JonNYC writes:
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">There are plenty of places on the internet for people to chat, insult each-other, talk politics, appliances, religion, sex and sports. Conversely, there's only one FlyerTalk-- and it's focus should be on travel, miles, points, etc.</font>
Similarly,
OttoGraham writes:
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">There are many places on the internet to go where people can discuss religion, politics, sports, etc... I personally don't think the OMNI format is appropriate for a website specializing in travel. Too many potential problems and distractions, I think.</font>
I mostly agree with these comments, even though I participated in OMNI from time to time on these very subjects. I readily admit I found OMNI's main benefit to the Community to be that it provided a place to keep much of that type of crap
out of the main FlyerTalk frequent traveler forums.
But I do think there is a spot and need for truly
personal issues (such as questions about appliances).
If I had a wish for a future general OMNI rule, it would be that it is for general non-travel subjects that are
solely about personal issues of the FlyerTalker. Not more general world events and news items that might effect us all. There are other sites for that.
In other words, "My son got straight A's" "How do I fix my laptop" "I got fired today" "I got a new car" "I just saw Seabiscut" "Can you recommend a book for me"...that sort of thing...fine.
I, Mine, My, Me.
"Inspectors find no WMD in Iraq" "Lance Armstrong wins" "Judge rules over size of penis" and other general items that other bulleting boards, and news venues exist for...no.
A sort of:
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">OMNI exists for non-travel related topics that relate personally to the day-to-day activities, problems, questions, and answers to personal events in FlyerTalker's personal lives, in order to seek help, provide help and just celebrate the lives of the members of the FlyerTalk Community. This is NOT the place for topics started on more general news items of politics, religion, sports, etc. While we wish to do everything to assist our members in more personal interaction, FlyerTalk is not meant to have forums for ALL subjects in the world and remains a primarily travel related site with this special forum existing for the directly personal non-travel issues of it's members.</font>
Perhaps rename it "Community" and rename the old Community, "Get Togethers"?