This is a great start. We need to know who is being 'timed-out' so that we can all judge the effectiveness of this procedure, please.

As far as the muliple handles are concerned, we even more need to know who has been posting as whom. Not all confessions in 2000 contained all the usernames used. Really until this is the case, the multiple handles problem will not go away.

Anyway, a great start as I say.

IMO, Randy needs to know this information, we dont

Thanks Randy! I very much appreciate your filling us in on this and look forward to the State of the Union email. I too value Flyertalk way too much to want to either leave or put up with all the crap flying around. Thank you for taking action, and for keeping us informed of what action you have taken.

Trojanhorse - my motivation for this request is to evaluate the postings of people using multiple handles. It was not to enjoy their dicomfort.

Not that anyone suspected this, but given this mess, and oz's proposed way of checking, my abscence from FT was due to my changing jobs and losing my password, and finally having it reset. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

It's a shame that the mudslinging has gotten to the point where anyone would need to be suspended or banned.

Well, it happens. Web sites come and go, but if they continue, you can bet that they will grow,a nd that they will "evolve"..however much it pains us, and however much we want to look back on whhat once was...

I do think, though, that the FlyerTalk of 1998 was much less for content and helpful suggestion, than the FlyerTalk of 2001.

When a community gets large, the probloems multiply. That does not mean, however, that the larger community is less worthy. Often, it is more worthy, whatever the pain.

Bringing this thread forward, as there is more innuendo re: recent banishments (see for example http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/004572.html - - I did not want to spoil Kokonutz's thread). I still feel that a public announcement/acknowledgment would be beneficial, as noted above. Perhaps it would also entice some FT alumni to rejoin the party.

{Edited for lame UBB coding.}

[This message has been edited by cactuspete (edited 05-16-2001).]

If I were to read this correctly, you are suggesting that public announcements be a standard for any banishment?

Sorry, I have to disagree. The purpose of any action taken by others or myself with regard to a members posting privileges is strictly that - between that member and myself. I don't and can't agree that it becomes a public record, to become fodder for idle comments. When FlyerTalk came about, I pledged to protect the privacy of all members, their actions and their behavior on this board. I have received several other such emails from members suggesting the same - make it public and it will bring other members back. If any actions have been taken up with members, it's of a matter regarding their, and only their activity on FlyerTalk, it has no relationship with other members or members not posting as frequently. FlyerTalk is not "Survivor". FlyerTalk is not Salem, MA (site of infamous witch hangings). FlyerTalk is not a PR mechanism. FlyerTalk is not the National Enquirer. FlyerTalk is an idea where you can exchange the best of information that you know about the topic of travel and frequent flyer programs and to be free of disruptive posts that interfere with the exchange of this information. Along the way it is also community. FlyerTalk shall not be a community, which makes "examples" of those who have passed along this way. Yes, FlyerTalk is a "no politics" zone on this matter. I hope this lets you know where I stand on this matter and welcome any and all comments either here or more appropriately via email.

Randy, I understand your position on this issue, although I don't agree with it (which is part of the point here - - we can have a reasonable discussion over something without degenerating into personal attacks). Just a quick obsevation or two. Whereas the action that you may or may not take regarding a member's posting privileges is indeed between you and that poster, the action that led up to your action necessarily was between the offender and another FT member. In any civilized community, a "police presence" is necessary in order to maintain the pulic's confidence in the system. If you don't follow the rules, then the consequence is forfeiture of some of your rights. I am not calling for the offender to be burned at the stake on the WebFlyer home page. But I do think that a simple post at the end of a flame war thread ("Mr. XXX, you have violated FT rules and are hereby suspended/banished") would do the trick, by alerting the "victims". And there is at least some precedent for a public "outing", as I can recall at least a few instances recently in which some offensive posters were publicly banished.

On another note - - have you noticed all of the great ideas popping up on the AA board in connection with the 20 Partners - 20,000 Mile promo?

That says it well. Thanks, Randy.

One thing comes to mind. Got it from the Navy and it is very true.

Praise in public, reprimend in private!

Can't we allll......just get a l o n g? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Test, to see if it will bring forward the missing posts.

It worked.

[This message has been edited by cactuspete (edited 05-17-2001).]

Randy,

Thanks as always for taking the high road.
This is your (our) board. And I trust you to do what's right.
My mother always taught me to mind my own business. I try to.
Flyertalk will go on as long as new people are finding it. And many of the newbees will become assets.
And one more thing, Today...is the old days. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

CactusPete: i hope people look at this issue and see how it's done. I absolutely respect the fact you disagree with me on this issue and are not afraid to do so. You remain a valuable member of this board. But no where have we picked on each other in a manner outside of the issue. I still stand by my feelings on this matter and will always try to keep an open mind. I simply want to assure all members of this board by my actions here and hopefully elsewhere that their privacy and rights to opinions are always held in high regard by me. Keep in mind this one very, very important fact. My guess is that 95% or more of the members of this board would have no idea what the sanctions are all about. Either they are new members or members who pretty much have stayed to their forum interests. I worry that by a public shaming we then impose this on members who really have no interest other than the topics at hand. As for making sure that members know we have a renewed interest in supporting the board, I'm going to let our actions speak for themselves. I'm not running for office and don't need to run on a platform featuring capital punishment..

Now, on the issue of the creative ideas coming from the AA board in regard to the 20th Anniversary......proof enough that the best and brightest still choose FlyerTalk. I've got a list of ideas from the threads and later next week will contribute my own ideas as I'm banking on that 20,000 miles, just liked i banked the Northwest 10,000 miles.

Thanks for the dialog cactuspete, it does help me to take a timeout for myself sometime and rethink decisions I have made.