Jumping the shark?
#16
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: BUF
Programs: SPG Plt, HHonors Gold, UA Gold, PC Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 880
All this has just further solidified my belief that the big blogs operate as a country club clique. You are either a member, or you aren't.
OMAT starts a kick starter asking for travel money and as you can see on the other thread DP and FTG practically trip over themselves to donate (DP even begging his readers to do so in a post). An AA employee on her personal account disagrees with OMAT, and VFW puts her on blast in a public shaming.
Bloggers look out for each other a lot more then they look out for their readers. I'll never forget when a cousin of mine had his chase account shut down for transferring saph points to a friend. He was mystified bc he had read online from TPG who had multiple posts with circles and arrows showing everyone how to do it and saying how it was ok (and how this enhanced the value of the card). This was going on when he was legitimately SPONSERED by chase with their "chase the points guy" series (or something to that effect). He reached out to TPG for help (considering it was his advice) to get his account back. Never heard back, never got a mea culpa.
But now OMAT is asking for money, and they are all backslapping each other and encouraging their readers to give. Not very frugal. Not necessarily in the best interest of their readers either. And somehow I'm skeptical that they'd do the same dog and pony show for you.
Going to FTU and the Chicago seminars was eye opening to see the cliques in action. The way some of them acted like rock star celebrities was laughable. Some of the egos were enormous. It was worth the price of admission on a humor level, that's for sure.
Long bit short, none of this stuff these last couple of days particularly surprised me. However it is refreshing to see great content still being produced in the blogging world by some of the lesser known blogs - saverocity, milenomics, travelisfree. Truly some enlightening stuff there, worth checking out
OMAT starts a kick starter asking for travel money and as you can see on the other thread DP and FTG practically trip over themselves to donate (DP even begging his readers to do so in a post). An AA employee on her personal account disagrees with OMAT, and VFW puts her on blast in a public shaming.
Bloggers look out for each other a lot more then they look out for their readers. I'll never forget when a cousin of mine had his chase account shut down for transferring saph points to a friend. He was mystified bc he had read online from TPG who had multiple posts with circles and arrows showing everyone how to do it and saying how it was ok (and how this enhanced the value of the card). This was going on when he was legitimately SPONSERED by chase with their "chase the points guy" series (or something to that effect). He reached out to TPG for help (considering it was his advice) to get his account back. Never heard back, never got a mea culpa.
But now OMAT is asking for money, and they are all backslapping each other and encouraging their readers to give. Not very frugal. Not necessarily in the best interest of their readers either. And somehow I'm skeptical that they'd do the same dog and pony show for you.
Going to FTU and the Chicago seminars was eye opening to see the cliques in action. The way some of them acted like rock star celebrities was laughable. Some of the egos were enormous. It was worth the price of admission on a humor level, that's for sure.
Long bit short, none of this stuff these last couple of days particularly surprised me. However it is refreshing to see great content still being produced in the blogging world by some of the lesser known blogs - saverocity, milenomics, travelisfree. Truly some enlightening stuff there, worth checking out
#17
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,585
I'm still shaking my head in disbelief, but hey, if he can shake some shekels from his readers to support his lifestyle then god bless.
Someone let me know when he starts a kickstarter to buy a Maybach. Now THERE's a value proposition for ya!
#18
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,423
For me, this is the week that I will stop reading OMAAT and VFTW. Actually the only ones I will continue to read will be Seth's and the Frequent Miler. I will go to their sites without going thru BA. Yes, the shark was jumped this week. Lots and lots of bad behavior has been evidenced and it appears that many who are on BA no longer believe in Freedom of Speech. Very very sad on so many levels.
#19
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,585
I love Gary for not censoring his blog comments. But beyond those calling for her to be fired, some of the misogyny posted toward the AA employee was disgusting and IMHO brings shame on the points nerd community.
#20
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: EWR
Posts: 680
This is a good point. It's not that he can't afford the ticket himself. It's just that he doesn't prioritize it enough to buy it with his own money. So he wants others to buy it for him.
I'm still shaking my head in disbelief, but hey, if he can shake some shekels from his readers to support his lifestyle then god bless.
Someone let me know when he starts a kickstarter to buy a Maybach. Now THERE's a value proposition for ya!
I'm still shaking my head in disbelief, but hey, if he can shake some shekels from his readers to support his lifestyle then god bless.
Someone let me know when he starts a kickstarter to buy a Maybach. Now THERE's a value proposition for ya!
#21
Used to be diaworld
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: DC Metro
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Dontcareist,
Posts: 183
+1...misogyny runs deep. TBB used to run rampant with it.
#22
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Austin TX
Posts: 276
I'd encourage everyone to report that kickstarter. There is a button at the very bottom.
"Fund my life" is against the terms.
