Sharon --

I will not flame you. However, I think that what you refer to as coming down hard on others is just my way of discussing the merits of a position, nothing more, nothing less. It probably has a lot to do with my training and career as a litigator. On the other hand, I appreciate your acknowledgements about my input and my past willingness to share valuable information with the community. If you think about it, the picture that you have conceived of me from your take on some of my posts is pretty hard to co-exist with that of those other posts that you find so helpful. Actually, I am as Greg has described me as, and if I have a habit of seeming to come down hard on an issue or others who raise that issue, it is only because that specific issue has been asked and answered numerous times, recently, and that issue is of very paticular concern of only a very small number of our community, whereas other issues that do affect the community in a greater way, go to the toolshed or as a good friend of mine likes to say, "to the cornfield."

It is obvious that I have no problem speaking up for myself, and whether rightly or wrongly, I deem it an obligation on my part to give voice to a number of others who may feel too intimidated to raise their issues of concern. After all, with the truly impressive nights that some of these posters rack up -- and you do have my deepest sympathies because I do know that it means that you are away from friends and family -- individuals with far less elite portfolios could very well feel intimidated or put off by the focus on suite upgrades or other perks that these individuals feel they deserve. Although they are quite correct to voice these wants and desires, I truly believe that it stifles a free flow of other information because others who do not have such elite status, are utterly left out in the cold as they can neither hope to ever achieve such elite status levels or feel that their contribution would have nothing to do with the topic of the day, week and month, and so therefore, refrain from posting. It is an uncontravertible fact that there are only so many individuals at the top of the pyramid, and there are far many more at its base. I have frequented a couple of the forums in this community, and it strikes me that there are very few if any others where the topic under discussion always concerns just a very few of the posters; rather, it seems to me that the more general thrust is information that could be useful to many, be they elite or not in those respective programs. If anything, all I have tried tirelessly to do, is as our good friend Patron has laid out above -- to talk about miles and points, etc. and ways to accumulate same so that we may enjoy the fruits of those endeavors at another time. By narrowly focusing on one issue, which only affects a very few, input from others is lost, and I feel that is truly a pity.

NJ


PS -- You are absolutely correct that Hilton officially requires 16 stays to obtain Gold in their program, but as everyone and their uncle knows, 4 stays is all that is necessary with their recurring Fast Track promotions. Word to the wise who think that Hilton is a far better program from one who is a Hilton refugee -- the grass is not always greener on the other side -- If yo do a search of the Hilton forum, you will see that there is much grumbling about the number of Golds that Hilton mints in this way, and the concern of upper tier members that they are taking away their ugraded rooms from them because of the sheer numbers of HHonors Gold members. Inasmuch as Hilton has continued to do this, despite these posts, and it shows no sign that it intends to stop doing so, just be aware that Hilton appears to be as firmly wedded to that practice as Marriott appears to be with respect to witholding as an absolute ironclad benefit, suite upgrades.