Feb 3, 2016, 1:55 pm
Last edit by: SkiAdcock
Should the Travel News forum remain open as its own standalone forum?
Here is the Travel News forum. Should it remain open; or should it be closed? Please post objective reasons for either position below.
Keep the Travel News Forum Open
It provides a place where only news linked to other sources can be posted.
Travel News serves a different function than other forums. It is for news articles that can be quickly perused & not buried in other forums. TravelBuzz, for example, has topics such as 'should the spouse get the upgrade' & discussions re: that. Travel News has links to articles of interest that may or may not get commentary, but does get a lot of views so obviously of interest to FTers. Just as some will read articles in the NYTimes, Wall Street Journal, USAToday because the articles are of interest but not comment. That doesn't mean the articles have no value. They're easier to find in Travel News.
Close/Merge the Travel News Forum
It is redundant; and discussions posted in it are best served when residing in other forums on FlyerTalk — such as TravelBuzz, for example.
It is obsolete due to improved technology which has emerged over the years, allowing news pertaining to travel to be easily obtained elsewhere.
It is not at all clear what types of posts belong in it.
Travel News made a lot more sense before FT had a forum for any and every thing travel related. But now FT does and Travel News is out of step with how FlyerTalk is currently organized.
Here is the Travel News forum. Should it remain open; or should it be closed? Please post objective reasons for either position below.
Keep the Travel News Forum Open
It provides a place where only news linked to other sources can be posted.
Travel News serves a different function than other forums. It is for news articles that can be quickly perused & not buried in other forums. TravelBuzz, for example, has topics such as 'should the spouse get the upgrade' & discussions re: that. Travel News has links to articles of interest that may or may not get commentary, but does get a lot of views so obviously of interest to FTers. Just as some will read articles in the NYTimes, Wall Street Journal, USAToday because the articles are of interest but not comment. That doesn't mean the articles have no value. They're easier to find in Travel News.
Close/Merge the Travel News Forum
It is redundant; and discussions posted in it are best served when residing in other forums on FlyerTalk — such as TravelBuzz, for example.
It is obsolete due to improved technology which has emerged over the years, allowing news pertaining to travel to be easily obtained elsewhere.
It is not at all clear what types of posts belong in it.
Travel News made a lot more sense before FT had a forum for any and every thing travel related. But now FT does and Travel News is out of step with how FlyerTalk is currently organized.
Travel News Forum: close, re-purpose or merge with TravelBuzz?
May 27, 2015, 11:10 pm
#106
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
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If Travel Buzz could absorb the functionality of Travel News without reduction in utility to users, that would be a good argument for merging the two.
May 27, 2015, 11:15 pm
#107
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
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Posts: 38,638
I actually took Travel News off of "MyFlyertalk" a few years ago.... I found that the forum had lost its value and did feel that it duplicated the more robust TravelBuzz forum.
My personal view had not changed.... I think the fact that so many threads get moved is evidence of the redundancy.
I feel like this is getting personal between a few members with accusations of "ulterior motives" but no one is willing to state the motives.
While I do not have a vote, I would support a decision to close the forum.
My personal view had not changed.... I think the fact that so many threads get moved is evidence of the redundancy.
I feel like this is getting personal between a few members with accusations of "ulterior motives" but no one is willing to state the motives.
While I do not have a vote, I would support a decision to close the forum.
♫♫ Arrows and padlocks and padlocks and arrows,
Padlock and arrows and arrows and padlocks ...
These are a few of my favo(u)rite things ♫♫
Whether or not there are ulterior motives, it matters not. What matters is that many of us don't waste our time on extra clicks, or waste our time posting in the wrong place if one hasn't read and understood a dissertation on posting, or feel dumb or afraid to post again if one has had a thread locked or redirected.
It matters not that TN may be well-moderated or managed or however it was mentioned, supra, because that isn't the issue. The issue is how much moderation that it needs vis à vis arrows and padlocks. The further issue is that all the content already has another home.
Be kind, rewind the TN forum. It is about as useful as a VHS tape.
May 27, 2015, 11:32 pm
#108
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN Companion Pass, A-list preferred, Hyatt Globalist; United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,624
So I take it you would NOT be happy with all those redirects appearing in Travel Buzz instead of in Travel News? Because that's where they will be if the Travel News function moves to Travel Buzz. Maybe it's better to keep what some people consider clutter confined to the smaller TN forum?
May 27, 2015, 11:34 pm
#109
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
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Posts: 31,849
One thing you're missing is that Travel News, and Newsstand prior to that, did not require commentary on a news article. I've posted a couple hundred in those forums over the years, less so since the Talk Board limited what topics could be posted here, and just let them stand on their own without commentary. I might offer comments here or there, but not on the majority of articles.
