm
#2149
Join Date: Jul 2009
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As I noted though, most straight bloggers have commented on what happened - even those who aren't gay men from central Florida.
What's been hard for a lot of people the last few days is realizing how many people don't get it - don't get how this attack isn't just a news story - but how it gets at our sense of self and safety. How many young gay men- Ben included - visit gay bars and clubs when we travel with a sense of safety, with self exploration, and with a sense of community. Your response only shows why it is important to write about it.
But I'd posit that if Lucky were straight he would have posted about it, if only to acknowledge that something happened.
Is he "required" to post something? Of course not. But the decision not to do so shows something about his character.
Jun 14, 2016, 6:47 pm
#2150
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, Admirals Club, Global Entry
Posts: 1,141
Earlier this month I said here, "Having a premium cabin and chain hotel blog is not a moral defect. It just isn't."
That still stands. I was tired of the gay rights sermonizing then, and that hasn't changed either.
You evidently still fervently wish that Ben ran a gay-themed blog instead of just a travel blog.
Good for you, but his choice to run a travel blog says nothing about his character.
That still stands. I was tired of the gay rights sermonizing then, and that hasn't changed either.
You evidently still fervently wish that Ben ran a gay-themed blog instead of just a travel blog.
Good for you, but his choice to run a travel blog says nothing about his character.
Jun 14, 2016, 6:49 pm
#2151
Join Date: Jul 2001
Programs: AA EP
Posts: 2,203
I agree that Brian's post was disappointing as well.
As I noted though, most straight bloggers have commented on what happened - even those who aren't gay men from central Florida.
What's been hard for a lot of people the last few days is realizing how many people don't get it - don't get how this attack isn't just a news story - but how it gets at our sense of self and safety. How many young gay men- Ben included - visit gay bars and clubs when we travel with a sense of safety, with self exploration, and with a sense of community. Your response only shows why it is important to write about it.
But I'd posit that if Lucky were straight he would have posted about it, if only to acknowledge that something happened.
Is he "required" to post something? Of course not. But the decision not to do so shows something about his character.
As I noted though, most straight bloggers have commented on what happened - even those who aren't gay men from central Florida.
What's been hard for a lot of people the last few days is realizing how many people don't get it - don't get how this attack isn't just a news story - but how it gets at our sense of self and safety. How many young gay men- Ben included - visit gay bars and clubs when we travel with a sense of safety, with self exploration, and with a sense of community. Your response only shows why it is important to write about it.
But I'd posit that if Lucky were straight he would have posted about it, if only to acknowledge that something happened.
Is he "required" to post something? Of course not. But the decision not to do so shows something about his character.
Self absorbed
Pretentious
Immature
entitled
Questionable honesty
Jun 14, 2016, 7:00 pm
#2152
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
I agree that Brian's post was disappointing as well.
As I noted though, most straight bloggers have commented on what happened - even those who aren't gay men from central Florida.
What's been hard for a lot of people the last few days is realizing how many people don't get it - don't get how this attack isn't just a news story - but how it gets at our sense of self and safety. How many young gay men- Ben included - visit gay bars and clubs when we travel with a sense of safety, with self exploration, and with a sense of community. Your response only shows why it is important to write about it.
But I'd posit that if Lucky were straight he would have posted about it, if only to acknowledge that something happened.
Is he "required" to post something? Of course not. But the decision not to do so shows something about his character.
As I noted though, most straight bloggers have commented on what happened - even those who aren't gay men from central Florida.
What's been hard for a lot of people the last few days is realizing how many people don't get it - don't get how this attack isn't just a news story - but how it gets at our sense of self and safety. How many young gay men- Ben included - visit gay bars and clubs when we travel with a sense of safety, with self exploration, and with a sense of community. Your response only shows why it is important to write about it.
But I'd posit that if Lucky were straight he would have posted about it, if only to acknowledge that something happened.
Is he "required" to post something? Of course not. But the decision not to do so shows something about his character.
When the Charleston church shootings occurred, did you expect that all travel or P&M bloggers who are Christian, or who are black, must write about it? (For that matter, did any such bloggers write about it?) No doubt parishioners' sense of safety and security is very high in a house of worship to an even greater degree than a nightclub.
Jun 14, 2016, 7:05 pm
#2153
Join Date: Jul 2009
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He's sort of hit-or-miss with personal details...he's posted about his medical issues while in Germany, posted a picture of his dirty clothes and underwear on his hotel room floor...I don't really know that he has any consistency, and not suggesting he needs to have.
It didn't seem that most Boarding Area bloggers wrote about it, though I wasn't keeping score. I saw a few did.
