Who is OZ? I guess I haven't been on here enough lately. If this OZ is disruptive, usually disruptive people get tired of it and eventually leave on their own. If you have left, keep lurking around and post when you feel comfortable.

I know I sometimes speak my mind on issues and worry that it will upset someone. I try not to say things that will upset anyone. I realize that honest opinions are likely to be objectional to some, but it is never intentional or personal. I try to stop myself from going to far, but sometimes I have very strong opinions - like with U.S. customs!

I have participated in FlyerTalk for EXACTLY a year now, after a quick "baptism" at Higgins in PDX on March 4 of 2000. During this time, I have attempted to actively avoid and ignore any involvement with antagonistic or obnoxious issues, figuring that I am forced to deal with enough of this in real life. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif I occasionally subscribe to viewpoints that are diametrically opposed to those of other FTers, especially those involving language and censorship; sometimes I encounter just too many incidences of US-centric cultural predilections. But many of the folks who hold some of these opposing viewpoints are close friends of mine and, in fact, have become close friends as a direct result of my participation in this community. Folks, we all do not have to look at the universe in precisely the same way.

Once in a while, I have encountered a tone, either real or imagined that I felt was unsatisfactory or inappropriate. When that happens I generally do not respond and simply ignore the thread from that point on. For FTers who do this on a regular basis, I tend to skip their posts in general. There are not many cases like this and it is not particularly hard to do. I picked up this habit long ago after lurking for many years in rec.travel.air, where the noise to signal ratio is much much higher.

So to all of you fellow FTers, I offer you the fundamental wisdom that I attempt to live by, sometimes with various degrees of success. If you encounter a poster whom you dislike or dsapprove of vehemently, please try to remember this old adage:

"Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience."


[This message has been edited by LarryU (edited 03-04-2001).]

I agree with LarryU and everyone else.

As we used to say in Brooklyn http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif,...Tough knoogies!
I'm staying no matter what.

I will miss Catman and Premex. But in life, neighbors move in and out of the neighborhood all the time. (and I sure wish my neighbors across the street would move)

And as Walter Cronkite used to say, "And That's the way it is..."

Dan

[This message has been edited by dhammer53 (edited 03-04-2001).]

[This message has been edited by dhammer53 (edited 03-04-2001).]

Although I haven't been around quite as long as him (after all there's a Registered date beside my name), Djlawman expresses my sentiments very well.

Just last week, a day or two before the deadline passed, I learned about the Hilton Fast Track Gold option, which should net me 50,000 easy points. Points, miles, and flying. That's what matters....

[edited for clarification]


[This message has been edited by bokich (edited 03-04-2001).]

If I would have 'boarded' FlyerTalk only recently for the first time, I probably would have stayed (and become addicted) again.

Having been 'around' since the very first days, FlyerTalk became soon much more for me personally then exchanging/learning miles & points tips and travel experiences (and also a good excercise to communicate in 'swiss-english').

It became (being my only open -in-public-cyberspace-board that I contribute to) fast also THE medium for me to correspond with REAL friends and to 'arrange' personal meetings (my very first one was with BlondeBomber in Vancouver, soon to be followed by MileageAddict in Seattle and Catman in New York) in summer 1998. And then the Party-in-Paradise (event held in nov-1999) preparations that started a year before enabling FlyerTalk-'oldies' (this seems to be regarded sometimes now a bad attribute) to book the ENTIRE upper level of 'our' UA flight LAX-HNL 330 days in advance (I guess it lasted about 60 minutes from when the booking was possible/started until the whole upper-level was completly filled with FlyerTalk-friends exclusively).

Thinking back, this were MY private highlights of the 'old' FlyerTalk days/nights. And I 'mourn' now about the loss of some of my very best/most-intimate friends from this board.

And yes, the question did arise, and wasn't that easy to answer for me, if I also should just quit or not - may be for solidarity only, may be also for the language that (both sides) in very ugly conflicts used more and more.

But sleeping over it (this weekend) and taking into consideration (some of) the postings and the possible solutions (in work) for this ('my') board, I decided to stay - for the same egoistic reasons that I once originally joined.

