Ok here is my problem. I received an email early today from a well respected FTer who needs some fast up-to-date advice. The problem is he is currently banned, on a “time-out”, shunned, ex-communicated or whatever by the FT master moderator. If I give him the advice, I am going against the wishes/policy of the FT site owner. If I don’t provide the advice the FTer will probably be paying more money for inferior accommodations etc. What should I do? Will I too be banned from FT if I provide the advice?

What is your honest opinion? Should I wait until the current ban is lifted (and how will I know this)? BTW, in the past this FTer has given me (and many others) some very good info.

MisterNice

IMO, the FTer is banned from posting, not banned from the one on one interactions that we all enjoy. I can't imagine NOT helping.

Karma. . .if he/she has been kind to you, then why not repay the favor?

I would hope that there are "higher authorities" that you answer to than those at FT Not sure why you posted here rather than just emailing Randy privately if that is really your concern *confused*

Coming from first hand experience:

FT Time-outs and Bannings are board related only.

Feel (Guilt) Free to communicate off-line as much as you wish.

I think that this discussion is worthy of the community at large, but should be ultimately answered by Randy. So please continue the discussion there. Thanks.

---------
essxjay
FT Community moderator

I can't see any reason on earth why what one does outside of FlyerTalk should concern Randy in the least.

If you want to communicate with this person, by all means do so. If you don't, don't.

It has nothing on earth to do with FlyerTalk or a FlyerTalk temporary time-out. Someone recently described a time-out as just that, a time-out, a cooling off period. It doesn't mean that person is in exile, they are just being provided some reflection time to cool down before they start posting again.

Some of my favorite FLyerTalkers have enjoyed enforced vacations.

I've been in contact with banned people and I have no qualms whatsoever about saying so. The only thing that I can see that has happened is that certain people posted things they should not have (violations of the TOS, mainly recently for personal attacks) and were banned from posting for a while. That has NOTHING whatsoever to do with your contacting the person or with them contacting you.

What you do on your own time/dime is your own business, isn't it?

OTOH, if you are going to clear your private communications with FT Authorities, why not clear your communications with your workplace/parents/significant other/greengrocer/ticket agent in the subway station? I mean, gosh, I'm not even sure where that question came from...

I see no reason not to trade with this member. These members are not infected. They have all suffered what we hope is a temporary lack of good judgement here on FT but as long as they stay as regsitered members, I would certainly and actually encourge contact with them. I can easily say that if there was something i needed advice from one of them today, I would not hesitate to contact them.

I never want to impose of any relationships formed here on FlyerTalk and really would not even care if it involved members who are actually kicked off FT for good. If they work for you personally, then that is all that matters. Over time, FT will not work for every member, that's called life.

And again, unless any member did something that was purposefully trying to harm FT, then they are fine with me personally.

So Randy has been elevated to the status of a Pope, and Flyertalk has become a religion?

Media news alert: Flyertalk is a sect, a cult (of personalities)!!!

I like it!!

Actually, he was just being reminded in a special holding tank of the standards of which members of FlyerTalk wish other members to be more respectful of.

I can only imagine a special holding tank for flyertalkers... Picture the possibilities! Picture the discussions!

A friend of mine produces tv shows. I'm going to pitch him this idea. Probably be #1 in the ratings next season.

Thanks for the smile Randy.