Randy, I know we've had hundreds of "discussions" and forums talking about posting and not flying, and as a rule I loathe them and avoid them at all costs, but as you've taken a slightly more agressive role of late (with IP logging and removing users) which I applaud, I thought it would not hurt to ask again.

One of the simplest requests put forward for forcing decorum and respect is the manditory publication of an e-mail address. Yes, moderators, dues, and a whole lot of other suggestions would do more to keep our community valid and focused, but surely this most mild step is called for at this point.

If we welcome old and new friends into our "home", giving each the freedom to express themselves and the responsibility to do so wisely, aren't we creating a blatlanty unfair system if only some of those people are forced to identify themselves or publish a method of private communications, while others are able to behave as they wish and speak without respect without having a methoid to at least send them a private note of comment?

As a community, we should identify those who want to espouse how they feel yet are not willing to "hear" by making public even the most loosest form identification. These individuals shlould not have posting privelages in all of the forums. It pains me to lend the credibility of "Flyertalk" to anyone who would be comfortable in speaking to us as a group but not interested in receiving private communications from any one of our members.

Please reconsider this very old request in the light of the current climate and let us know if it can be acted upon.

As always, thank you for your continued support of our community and for your continued generosity as our host.



[This message has been edited by NJDavid (edited 01-02-2001).]

If I do not want to get mail from FT what is to prevent me from obtaining a new email address for FT registration, and never visiting that mailbox?

I'm going out on thin ice here, having made the commitment this year to NOT get involved in any FT wars, but it's not clear to me how a "valid" email address solves anything. I personally have six email addressees: one I use to enroll in anything I'm afraid might generate subsequent spam, two I use for business by segment, etc.. on FT, I have listed my personal home email address. However, I could just as easily have used my [email protected]. There's no assurance someone would even read the mail sent to them, and it provides no added security or control to the FT community.

Personally, I am printing Punki's recent post regarding her new year's resolution for FT behavior and will use that for guiding me through any difficult reactions.

Behavior is difficult to legislate even under circumstances where you can see who you are trying to control. I respectfully disagree that imposing more rules will protect us from the ones we wish weren't here to begin with. For the posts beyond the pale, IP logging should be sufficient. For the rest - read Punki.

Just my two cents worth.

I value NJDavids knowledge, judgements and values high.

Nevertheless I learned from very esteemed (in their majority female Flyertalkers) that they would not have registered on Flyertalk, if their email address would have been exposed. And I for sure would miss baobab et al on this board.

a "valid" email address is a laudable idea...but anyone can get a valid email address in 5 minutes (hotmail, [email protected], [email protected], etc.)

so you'd have to make it a "real" email address (eBay does this, by maintaining a database of free email companies and not letting folks register with theese types of addresses).

But as Rudi points out, this would violate the privacy of a lot of people (not just the ladies) and turn off a lot of people.

It just gets very complicated and ends up serving no real purpose.

And that is one of the reasons I avoid eBay (the other is my one time buying exercise, came across a less than ethical seller).

I "own" eight email addresses. Some are work related, others for specific circumstances. I choose to use HotMail as my primary personal address, and gain many benefits from that service. If eBay or FT wants to ban use of that domain for registration, I'll need to make a decision as to whether the website is important enough to me to follow their rules. For eBay the answer is a resounding no. FT is a different story.

My bottom line, "showing" an address in a user profile here on FT, just doesn't mean anything to me. If someone wants to be more anonymous than me, go for it.

MJW, the NWA employee who formally had enthusiastically shared her knowledge and consistently exhibited a profound willingness to try to assist all NWA fliers, including myself, had never exhibited ANY email address in their profile!

Personally I feel it is nice to show an address in order to possibly "reach" someone personally and expeditiously. Yet, it's an individual personal choice, IMHO!

FWIW, it has rarely ever been used in my personal case to communicate criticism(s) privately, as most FT'ers seemingly prefer to post their citicism(s) publicly in the various fori for whatever reason(s)!

Are there possibly FT'ers who wish to criticise others publicly and yet who wish to be criticised only privately? I hope not!

An easy solution would appear to be for us ALL to simply avoid the personal aspersions and acrimony altogether! It's worth a try!

Have to agree with Rudi - Don't want to exclude valued members of the community. It is a matter of privacy and security. This is an open forum - let's keep it that way. Those members that wish to communicate in a private fashion have the ability to do so. That is the perfect mix. Let's not start impsoing onerous rules and restrictions on the community - That will only, as Rudi and others have noted, have a chilling effect on the openness of the board. IP logging is certainly enough - kazman

doc brings up a good point. I would not want some of the valuable members of the travel community being reprimanded or fired by helping us out just because they are being sent "unofficially" from ual.com or aa.com.

I use an address that I do not hand out very often, so if I get spammed or worse, I know where they found the address.

[This message has been edited by Tino (edited 01-03-2001).]

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum97/HTML/000045.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum95/HTML/000865.html

Can we a least let those with nothing to hide, not afraid of some conspiracy, etc. know that if they do post an e-mail in there profile others can send them private answers comments or suggestions. Sort of encourage the practice, if not make it mandatory?

I'm in the background on this one and am thankful for the input so far. Got a question for you. There is actually a function on this board whereby we could actually add private FlyerTalk mail for everyone on the board. You essentially check your FT mail when on the board and it functions internally to the board, not outside the board like normal email. That would give everyone a way to communicate in private should they wish and not have to reply on the public display of your private email addresses. Just an idea. Sound interesting to any of you?

Oh yes, it surely does. Why wasn't it turned on two years ago?

Yes, FWIW, it sure does sound quite appealing to me as well!