I work in the Trade Show exhibit industry which is, as you might guess, very travel dependent. One of the roles I play, in my little corner of the world, is that of an exhibitor consultant/trainer/public speaker, for both public and private companies, large and small, as well as for every major conference in my industry. Oh yeah and for the government--I always keep forgetting the government (would that they could just reciprocate). These audiences sometimes number in the hundreds, several times a week.

While my contracts usually discourage (read prohibit) me from plugging myself or my own company during my presentations, there is nothing that prohibits me from plugging my favorite websites. So, for the past few years I have plugged away, shamelessly referring any and all travel, mile or point related questions to www.flyertalk.com There is a powerful but Quiet www.flyertalker who can personally attest to my reckless abandon in advertising this flyertalk.com place.

I also have busines cards (some of you may have one) to pass out while I travel. They read:

Punki
ITINERANT
Seattle, Washington, 98108 U.S.A.
[email protected]
flyertalk.com

So I very frequently get e-mails from folks who attend my seminars, get my card, etc., that say, "Good job. Thanks for that flyertalk.com site. Wonderful information! Great people! Very Funny Place."

I the past few weeks, however, I have received e-mails saying, "Does flyertalk.com have some serious techincal problems? I posted twice on that flyertalk.com site, but when I went back to check the responses the post had disappeared. That flyertalk.com seems unstable, do you know any other frequent flyer sites?"

The new FlyerTalk philosophy is obviously very confusing and offputting to new posters. Even Hunki who has posted for almost a year now, asked me yesterday what was happening to flyer talk posts, when he couldn't find a thread which had interested him.

I don't know how to respond to these inquiries because I actually don't understand the new philosophy, but I do know that whatever it is, it seems to be driving new (and even some not so new) posters away.

Perhaps it would be a good idea to explain the new (and very frustrating) philosphy and/or goal to the general FlyerTalk membership and elicit ideas on how it might be achieved without as big a downside as the current approach apparently has.

There are a lot of really smart thinkers out here in ordinary old FlyerTalk land.



[This message has been edited by Punki (edited 03-18-2002).]