I like to use the Marxian analogy -- thesis, antithesis, synthesis.

Early in the merger when I predicted this forum would be a synthesis of the two forums, you should have heard the howls from the Delta loyalists accusing me of trying to hijack "their" forum.

The synthesis continues. Things are a lot tamer here than were a year ago. The UA/CO forum will get there eventually.

RealDLInsider is Jeff Robertson. He's in the same job running SkyMiles that he's had for the last 7 years, with his title being bumped up from Managing Director to V.P. during the merger.

His FT activities have mostly been taken over by SkyMilesInsider, formerly known as NW Scoop I, the best of the Scoops.

Just had to make that NW stand out. :D

I think things are already pretty nasty on the consolidated UA board.

Has anyone read this thread? I started too, but got tired of reading the comments from bitter, self-entitled 1Ks whining about having to share the carpet with lower level elites.

It is indeed a different forum than most. The sense of humor takes some getting used to, the attitudes can be hard to deal with and there's a lot of information here. But if you can stick with it and sift through the dreck and the "Diamond Hat Guy" type threads, you'll find a lot of good, solid information that will be worth the read.

UA Insider (Formerly CO Insider) has an excellent presence here, especially prior to the merger (the merger activities are keeping him pretty busy, as he predicted they would.)

I've met Scott in person a few times now, and I really got the feeling he cared about the customers, and in particular Flyertalkers. During a CO flight we spent a good 30 minutes with him asking me what I liked/didn't like about the CO program, and the DL program, and what I thought of the NW/DL merger process and where from a customer prospective i thought they failed and succeeded.

+1

I've also met him & dealt with him several times, as well meeting Starwood Lurker at one of the ELP DO's.

Each rep's real-life personality & responsibilities are different. I think the major "problem" with DL is that Scoop's responsibilities as a DL corporate spokesman are much broader than FT. He was climbing up that ladder while he was still at NW. He can't just hang out here.

And that is the issue. Scoop is a spokesman who drops in, delivers news, and goes out. I don't know that Scoop has the time/authority to do anything else.

After seeing what Scott does on the UA side, I think we need a little more of that. BUt that is a whole other thread. :)

So it seems that several of you agree that there is a different tone... (I'm not sure if that's good or bad...)

I'm having a difficult time understanding why a poster is mocked for something here when an actual reply would be both easier and quicker. AND I'm also very (VERY) confused why moderators would tolerate that type of exchange... It simply makes no sense to me (from a forum management standpoint).

I am sure there is a good reason, but it clearly escapes me.

People need to work out there aggression somewhere... What's better than an anonymous online forum? At least thats what I think goes on.

In reply to brkandjfk:

It wasn't always like this. In general, I have found this forum extremely useful. Most of the people who post here really try to help each other out, and I have benefitted tremendously.

But I don't visit as often because over the past 2 years, a vocal minority of posters have gotten very snarky. For example, new members might post a question regarding the forward cabin on a transatlantic flight, and make the minor mistake of calling it the "first class" cabin of "F" instead of J or "business elite". Then, instead of answering the posters questions, people will rebuke the poster for using the wrong term. But who cares, really.

I think the forum has developed an "insider/outsider" system, where people take pride in knowing abbreviations, jargon, etc that gives them a sense of mastery or expertise. And it is true that the most frequent flyers who spend a lot of time on this forum do have this wealth of experience and facility with a lot of technical terms. The trouble is that this can inadvertently be used to make others-- who turn to the forum for help and advice-- feel foolish or unwelcome.. . .you type the wrong thing, and you get flamed.

Where does it come from? Who knows. . .but as sociologists know, all it takes is a few people in a group to set a tone or establish a culture, that then gets perpetuated.

Overall, though, this is an extremely knowledgeable group of people and every time I have posted a query, then help I have received has been extremely valuable and appreciated. I just ignore the occasional snarky comment ;-)

There is a bit of truth here, though some would never admit to it. Things got brutal for a time...

I can understand how well educated Southerners are threatening to some.... but we do apprecaite you coming down here and vacationing... when a Southern company scrapes up what is left of a Yankee one, we can only imagine what that does to what is left of y'alls pride... must be soul crushing... I'd lash out too... as soon as it was warm enough to go outside at least...

I am going to let someone else 'splain how that Ipad4 joke works with the Diamond schtick.... I just do not have the heart....

Oh, I've seen the iPad 4 jokes re: Diamond/white envelope/2% club, but its name just didn't fit with my snarky commentary @:-)

That's OK, Iowa jokes are a Minnesota institution. You are from Iowa, right?

Is that like the Scots making fun of the Irish for bad teeth?

Are you sure I can not think of one either. Case in point THIS thread should have been closed already half of the posts are not even related to your OP and are just out of line.