My opinion:

IB is a business and, as such, has to both protect its investment and to profit from it. To do so, it must ensure that it keeps the overwhelming majority of the heavy posters happy (as they provide the material that gives FT its value) while at the same time reaching them with advertising offers (as that is how it makes its profits).

My suggestions:

1. Members continue to post about problematic situations (viruses, SPAM which can not be unsubscribed from, tasteless ads, etc.) If we do not, we can not be certain that IB is even aware of the problems -- a situation which is not good for either it or us.

2. Members accept that fact that IB is in business to make money and not object to reasonable attempts by it to use the database for this.

3. IB work as quickly as possible to fix the problems cited in paragraph # 1. If this means a temporary suspension of all advertising, so be it. Once the problems are solved, advertising can resume. It is better for IB to lose money on a short term basis than to risk alienating the heavy posters who provide the content which gives FT its value.

Randy and I have had our differences of opinions over the years, and neither of us has been shy about discussing them, but it would be idiotic of me not to recognize the time, money, and effort he put into building FlyerTalk. He well deserves every penny that he was able to get from its sale and I would be the last person in the world to hold that against him.

IB, in turn, having paid that money to Randy deserves the opportunity to recoup it and profit from its investment. Moreover, if it does not, it will eventually decide to cut its losses and shut FT down.

That would not be a happy event for anyone. Not for IB. Not for FlyerTalkers. Not even for Randy -- who despite having received payment for FlyerTalk still has a heavy emotional involvement in it.

This is going to require IB and FTers to work together and to be willing to compromise.