When the Charleston church shootings occurred, did you expect that all travel or P&M bloggers who are Christian, or who are black, must write about it? (For that matter, did any such bloggers write about it?) No doubt parishioners' sense of safety and security is very high in a house of worship to an even greater degree than a nightclub.
It didn't seem that most Boarding Area bloggers wrote about it, though I wasn't keeping score. I saw a few did.
When the Charleston church shootings occurred, did you expect that all travel or P&M bloggers who are Christian, or who are black, must write about it? (For that matter, did any such bloggers write about it?) No doubt parishioners' sense of safety and security is very high in a house of worship to an even greater degree than a nightclub.
As for your supposition about feelings of safety at clubs vs. churches, that assumption shows why we need people writing about this. For the clubgoers in Orlando, many of them likely did feel safer at Pulse than they did at church.
Jun 14, 2016, 7:38 pm
#2154
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
If there is a blogger who regularly goes to pray at churches on his travels, yes, I would have expected a post.
As for your supposition about feelings of safety at clubs vs. churches, that assumption shows why we need people writing about this. For the clubgoers in Orlando, many of them likely did feel safer at Pulse than they did at church.
As for your supposition about feelings of safety at clubs vs. churches, that assumption shows why we need people writing about this. For the clubgoers in Orlando, many of them likely did feel safer at Pulse than they did at church.
I could use any other shooting tragedy if the church analogy is too difficult to grasp or has to be turned into a veiled insult... Must Jewish P&M bloggers comment on anti-Semitic incidents? Must every P&M blogger with a child in school comment on school shootings? Etc...
You imply that straight people somehow don't understand how the victims' sense of safety and security was violated. That is as ridiculous as it is insulting. Everyone can imagine what it's like being in a presumed safe place, or somewhere just having fun, or just a day at work and to have that shattered by violence such as this. And sadly plenty of people don't have to imagine it.
In any case, have you posted to OMAAT asking about this? WHat was Lucky's response?
Jun 14, 2016, 7:43 pm
#2155
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
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I think it's a bit unfair to expect Ben to suddenly become introspective and socially aware on OMaaT.
I'm not saying he lacks the capacity. I don't know about that. But it's certainly not in the OMaaT wheelhouse.
Again, it's about premium cabins and american chain hotels. Any time it's about anything else it's wrong, awkward or both.
<shrug>
I'm not saying he lacks the capacity. I don't know about that. But it's certainly not in the OMaaT wheelhouse.
Again, it's about premium cabins and american chain hotels. Any time it's about anything else it's wrong, awkward or both.
<shrug>
Jun 14, 2016, 8:04 pm
#2156
Join Date: Jun 2008
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Posts: 1,089
Ben would only go to a gay club if it had a VIP section and if there were a scheme to get bottle service for only a fraction of the price.
But seriously, while it might make him more human to at least acknowledge something like this on his site, it would break the modalities of it. His site is for discussing the intricacies of premium airline products and selling credit cards to readers, not for musing about any authentic travel or life experiences.
But seriously, while it might make him more human to at least acknowledge something like this on his site, it would break the modalities of it. His site is for discussing the intricacies of premium airline products and selling credit cards to readers, not for musing about any authentic travel or life experiences.
Jun 14, 2016, 8:46 pm
#2157
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
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You imply that straight people somehow don't understand how the victims' sense of safety and security was violated. That is as ridiculous as it is insulting. Everyone can imagine what it's like being in a presumed safe place, or somewhere just having fun, or just a day at work and to have that shattered by violence such as this. And sadly plenty of people don't have to imagine it.
I do think more people would get it - as, to me, you don't - if more gay people explained why it's not just a "nightclub" and why this is making LGBT people feel differently than if it were an act of workplace violence or some other form of violence.
Jun 14, 2016, 11:20 pm
#2158
Join Date: Mar 2007
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Posts: 4,596
Why does >50% of the discussion of Ben's blog revolve around his sexual identity -- until Ford came into the picture, it was almost completely absent from his blog (I only learned about it from the various nasty comments that people were posting), and it still isn't a substantial aspect of what he writes about.
Jun 15, 2016, 9:48 am
#2160
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
there will always be many people, especially within 'groups' that believe people like bloggers should use their platforms for certain purposes, and say certain things, and not say certain things
to a certain degree, i have to support bloggers/etc who do not do this solely on demand
regardless of what one thinks about the potential use of the platform (like this case)
as illustrated, whatever bloggers/etc do, there can be criticism
but criticism does not invalidate itself solely by being criticism
to a certain degree, i have to support bloggers/etc who do not do this solely on demand
regardless of what one thinks about the potential use of the platform (like this case)
as illustrated, whatever bloggers/etc do, there can be criticism
but criticism does not invalidate itself solely by being criticism
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Jun 15, 2016 at 10:34 am