Whats Up DOC?????
Nov 16, 2000 | 11:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
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Whats Up DOC?????
Whats Up DOC?????
Been away for a week en-route to the wonderful FT Dusseldorf "Goosenfest" and noticed when I went to "In the News", there are no posts initiated from DOC. Now that is odd. And the Forum suffers quite noticeably due to that absence. Looked on other boards, and basically no posts there either.
It is not like DOC is away on vacation it seems, as there are 4 posts in the past 5 days from him recorded in 4 different Forums when I did a search of all Forums.
There was a very heated thread on one airline board that in my view got way out of hand. It serves no real useful purpose to provide the link, but some here I am sure have seen that thread. Doc continued posting way after the dust had settled IMHO, and I told him so by email at that time, but he has been around FT waaaay longer than me so it was clearly his call to continue. I respect that everyone here has an equal right to express their opinion, but gee, I do hope NOT at the cost of seeing DOC leave these boards as an active and valuable participant?
Perhaps Doc is busy with family or work or whatever lately, or is just taking a well earned break, but I for one do hope he has not been discouraged from continuing his fine work on these boards by the comments of a few, who of course have every right to hold them and voice them.
However, the comments of the MAJORITY I think are reflected here, in this popular thread Randy Peterson stated, less than one month ago:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/003584.html
I can't speak for anyone else, but I do hope DOC finds the time and the energy to return to his traditional place and role on these boards, as I feel they are significantly less instructive and informative by his recent absence.
Doc is unaware I am posting this, and if I asked him he may have discouraged me, so please accept my apologies for me being so bold Doc to start this thread. I am hopeful others will have similar thoughts re Doc's absence, and voice them here.
------------------
~ Glen ~
Been away for a week en-route to the wonderful FT Dusseldorf "Goosenfest" and noticed when I went to "In the News", there are no posts initiated from DOC. Now that is odd. And the Forum suffers quite noticeably due to that absence. Looked on other boards, and basically no posts there either.
It is not like DOC is away on vacation it seems, as there are 4 posts in the past 5 days from him recorded in 4 different Forums when I did a search of all Forums.
There was a very heated thread on one airline board that in my view got way out of hand. It serves no real useful purpose to provide the link, but some here I am sure have seen that thread. Doc continued posting way after the dust had settled IMHO, and I told him so by email at that time, but he has been around FT waaaay longer than me so it was clearly his call to continue. I respect that everyone here has an equal right to express their opinion, but gee, I do hope NOT at the cost of seeing DOC leave these boards as an active and valuable participant?
Perhaps Doc is busy with family or work or whatever lately, or is just taking a well earned break, but I for one do hope he has not been discouraged from continuing his fine work on these boards by the comments of a few, who of course have every right to hold them and voice them.
However, the comments of the MAJORITY I think are reflected here, in this popular thread Randy Peterson stated, less than one month ago:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/003584.html
I can't speak for anyone else, but I do hope DOC finds the time and the energy to return to his traditional place and role on these boards, as I feel they are significantly less instructive and informative by his recent absence.
Doc is unaware I am posting this, and if I asked him he may have discouraged me, so please accept my apologies for me being so bold Doc to start this thread. I am hopeful others will have similar thoughts re Doc's absence, and voice them here.
------------------
~ Glen ~
Nov 17, 2000 | 5:31 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Million Miler (mostly earned on CO)
Posts: 2,599
A doc sighting:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum95/HTML/000722.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum95/HTML/000722.html
??????
Nov 17, 2000 | 8:28 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Northeast MA, USA.
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Posts: 3,657
I know for a fact, through private conversations and e-mail communications, that not everyone in this community agrees with the sentiment that Doc should continue to post away at will. I also know for a fact that nobody wants Doc to go away completely. What many of us would like to see on Docs part is moderation and consideration of those of us with slow ISP connections.
When I look at the heading for In the News, I define that as the forum for Press Releases and Links to news articles. I would think that these items belong here and not in the individual Airline/Car/Hotel/Credit Card forums. If this was the case, I could browse the In the News forum once or twice a day and keep up with any news related items that are of interest to me.
Most of us here know that Doc does not like and has not flown NW for some time. We do not need to be reminded of that. The same would be true when a member posts a Copyright protected article in its entirety. We do not need to be reminded that a few members publicly blasted Doc for the same practice. If Doc or anyone else objects to the posting of a copyright article, A private e-mail to the posting member would be and should be fine.
Before any of you Flame away at me, consider that fact that I am currently in Little Rock with a 16K connection. Those of you on DSL or Cable modem are accessing FT at speeds of 5-10 times faster than I am. It is VERY frustrating to open a forum upon seeing a Yellow Lightbulb, waiting for it to load, and then seeing a press release touting XYZs new service to East Overshoe. Or, a link to a press release that requires a password in order to access it The same would be true for opening a thread only to find a Smilie Me Too post.
Now, is Doc the only member guilty of posting Press Releases, Smilie Me Too posts, Etc NO. I would hope that every member who is Guilty of these actions would think about the member with a SLOW connection before posting. I also know that the two forums in which the Smilie Me Too posts not only should be accepted, but encouraged are FT Community and Trip Reports.
Before any of you blast away at me, I challenge you to find a personal attack in this post. Too often, members of FT are discouraged from posting opposing views. While I agree that personal attacks should be discouraged, opposing views should not.
Pardon me while I go don my Flame Retardant Suit.
When I look at the heading for In the News, I define that as the forum for Press Releases and Links to news articles. I would think that these items belong here and not in the individual Airline/Car/Hotel/Credit Card forums. If this was the case, I could browse the In the News forum once or twice a day and keep up with any news related items that are of interest to me.
