robb, thank you for your very thoughtful and intelligent post.

I see absolutely nothing wrong with Randy wanting to to create multiple boards for different audiences because he runs an advertiser-supported business and more boards sell more ads. As a matter of fact, that is precisely why I want the boards to be more user friendly and encourage greater participation. Well, ok, that and selfishly the fact that the more people who come to FlyerTalk the more opportunities there are to make new interesting friends.

I believe that the 2,000 people who have misposted at the top of FlyerTalk Miles have done so specifically because they do care a lot about miles, want to be part of a miles board and don't know where else to post a general question. These folks do not fall into the category of those thousands and thousands of people out there who care about travel, but couldn't care less about Frequent Flyer Miles and are great candidates for the Travel as opposed to Miles Board.

If that is Randy's goal, I too see nothing sinister about it, I just do not think it is a wise business decision to try to achieve that goal by making it difficult for the people who do care about miles, especially if his ultimate goal is increasing traffic all around.

You are right, he may just want to keep the size of the board down. I am not a technical type and don't understand the limitations that he may or may not face but keeping the size of the board down does not appear consistent with increasing advertising revenues.

I am unclear what specifically you mean by wanting a hierarchical structure, but I don't think there is anything that will be effective in moving new people who want to post on Miles Board over to Travel Board. You can, of course, create something new and exciting on the Travel Board that makes them want to post on the Travel Board, i.e. the Women's Forum or the GLBT Forum and I think that those are great ideas.

Your responses are indeed for the most part quite clear, direct, and very logical.

With regard to the emotional, my only serious emotion herein is a real saddness at the loss of folks who become frustrated and go away, whether they are new or old Flyer Talkers.

We know we are paying the price of lost participation. You may be right that no matter how much I want FlyerTalk to be as open and welcoming as possible and no matter how clear and logical my post and positions and ideas are, that nothing will change. I can accept that, but I feel far better about making a valiant effort and failing than I would about watching and being too timid to speak my mind. My purpose is not to "carry me any further, but to enhance FlyerTalk and make it a more welcoming, exciting, fun and intuitive place to be.

robb, your post most certainly doesn't come across as a flame and I honestly don't even see anyplace where you have disagreed with me in principle.

Please do not be troubled on my account. I am not personally distraught by this change in and of itself, I am just saddened because I know that it has discouraged and driven away folks who had the potential to become great FlyerTalk contributors and grdeat friends. I assure you that at my age I have long-since come to terms with the inevitable and am extremely grateful that I still have sufficient health, energy and interest that I still care about making new friends and protecting and enriching the vehicles that lead to new friendships.

It is very obvious that you want to help, not hurt, (as do I) and I am happy for this opportunity to learn more about you. Actually I am very impressed with your response and your attitude and sincerely hope that I will have the opportunity to get to know you better. Trust me, nothing came across wrong.