The fact that it is FT policy that gifts cannot be offered within a specific program forum, is certainly news to me, and I still don't see the logic behind such a rule. Such gifting within program fora has been happening, and helping to build community, on FT right since the beginning. But then, you learn something everyday, well at least if you keep you mind open.

SPN Lifer your post covers folks who are seeking coupons and/or trying to give coupons away, but excludes the serendipitous gifting that binds program participants together and helps create a strong community.

I, for instance, will happily offer gifts to my friends within a specific program forum, and those will be joyfully received by regular posters thereto. I will not, however, offer a valuable gift (say a SWU or Companion Certificate, and it looks like I will have some extras this year) in Coupon Connection because there is way too much of a gimmee, gimmee, attitude going on there these days. So instead, I will offer my gifts via other venues and that is a net loss to FT. How much of a loss depends on how many other folks feel as I do, which was the point of the poll, which unfortunately was shut down and moved. Too bad as it could have provided valuable insights.

I will also be unlikely to benefit from a Coupon Connection offering because I avoid going there, exactly because of the gimmee, gimmee, atmosphere.

The only logical reason that I have seen posted that would justify forbidding people to offer gifts within a program forum is that that would "clutter" the forum.

That, however, just makes me smile. I can hardly imagine anyone saying, "I am just not going to post in the UA forum anymore. It is way too cluttered up with people offering gifts of SWUs, Companion Certificates and 15% discount coupons. Disgusting!"

Randy is smart and certainly open to input--he may not change his mind, but in my experience he will always listen. IMHO, calm, rational discussion should be encouraged, not shouted down. Listening to the opinons of those who disagree with us, is often one of the best ways to learn.