"...But sleeping over it (this weekend) and taking into consideration (some of) the postings and the possible solutions (in work) for this ('my') board, I decided to stay...

Good news, Rudi! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif As a very recent birthday celebrant, you perhaps already know very well that with increasing age, often comes increasing wisdom as well! Whether or not you feel any older or wiser, I don't know. I only know that folks will surely be glad to have you continue to share your thoughts with them on this board! Thanks! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I've read a lot of these recent posts with a heavy heart and a lot of disgust, and have avoided commenting on them...I guess this 'positive' post (why we're staying) sparked me to write.

I haven't met anyone in person from FT, haven't been to one of these kick-arse sounding parties, nor have I posted in every thread...But I feel as if I have a connection to MOST of the people on FT...If not for anything but the fact I love travel, I hate travel, and try to maximize my FF opportunities every chance I get.

I've taken a great deal of good advice from lots of people, and I hope I've helped at least ONE person out in one form or another.

I'll continue to be here as long as I feel that my general give/take relationship continues...Ignoring the slime, bumps in the road and parasites along the way.

I'm staying too, but enough about that...

LarryU, happy FT anniversary! I remember that Higgins dinner very well. I think you were a bit surprised there were actually a 'band' of folks who shared your interests in travel.

To dhammer, yeah..we did Tough Noogies in Baltimore too. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Yup, until then I thought that I was the only one. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif I was sitting next to Essxjay at dinner and I remember how she took pity on me and revealed some of the deepest, darkest UA secrets, tips and tricks ... everything except the secret handshake. Of course, I had already discovered all of these on my own...

Boy, the old computer crashes and you miss everything. Where is it that Catman and PremEx quit Flyertalk? Wow, Rudi, I sure am glad you decided to stay! What would a bash in SF be without you??? Or Punki? Too bad this isn't Survivor where we can just kick off the offenders. And, I must say, as an old timer, that I miss the old days of polite - and short! - discourse. This was the one place where you could reveal your real self, unlike some other sites where nut cases abound. I am sorry to see this one evolve into flaming and craziness. Randy and all of us deserve better.

I do so agree with you. I do not normally post in two places, but this does seem appropriate here. I orginally addressed it to a very sad post from someone who said that they were leaving so I have pruned it.It is also sad , I do see the reasons why the same names who are accused of causing unpleasantness, cropping up with such monotonous regularity.I do not comment on any members because I feel that I am sitting in a house of glass myself.

I enjoy the Board tremendously, and value the communication. Some of it is trivial, and puerile, infantile even. I am aware that like in life, you will always have those who are self-opinionated, intolerant, condescending, off-hand, and downright rude. Some act as though they were the appointed spokesperson for whichever airline which can be very hard to read without reacting. That said in all the dross there are real pearls of wisdom. I have learnt, and continue to learn a lot from other people's problems and experiences. I have been privileged to meet some wonderful people here in London. They will become long term friends I hope. Two in particular (who I hope to meet) writes me emails that light up my life and my day. How lucky it was that I stumbled on this place last September. Apart from people squabbling with each other, or worse trading insults with each other, I have enjoyed myslef.

I know that there has been nastiness, but like all things it will pass. Like ill-mannered children, when they fail to get attention they will get bored and go. It is the reaction that they provoke that they seek. Ignore them and in time, maybe quite a lot of time, but in time nevertheless it will end. They are not the majority, strident though they may be. (I do not really know the definition of "flamming", even though I can guess, I don't like using phrases without fully comprehending them). This is truly my own opinion for what it is worth. You who were here at the inception should be proud of this even if, as in life, there are imperfections. Some people, I know have zipped off a post and probably regreted their tone or style. The big ones apologise, the rest think that they owe none of us apologies. That said, I do not know if my views are welcome or not, but I hope so. Lastly (thank heavens you are probably saying) I happend to be proud to be one of the international members as sometime we have an insight or an angle that may be of help. Equally, I am delighted to advise any who are coming to London, although I confess to not really being au fait with the hotels as I never use them.

Paul

[This message has been edited by PAUL PALMER (edited 03-06-2001).]