jfarmer welcome to flyertalk.
This is,for the most part,an incredibly helpful and friendly group.There are some bad apples,two of which have replied to your honest and totally appropriate query.
As I have both of these members on ignore I have no idea what they wrote in response to your question-nor do I care.They are insignificant in my eyes and do not represent the flyertalk spirit in any way shape or form.
Please do not let this minute percentage represent the flyertalk community in your opinion.