OMAT holding a kickstarter to fund his travel
Sep 16, 2014, 8:31 pm
#466
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A classic example of bloggers posting on their blog exactly what they USED to post on FlyerTalk before they got paid to post stuff on their blog instead. @:-)
Sep 16, 2014, 10:39 pm
#467
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Sep 17, 2014, 8:32 am
#468
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I meant to say something earlier, but one of you complained about a "stream of consciousness" narrative style. Everyone can like or dislike whatever he chooses, but I would respectfully point out that that particular style has gained permanent fame and essentially universal respect for some folks, including James Joyce and Marcel Proust.
Last edited by FallenPlat; Sep 17, 2014 at 8:47 am
Sep 17, 2014, 9:06 am
#469
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I meant to say something earlier, but one of you complained about a "stream of consciousness" narrative style. Everyone can like or dislike whatever he chooses, but I would respectfully point out that that particular style has gained permanent fame and essentially universal respect for some folks, including James Joyce and Marcel Proust.
Earlier in this discussion, I was going to say: "the only ones who can pull of SoC are Joyce and Proust"
I never posted because I didn't want to put Ben/OMAAT and Joyce in the same line
!
Sep 17, 2014, 7:48 pm
#470
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 152
As I wrote in the comments section of his blog, Ben would be a better global citizen if he would immerse and engage himself in the culture of his venues (rather than eating cold cuts and yogurt for breakfast in his 500th Hyatt Regency).
I've seen a lot of folks write that they value his opinions on different premium products, but do you folks REALLY think Ben is that good at reviewing hotels, products, and cuisines?
I mean, how often do you read things like, "The champagne was perfectly drinkable," "The dessert was edible enough," and, "The seat controls were intuitive"? He provides very few details about the quality of food and drink, and he didn't even drink until a year or two ago. I'd happily contribute to the Kickstarter of someone who could accurately articulate their thoughts on cuisine, but not for someone my age who's just trying to cross off another A380 with, "good enough bedding."
I know he really prides himself on his ability to try new products, but I don't even value his assessment of "new" (to him) ones. A sample size of 1 does not fairly represent a given product. Certainly, I'd trust the impressions of someone who flies J to TPE monthly on BR moreso than Ben's impressions of the Hello Kitty charade.
Don't get me wrong, I still read most of Ben's posts, and he's an invaluable source for information on earning and redeeming points. But he's not a travel blogger, and he's not a food and beverage critic (which detracts from what he says he is).
I've seen a lot of folks write that they value his opinions on different premium products, but do you folks REALLY think Ben is that good at reviewing hotels, products, and cuisines?
I mean, how often do you read things like, "The champagne was perfectly drinkable," "The dessert was edible enough," and, "The seat controls were intuitive"? He provides very few details about the quality of food and drink, and he didn't even drink until a year or two ago. I'd happily contribute to the Kickstarter of someone who could accurately articulate their thoughts on cuisine, but not for someone my age who's just trying to cross off another A380 with, "good enough bedding."
I know he really prides himself on his ability to try new products, but I don't even value his assessment of "new" (to him) ones. A sample size of 1 does not fairly represent a given product. Certainly, I'd trust the impressions of someone who flies J to TPE monthly on BR moreso than Ben's impressions of the Hello Kitty charade.
Don't get me wrong, I still read most of Ben's posts, and he's an invaluable source for information on earning and redeeming points. But he's not a travel blogger, and he's not a food and beverage critic (which detracts from what he says he is).
Sep 17, 2014, 8:30 pm
#471
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
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I know he really prides himself on his ability to try new products, but I don't even value his assessment of "new" (to him) ones. A sample size of 1 does not fairly represent a given product. Certainly, I'd trust the impressions of someone who flies J to TPE monthly on BR moreso than Ben's impressions of the Hello Kitty charade.
But yeah, no one should trust a single data point. And that's where FlyerTalk shines: the ability to get several different perspectives on a transportation experience.
Sep 17, 2014, 8:41 pm
#472
Join Date: May 2009
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We're like a Thousand (Data) Points of Light!
Sep 18, 2014, 9:11 am
#473
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Barcelona
Posts: 3,317
As I wrote in the comments section of his blog, Ben would be a better global citizen if he would immerse and engage himself in the culture of his venues (rather than eating cold cuts and yogurt for breakfast in his 500th Hyatt Regency).
I've seen a lot of folks write that they value his opinions on different premium products, but do you folks REALLY think Ben is that good at reviewing hotels, products, and cuisines?
