Over the past few months I have started several threads that were on topic, only to have them disappear a few hours later. I am not talking about a thread being closed or moved (I looked) but just removed without a trace.

I question how many other posts are being handled this way.

I have to agree that deleting threads (or even moving most of them) is really not adding any value to any of us.

It's also annoying when I was just replying to a message by Tango, spending a good amount of time coming up with a response, only to find out the thread was deleted out from under me.

MilesBuzz used to have a lot of really good discussion. Now under this new scheme, some of the topics are more appropriate for TravelBuzz and are moved, and others are deleted completely. TravelBuzz doesn't get anywhere near the amount of traffic MilesBuzz gets, so the responses to questions are fewer and the threads are of less quality.

Before this thread gets deleted for being "off-topic" my issues are specifically about this forum, and I think they should be left here for discussion.

d

Have you tried checking the "Misposted Threads" forum, a/k/a/ "Thread Hell"? I posted something here last night and it was unceremoniously whisked there. Great, now nobody will respond to it.

I don't see how the Thread Nazis make FT better, either, but then I don't see how rules like "no using the bathroom in the last 30 minutes before landing at DCA" make flying safer.

How 'bout this idea: Change the name of MilesBuzz to StuffBuzz. Then nothing's off-topic!

[This message has been edited by Frequent Freak (edited 03-26-2002).]

Tango,

Can you indicate what threads you have started that have disappeared?

If so, I will follow-up with Randy and his team.

I find it hard to believe that the FT staff is just "nuking" posts.

William

I also just had a thread disappear. The thread discussed the recent travel agent commission elimination and was named something about Joe Branatellia (sp)I spent over a half hour replying and was told that there was not enough disk space to reply. When I returned to the Buz it was gone. At least I should have some idea of where it went.

Hope I can get a few words in here. To my knowledge, there has only been one thread deleted in the last let's asay six months and it had to do with a very nasty thread about obese passengers which some members honestly thought was applicable to MilesBuzz!. I was going to move it hwen i decided in a moment of weakness that the topic didn't deserve the courtesy of being handled with care as other threads have been. Now, I will defend the point of this thread. Tango states that several of his has dissapeared that he started and that all have been on topic. Here's the facts: in Misposted threads, there is only one of his that he started (march 25) and that was moved to TravelBuzz!. It was stated that it was on topic. The thread moved was titled "How online booking will cost you." It was a comparison of airfares being different from one online agency to another. Now, I'm not trying to pick on anyone here. but please, will someone tell me how that topic is relevant to MilesBuzz! The purpose of MilesBuzz! is stated as "Discussion of the latest frequent flyer program buzz... " What may be happening is that Tango and others are looking at threads that have their name as the thread starter. When we have to move threads from one forum to another (a different license and board), we have to post it as "TravelAssist" as the thread starter because we can only move threads with everything in place within a forum. Now, I don't believe we caused this problem. If any of the posts noted had been placed in the proper forum, there would have been no loss of thread start.

Now, let's look at the concept that TravelBuzz! doesn't get any traffic vs. MilesBuzz! Somehow the facts don't prove this to be correct. Let's see, as of right now (11:30 am on Tuesday), MilesBuzz! has 34 active threads from the past five days; TravelBuzz! has 51 active threads from the past five days. Seems that TravelBuzz! is fairly active. I got into a little discussion the other day with another member who got made at me for moving a thread from Miles to Travel. She too contended that she only wanted to use FlyerTalk to post things where she wanted and that nothing would get any action over in TravelBuzz!. In the first day of this members post on MilesBuzz! it got 4 replies. I moved it over that evening despite taking some grief from the member. The next day in TravelBuzz!, it got 8 replies in it's first day (double that on the first day in MilesBuzz!) and has gone on to have a totle of 14 replies from TravelBuzz! in the five days total on TravelBuzz! So, the facts say a good topic will get attention if posted in the proper place. One problem that will always exist is that some threads won't get any attention no matter where they are posted. of the current active 34 topics on MilesBuzz!, five of them have less than 4 posts as replies and these are several days old.

We simply cannot allow members to post topics where ever they want and as the member of FlyerTalk who has served the longest as a member of this board, find it better to know what i will be seeing when i visit a described forum.

Hope this helps and if it doesn't I will try to assit any member contacting me. The secret: know the topic, not the thread starter.

and please, use of the word censorship here is I think misleading.

cy-gone: I understand your frustration, perhaps you might want to email the member - bnaboy - that started the thread in the wrong forum that caused your frustration. Now, let's try a little test here. The thread in discussion here is about travel agent commissions. Below are two forums where members might likely start such a thread, as well as look for that topic. A and B. Here's are the "offical" decriptions of those two threads. Read carefully and post where you think the topic of travel agents and commissions might appropriately be posted. Now, this is not a trick question, doesn't even requite a theme paper of a response...just A or B. I'm voting for B, but don't let my vote influence you in any manner.

