I respectfully disagree.

If a new member wants to post in OMNI, are they not allowed to? Are they rejected if they apply to post in OMNI? I don't know - I don't think I've ever posted in OMNI - except for maybe once or twice before they restricted it. I realize the fact that the Coupon Connection may be its own little entity, but using that logic, then for a new UA 1K member, posting in the UA board should be considered a reward.

I completely disagree - sometimes, people put general posts that help everyone (such as the 5% off UA webfares link) that don't require an exchange - shouldn't those people be allowed to read & reply (even if it's just a thanks for posting?)

In OMNI, I can't post because I never requested posting privileges there, but I can still read and private e-mail members if I want to regarding a post that they have there - which unless you set up a private forum (like the Talkboard Forum) which every member will have to be allowed access to. Will that access be automatically granted once a member hits 100 or 200 posts? Who is to determine that a member is giving quality vs. quanity posts - will there be someone that reviews a member's history once they hit that magical XXX mark? What if someone's post count is gotten higher just so they can trade coupons? That gives more incentive for people to post fluff so that they can be allowed to exchange with other community members. There are members of this board that have been registered for a long time and just don't post a lot - because they don't post a lot, or because they are new doesn't mean they don't bring a contribution to the community - it seems that by regulating who posts in a travel related forum, such as the Coupon Connection, regulates who has access to what information (tips that I've read on the Coupon Connection - i.e. the black art of gifting the HK50's post that xpacific wrote).

I, personally, don't think because one feels that the several (or even more than several) e-mails that one receives while soliciting for an exchange in a relative open market is reason enough to restrict posting privileges. I definitely don't think that the Coupon Connection should be a closed forum like the Talkboard Forum is either - and if it were to go the way of OMNI, I feel that it would be a disappointment to a lot of people in the community and that would not solve your problem because people can still view what you post and whom you are and what your e-mail address is and they will still solicit from you regardless.

Edited to add from the Coupon Connection description: "All exchange as a result of this forum are based upon free issuance and community spirit." - Mary, I understand your point that you are trying to make, but how can one restrict who is part of a community and who isn't part of it? If I move into a new apartment, aren't I a part of that community - don't I deserve a chance?


[This message has been edited by bhatnasx (edited Dec 18, 2003).]