This is not true, the moderators act in consultation with one another and with the owners and employees of FlyerTalk in the specialized forums for us. (TalkTeam, and Advisory Board)

Additionally, the two moderators in the Buzz are in different time zones to provide the greatest coverage for the forum. We do communicate via voice and electronic means to provide the most consistent actions. Again we welcome your input while we all are on the moderation learning curve.

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M1

I for one am happier than a pig in !?&% that the Mods are on board. A VERY big thanx to them.

What do I want from the Mods? I want them to nip flame wars and disruptive individuals in the bud (ya, ya, I know...I'm gonna get moderated! ;-) ).

I do however agree that moving threads around a lot will put my head into a tailspin. I think this should be done if something is clearly way off topic.

Now all we need is the TalkBoard elected so we can get rid of these uglier than &#!@ smilies. :-)

Dorian

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The Global Lounge Project - open source airline lounge listings - managed by Dorian
flyers'places - restaurant, bar & hotel tips - acquired by FT
The Star Alliance RTW Price Chart - by Dorian
The Star Alliance Gold Comparison Chart - by Blondebomber

I made my inital post above because the thread was the first on the list. On the same page, I could see only 3 locked threads, and yet was surprised this large number of locked threads.

And then I paged down! This is utter insanity! If I have to go to one forum to talk only about miles, then another to check on hotels, then another about upgrades, then another , then another, then another, then another, then forget it. I'm going to take all my business to the now fully public http://www.moremiles.org board.

I was one if the initial invited, yet I haven't posted there because, among other things, I didn't want to dilute the information I had to offer by hiding tidbits in all sorts of differnt hiding spots. It's now looking like the better option.

Let me use my preferred forum as an example -- the Air Canada/Canadian forum. Our only rule, an unwritten one at that, is that somehow a post should be related to either Canada or travel, preferably both. It doesn't even matter if the thread drifts way off topic. (And believe me, some get way, way out into left field, or right, as the case may be.)

We pretty much self-moderate. If a discussion becomes too absurd or obnoxious or insulting, a dis-interested third (or 17th) party steps in and knocks everyone down a peg or two. But we still tolerate (and encourage) everyone and pretty much every topic. (And we still give a huge leeway.)

In fact back in April, we were all flattered with this little nugget: (Emphasis added.)

Who wrote that flattering prose? None other than Randy Petersen. But now I see in this very forum a locked thread entitled "Boy Scout Thread...." whose body contains the message "has been moved to OMNI. I had a hard time identifying the significance related to 'miles.'" Written by the very same Randy Petersen.

Well, so might I. But there are hundreds and thousands of really, really useful threads (at least to me) in The Buzz, that aren't particularly related to miles. But the quote above suggests that is a good thing -- "One day I will personally need this information and I know exactly where to come." But what now?

What if some is looking for information on the ethical/moral/religious/whatever stand of airlines in general, or an airline in particular? Perhaps they have their own reasons, but their reasons don't matter. It's still useful information whether I agree with it or not. But where do you look, if not The Buzz? (It might be different if you could Search site wide, but alas...)

The "Boy Scouts" thread might be an easy one to decide, but if the criteria is 'miles' then what about all the other 'non-miles' threads. I'm not about to start jumping over to a gazillion other threads just to follow up on all these locked threads. By the minute, FT is becoming less useful to me.

And what about this astounding message from a moderator in a Buzz thread entitled "500 free US Air miles for survey": "Even though it is a hot tip, we encourage specific mileage earning opportunities to be discussed in their respective program forum."

This sends the message to me that frequent flyers never fly on another airline other than the single airline they have status on. Let alone flying on an allied carrier, they would never ever think of flying another non-alliance carrier like US Air. Clearly, as a regular Air Canada passenger, I would have absolutely no interest in 500 free and easy miles from some other worthless airline, regardless of how easy it was to obtain.

If I was interested in other FF programs, and their miles, or perhaps even their airline, I would obviously check the US Air forum. Then the UA forum. Then the AA forum. Then the TW forum. Then the HP forum. Then the BA forum. Then the AF forum. Then I'd give up and switch over to http://www.moremiles.org in frustration.

In fact, if even "hot [mileage] tips" don't belong in The Buzz, then there is no reason whatsoever for the existance of this forum, and it should be closed forthwith. In the very rare occaision where a "hot tip" applies to more than one program, it should be posted in the "respective program forums." That way, different program participants could discuss it individually, without being distracted (or polluted) by all the tips and tricks those in other program forums might have discovered about the "hot tip."

Three months ago, a wealth of information in one place was a great idea. Now it seems to be a bad idea. What changed?

Thank you SO much for your well worded post Ken...I feel exactly the same way. There are 3 or 4 places I check regularly when I log in, but I really don't have the time to go through each and every forum that I "might" have interest in or can contribute to.

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Have a great day!!
~~Missy~~

From the FlyerTalk Guidelines and Rules: ( http://www.flyertalk.com/rules.shtml )

Actions That Will Compel FlyerTalk Intervention

1. Inappropriate Posts
2. Off topic Posts

Off topic posts take two general forms:

A. Posts within a discussion thread that detract from the topic being discussed.
B. Topic-starting posts that are placed in an inappropriate forum. When determining in which forum to place a topic-starting post, pay close attention to the forum description.
We reserve the right to relocate or remove off-topic posts.
-----------------------

Additionally, as you have all noticed, the current FlyerTalk is not a single UBB anymore. It consists of the following:

FlyerTalk Miles - Stick with FlyerTalk Miles for all your miles and points information.

FlyerTalk Travel - FlyerTalk Travel is the place to bring up all of your general travel questions and comments.

