I would definitely support a $1 to $3 one-time CC fee to post. I'd prefer that this apply to
all of FT, but if other considerations exist, I'd accept that a 'premium' section exist with
this verification protection.

I really don't mind now (as an 'oldie') to contribute (with money) to FlyerTalk.

What I don't want, is to build up 'hurdles' for newbies - I am still convinced, that I would not join a 'board' that would ask for money/credit-card-informations from me as a 'newbie'.

For me personally, the advantage of an ever (maximum) growing number of FlyerTalkers(world-travellers (for me = possibility to get to know online and eventually in person more and more persons worldwide) far outweights the disadvantage/problems of probably more FylerTalkers who may have a second (or more) handle and doing so do not comply with the TOS.

I understand that others here have a strong opposite opinion about this - but I don't understand that some think to know better what my personal 'reaction' would be, if asked as a newbie for a contribution/credit-card-number on a, for me, new board. And as much as I fully trust Randy now, I wouldn't automatically do so as a first-time lurking FlyerTalk-newbie.

So you never use your credit card online becuase you don't personally know the owner of each on line shop and would have trouble trusting them?

well, I think I am now 'running against a kind of a wall' here.

* I hope that FlyerTalk stays as easy to start posting for newbies as it is (and was successfull until now)
* I have only little to none anxiety to use my credit cards where- and whenever I want to use it
* so far I never did use credit-cards to receive any kind of access to an Internet-board/- homepage /-service
* I don't think that it matters much for the FlyerTalk decision-maiking about access-policy, if my reluctant 'behaviour' (that I probably share with some/many? others) to not give away my credit-card for 'just' accessing (or start posting on) a FrequentFlier-board, makes really logic sense or not
* the probabilty that many first-timers will not join, if such a hurdle is been built in, might be of more importance for (future growth of) FlyerTalk.

If, as in thousands of websites, there are free areas that one can access immediately, yet separately there are areas with more compelling content that require verified registration and/or a fee to post in (but one can read for free), it would allow for both worlds to exist, and in fact create a demand for the "better" content that feeds itself.

Rudi,

I just dont follow your post.....

Maybe a third party vefication system would work better, had not thought of that one.

Yes, they are called "Porn sites" http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Arent's porn sites some of the most successful internet sites out there?

Yes, but the business model of a porn site isn't universally applicable.

Did I miss something, which contries don't have sex? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

lol... I meant to say that the business model of a porn site isn't applicable to Flyertalk http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

The United Kingdom? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif



[This message has been edited by SEA_Tigger (edited 10-01-2003).]

I consult for a porn site and it is not as easy as you think. Also hacking and trolls are a real problem there. As FT continues to grow I could see it here. We now have flood control and IP tracking. In the porn industry this is the tip of the iceberg. Also for verification you can both charge and credit back the dollar, so no cost to the new member. However, if you were to impose a credit card verification process, I believe that Rudi is right the number of newbies would drop dramatically. The fear of putting your credit information in for verification is a big hurdle to overcome. The porn industry does that with product. What would FT use? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

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dallasflyer, Let's put the fun back in FlyerTalk!

[This message has been edited by dallasflyer (edited 10-02-2003).]

Arguing over the technicalities is not the issue. Far too many people are discussing techno issues they have very little in-depth understanding of. The question is, should a verification system be put in place. End of question! If it is decided that one be put in, the next step would be to figure out how it could be done and to develop one without negative impact. Let the techies worry about the techie stuff.