Originally Posted by
GUWonder
The TB and moderator representatives' backgrounds may be largely in line with the historically, primarily US-membership base and a US (and even pro-US Government) bias that does sort of drive this place (in some ways more now than even before), but that hasn't really held back the international angle of this place despite the foot dragging over, or stomping against, TOS-compliant diversity and diversification.
It's rather amusing how MH has not yet got its own forum on FT despite smaller carriers with fewer international flights having already had the same. I supported the creation of an MH forum before and I still do. I also would volunteer to moderate the forum if there wouldn't be a hissy-fit of sort over that.
I've not seen int'l forums held back because of a US-centric TB. TB has created a # of int'l forums. A # of int'l forums have int'l mods.
Glad to hear you support a MH forum. As mentioned in an above post, it usually helps to make a case for one (which the other int'l forums that were approved did) & this is a good place to start (see below in italics). While it's not the only criteria used by TB, it does help to make a case.
Having said that, I do agree that until the dust settles over the current MH tragedy & some metrics over the long haul can be identified, now isn't the right time - but this gives you something to consider/address when you do intend to make your case.
Re: being a mod of the forum if it is created, that is not something that TB is involved in & your offer should be addressed to the CD. I know that to be a mod, you need to apply & go through a few month training program so it's not as simple as saying I volunteer (although that's a good first step!).
What would help the TB in determining if MH should have its own forum is answering the questions below or providing further information, as we ask others to do when they suggest a new forum.
The following are qualitative criteria that the TalkBoard believes are useful to consider when evaluating proposals to create, close, split, or move forums. Whenever a forum change is discussed on the TalkBoard Topics, the TalkBoard encourages posters to fully address these criteria in addition to any other reasons supporting or opposing the change.
1. Will the forum be (or is it now) beneficial to FlyerTalk?
2. Will the new forum benefit a relationship with FlyerTalk? E.g., does the forum provide value for FT members, such as a friendly ear highly placed in the company
3. Is FT the best place to discuss this subject?
4. Is there a passionate following? This is essential in order to provide dedicated expert helpers to get questions answered.
5. Is a critical mass of posts and readers anticipated or existing? We need adequate traffic to keep everyone visiting frequently. One living forum is more valuable than two mostly dead ones.
6. Is this the best place on FlyerTalk for this subject? This is the classification issue. The answer depends primarily on achieving and maintaining critical mass. It also depends on whether or where the discussion might (or does) occur in the absence of the forum.
7. For proposals to split a forum, is the split expected to improve the signal to noise ratio? Why?
Procedural Statements by the TalkBoard
8. The TalkBoard does not anticipate using automatic sunsetting of forums, preferring instead to create forums only when we they are strongly expected to succeed.