FlyerTalk Dining - Check out FlyerTalk Dining to learn where the food's good, where it's bad, and how to get there.

FlyerTalk Airports - Visit FlyerTalk Airports to discuss everything from parking, to the best airport restaurants and shops.

We encourage everyone to visit, explore, and actively participate in these new areas of FlyerTalk. It may be more difficult for those of you who are long time FlyerTalk users to expand into these new boards, but the feeling is that with information divided into these four broad areas, the majority of users will be able to access the information that is most valuable to them.

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M1

please bring back general travel talk. my route was, buzz , randy[every 3days or so],general travel talk, spam,omni, news, aa, oneworld. i was very happy with it and appreciative that it was there. still spend more time than i should at this site , but it is the top for me- lots of good stuff. thanks flyer talk. oops, forgot the quick stop @ mileage run.

[This message has been edited by clacko (edited 07-22-2001).]

>>Is now four different boards<<

...and my question is "Why"? Why didnt you just add extra forums into the existing BBS? You could have seperated them on the main listing into the four different catagories, with the same result.

I'm all for the extra forums, but totally seperate systems? It's a hassle for your users (ex: the lack of posts in the other three), and probably quite a pain to administer for you as well (ex: your lack of ability to move posts from system to system).

As an IT professional, it seems you have created 4X the work for all parties!

Of course, this may be marketing related. Sell adds on four different systems instead of one. Hmmm.

...and why "ModeratorX"? If these people are "Long Time FT'ers", wouldnt we like to know who they are? Why the anonymity?

My 2 cents.

PF



[This message has been edited by Pointfreak! (edited 07-22-2001).]

I'm not overly happy the closing and implication in the closing of the us airways thread in the statement

Many thanks for this great tip. This thread will now be moved to the US Airways forum for any continued discussion. Even though it is indeed a hot tip, we encourage specific mileage earning opportunities to be discussed in the respective program forum.
Let's talk miles....

Moderator1


because I personally would never have seen it because I don't read the US Airways thread. I never fly them, but have no problem collecting miles on them because if the United Merger goes through that would be a very good thing, or I can convert them to Hilton or something.

While I do agree it does belong in the US thread, I also feel it belongs here for people who don't read each specific thread. I think some of these general things, like this and the Hilton reminders, serve a greater population then just the people who read those specific forums.

I feel that flyertalk will be a much worse place is everything becomes so categorgized that I will have to look through hundreds of forums for something, when one general one with one thread relating to it, clearly identified, isn't harming anybody. Unfortunatly, now it will scroll off the board, so people who don't set the number of days and haven't been here in a while won't see it at all, because nobody can post to it.

i second to that.... please tell me, where should i now post general travel questions?

Are Moderator1 and Moderator2 really long-time and longstanding members of FlyerTalk??? Somehow from reading your posts I find this extremely hard to believe!

(the above message is copyright Goldlust, all rights are reserved. Anyone using the above message without written permission will be sued for violationg copyright laws and will be executed if the deed happened in Texas, China, or Saudi Arabia)

[This message has been edited by Goldlust (edited 07-22-2001).]

i think a great many of us here would prefer not logging into several pages and several disparate forums.

to moderators, if you really want to stick the strict definition and impose the law, could i suggest a "misc forum" for those of us who would prefer not to go out to check every single forum? and the defn for 'misc' is "no moving", the posters decide.

randy, i am rather put off by the increased fragmentation of the new FT. whatever new forum you are introducing, i would stay on th eold ones from now on

or, to put it simple. i am totally with ken haamer's suggestions.

[This message has been edited by pegasus8228 (edited 07-22-2001).]

I think that ANY tip on earning miles/points in ANY program be appropriately listed under buzz. Those threads that have NOTHING to do with mileage tips probably belong elsewhere, but I understand why people post them under buzz - it's where everybody goes. To move the US Survey, I think was a mistake and mistaken logic. I NEVER check the US Air threads. To me buzz, is like a headline - I see it, then see if it pertains to me, read and respond. Any points/miles tips belongs in MilesBuzz!!

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DtG

Ken .. very well said.

I miss the General Traveltalk forum just for the reasons you stated. The replacement is lacking and not as interesting. Frankly, it's boring.

-David

Hang tight with us. This is far from an exact science.

We are trying to follow Randy's Terms Of Service and "Rules", which he has created. Please don't forget we are his guests, and he spend a remarkable amount of money annually for this site. Ultimately he is the final decision maker on how the site should be run.

Now having said that, he is finalizing the creation of a "Politburo" of well known FT'ers to be advisors. There will be growing pains related to anything new, whether it is the significantly expanded FT boards, or moderation. Constructive feedback is extremely welcomed.

And as to the question of who we are, both Moderator1 and myself have been around since 1998. We are not affiliated with any of Randy's business. We are volunteers.

Personally, I have mixed feelings about coming out into the open, and moderating under my own handle. If I am posting on a travel related thread as a regular evangelist member, will I be thought of as the same person I always was? Or, since sometimes I post as a "Moderator" are my comments now tainted?

I know if I was moderating I would be proud to have Dorian beside my text. The basic reason for this is to show I stand behind my moderation.

Also, I would not worry about having what I post 'tainted' as in the particular forum I was moderating I would try to be less controversial and adversarial. Maybe this is why I am not a moderator and have not applied (besides not having the time).

Remember though, this is just what I would do...everyone is certainly different.

Dorian



------------------
The Global Lounge Project - open source airline lounge listings - managed by Dorian
flyers'places - restaurant, bar & hotel tips - acquired by nFT
The Star Alliance RTW Price Chart - by Dorian
The Star Alliance Gold Comparison Chart - by Blondebomber