Punki-
I've taken the posts offline for me to get a chance to review. While a few of you may grouse at that, let's remember that the posts were done under a false user account and you surely can't deny that is not in the spirit of the TOS of FlyerTalk.

As for the posts, they are true comments made by moderators on FlyerTalk. I nor the moderators would deny that. But the way in which they have been presented are not a true and accurate reflection of the dialog. Also, there is not a single comment made by a moderator that was re-posted that has not been commented in almost the exact same way by other members of FlyerTalk, either on a post or in personal emails to me. I have always asked members AND moderators to give me your thoughts. I personally think, and you may disagree, that the most valuable asset I have to make decisions on behalf of all FlyerTalkers, is to listen to both sides of an argument or position. Let's take for instance ScottC's comments about ozstamps. ScottC's comments were likely somewhere between the 500th and 600th similar comment I've gotten about ozstamps since he's been on FlyerTalk. I've used all those comments balanced with others to make decisions about his presense on FlyerTalk. He's still posting so apparently that input was welcomed, measured and not put into action (ozstamps has always been open minded and fair minded with any conversation I've had with him, which is all I ask of a member). If, FlyerTalk were to evolve into an arena whereby members or others could not feel free to speak their mind to me, then FlyerTalk fails to be of value to all when it comes to making decisions on behalf of all members. And with a plug for the 'right' (for our good member dovester), isn't that why Rush Limbaugh is a larger-then-life hero when he spouts off about the Democrats and more directly about Bill Clinton, Kerry or Dean?

The point being, there is none, nor has there been a great and rather lengthy debate of these types of posts. I ask for comment, measure them and move on. I feel that FlyerTalk would suffer if there was only a community of 'yes' members. I like the balance of opinion and have relied upon it for over five years now.

I have taken down TalkTeam for viewing by moderators because I can not look them in the eye and welcome their comments in this manner any more - in effect, I have failed them, not the members.

So, I continue to try and answer these questions as I might and as you know, sometimes i agree, sometimes I don't.

As an aside Punki, can you explain the purpose of having the moderator and other forums on moremiles.org private and not available to all members? I only just ventured there today to compare our practices with other boards and I would hope you agree - our practices are 100 percent in line with the prevailing practices of all major Internet bulletin boards. I really don't need an explanation, just a confirmation that we're more like most than not?

[This message has been edited by Randy Petersen (edited Feb 02, 2004).]