Hopefully, we all appreciate the differing opinions and respect each others rights to have them.

"I leave it for those with more time than I and/or a better memory to post links"

Well, I'd hoped you would indulge me after I'd noted my lack of success in understanding these points you'd raised and I'd wrongfully assumed that if you had the time to raise such points that you also had the time to back it up - but I'll survive either way!

There is no dispute that some left- it is just unclear why. "Good friends," for example, had opined in the past several times that PG had left due to the declining "quality" and low "signal to noise ratio" on the board due to the proliferation of posts and particularly due to abusers who post too much. Yet he has stated various times that it was the bitterness/ acrimony/ flaming, etc, often about this very topic (and others) that, in part, lead to his sabattical. I can NOT assume why people leave!

Moreover, PG, and others as well have left and then returned, making your "too late" comment somewhat difficult for me to comprehend!

"So the 'we' in that statement is referring to myself and those that agreed at the time"

No insult and no apology necessary. This issue has arisen before, and I do personally feel strongly that people can surely best speak for themselves if they so wish -not to preclude the possibility of any FT'er publically appointing a spokesperson for themselves- and Mr Lockhart, having left the White House, may now available!

"Clearly Flyertalk had the opportunity at one time to be the de-facto site to represent the frequent traveler in expressing (as a group) the needs of this rather unique community..."

I thought it still IS THE site!

Personally, I have absolutely NO agenda and it is what Randy wants that matters to me as a participant. He is the authority as the host or more accurately the owner and the supervisor/manager!

We participate, or do not, to whatever extent that we see fit at any given time!

For example, while I like FT and like Randy, at the Awards luncheon I did not quite like to go up on stage for photos of the presentation of the Freddie Award to "US" Flyertalkers- only because I had/have some misgivings about the award, in terms of where it came from, how it was awarded and so forth. To some extent, these concerns have been allayed and my reticence has abated somewhat. Yet this was and will always be my individual choice!

FWIW, as I said above here and previously, I'm not opposed to moderators, nor do I agree however that FT is now "controlled by the loudest and most frequent voice when our time is involved"

It's not perfect, or more appropriately "purrrfect" as Catman would say, but it's now the best available forum for sure, IMHO- and those who care, which presumably includes you, can certainly improve it by participating in a constructive manner and shaping it to improve and make it better and more in line with your dreams "of what might have been".

Hoping your dreams are soon fulfilled!

Mark