This is going to be an attempt at fairness and compromise.

Any number of recent threads have highlighted some severe differences of opinion amongst our community:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/002345-1.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum94/HTML/001058.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum...ML/000163.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum94/HTML/000834.html

I think it is appropriate to interpret Webflyer's lack of involvement in these debates as a hope on their part that we (as a community) can find a way to work out these differences.

I am personally disappointed with what I and many others perceive as a lessening of the quality of Flyertalk. I understand that still others perceive this feeling as an eliteist attitude which is unfair and unwarranted.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. What we should all be able to agree on is that the sniping and positioning (whether in the open or simmering between the lines) makes Flyertalk and it's participants look foolish. "When a fool and a wise man argue, no one can tell them apart." This forum...all of us...won an Industry Impact award at this year's Freddies. No mater what you think of the value of that, Randy and his staff held us up in front of the movers and shakers of the travel industry. We were legitimatized and given the opportunity to (somewhat) speak for the frequent traveler. One more "how dare you personally attack me for personally attacking you for your personal attack" thread, and I think we'll just about be written off.

So, lets come up with our own charter and rules. I think we're all capable of making clear boundaries, and "keeping to our own side".

I'm happy to suggest them, but just as happy for others to give their opinion of where they should be.

I believe we should (as has been suggested) add a forum for web site bonuses, promotions, referrals and the like http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum73/HTML/000089.html .

I then believe another new forum should be created called "Flyertalker's advice", where "newbies" can post questions freely and without judgement. Those of us with any expertise or advice can drop in and provide any information we can - with the full understanding that every response is just someone's opinion.

Those two new forums, plus "Omni" should be totally off-limits from criticism, with no restrictions (other than obscenity). Unrelated posts, excessive posts, self- serving posts, whatever. No more arguements, criticisms or suggestions that posts here are in any way "bad".

The other forums should be limited to the topic of their namesake. "the Buzz" for "discussion of the latest Frequent Flyer buzz" and nothing else. "General Travel Talk" being 100% travel related with the exception of frequent travel programs. And so on...

We must each take "a pledge" that any infraction in anyone's interpretation will be respected. We must agree right now that a simple "I do not believe your post was appropriate for this forum" or "I believe you have made excessive posts in this forum" will be respected by each of us 100% of the time.

As for "in the news" - I think we should all agree to credit the source of a story, not post it verbatim, and provide links where necessary. Is that a bit of extra work? Perhaps, but after all, no one is forcing anyone to post there.

I think this is more than fair, but I'm open to other suggestions and opinions. Basically we can all agree to stay on our own side of the fence and all prosper from the Flyertalk experience in our own way, or have our last disagreement now, and simply loose so many posters that this board becomes irrelevant.

Opinions?

[This message has been edited by NJDavid (edited 03-02-2000).]