If you close Travel News, will we be able to continue to post news articles in Travel Buzz without comments? For instance, if I post an article from today titled "Airlines sex up safety videos to capture fliers' attention" with a few lines from it, what will happen to it in Travel Buzz? If you don't know the answer, you should not be closing Travel News.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/pict...attention.html
If I post this in Travel Buzz, do you have agreement from the moderators there that it won't be locked or deleted if I don't offer commentary? Are the moderators there prepared to take on the extra workload from news articles being posted in their forum?
If you close Travel News, will we be able to continue to post news articles in Travel Buzz without comments? For instance, if I post an article from today titled "Airlines sex up safety videos to capture fliers' attention" with a few lines from it, what will happen to it in Travel Buzz? If you don't know the answer, you should not be closing Travel News.
Piano-playing cats, ice bucket challenges and bikini clad stewardesses are not typically associated with air travel safety.
But all three have featured in airline safety videos as carriers compete to capture passengers' attention and loyalty.
Flag carriers have recruited celebrities, cute children and even professional surfers in recent years to enhance their onboard safety briefings.
But all three have featured in airline safety videos as carriers compete to capture passengers' attention and loyalty.
Flag carriers have recruited celebrities, cute children and even professional surfers in recent years to enhance their onboard safety briefings.
If I post this in Travel Buzz, do you have agreement from the moderators there that it won't be locked or deleted if I don't offer commentary? Are the moderators there prepared to take on the extra workload from news articles being posted in their forum?
May 27, 2015, 11:39 pm
#110
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: Phoenix, AZ
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May 28, 2015, 2:07 am
#111
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: LHR- ish
Programs: MUCCI, BA Blue
Posts: 4,295
Maybe there needs to be some kind of rebalancing of content between Travel News and Travel Buzz? Travel Buzz is kind of Travel Omni so maybe all news story type things should go into Travel News.
May 28, 2015, 6:32 am
#112
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
One thing you're missing is that Travel News, and Newsstand prior to that, did not require commentary on a news article. I've posted a couple hundred in those forums over the years, less so since the Talk Board limited what topics could be posted here, and just let them stand on their own without commentary. I might offer comments here or there, but not on the majority of articles.
If you close Travel News, will we be able to continue to post news articles in Travel Buzz without comments? For instance, if I post an article from today titled "Airlines sex up safety videos to capture fliers' attention" with a few lines from it, what will happen to it in Travel Buzz? If you don't know the answer, you should not be closing Travel News.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/pict...attention.html
If I post this in Travel Buzz, do you have agreement from the moderators there that it won't be locked or deleted if I don't offer commentary? Are the moderators there prepared to take on the extra workload from news articles being posted in their forum?
If you close Travel News, will we be able to continue to post news articles in Travel Buzz without comments? For instance, if I post an article from today titled "Airlines sex up safety videos to capture fliers' attention" with a few lines from it, what will happen to it in Travel Buzz? If you don't know the answer, you should not be closing Travel News.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/pict...attention.html
If I post this in Travel Buzz, do you have agreement from the moderators there that it won't be locked or deleted if I don't offer commentary? Are the moderators there prepared to take on the extra workload from news articles being posted in their forum?
May 28, 2015, 8:15 am
#113
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,620
One thing you're missing is that Travel News, and Newsstand prior to that, did not require commentary on a news article. I've posted a couple hundred in those forums over the years, less so since the Talk Board limited what topics could be posted here, and just let them stand on their own without commentary. I might offer comments here or there, but not on the majority of articles.
If you close Travel News, will we be able to continue to post news articles in Travel Buzz without comments? For instance, if I post an article from today titled "Airlines sex up safety videos to capture fliers' attention" with a few lines from it, what will happen to it in Travel Buzz? If you don't know the answer, you should not be closing Travel News.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/pict...attention.html
If I post this in Travel Buzz, do you have agreement from the moderators there that it won't be locked or deleted if I don't offer commentary? Are the moderators there prepared to take on the extra workload from news articles being posted in their forum?
If you close Travel News, will we be able to continue to post news articles in Travel Buzz without comments? For instance, if I post an article from today titled "Airlines sex up safety videos to capture fliers' attention" with a few lines from it, what will happen to it in Travel Buzz? If you don't know the answer, you should not be closing Travel News.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/pict...attention.html
If I post this in Travel Buzz, do you have agreement from the moderators there that it won't be locked or deleted if I don't offer commentary? Are the moderators there prepared to take on the extra workload from news articles being posted in their forum?