I mean, how often do you read things like, "The champagne was perfectly drinkable," "The dessert was edible enough," and, "The seat controls were intuitive"? He provides very few details about the quality of food and drink, and he didn't even drink until a year or two ago. I'd happily contribute to the Kickstarter of someone who could accurately articulate their thoughts on cuisine, but not for someone my age who's just trying to cross off another A380 with, "good enough bedding."
I know he really prides himself on his ability to try new products, but I don't even value his assessment of "new" (to him) ones. A sample size of 1 does not fairly represent a given product. Certainly, I'd trust the impressions of someone who flies J to TPE monthly on BR moreso than Ben's impressions of the Hello Kitty charade.
Don't get me wrong, I still read most of Ben's posts, and he's an invaluable source for information on earning and redeeming points. But he's not a travel blogger, and he's not a food and beverage critic (which detracts from what he says he is).
I've seen a lot of folks write that they value his opinions on different premium products, but do you folks REALLY think Ben is that good at reviewing hotels, products, and cuisines?
I mean, how often do you read things like, "The champagne was perfectly drinkable," "The dessert was edible enough," and, "The seat controls were intuitive"? He provides very few details about the quality of food and drink, and he didn't even drink until a year or two ago. I'd happily contribute to the Kickstarter of someone who could accurately articulate their thoughts on cuisine, but not for someone my age who's just trying to cross off another A380 with, "good enough bedding."
I know he really prides himself on his ability to try new products, but I don't even value his assessment of "new" (to him) ones. A sample size of 1 does not fairly represent a given product. Certainly, I'd trust the impressions of someone who flies J to TPE monthly on BR moreso than Ben's impressions of the Hello Kitty charade.
Don't get me wrong, I still read most of Ben's posts, and he's an invaluable source for information on earning and redeeming points. But he's not a travel blogger, and he's not a food and beverage critic (which detracts from what he says he is).
Sep 22, 2014, 12:54 pm
#474
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Bloggers spending time with other bloggers ain't necessarily a good thing. Ben Schlappig now thinks it's clever to enhance a screenshot with a bright red box to show smaller brained readers exactly where to enter a promotional code, in this post.
Sep 22, 2014, 1:19 pm
#475
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Bloggers spending time with other bloggers ain't necessarily a good thing. Ben now thinks it's clever to enhance a screenshot with a bright red box to show smaller brained readers exactly where to enter a promotional code, in this post.
Sep 22, 2014, 1:23 pm
#476
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Sep 25, 2014, 12:12 am
#477
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Sep 25, 2014, 7:52 am
#478
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Sep 25, 2014, 8:11 am
#479
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Oh come now, really. You're not even trying. As anyone with an even passing familiarity with his blog knows full well, he works almost all the time, which partly explains why he doesn't really "do" anything at all those destinations. Of course I'll agree completely that it's more than a little painful to see all those wonderful trips to all those wonderful places and yet, in the end, little to (sometimes) nothing in the way of experiences.
So let me throw this rock: how can you travel to, say, Paris and yet not be a "museum person," even for a day, or part of a day, or an hour? Sometimes work can get all-consuming -- too consuming -- and, frankly, I know more than a thing or two about that problem . . . .
So let me throw this rock: how can you travel to, say, Paris and yet not be a "museum person," even for a day, or part of a day, or an hour? Sometimes work can get all-consuming -- too consuming -- and, frankly, I know more than a thing or two about that problem . . . .
Last edited by FallenPlat; Sep 25, 2014 at 8:29 am
Sep 25, 2014, 8:15 am
#480
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His business is apparently one where he can be on the road 365 days a year.
So, let's see:
It is kinda sad though for someone his age (I'm his exact age) that travel has been reduced to such a mundane job. You really grow as a person when you experience new places and gain perspective on your own life, something which is obviously lacking in his mindset. Going to a foreign country and doing nothing but staying in a hotel and sitting in Starbucks is far worse IMO than sitting at home and doing the same, really quite a waste of time and money.
I doubt I'll add anything new to whats already been said, but OMAAT really just depresses me these days. I mean, what kind of life is this kid living? He's in the PRIME of his life. I'm not suggesting he should be partying 24/7, or sitting in an office chair in corporate America,but this kid needs a girlfriend or something.
I recently wrote a comment on his article about traveling alone; quite a lengthy comment. Somewhere in there I said: "Ben, please, get a girlfriend"
I recently wrote a comment on his article about traveling alone; quite a lengthy comment. Somewhere in there I said: "Ben, please, get a girlfriend"
Discussion is permitted on the blog but not the blogger. Discussion of the blogger and his or her character, e.g. ethics and morals, will be deleted.
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