Lin821: Thank you for your post (#41). I won't quote it here as it is only a few posts above. I am not intimately familiar or experienced with FT's administrative procedures, but I am aware that they exist. In this thread I'd simply like to explain what I see as important, and then leave the decision to those whose responsibility it is.
As far as what I think...Well, during the late hours I started with a parable, but I'll put it in small type (quote font) now, so those who wish to bypass this inspired piece can jump right over.
Imagine the magical city of Foodville where City Council has banned hamburgers. Chinese food lovers have opened and patronize a restaurant lovingly named "Fast Food" because of its much admired 90-second chow-mein. However, hundreds of young people and out of towners who like hamburgers, keep thinking of "Fast Food" as a natural place for burgers, and keep barging in there. This frustrates "Fast Food" owners, staff, and regular customers who feel crowded by new people demanding fries and ketchup, as well as the new people who think "Fast Food" should naturally include hamburgers, fries and ketchup. Misunderstandings and fights routinely occur like a pre-scripted Greek tragedy. It is difficult to blame either side.
Except the City Council, remember them?
Meeting in French restaurants, it keeps issuing statements like "Foodville is not MacDonald", but is yet to figure out the simple truth that
in America you can't ban hamburgers.
OK, however long it takes Foodville to figure this out, there are only two solutions to this crisis: (1) A Fast Food Court containing a Chinese counter and a burger counter, or (2) A separate burger restaurant.
Unless you own your own airplane, airfares are integral part of travel, and people are naturally concerned. It is reasonable for newcomers to assume that among the dizzying array of 150+ forums, there has to be
one where they can ask their question. So they look around and come up with MR (or Budget). Of course, MR people created or joined that forum for a purpose and it wasn't this! While I don't condone their hostility to newcomers, ultimately I don't blame them for the situation either.
The responsibility for creating
and solving this problem lies squarely with FT. The situation is real, beyond slogans ("FT is not a travel agency"), and in a flying-related forum you just can't ban questions about people's biggest concern, the airfare.
Where can airfare questions go? Frankly, there are only two solutions: (1) "Maximum Miles" and "Lowest Fares", related by being two different ways to minimize CPM, can go under one roof (but possibly different subforums), or (2) "Lowest Fares" get a separate forum of their own.
As far as I am concerned, the rest is routine. Yes, many will look in, few will join, and fewer still become productive members. Some posters will be nice and civil, some not. Some will have inflated expectations. Some will ask bad questions, some will provide bad answers, some will use bad language. Etc., etc., etc.
Many will join only to ask one air-fare question. I don't mind it because it increases the pool from which we find good long term members. But if we wanted, we could only allow people to post airfare questions after a cool off time, 7 days or 15 days or 30 days after registering.
All of this is normal house-keeping.
The important thing is, we would have solved a basic structural problem. After cancer is cured, people still do get routine ailments.
We too will continue to have to deal with normal headaches.
Originally Posted by
emailkid
Um, we're tolerating the fare requests in Budget Travel...trying to come up with a better way than (on some days) three of four new threads are specific "what is the cheapest way to get from XMZ to YEM on July 25 and come back on Aug 12?" It clutters up the forum and makes searching VERY difficult as some of these threads are going to sneak in there. My proposal was for a single thread withing Budget Travel where all requests are dumped...
I appreciate your frustration that you (as well as MR folks) have to carry this burden as FT does not have a proper place for it. That's why I support the proposal in front of us and urge you (and everyone) to do the same. That is the "better way" you are looking for, indeed the only sensible way.
Originally Posted by
tcook052
...due to all those sitting on their hands with you as their unofficial spokesperson.
I am sorry if I gave an incorrect impression. I am only speaking for myself. My opinions are of course based on my experiences, and those include discussions with others, but I do not represent anyone else.