Most of us here know that Doc does not like and has not flown NW for some time. We do not need to be reminded of that. The same would be true when a member posts a Copyright protected article in its entirety. We do not need to be reminded that a few members publicly blasted Doc for the same practice. If Doc or anyone else objects to the posting of a copyright article, A private e-mail to the posting member would be and should be fine.
Before any of you Flame away at me, consider that fact that I am currently in Little Rock with a 16K connection. Those of you on DSL or Cable modem are accessing FT at speeds of 5-10 times faster than I am. It is VERY frustrating to open a forum upon seeing a Yellow Lightbulb, waiting for it to load, and then seeing a press release touting XYZs new service to East Overshoe. Or, a link to a press release that requires a password in order to access it The same would be true for opening a thread only to find a Smilie Me Too post.
Now, is Doc the only member guilty of posting Press Releases, Smilie Me Too posts, Etc NO. I would hope that every member who is Guilty of these actions would think about the member with a SLOW connection before posting. I also know that the two forums in which the Smilie Me Too posts not only should be accepted, but encouraged are FT Community and Trip Reports.
Before any of you blast away at me, I challenge you to find a personal attack in this post. Too often, members of FT are discouraged from posting opposing views. While I agree that personal attacks should be discouraged, opposing views should not.
Pardon me while I go don my Flame Retardant Suit.
Nov 17, 2000 | 9:07 am
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: May 1999
Posts: 46,817
Doc is fine, thanks! Better than ever!
FWIW, www.newsalert.com
FT is just fine too!
With hopes that this "stuff" will not continue,
Have a great weekend everyone!
-Mark
[This message has been edited by doc (edited 11-17-2000).]
Better than ever! FWIW, www.newsalert.com
FT is just fine too!
With hopes that this "stuff" will not continue,
Have a great weekend everyone!
-Mark
[This message has been edited by doc (edited 11-17-2000).]
Nov 17, 2000 | 10:34 am
#10
Commander Catcop
Join Date: May 1998
Posts: 10,259
I really miss Onefreeman and hope Raeban can get him to post again when he can.
And I miss Nick Merry and svpii and Quantum Leap too.
Now if they all came back, even if just every once in awhile, then we have reason to celebrate.
And I miss Nick Merry and svpii and Quantum Leap too.
Now if they all came back, even if just every once in awhile, then we have reason to celebrate.
Nov 17, 2000 | 11:10 am
#11
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CH-3823 Wengen Switzerland
Programs: miles&more, MileagePlus
Posts: 27,043
Catman: Nick Merry, from time to time, posts (BA, BD, LH, SR forums). Witty and 'argueing' as 'in the old times with baobab'. And 'missing'/forgetting live-encounters as before too ...
Nov 17, 2000 | 12:11 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: SPG Plat, HH Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,015
The amount of time and words devoted to this subject is hysterical.
Radio personality Howard Stern once addressed a similar issue when some people complained that he intruded on their airwaves. His answer was simple: If you want to listen, great. If not, turn the dial. No matter what option you choose, Stern still has a right to be on the airwaves.
So ...
If you want to read doc, then do so. If not, skip his posts and move on. In the U.S., everyone has a right to speak their mind as much as they want - that's why we have the First Amendment.
Radio personality Howard Stern once addressed a similar issue when some people complained that he intruded on their airwaves. His answer was simple: If you want to listen, great. If not, turn the dial. No matter what option you choose, Stern still has a right to be on the airwaves.
So ...
If you want to read doc, then do so. If not, skip his posts and move on. In the U.S., everyone has a right to speak their mind as much as they want - that's why we have the First Amendment.
Nov 17, 2000 | 12:58 pm
#14
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LONDON, ENGLAND
Posts: 62,022
Hmmmm....to engage or not engage Family Flyer? Aw, what the hell, it's friday!
I would argue that not only is speech not free in the good old US of A, it is actually fairly well regulated. Just ask Howard Stern. Over 3 million dollars in fines for speaking his mind and counting! Not only is that not free speech, that's pretty darn expensive speech if you ask me.
From my inability to scream "Fire" in a crowded theater to Larry Flint's brushes with the law, the myth of freedom of speech and expression is just that...a myth.
Now dont get me wrong, we've got it better in the US then most of the world. And the internet is FINALLY bringing true freedom of speech, but the right to speak one's mind as much as one wants is NOT guaranteed by the first amendment according to the old farts whose job it is to interpret it.
Personally, I'm a firm believer in a free and open marketplace of ideas. Sadly few in this country agree with that approach in any more meaningful way then giving it lip service...
I would argue that not only is speech not free in the good old US of A, it is actually fairly well regulated. Just ask Howard Stern. Over 3 million dollars in fines for speaking his mind and counting! Not only is that not free speech, that's pretty darn expensive speech if you ask me
.From my inability to scream "Fire" in a crowded theater to Larry Flint's brushes with the law, the myth of freedom of speech and expression is just that...a myth.
Now dont get me wrong, we've got it better in the US then most of the world. And the internet is FINALLY bringing true freedom of speech, but the right to speak one's mind as much as one wants is NOT guaranteed by the first amendment according to the old farts whose job it is to interpret it.
Personally, I'm a firm believer in a free and open marketplace of ideas. Sadly few in this country agree with that approach in any more meaningful way then giving it lip service...
Nov 17, 2000 | 3:01 pm
#15
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Pasadena, CA. USA
Posts: 1,438
Family Flyer: In principle I agree with you but your analogy is incorrect for this example. On radio, you know when and where Howard Stern is on. As a result, you can avoid HS if you want to. However, on Flyertalk, one does not know who has posted where. so you can not avoid any particular user's post even if you wanted to.