The gall of this post is monumental. We have on the one hand Empress, who is consistently the most helpful and interesting source of information for Air Canada and Aeroplan users. Then we have this mealy-mouthed specimen who in the very post attempting to deprive the board of its most useful single resource continues to repeat what he/she/it knows to be a falsehood.
I think that few, if any, users of the AC forum would shed a tear if the starter of this thread were to be given a brief time-out instead of Empress. My idea of brief would be a couple of centuries.

Empress is a messanger of extremely valuable information about Air Canada and Aeroplan. Whether it's good or bad news, he tells it like it is and provides a forum for which we can form opinions on.

Lately, Empress has been directed to much grief from the AC forum users over the new 2004 aeroplan program and upgrades inventory. I can't even begin to list all the negative messages/links directed to him just because certain aeroplan members were not too pleased with the changes. Like I said before, Empress is a messanger, he doesn't run Aeroplan or Air Canada (if he does, I'm sure he would have implemented some of our ideas. Heck, the changes affected him just as much as they do with the other users). He CAN'T change the facts as presented to him.

If all the facts are taken into consideration, a lot of people should be barred from the AC Forum over the comments made in the past month. I'm surprised Empress has tolerated all these comments and were still providing the forum with information. Is this how we want to coexist? I thought the AC Forum is supposed to set an example for other forums. Information can flow freely and personal attacks are rare and far between.

MapleLeaf, What concern is it to you about who Empress works for? An employee of Air Canada or not, he is still a vital resource.



[This message has been edited by fromYYZ_flyer (edited Dec 26, 2003).]

Empress is the MVP of our little Air Canada FT community - over 95% of us regulars here have deep respect for him and greatly appreciate the quick, concise and effective responses he is almost always able to assist with. He is generous with his time, always gives us a good 'heads up' of good (or bad) things coming down the pike, but more than all of these things, he's a heck of a good guy.

Empress

As originally posted - Perhaps the time has come for an AC moderator?

I would say a hands off laid back approach to moderating this forum would be appropriate. A Canadian approach is needed.

Why do we need a moderator? Simply because one particular poster has a personal axe to grind?

In fariness, Randy Peterson has stated that it doesn't matter how much a member contribute(d) or how valuable he or she may be, use of inappropriate langugages and breaking of TOS and thus receiving a timeout takes no consideration of past inputs. That being said, I agree this request would be best taken to e-mail given the public image of Empress here. Perhaps a bit more tact is warranted here.

I agree with all those who feel that Empress is a key (the key?) contributor to the forum.

Yes, he did lose his cool a little. That he was goaded somewhat is also very true - and I am sure Empress himself would agree that the circumstances were regrettable but never a reason - based on Empress's general generosity and helpfulness I'm sure he regrets his outburst.

Empress has given himself a timeout. I think that is fair and enough - I would hate to see the forum moderated.

As for Empress being an AC employee? It's good to have some mysterious contributors to the forum - makes for a little idle detective work when reading his posts - is he, isn't he? My guess is, if he is, then AC are sactioning it, else he would be shut down pretty fast. My tuppence is that he is not. I really don't care, as long as he is helpful to all, which he is.

Let's not ruin a great forum, especially for all those lurkers and ex-lurkers like myself - this community is of great value to many people. Let's keep it going amicably.

Happy New Year to all.

...which is the sole, and oft-repeated, desire of the original post.

Quote:
Empress has given himself a timeout. I think that is fair and enough - I would hate to see the forum moderated.
__________________________________________________ ___________________

Empress hasn't per se given himself a time out..he's on vacation with his family.

"Sole"???? You did read the title of the original post?

I cannot honestly believe I have to even post in a thread titled as above.

Empress is the best source of information that the AC forum has. He is always very polite and informative when answering a genuine question from one of us who needs information.

I hesitate to think how worse off the AC forum would be without Empress.

In my opinion this thread is a joke. I would also like to voice my displeasure for those who only frequent the AC forum to cause problems and then call for a moderater.

We dont need a moderater as most of us are able to moderate ourselves when not goated into arguments.

For the past couple of years I've been a not too frequent, most often lurking member of the AC forum. I am simply a lowly basic Aeroplan holder(with a heck of alot of points to attempt to use) All I can say is that Empress has been extremely helpful to me both on and off the board, even when I write him with questions which I'm sure for most would be...well u know...basic To suggest that the one member who singlehandedly contributes more to the ac forum than many others combined should be given a time out is IMHO silly. Sort of like taking out the 1st and last chapter of a good novel and expecting someone to still read it

[This message has been edited by Legalbee (edited Dec 26, 2003).]

[This message has been edited by Legalbee (edited Dec 26, 2003).]

We dont need a moderater, the poster needs to chill out.

Perhaps Empress is Victor Li?