Let the lessons be taught...

While I am guilty in responding in this thread, I feel it is ironic
that the OP seems to bear no responibility in starting this thread.

With the increased power and jurisdiction of the OMNI moderators, it should be
possible to maintain a semblance of order in OMNI, without resorting to hard-nosed
'self-policing' tactics, or complaining to this forum.

I too don't believe that this forum should be used for such purposes, except
perhaps as a last resort. But I note that the OP started the thread here
after emailing the moderators - - without giving them a chance to moderate,
or for FT to come to a decision on what, or what not, to do.


OMNI thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...ML/021041.html

IJK:
"Why not just do your good civic duty and report whatever offends you to FT
and OMNI?"

UAL:
"Fine, I've done that. So what else do you want?

Sheeesh."


May I respectfully suggest to not make public personal accusations and warnings
BEFORE
emailing OMNI, and to not complain to this forum immediately AFTER emailing OMNI.

It's that simple.

Thanks to all for bearing with this flurry. I believe that 99% of us wish
that FT and OMNI be a safe place for exchange of ideas, no matter how
silly they may seem to some. People wanting to get personal can always
do so elsewhere...
.


[This message has been edited by IJK (edited Mar 14, 2004).]

Um..

I never re-applied for Omni posting privileges and would hope that if I did-- I'd be rejected. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I know my limitations-- like Dirty Harry said a man has to-- and I know that if I played in Omni, it would be a matter of time before I was fighting with folks, especially after seeing the posts that prompted this thread. FT is too important to me to get involved, get mad, get even-- get banned. Many here have far more self-control than I do-- some have far less, and some are unable to see in themselves if they can "handle" Omni or not.

This was the first time I have looked at Omni in several months and while I certainly can't claim to be "unbiased" or "nonpartisan" I will respectfully say this: Omni is right back to the same septic, fetid condition it was in right before Randy was forced to close it down for a bit. Everybody obviously walked on egg-shells for a bit and then gradually went right back to the kind of doody that we see there today.

I think Omni is a complete and total waste of Randy's resources and time. I know most members don't agree, and I completely respect that, but I think that FlyerTalk would be better off without Omni-- or with a no politics Omni-- or with a separate "politics cage match" forum-- where insults, trolling and flames are not only allowed but encouraged. The current Omni can't work, IMHO.

I also feel that the bad feelings and animosities and grudges that start in Omni infect the rest of FT. I say, get rid of it.

You may respectfully suggest, and I will of course agree.

However, I still take issue with your unreasonable and hostile posts in light of all this. I do not appreciate your posts, to say the least.

While I certainly respect your opinion, I fully disagree with your post.

Omni has been running very smoothly.

Obviously one person (or hacker) decided this was the weekend, while Randy was away in Russia, to stir up some trouble.

While I'm not a moderator, I took responsibility to ensure that the poster's actions were highlighted and stopped, rather than have it go on and on unabated.

Now that we've resolved this little bit of trouble, Omni is back to its normal, great self.

Omni is not that bad. It was worse before than now. I still find it largely civil -- even if heated. OMNI is essentially fine as is.

I think OMNI is more of a steam release that takes it out off the rest of FT. I see very limited of the OMNI rivalries really negatively impacting the rest of FT. It's hard to stick to frequent flier mile facts and break out into partisan bickering. I see more of inter-mileage program bickering than anything else. After all, "My program is better than your program!" is quite prevalent too.

You can count on me defending OMNI. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif I am an OMNI-partisan. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif Yes!

All OMNIites, circle the wagons. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Thanks!

PS - I think Doc's situation was different from this. Doc always posted interesting pieces of news, not stuff that incited hostile posts (ie trolling).

I still cheer for Doc. However, I do appreciate that is a sore topic for many.

Flogging a long dead horse, but I still think this about what OMNI should be from August 2003:

>>In other words, "My son got straight A's" "How do I fix my laptop" "I got fired today" "I got a new car" "I just saw Seabiscut" "Can you recommend a book for me"...that sort of thing...fine.

I, Mine, My, Me.

"Inspectors find no WMD in Iraq" "Lance Armstrong wins" "Judge rules over size of penis" and other general items that other bulleting boards, and news venues exist for...no.

A sort of:

Perhaps rename it "Community" and rename the old Community, "Get Togethers"?<<

And what occurred here is a good example of why I still think this.

I'm beginning to agree with you, PremEx.

For some reason, political debates, religious debates, and idealogical debates seem to bring out some of the worst behaviors.

If anyone needs further reason why Mr Feldspar deserves being locked from OMNI, please look no further than his reposting my email without my permission.

There's violating the TOS, and there's coming into the living room and taking a dump on the carpet. Such an action won't get you arrested, but it will get you tossed from the house.

BTW, I'd also like to point out that we OMNI mods closed a bunch of Bush bashing threads today (for those keeping track of the anti-right / anti-left bias scorecard).




------------------
Sean
aka: skofarrell
Moderator, OMNI & American Express

Wow! You turned around quick! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Hey, an old dog can learn new tricks, right?

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

*woof*woof*

But usually not so quickly! Seriously though, PremEx's post more closely expresses my concerns than my own! I couldn't have put it better myself-- and didn't when I tried, in fact.

Truth be told, if there was a way of keeping politics & religion out of Omni that would be even better than my draconian suggestion.

But, really, we all know-- it won't work. And probably wouldn't be supported by the serious OmniHeads either, I'm assuming?

Well, I don't know if I qualify for a serious Omnihead (is that a compliment or an insult http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif ), but I am beginning to support this idea.