Originally posted by kokonutz:
Originally posted by Randy Petersen:
As I read down this page, I was prepared to give an endorsement to the creative and well-intentioned idea of kokonutz. It seemed a good attempt to solve the problem of overly clique-influenced decision-making.

Yet this is the only bulletin board I frequent, so I lack the perspective of many others. The counter-argument seems equally compelling.

Openness, sunshine, and even freedom of speech are not the highest virtues. Yes, we may have the divine gift of free will, but that means the option to do wrong. Other values, namely decorum, fairness, and slander-avoidance are at least as pertinent to the decisions Randy will have to make. (Thank you for pointing those out, kokonutz.)

Societal interests in open candid deliberation under certain circumstances are reflected in the various confidentiality privileges: doctor-patient, priest-penitent, husband-wife, psychotherapist-patient, etc. Other confidential communications are also protected, such as within business or fraternal organizations, though disclosure may be ordered during lawsuits, etc. One moral justification for confidentiality is avoidance of the sin of "detraction," unnecessarily disclosing the faults of others.

When I alluded to "overly clique-influenced decision-making," I did not mean by any means to disparage our host, nor the hard-working and often-put-upon moderator corps. One element of human nature is our social tendency to form relationships. Sometimes they may be based on similar interests, political, philosophical, religious, or lifestyle outlooks, common experiences, demographics, institutional membership, personal attraction, propinquity, or serendipity. Hopefully an enthusiasm for miles and points is a common denominator!

Because of human nature, it is inevitable that friendships and cliques will form, as well as antipathies. The positive and welcoming interactions actually strengthen the community aspect of the Flyer Talk experience.

Trying to limit the negative tendencies of the membership has been to a large extent solved by the dedicated moderator corps. What remains is the much more limited problem of imposing self-discipline on themselves.

Again, this is not an anti-moderation post. Not so incidentally, the problems among the membership as a whole that do require and will always require moderation have not abated. People with a high interest in points and miles tend to be goal oriented, competitive, and often somewhat obsessive. Hence the repeated refrain, "IJAIBB." If travel or temperament limits personal interactions, we may have reduced social skills. Hence, people who cannot conform their behavior to the expected norms will often carry a heavy burden or "grudge," and be expected to strike back, particularly if expelled from the community.

However, such behavior may also be expected on occasion among the Elite members of Flyer Talk, that is, high post-count individuals and the moderator corps itself. Particularly when their status and self-sacrifice are seen as denigrated or unappreciated.

I certainly do not believe you have let your moderator corps down, Randy. Given the strong-willed individuals who are members of Flyer Talk, such "hacking" incidents resulting in compromised confidentiality are by no means unexpected. Likewise, techniques to restore self-discipline are readily available. Two that come to mind are:

• moderation for the moderators
• background checks for the moderators

The former may be resisted just as moderation for the community was (and still is to a somewhat disruptive degree by a nostalgic few. Some people need to learn how to say, "Aye, aye, sir," and move on.) Yet the benefits of moderation are the same. If one, two, or three individuals whose judgment is sound and whose experience in miles and points is substantial, such as PremEx, for example, can be prevailed upon to serve as a "Dean of the Moderators" or moderator of the moderators forum, some of the excesses in the confidential fora might be able to be nipped in the bud or turned toward a more charitable and productive direction.

Similarly, given the vast authority of the moderators to influence the reception and perceptions, welcoming or otherwise, of Flyer Talk participants, it may be advisable to do some sort of background check. Particularly if moderators have technical skills that exceed those of your own IT staff, it is particularly important to know exactly who you're dealing with. A hacker with inside access, or who is disgruntled and formerly had inside access, perhaps installing a back door, leaves your website very vulnerable indeed. This vulnerability could extend from the non-profit aspect of your enterprises to the heart of the House of Miles itself. What if the Freddies, or advertiser accounts are hacked?

While the moderator corps consists of unpaid, self-sacrificing individuals who toil day in and day out, all it takes is one bad apple to cause major problems. An argument against background checks might be that they are not fool proof. Even the FBI had its spy. But that is really no justification for doing nothing. To the extent those who help you have access to inside information, surely most moderators would understand the need for background checks.

These are just two thoughts. I'm sure the remainder of the participants will think of many more.

Don't let this latest crime discourage you. I know from experience that crime victims often tend to blame themselves. We're all pulling for you!