Reflections on Two Years at Flyertalk
Mar 12, 2002 | 10:28 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: controlling the internets from an underground bunker
Programs: So l33t that I don't need a wallet full of cards to prove it. Black is the new Gold.
Posts: 3,041
Reflections on Two Years at Flyertalk
Well, folks, today is an anniversary for me. No, I'm not married. Two years ago today, on March 13, 2000, I had a "stupid" question about some award miles being deducted twice from my father's account. I joined a bulletin board for frequent flyer information to ask this one question (here it is), and 2 years and 1150 posts later. I'm still here. I think that's pretty darn cool.
I've learned a lot since I joined. I've earned over a hundred thousand miles that I can directly attribute to this board. Flyertalk has changed a lot since I joined: new people, new boards, new formats, new ideass. But, one thing, for the most part has remained the same. The friendships I have made from this board. Two years ago I never would have dreamed of travelling to San Diego, Seattle, New York, Dallas, or Baltimore to meet folks from the internet, with nicknames like "kokonutz", "B747-437B", "ClueByFour", etc. And I certainly never would have dreamed that I'd host 30 of these people for a weekend in Philadelphia.
I remember one afternoon I had just discovered the live chat feature of flyertalk, and I was just kind of lurking, and I mentioned how I wanted to attend an event in California, but there was no way I could afford the arfare and hotel. Out of the blue, this stranger messages me and asks for my home address, he said he would send me some discount certificates, so hopefully I could make it. I didn't know this guy from Adam, but I trusted him anyway, and sure enough the certificates arrived. A few months later, I had the opportunity to meet this person in Baltimore (the first Flyertalker I'd ever met) and thank him personally. He knows who he is (and I'm sure a lot of you can guess who it is), but he was the first person to befriend me on the boards.
One more anecdote...I once read a post from a flyertalker who went to school in Ithica, and was planning some travel. My best friend from high school went to Cornell, and I decided to email this poster, on a whim to see if he knew my friend. As I clicked on his profile, the email address seemed hauntingly familiar. Then, i realised that this stranger was my friend's freshman roommate, and current apartmentmate. In fact, I had slept on his floor when I went to visit my friend. Small world, eh?
So, before I get all misty-eyed, I just like to say thank you to all my friends on Flyertalk (even those who I have not yet met). Thank you to each and every one of you for adopting me into your community, and for being there when I needed you. Thank you for being my friends for the past two years, and I hope that Flyertalk lives forever.
I've learned a lot since I joined. I've earned over a hundred thousand miles that I can directly attribute to this board. Flyertalk has changed a lot since I joined: new people, new boards, new formats, new ideass. But, one thing, for the most part has remained the same. The friendships I have made from this board. Two years ago I never would have dreamed of travelling to San Diego, Seattle, New York, Dallas, or Baltimore to meet folks from the internet, with nicknames like "kokonutz", "B747-437B", "ClueByFour", etc. And I certainly never would have dreamed that I'd host 30 of these people for a weekend in Philadelphia.
I remember one afternoon I had just discovered the live chat feature of flyertalk, and I was just kind of lurking, and I mentioned how I wanted to attend an event in California, but there was no way I could afford the arfare and hotel. Out of the blue, this stranger messages me and asks for my home address, he said he would send me some discount certificates, so hopefully I could make it. I didn't know this guy from Adam, but I trusted him anyway, and sure enough the certificates arrived. A few months later, I had the opportunity to meet this person in Baltimore (the first Flyertalker I'd ever met) and thank him personally. He knows who he is (and I'm sure a lot of you can guess who it is), but he was the first person to befriend me on the boards.
One more anecdote...I once read a post from a flyertalker who went to school in Ithica, and was planning some travel. My best friend from high school went to Cornell, and I decided to email this poster, on a whim to see if he knew my friend. As I clicked on his profile, the email address seemed hauntingly familiar. Then, i realised that this stranger was my friend's freshman roommate, and current apartmentmate. In fact, I had slept on his floor when I went to visit my friend. Small world, eh?
So, before I get all misty-eyed, I just like to say thank you to all my friends on Flyertalk (even those who I have not yet met). Thank you to each and every one of you for adopting me into your community, and for being there when I needed you. Thank you for being my friends for the past two years, and I hope that Flyertalk lives forever.
Mar 13, 2002 | 6:25 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Fort Worth TX
Programs: Earned status with AA, DL, SPG, HH, Hyatt, Marriott, Seabourn, NCL, National, Hertz...I miss my bed!
Posts: 10,927
Only two years? I thought you had been around forever.
I have to thank Mark... when I was a quiet newbie in chat who knew NO ONE on FT (and those hundred plus FTers I've met in the last six months probably laugh at this) and was ready to log out and not come back, Mark was the first person to pull me into the conversation and the one who encouraged me to keep coming back at first (night after night after night).
Mark has a heart of gold. No question.
I have to thank Mark... when I was a quiet newbie in chat who knew NO ONE on FT (and those hundred plus FTers I've met in the last six months probably laugh at this) and was ready to log out and not come back, Mark was the first person to pull me into the conversation and the one who encouraged me to keep coming back at first (night after night after night).
Mark has a heart of gold. No question.
Mar 13, 2002 | 7:42 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Programs: AA GLD 1MM, Delta GLD, Hilton GLD
Posts: 1,233
We meet in SAN about a year ago. I know that getting to ho to that FT event was special to you. Thank you for your contributions to FT. You are one of the people that make this place a great place to visit and learn. Keep it up Mark!
dallasflyer
dallasflyer
Mar 13, 2002 | 8:02 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: (SNA) Orange County, California USA
Posts: 3,641
Congratulations to you markbach. Thank you for your two years at FlyerTalk, your refreshing sense of humor and the valuable and enlightening content of your posts including your talented paparazzi contributions.
Always appreciated!
------------------
If you keep on doing what you've been doing, you will keep on getting what you've been getting.
Always appreciated!
------------------
If you keep on doing what you've been doing, you will keep on getting what you've been getting.
Mar 13, 2002 | 9:09 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: West Seattle, WA
Posts: 10,469
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by MRLIMO:
...your refreshing sense of humor and the valuable and enlightening content of your posts including your talented paparazzi contributions.</font>
...your refreshing sense of humor and the valuable and enlightening content of your posts including your talented paparazzi contributions.</font>
Mar 13, 2002 | 5:19 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: FTFOE
Programs: TalkBoard: We discuss / ad nauseum things that mean / so very little
Posts: 10,225
Useless smiley post? Or is it?
Congrats on the birthday, Mark. See ya in Chat!
FewMiles..
------------------
[ FlyerTalkers' Resources on the Web ]
[ Unofficial Guide to AAdvantage ] [ Unofficial oneworld Info Desk ]