Kickstarter requires the production of something of value. If a review counted you could kickstarter anything. I'd love to see them pull this one.
It is beyond obnoxious.
"Fund my life" is against the terms.
Kickstarter requires the production of something of value. If a review counted you could kickstarter anything. I'd love to see them pull this one.
It is beyond obnoxious.
#23
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Look up - On a ✈ DELTA ✈ jet NOW!
Programs: Blogger & Delta Diamond Medallion Million Miler
Posts: 4,174
I'd encourage everyone to report that kickstarter. There is a button at the very bottom.
"Fund my life" is against the terms.
Kickstarter requires the production of something of value. If a review counted you could kickstarter anything. I'd love to see them pull this one.
It is beyond obnoxious.
"Fund my life" is against the terms.
Kickstarter requires the production of something of value. If a review counted you could kickstarter anything. I'd love to see them pull this one.
It is beyond obnoxious.
#24
Used to be diaworld
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: DC Metro
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Dontcareist,
Posts: 183
Popular doesn't mean right. Porn is popular, but I don't choose to fund my blog that way!
Last edited by The Deal Mommy; May 10, 2014 at 7:00 pm
#25
Used to be diaworld
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: DC Metro
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Dontcareist,
Posts: 183
All this has just further solidified my belief that the big blogs operate as a country club clique. You are either a member, or not.
Long bit short, none of this stuff these last couple of days particularly surprised me. However it is refreshing to see great content still being produced in the blogging world by some of the lesser known blogs - saverocity, milenomics, travelisfree. Truly some enlightening stuff there, worth checking out
Long bit short, none of this stuff these last couple of days particularly surprised me. However it is refreshing to see great content still being produced in the blogging world by some of the lesser known blogs - saverocity, milenomics, travelisfree. Truly some enlightening stuff there, worth checking out
Last edited by The Deal Mommy; May 10, 2014 at 6:59 pm
#26
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: BAEC Silver, SPG Gold
Posts: 465
Jumping the shark?
For the OMAT kickstarter, I find the dust up quite interesting -if people want to donate that's their choice - many fund film productions on kickstarter that could clearly be paid by movie studios and there was controversy then too. Ask your readers what they want and clearing they want to read aspirational travels and are willing to pay for it. I've seen travel bloggers (not points bloggers) with engaged communities who pay to subscribe each month to content - works for some not all. Each business model is different this is free marketing drawing more attention.
As for personal attacks, that's never good and it always bothers me how quickly some turn nasty and resort to horrible behavior
As for personal attacks, that's never good and it always bothers me how quickly some turn nasty and resort to horrible behavior
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,532
If I recall things right, I think he's going on a yearlong stay in hotels, so I'm sure his expenses are going up a bit.
In the end, it's an attention grabbing method of PR. If successful, he'll certainly give Ethiad lots of free PR, and of course he'll get a lot of fans/detractors too.
#28
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
Unless Lucky has a million plus in the bank, I really doubt he can "afford" it. He might have it, but that doesn't mean he can afford it. Heck, I could scrape up the money, too, but certainly never would, as I can't afford it, either.
If I recall things right, I think he's going on a yearlong stay in hotels, so I'm sure his expenses are going up a bit.
In the end, it's an attention grabbing method of PR. If successful, he'll certainly give Ethiad lots of free PR, and of course he'll get a lot of fans/detractors too.
If I recall things right, I think he's going on a yearlong stay in hotels, so I'm sure his expenses are going up a bit.
In the end, it's an attention grabbing method of PR. If successful, he'll certainly give Ethiad lots of free PR, and of course he'll get a lot of fans/detractors too.
#29
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Gold-MM, AA Gold-MM, F9-Silver, Hyatt Something, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,392
And if he didn't pull the trigger quickly, somebody else would. And in this game, there's no value in being #2.
So he was between a rock (fund it himself), a hard place (Kickstart it), and a gaping hole on his A380 checklist!
#30
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: UA-1K, MM, Hilton-Diamond, Marriott-Titanium
Posts: 4,423
My guess is that he considered paying for the Residences ticket himself. He could write it off as a business expense. And it would definitely generate a lot of attention for his brand. But then it would appear that if he could just blow $20k, it would lead to the inevitable discussion and criticism of just how much he makes. (Or the accusations that his parents self-fund.... a claim I find absurd.)
And if he didn't pull the trigger quickly, somebody else would. And in this game, there's no value in being #2.
So he was between a rock (fund it himself), a hard place (Kickstart it), and a gaping hole on his A380 checklist!
And if he didn't pull the trigger quickly, somebody else would. And in this game, there's no value in being #2.
So he was between a rock (fund it himself), a hard place (Kickstart it), and a gaping hole on his A380 checklist!