I think that FT is a medium for FF's to share their experiences in traveling. It will continue to be successful as long as new members come on board and share and older memnbers continue to participate. Sometimes it may appear to be boring to some of the old timers but this is part of human nature.

if you have been involved with FT for a period of time and are feeling bored perhaps you need to start telling people you meet in your travels about FT. My experience tells me that 90% of the people that I ask if they know about FT have never heard of it. i give them the website. This is what will keep FT fresh and relevant.

I totally agree with NYC1's suggestions.

I honestly believe that some of the non-necessary posts (sure, I am probably guilty here as well) are done to increase "status" or post counts.

William

My vote's w/ NYC1's suggestion - registration dates could guide newbies as to who has been around a while and since the number of posts in no way indicates expertise, why bother? It implies a status that doesn't really exist.

I happen to be a newswire junkie, so I don't begrudge Doc his posts - and I find great humor in some of the frivolous posts - even the smilies - but for those who are inspired to add static to get their post count up, well, this could potentially reduce those.

I can't see any downside to this suggestion. Just my nickle's worth

"Suggestions:

1) Eliminate FT status (evangelist, etc.);
2) eliminate post counting; and...

Yes, I've also made these very same recommendations more than once in the past!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum97/HTML/000176.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum97/HTML/000134.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum...ML/000595.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum...ML/001372.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum97/HTML/000034.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum97/HTML/000254.html

FlyerTalk is NOT dying. It is evolving, and continuing to evolve. Every new user and every new post makes this so.

Some may like the way it is evolving. Others may not. Ultimately, it is each user's call.

If you don't like the way it is evolving, you can consider it "dead" when you no longer visit the site. It is dead to you at this point, but not for everyone.

FT only dies if our most gracious host decides to discontinue it. Let us hope that day never comes.

------------------
"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own."

While I could care less about the "status" line, I would be very disappointed if the registration date or post count were removed.

It is significant to me if someone has been around and made very few posts--that tells me that when they say something, it is probably really important to them. It is also important to me to see an unfamiliar poster with a higher post count than I would expect--that tells me that they must post in forums I don't normally read.

I get so much subtle information from the relationship between the registration date and the post count that I would sincerely miss those indicators.

Till I can consistently book crazyfares on every trip and score double upgrades on e-fares, every day is fascinating here at FT. All it takes is one unglamorous post to make it a truly magnificent relationship with the airline. And I've only had time to pay serious attention to the UA board. As others have said, you get out what you put in.

If you want to have a great laugh, I recommend: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/004117.html

Punki: I can see your point but IMO it has caused more harm than good. Maybe it's too late now anyway...

So, Punki, is it correct that anyone with a blank after their Registered Date was in a previous incarnation of FlyerTalk? Or, what IS the story?

I'm sure it's very sexist of me, but I do feel sorry for these guys who think that keeping score is important.

GG: My apologies to you and to Punki for being so brazen as to say you are correct in your assumption that those of us with blanks for registration dates have been around a bit. We are part of that horrible clique of "old-timers" so snidely looked down upon (by some) as being too old-fashioned, too bothered by the proliferation of pure drivel, and too unwilling to assist the newbies of the community we forged.

In re: the topic? FT evolves. Evolution is messy. So are dirty diapers...

Well I guess I am the (maybe not so) rare Old Timer (and yes I guess that is what those of us with no registrations date are) who loves to help newbies. Talk about a convoluted sentence. Whew!!!

I fail to see what harm post counts could cause. Methinks that perchance avid posters post in part because they like to share their ideas and maybe even like to read their own posts. Shoot, I am not a particularly prolific poster and even I enjoy going back and reading my own past posts, even if just to give me perspective on my growth. What more could we ask???

From one "blank" to another...

Onefreeman's quote pretty much sums it up. On another note, how's everything over at the Tavern?

As for the other "blank..."
It was very nice to have my first FlyerTalk meeting with Punki. She really is a great "welcome wagon" for the community. Now when are we going to get that Grant County, Wisconsin FlyerTalk event organized ?

Long live FlyerTalk!


[This message has been edited by TransWorldOne (edited 02-13-2001).]

Sometimes it seems to me that each member feels FT peaked sometime about a week before they joined, and has gone downhill since.

Maybe it is because everything seems fresh and new at the beginning.

And there always is the feeling that the party is just breaking up when you get there.

Hey, lets get real around here. I do not think FT is "DYING", "BORING" or whatever. It aint perfect, but it sure aint bad, and sometimes it is quite good. I totally disagree with markbach with almost all the aspects he brings up. This appears to typify a troll post.

Since the first of this year I have racked up 70,000+ status miles with three RT to Europe, two 48's RT and one RT to HI. I have had approx 20 hotel stays. Bonuses (many/most learned by selectively reading FT) have added an extra 120,000 miles AND an extra 140,000 hotel points. And you think itsa dead? These bonuses equate to about 5 free RT and 16 free hotel nights. BTW what kind of travel did you do since 1 Jan 2001?

I do not think the % of crap has increased, and actually the number of "I just starting flying airplanes and I want to pay $100 or less and always fly F/C to Europe and can you wonderful FT people tell me how to do it?", or "How can I get upgraded to the highest elite levels in ALL TRAVEL PROGRAMS because I fly every other month to see my unemployed boyfriend and want to fly up front in the nice big seats and stay in suites......" etc postings have actually decreased.

My key is just skip the crap. Repeat, SKIP THE CRAP. I for one like cats, but I dont want to read about a disgusting cat site as posted on FT with a really weird strange non-cat title (BTW I did not go there). That is why I keep pleading for accurate titles. doc thankfully and really posts a lot to this board, but his titles are usually so precise and complete, I rarely waste any time with stuff I dont need to clutter my mind or computer with. His tip for a $55 room at Atlantic City was a gem. I for one have gotten great mileage and point bonuses because of the info posted here (thanks Vulcan, doc, olafman et al). I have even personally posted a few nice tips, nice bonuses, nice advice etc. I have answered 26 personal emails (I skipped a few) and gotten 6 emails saying thanks for my advice. I wonder how many of these markbach has posted. Please clue me in.

MisterNice

ps: and check the Hilton forum to see if I completely answered some important and unique questions posed by worldbanker. I believe I did and with accurate updated information (at least I hope I did). You wont get that on alt.rec.air or whatever.