(A)
MilesBuzz!
Discussion of the latest frequent flyer program buzz...

(B)
TravelBuzz!
If it's a travel topic worth talking about, it's likely in this forum. (non-frequent flyer program travel)

This thread is now located in TravelBuzz! and here's that link for you...see, we can be helpful.

http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...ML/006677.html

Dear Randy,

I just found where the topic I wanted to respond to was placed. It was placed under the misplaced posting topic. I tried to respond in that forum and received a message that you can not respond there. Effectively my voice has been censored and this bothers me. The topic was not moved to the travel related section, as you stated above. It was place at the bottum of the mileage forum and is effectively closed from anyone posting anything further. I would point out that this was a very active topic and had received over 25 postings in the last day. I did not start the topic, but was watching it closely and would like to resopond to what others have posted. Certainly the mileage buzz should take in the hottest topics happening in the travel world today. The ellimination of TA commisions is a big story and the silencing of the discussion should not be tolotated.

I call "misplaced threads" The Island of Misfit Threads.

And you are correct that picking through the 'garbage' is not allowed.

It's Randy's house. He cleans it as he sees fit!

Thanks Randy,

Did find the thread and will try to post for the third time. One point I would like to make is many of the topics already in the buzz have very little to do with mileage or the ability to get it. But thanks again.

I for one am very glad with the current solution for misposted posts, I have had several emails from Randy pointing me to the correct place for my posts, I guess it's a lot of work but am sure it will create a much clutterless environment in the long run...

cy-gone: Again you seem to operate in a zone that I can't figure out. My instructions (and a link) do not take you to mis-placed posts. Why you would go there after reading my post I have no idea. So, what do I do, I go to the link I supplied you, it takes me directly to the correct thread and guess what - i had no problem posting a reply. In fact, go see it for yourself. As for trying to silence the topic. Hello, is anyone out there? What did i do to silence the topic? If anything is true, it's just the opposite. Why? I own a travel agency that has been devastated by this and I may have to close it. Tip: Follow instructions and no one will get hurt.

Again, you and I must be on different Boards. It's near 2 pm (MST) and I went over to look at MilesBuzz! per your statement. I went through all the threads and all 39 active threads from the past 5 days are about miles. I'm left scratching my head - this is FlyerTalk we're talking about right? Could you list the "many" threads on MilesBuzz! that you don't consider are about miles. It's never too late for me to learn something about this topic. Thanks for any help in this matter.

Dear Randy,

Just on the first page of the buzz: topics that strikes me most are. "Dine Rocks" how about "Hilton Honors, do they expire" Hilton forum maybe,Why am I getting Inside Flyer late, Thank you Randy, and Would this be legal ticketing. These are topics for the Buzz? Who decides what is there.

I too am hopelessly confused by all this "post moving" activity, and I have been around almost since the beginning and have honestly tried to understand the new policies as best I can.

Here, for example, is why I am confused. I need to fly to SEA/MPL and want to find the most cost-effective way to get there that will allow me to earn miles (general and status) and get an upgrade. I tried the UAL website without any luck and posted my question in Miles Buzz because (as stated therein) earning miles was my primary goal. I got quite a few very knowledgeable replies very soon after posting and then went on-line the next day to find that the topic had been moved to the misposted threads forum. I thereafter received an e-mail telling me that it had been moved to Travel Buzz and have since made several attempts to search for it on there using my name, the subject, etc., all to no avail. To the best of my knowledge, all respoonses ceased after the topic was moved. I don't understand why it was moved, can't find it and I still need help.

The frustration and unrest that this post movement (almost 100 topics and nearly 2,000 posts) has caused is apparent across the boards and does, I am afraid, discourage frequent posting (at least it has for me). Another problem that has resulted from the new (and at least for me, mysterious) policy is that forums that were previously fairly well defined (like this one for instance) are now becoming cluttered with random topics (like this one for instance) simply because very intelligent, seasoned and well meaning FlyerTalkers can't figure out where their posts should go.

It would seem that all of these problems could be easily resolved by simply creating a "General Travel Talk" area on FT Miles. Since the confusion seems universal and the demand for a "General" area on FT Miles has been so high and persistent, and because it seems like such a quick and rational fix, why is it not done? Is there some technical reason that this can't be done? If there actually is some technical problem that is at the base of this new policy, it would help a great deal if that were explained, which would make it a great deal easier to understand. FlyerTalkers are, IMHO, a very intelligent, cooperative group who honestly do their very best to work together when they understand the goal.

It would make me very sad indeed if this tendency to over manage posts resulted in robbing FlyerTalk of the joy and spontaneity that have over the years made FT the best (and most addictive) site on the internet.