I'd never mind my friend Doc quoting me.

I'm aslo glad you resurrected this thread.
I think I missed this thread when it was originally started. I don't remember why, I
don't think I was away on vacation, I probably just saw the topic and decided not to read it.

I wish I had read it at that time, as some sound advice is contained here.

A couple of people talked about reading flyertalk selectively. Thats exactly what I do. I generally read CO,NW,HP,HILTON,STARWOOD forums. Those are the airlines/hotels I use. I havent flown US in over 6 years, I have zero interest in their FF program, so I dont read it.
I scan the Buzz/Community/General/News/Trip reports for topics that pertain to me.
I also look at who started the topic. Frankly there are people on FT I don't like or don't like what they post. I'm sure there are just as many FT'ers that feel that way about me. This is fine, nobody has to read anything they don't want to.

I, too, have become quite selective in my reading. Not quite an old-timer, and not a prolific poster, I've changed my FT habits from a year ago. A lot of new members, conga lines, boring posters, flaming wars, etc. have affected my decisions of what to read. Actually, I read all the forums Boomer reads except exchange HP, Hilton, and News for Delta and Marriott. Never go near United, always something ugly brewing there. Let's read USA Today and WSJ, as opposed to the Enquirer or a Harlequin novel. And avoiding certain posters? I agree.

Let's talk travel. I'll do my best to contribute a little more. I've been to my share of FT get-togethers, and met many members. I think we have a good community going here, and need to focus a little harder.

Linda

Gee Nick, everywhere I go today, there you are?!

Boomer's comments on being selective ring true to most of us, right? FT is just one component in an already hectic, overscheduled life and I would imagine few have the time to read everything posted.

But also take note that the overwhelming number of posts makes it difficult to avoid certain posters. They literally are everywhere, all the time. The fact that they spread invective and cast flame bait in generous amounts is even harder to ignore. For the most part, I have followed the harder path.

Look at the date of Merry's original post. March. Long before the "thunder from down under" -- someone else's words (and sorry I don't recall whom to attribute). It only gets worse...

At some point, the noise-to-signal ratio becomes too high for tolerance.

"...That's fine. But some of the people I consider the key-speakers have drifted away (when was the last time Baobab posted?) and the reason being is this forum has become to[o] ambitious and has forgotten its reason for being here....

Perhaps Nick is correct?

doc, why do you always find it necessary to dredge up old news? do you enjoy it? or can't you simply let things be?

snowman

Sorry, snowman, I see it the other way around.

Sometimes it's good (particularly with more and more new folks around) to also remember where we came from. There's nothing like some posts from the (relative) past to put some stuff in perspective - or just to give a "historical" taste of FT for that matter.

Many of us don't have the time to look through old threads - I personally don't mind an occasional reminder.

[This message has been edited by bokich (edited 11-24-2000).]

Hmmm...

While I still stand by the general idea expressed in my previous post, I thought I�d just clarify that I naively posted it before having a chance to catch up on reading the last couple days of posts.

I've now seen the full extent of �old posting� going on (apparently doc's not the only one). I have no specific comment on any of that activity and the surrounding discussion.

(And now I suppose I'm just as guilty of pushing an old thread back to the top... )


[This message has been edited by bokich (edited 11-26-2000).]

"GUILTY!"

And the sentence is what? "A lifetime of participation in FT with absolutely NO chance ever of being paroled!

C'mon, Ben, 2 days? I'd hope the "forces that be" would allow you to slide by in this case - perhaps with just a warning!

Naturally, IMHO, you're "NOT GUILTY!!!"

FT, as I see it, is a forum for the free, honest and respectful expression of ideas and information, rather than a place where individuals might come to be judged!

As a newcomer to this forum it's interesting with a little "History" lesson. As for me: I read what's related to FF programs (or other points programs) and when someone writes about "I've seen a great plant in City XYZ" then I just don't read it. Of course it would be nice if those topics weren't there at all (afterall there are so many general travel forums around but very few FF boards with trafic) but with logic one would think that if everybody stuck on the specific subject of FF then those who didn't would slowly but surely drift away since nobody was paying any attention to them.

Comments are welcome and no offence is meant.

------------------
Goldlust

skol and welcome Goldlust.

well - beside talking ff-miles and occasionally some flame wars here, I think that some great community feeling here in the two and a half year long run of this board 'produced' great friendships thorugh this board (it did for me).

Enjoy and please accept, that, 'a reasonable amount' of personal experiences / jokes / happenings are also shared on this board and are welcome to at least some of us, who, when there were may have been only 30 to 50 regular posters in the first months, surely helped to start Randy's board with reasonable informations and maintain 'unwritten' acceptable standards/rules.

Welcome GoldLust and I know you will contribute well to the boards.

Another history lesson: Randy Petersen said that the board has gone beyond just talk fo points and miles. Real Friendships have formed, it's become one giant, worldwide family and if anything comes out of this board that's the one thing that should be it's greatest success: the Friendships.

Like my brother Rudi, I have made many wonderful friends and with their knowledge of miles and so much more I'm glad I signed up on FLYERTALK!

Have fun!