Off-topic:
The expected norm on FT is to provide information in a friendly manner.
It is
NOT to be rude, belittle, or harangue others for asking questions (even if repititive ones), or assume because they've been a member of a program that they know all the nuances of a program.
No one (except for mods) is the FT (fill in the forum) police & those who "self-appoint" themselves that role are doing so inappropriately & not with the approval of FT.
And one can't assume that because someone registered for FT a long time ago that they visit it on a regular basis. Heck, I registered for FT & promptly forgot about it for several months/didn't come back (I've made up for that
). I have friends & colleagues who I've told about FT who have registered but really only come to it if they have a question or need additional information, so their registration date doesn't correlate to the knowledge (or lack of) they have.
FT has been getting a reputation for unfriendliness
, so some people are leaving FT & going to other websites where they can get their questions answered & not be harangued. As a regular FTer I hate to see people leave FT. As a Talkboard member I especially hate to see that happen, especially when it's not necessary. "Chasing away" FTers by being rude or belitting them is not appropriate.
FT has created the "Ambassadors Program" in some forums, where the Ambassador answers newbie questions (even if they're repetitive) in a friendly manner. One of our Marriott FT regulars is actually an Ambassador in another forum. To date we've not really needed one in the Marriott forum, as most of us are welcoming/take the time to answer questions without being rude to the person asking the question.
I'd also like to remind people of FT TOS:
Welcome Newcomers
FlyerTalk is friendly, informative, fun and thriving. When newcomers arrive, welcome them. By helping folks learn, you provide a shining example of what this community is about, and you help ensure that FlyerTalk continues to flourish. New members may not understand FlyerTalk and its history as well as you do. Remember we were all newbies once.
If you notice a poster, newcomer or not, asking a question that has been answered previously or is answered in the forum FAQs, please be patient. If you wish to reply, do so in a helpful manner, avoiding simply saying: "Do a search."
We suggest this form of reply and a template for it is here: "Your question arises from time-to-time in this forum. One thread which discusses it is here [INSERT LINK TO THREAD OR FORUM FAQ] and using FlyerTalk's advanced search feature to search this forum with the terms [insert relevant term(s)] will yield other threads. If you are finding difficulty using the search feature, please send a private message or email to a forum moderator for help."
Personal Attacks
We encourage a healthy exchange of opinions. If you disagree with another member, challenge the opinion or idea - not the person. Personal attacks, insults and "flaming" will not be tolerated and will be removed, and the violator will be subject to disciplinary action. You may challenge others' points of view and opinions, but do so respectfully and thoughtfully[/I]
On-topic
Some good suggestions for beach properties in this thread.
Cheers.