You know, I have been participating in the FlyerTalk boards for almost three years now. I have contributed over 1500 postings. I have shared beneficial information with many of you, been motivated to create a frequent flyer website (http://www.mileageworkshop.com) and have learned volumes of information from a large group of you.

I have met dozens of you at meetings and have enjoyed the company of many of you. Have I met some participants I really did not like? Absolutely. Do I read postings that annoy me? Yup. What do I do as a reaction? Nothing. Just like my personal and business lives, I choose to ignore the unpleasant people and focus on the ones that enrich my life. If you read something here that rubs you the wrong way, roll your eyeballs and click on something else! Life is w-a-y too short.

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Addicted to airline miles? Check out: The Airline Mileage Workshop

Thanks Mileage Addict. Ditto for me.

Right on, Mileage Addict...

Re your statement about participants you don't care for - I couldn't agree more. As my dear grandmother used to say: "**** 'em, if they can't take a joke"

Sorry, couldn't resist...

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Take a deep breath, and remember what's really important...

Well said.

See http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum...ML/001680.html for more of the same sentiment.

Thanks MA!

exactly!

I just don't understand the "I'm out" crowd.

If you want to leave, just leave, no need to make a big announcement about it.

Well, I'm sure I'll catch a beating for this, but it's Friday, so here goes...

seawolf - I must agree. Don't psychologists hold that people who tell others what they're planning to do (commit suicide, rob a bank, etc) are really desperate for someone to stop them?

Also, I find it interesting that Person X posts a thread that they are leaving, then many others reply with their opinion on this statement, often addressed to the original poster. I understand that these posts are meant to be supportive (for the most part), but doesn't that seem a bit counterintuitive - to post a message to someone who is (supposedly) no longer reading the posts?

ducking and covering...

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Take a deep breath, and remember what's really important...

Well BIM & Seawolf, no beating or flames but perhaps a polite disagreement?

First, we're staying. I was lurking before Oz showed up and my wife & I've managed mostly to ignore him as lurkers and now posters. (Fortunately, we only check United occasionally.) We belong to the ignore-'em-&-hope-they'll-go-away crowd.

That said, I understand the value of publicizing a retirement. A batch of them at once, like this, is reinforcing, and sends the message to Randy that something is wrong. These folks that have put so much effort into making FT an informative and welcoming place are doing us one last favor in their departure.

I don't want them to leave over this, but appreciate they are trying to do good in the manner of their leaving. And I think stirring up these discussions may do some good.

I will be charitable and suggest that Oz is mostly tone-deaf. I can't deny that he exaggerates, shouts too much, is much too self-important, and doesn't face his own failings well. As FlyingRev must often remind his flock, let you who are without sin....

But Oz just keeps at it, and drives people off. Some have left quietly. I do feel sorry for most of the people who have been on the receiving end of his flame-thrower, and don't blame the ones who leave. I'm not even sure he knows when he's turned on the flames! The problem is that this hurts the whole community.

& that's the crux of my opinion here: FT is more than just another bulletin board. Beyond its utility, it is an oasis of sanity and civility and, yes, a community for many people.

I don't know that we need more rules. We need mutual respect and the ability to respond in disagreement without anger.

And somebody, somehow, needs to make that clear, perhaps again & again, to our fellow traveller (little joke, eh?) the antipodean philatelist.

Is that enough ambivalences for one post?

I think I have been around long enough, like my good friend MileageAddict, to qualify as one of the originals, along with other good friends such as Rudi and Catman. I regret that the level of static is getting too high for some, and prompting them to leave. However, the bottom line is, I am here for the miles. The miles are still here. Hence, I am still here. Simple as that. If and when I were to reach a point when I felt that the additional miles, points and bonuses I get by "frequenting" (bad pun, I know!) FT were outweighed by something, I might do something about it. But, I just ignore what needs to be ignored, and mine the board for great tips.

These include, in the last year:
1) Latin Pass--my family earned 1,000,000 miles.
2) Delta SkyMiles credit card bonus--should reap at least 75,000 miles from this.
3) 10,000 NW bonus miles, just recently.
4) 4 Delta free tickets at reduced 20,000 award level, instead of 25,000.

These are just some of the highlights. A very valuable board for me, which makes a lot of great travel possible.

So, like David, I will be around.

Djlawman

MileageAddict - In the words of Gloria Gaynor "I will survive" - great post - could not agree more - kazman

Well said MileageAddict

Very well said MILEAGEADDICT.

My feelings are, that all who now leave - leave US (alone).

There are way too many on these boards to be loved and respected, that I really can't understand, why one could leave all these wonderful people and all their precious contributions to these boards ... for just some (one) others.

I'm new, love FT, fully appreciate all the help I have gotten. Thanks to all. I am staying. Oz is a joke, I really can't believe that he could effect anyone. When I read his postings I just laugh at him like you would a clown. I sorry so many good helpful people say that they are leaving and I hope they reconsider. This place is a great place so it will continue anyways.

I'm staying too - I still feel I get a lot out of this place, and I still care what happens to it.