Life is not a place where it pays to take oneself too seriously.

I agree with doc on some points. While I've been on FT for only about 6 months, I have seen what many have called the decline, thought it probably started before I came along.

Well, we can't do anything about the past, and dwelling on "what might have been" won't accomplish anything. So let's focus our energy on making FT as good as it possibly can. A return to the so-called glory days is not impossible, and perhaps "what might have been" can still be.

Many good points here.

Nothing will ever be as it was yesterday.
Coke is no longer a dime a bottle, haircuts are not a quarter, and Buddy Holly or Elvis, or even the Eagles do not top the charts or the radio playlists. Times move on. People come, people go. From here, from sporting clubs, from social groups. For all kinds of personal reasons.

Looking inward and looking back is not positive. Today and tomorrow are what really count in the real world. If the useage of FT has grown 1000% from the "old days" it might irk some, and delight others, as there is 10 times more info and users to learn from .... or ignore as they see fit. As Doc says, it is Randy's board, and how he'd like to see it run is the last word.

------------------
~ Glen ~

Randy: Have you considered the legal ramifications of moderating Flyertalk internally?

While the case law is still clearly evolving, last I heard self-moderation of an internet bulliten board by the company that owns it raises the likelihood of losing a civil lawsuit over what people post on that board. While some cases have been lost by sponsors of unmoderated boards as well, the legal wisdom seems to be that moderation equals consent to things that are left on the board by the company that is moderating.

Admittedly, this info is from the last time I attended a seminar on this issue which was six months ago, but you ought to check into it just to cover your rear.

And for those of you moaning to yourselves about my raising this point, it just goes to once again prove what the plaque on my wall says in bright pink:

NEVER ASK A LAWYER OR AN ACCOUNTANT FOR BUSINESS ADVICE. THEY ARE TRAINED TO FIND PROBLEMS, NOT SOLUTIONS.

Full discolsure: I am not a lawyer but I play one at work

[This message has been edited by kokonutz (edited 10-12-2000).]

Hey, Koko, have you gotten to the episode where the guy sues his friends for posting pictures of him in New York, in a bathrobe, with the rose in his teeth, on the internet? I think they called it Defamation of a Character.

Seriously, folks, I think letiole is right on here. MileageGod was an abberation and, as I recall, several FlyerTalkers (who obviously cared enough about the quality of the board to become vigilante moderators in a time of emergency) jumped in to warn Randy, post-haste, and the matter was dealt with.

In everyday Life on the Boards, I think we (in general) enjoy a very high level of intelligence and civility which has led to, and continues to lead, to the development of a unique and wonderful community of adventurers, worldwide. It has added a a whole new and exciting dimension to my life in my declining years.

Certainly there are some posters whom we just like more than others, and certainly there are times when some persons (of an undisclosed gender) whip out their measuring sticks and start playing one upsmanship, but, alas, folks, that is just the nature of the beast. Go into you company lunchroom during football, baseball.........season. How much difference does any of it make in your real world?

If something truly bothers me enough to think about it after I read it, I simply e-mail the poster concerned and as politely and diplomatically as I know how, express my thoughts. It has always worked for me. If they don't have an e-mail address, in my mind they don't really exist, so I completely disregard anything they had to post.

Yes, there are people who will come and go for their own reasons and that's is just the way it is. If it is someone for with whom I have developed a friendship, I will continue to maintain that relationship off the boards. Otherwise, I look joyfully forward to the new friends I will meet in this wonderful place.

[This message has been edited by essxjay (edited 10-13-2000).]

As a point of clarification, I am fully aware that not all members of the undisclosed gender are always obsessed with measuring. There are most certainly many who have moved beyond, more, better, bigger, smarter, righter, faster, newer, and richer to attempt, in most instances, to achieve a Buddha Like Freedom in their lives, often exhibiting extraordinary acts of kindness, tolerance, generosity and acceptance.

I beg those of you who have done so, to accept my most humble apology for painting with too broad a brush. Sometimes I become myopic. Perhaps I am distracted by my obsession to avoid achieving wrinkles and a Buddha Like Belly.



[This message has been edited by Punki (edited 10-13-2000).]

You know, punki, I never have seen those supposed photos. Then again, maybe it's better that way...

Punki. I also had such an obsession. Once.

On moderators, from a moderator, at Planebusiness:

"That's easy... Try to keep the discussion civil and on-topic. For some forums, that is more of a challenge than others!
Moderators have the power to edit and even delete posts which cross the line, but I don't see where that has been used that often on this board. We also have the ability to move threads between forums as needed, and to close threads.

I try to check my forum at least twice a day, but fortunately things have been quiet lately there, and in general, the discussion here on PBB are usually quite civil and don't require a lot of watching over.

Give it a try. You can always give it up if you don't like it."
http://www.planebusiness.com/ubb/For...ML/000039.html

The time for moderators may well have already arrived, as manifested by recurring threads like this one:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum20/HTML/001517.html

If we continually show that we can not moderate ourselves, then we will surely bring a moderated format to FT!

Hello all.

While I have chosen not to post for quite some time, I still
do lurk. I'm not sure why I am posting now...but perhaps to
set the record straight. I left the board because I felt harrassed
by one particular FT-er. It did not seem to be good use of my time
to continue as an active participant. Not enough fortitude on my
part, I guess! There are numerous NW staff
that follow FT with
great interest, though, so keep up the chat -
positive or negative.

Regards,
MJW

What, an NW basher on these boards? Never heard of that.

GEE DOC, didn't I predict you would run and complain to daddy?

How many forums are you going to post this in? This is number 3...

The thread to the other two: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/003661.html