Randy,

First let me thank you for this forum and the free exchange of ideas, for that you should be applauded. I know that censorship was never what was intended when the moderator system was put in effect.

When I first came to Flyertalk it was much less regulated than today and I loved it. It was in the Buzz where I first learned about the Latin Pass mileage run. I would escape to that forum every day and prepare for my own LP run. If a frequent flyer program were offering a million mile promotion today, I may not learn about it because it may be quickly moved to the appropriate forum. Postings last year in the Buzz made me aware of Hiltons 50,000 point promotions, my wife and I did these twice to accumulate over 200,000 points. We were not even members of Hilton Honors before, and in one year we are Diamond members. It was the Buzz and not the Hilton forums, which attracted me to those offers.

I recently received a letter from Sprint telling me about the end of its alliance with Northwest. A pretty significant announcement: considering both my phones are enrolled in 40,000 mile promotions. I thought of posting this announcement but was uncertain where it should go. The Buzz, Northwest or Sprint, in the end so as not to be censored, I ended up not posting at all. A forum where free thought is allowed should be located somewhere

Although I have significant amounts of miles in Continental, United, Northwest, Latin Pass, Starwood and Hilton I do not have time to scan these topics everyday. I generally just read the Buzz and move on. I would like to see an unregulated section that covered mileage earning announcements, and other travel related news.

I would rather read ten thousand worthless postings and discover one brilliant one, than one thousand mundane mileage postings. I’m not only looking for the gems; another million mile offer; a 99 dollar airfare to Europe or Australia, with double miles involved, but maybe just a significant discussion about a travel related issues. Something that moves me to act, and I really don’t care how many worthless postings are allowed. One thing I notice about postings no one is interested in; they quickly become lost from the boards when the acquire no responses. If a topic has no interest it will disappear on its own.

I would second Punkis’ suggestion of a General travel talk forum in the miles section. I know you may argue one already exists. The problem is no one can find it. Let me give you an example of what happens to a post that is moved to the present General Travel Talk forum. Yesterday in the same thread that started this dialog between you and I, there were twenty-eight postings, with different expressions of views while it was in the Buzz. Today after the move there are two postings in the Travel forum. One is mine and the other is yours. We may be the only two people who now know where it is.

I also understand that complaining is not the solution. If I can help become part of the solution please advise me, and I will do what I can. Again I would like to thank you for these forums.