If a conversation is unrelated to travel, points or miles then it belongs in OMNI. Whether that conversation starts with a link to an article or a random question or assertion makes no difference, it belongs in OMNI. There is no 'OMNI News' because that would redundant to what OMNI already is: a place to talk about random non-travel stuff.
So my put is that if a conversation is about travel and not specific to one of the established forums for programs, destinations or other specificity, then it belongs in TravelBuzz. Whether that conversation starts with a link to an article or a random question or assertion makes no difference, it belongs in TravelBuzz. But we have this weird 'Travel News' forum too. So if I am interested in random travel stuff not related to an established forum, I have to check TWO forums instead of just one.
That's not very flyer friendly!
Now, as to your specific concern, I am not a moderator. And I am not permitted to talk about moderators or tell them what to do.
But certainly I think one should be permitted to start a general travel conversation not related to an established forum with just a link to a news article. Happens in OMNI all the time. ^
May 28, 2015, 8:33 am
#114
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,027
May 28, 2015, 9:04 am
#115
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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I perceive a real difference between the two fora, although it's hard to define and isn't obvious from the forum names and even descriptions. Still, there are very different flavors here.
To me, the typical TravelBuzz thread consists of an interesting conversation about often perennial travel related general topics, often starting with a quirky question soliciting opinions and experiences. Sometimes the answers have a community building effect in that people can get to know each other here, much like in good OMNI or some of the lounge threads.
OTOH, I perceive threads in TravelNews as being motivated by current events related to travel and aviation. I'm not sure I like the rule about discussion or at least a summary not being in the OP, versus just a thread title and a link, but I'm typically not eager to click on random links posted by people I don't know. To me, a good example of a current TravelNews thread that has generated discussion is the following:
http://flyertalk.com/forum/travel-ne...practices.html
To me, the typical TravelBuzz thread consists of an interesting conversation about often perennial travel related general topics, often starting with a quirky question soliciting opinions and experiences. Sometimes the answers have a community building effect in that people can get to know each other here, much like in good OMNI or some of the lounge threads.
OTOH, I perceive threads in TravelNews as being motivated by current events related to travel and aviation. I'm not sure I like the rule about discussion or at least a summary not being in the OP, versus just a thread title and a link, but I'm typically not eager to click on random links posted by people I don't know. To me, a good example of a current TravelNews thread that has generated discussion is the following:
http://flyertalk.com/forum/travel-ne...practices.html
Last edited by MSPeconomist; May 28, 2015 at 9:20 am Reason: fix link
May 28, 2015, 9:29 am
#116
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,638
So I take it you would NOT be happy with all those redirects appearing in Travel Buzz instead of in Travel News? Because that's where they will be if the Travel News function moves to Travel Buzz. Maybe it's better to keep what some people consider clutter confined to the smaller TN forum?
May 28, 2015, 9:50 am
#117
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,620
OTOH, I perceive threads in TravelNews as being motivated by current events related to travel and aviation. I'm not sure I like the rule about discussion or at least a summary not being in the OP, versus just a thread title and a link, but I'm typically not eager to click on random links posted by people I don't know. To me, a good example of a current TravelNews thread that has generated discussion is the following:
http://flyertalk.com/forum/travel-ne...practices.html
http://flyertalk.com/forum/travel-ne...practices.html
That link is a perfect example of a conversation that could take place in either TN or TB. Except on TB it would get a lot more eyeballs and likely more conversation.
Here's an example of a conversation in Travel Buzz that just happened to start with a news article and has grown into one heck of a TB conversation: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...-airlines.html
That thread could just as easily and justifiably have been started in Travel News. But it likely would not have grown so much because so fewer people participate in TN than TB. That would have been a loss for all those who have participated in that conversation but would never have seen it in TN.
Which is why I keep saying that TN is a smaller, redundant TB and therefore a detriment rather than an asset to FlyerTalk.
May 28, 2015, 10:46 am
#118
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
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Why can't the Talk Board members talk to the Travel Buzz moderators and get their take on this before a vote? Is there a rule that you're not allowed to talk to them? Are you going to be sanctioned for starting that discussion?
May 28, 2015, 10:50 am
#119
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,027
but I'm typically not eager to click on random links posted by people I don't know. To me, a good example of a current TravelNews thread that has generated discussion is the following:
http://flyertalk.com/forum/travel-ne...practices.html
http://flyertalk.com/forum/travel-ne...practices.html
May 28, 2015, 10:57 am
#120
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
If news articles get moved to Travel Buzz, will there be a commentary requirement? I suspect the only ones that know the answer to that are the Travel Buzz moderators and it appears they have not been consulted about this proposal.