mikeef

Was at HNL yesterday when I noticed a guy with the yellow FT luggage tag. I always like meeting other FTers, so I went over and introduced myself (I also have the badge of honor.). He kind of rolled his eyes and said to his friend (in a friendly tone), "Ah, they're everywhere!" Told him I was mikeef and he said it had been so long he couldn't remember his screen name. Okay, how many out there are dedicated enough to have a luggage tag but don't know their screen name?

Sigh, maybe I just smelled funny.

Mike

tom911

Might be time to remove the FT tag

Marysunshine

message deleted

lucky9876coins

Wow, that's ridiculous! Please don't think that all (or even a reasonable number) FT'ers are like that, because I have yet to run into anyone even remotely rude (and I've met hundreds). Please don't let bad apples like that ruin it! For the most part I have found people to be nicer in person than they are on FT, even if they're nice on FT!

I'd love to know who told you that...

OnAMileHigh

I feel the same. I was dissed not only by another FT'er at a DO, but a moderator of this very "Community" forum. While seated at the same table for dinner this person refused to engage in any conversation with me or another couple in spite of our efforts to engage them in conversation. We were overtly ingnored for the entire night. No more "Do's" for me.*

*Except for the excellent Ann Arbor DO's and Alanw's fabulous BCN Do's

Mary2e

OMG... how incredibly rude.

I think you should out those people.... that isn't what FT is about.

civicmon

What if moderators are the guilty party?

Not my experiences, but others can testify to that.

Mary2e

Well, mods are ordinary members first, so I wouldn't even call attention to it.

Rude is rude, and in a small gathering to ignore, or make snide comments about the guests in almost unfathomable.

cawhite

I missed that lunch & getting to see you that day.

Don't let that comment get to you -- you have plenty of fans here, many of whom have enjoyed your posts, not to mention your wonderful hospitality!

Efrem

I'm sorry to hear about your experience. FT has a**h***s, as does any other group of several thousand people. It seems that it was your misfortune to run into some. Please don't let that sour you on the rest of us. If you happen to show up at any do I'm at, I can assure you that this guy in his 60s is more than happy to talk to women in that age group!! (That includes happily married ones; I can think of at least three I've spent a lot of pleasant time with at FT gatherings, meeting each of their husbands at least once as well. I didn't check IDs, though; they may not all be over 60.)

Jaimito Cartero

Just as there are bad airline employees, troubled flights, there are rude o FTers or you catch them on a bad day.

sobore

With a membership as large as FT has, statistically there is bound to be a minority of imbeciles and buffoons.
That unfortunately is the bad news, the good news is in my 2 and a half years on FT I have only run into 3 of these such members.
I just deal with it by praying they get stuck in economy with a drunk, belligerent seat mate selling life insurance and pushing religion.

hiyo

In a community as large as FT, there will be all types. There is no personality test for admittance.

I make a habit at dinners of trying to introduce myself to everyone there, and say hello to those I already know. I like people.

I have had a few, very few, attendees look at me as if I were soliciting for spare change when I walk up and introduce myself. I would not want to miss out on meeting some of the incredibly interesting people in this community just because of an occasional perceived slight or someone else's social ineptness.

And as for the genuine boors, well, I just hope something happens in their life to help them have a better outlook, and maybe consequently a modicum of grace.

TrojanHorse

I haven't been to a so called "do" in four years however I have been to some small gatherings since then.. but at one of the do's (Chicago 02 I believe) I had online/thread run ins with a particular FT'er about some stuff

We each knew the other was going to be at the same do but due to the size of the participants (in excess of 100) it wasn't likely we'd have to interact.

Well night one, I'm sitting in the hotel bar and maybe 20 of us are there chatting away, I was NOT wearing my FT tag (can't recall why) but another person wearing a tag came up to me and was chatting for about five minutes when the question was asked finally asked to whom I was on FT (I had introduced my self with my real first name) and I said "TrojanHorse, nice to meet you" (yeah I had a funny grin on IIRC) and this person whose hand was about to come out to shake my hand was pulled back and this person huffed and puffed away real fast.. it was funny to me b/c I didn't like that person anyway and knew what I was doing so the rest of the trip I would just say hi and stick out my hand and wouldn't even get a response.

I'll never forget it

wharvey

Also, do not assume that every person will be as open and friendly as you...

I, for one, am a major introvert. I have a tendency in public settings - with people I do not know - to be quiet. It does not mean I am ignoring you... it just means I am not inclinded to communicate a great deal. It is one reason I do not attend generic Do's... there seems to be an expectation that everyone will like each other and engage each other in conversation. I have a tendency to do a get together if I am in town somewhere... met some great people in NYC, LA, Sydney, and lother locations as a result.

As others have said, there are some people who will not be open or friendly. Or some who you might call other names. I know there are some on here I never even want to meet... but that does not mean I would swear off meeting people from Flyertalk because of one or two people.

William