Dude, unless George W Bush becomes a member of FT, he is just a public figure. We the mods, are not public figures, but members of this community.

It is not the same thing

I might the only "conservative" member of the mods, but just because someone doesn't agree with my public views, doesn't mean that he doesn't have the right to express his opinion.

Where we draw the line is when people get out of hand and start calling people names, liberal, conservative or indifferent.

So, there you go, there is a difference, and we deserve the same respect as any other member of FT, and contrary to some people's opinions, we try to do the same

Your friendly neighborhood moderator

What up with the Dark Orange Color

Canarsie....valiant effort in at least trying to cool down the rhetoric with a little levity.^

Is this another "Let's bother Randy" thread?

Nope. I only read the threads that interest me, and the ones forwarded to me via the complaint process (either "report post", or if a member sends me an email).

Reputation threads don't really interest me. Same Sex Marriage threads don't interest me. Political threads don't interest me. While I can't speak for jfe or Scott, I don't think those types of threads interest them either. This may help explain the "unbalanced" moderation in OMNI, a forum that has no real topic to help keep people in line.

As to you your other assertions, Fewmiles is right on his followup. Calling a public figure a "moron" is not again the the TOS. "Calling out", insulting, or attacking another FTer is. There is no "mild by OMNI standards". The difference isn't subtle or vague. Stay on topic and don't flame other members (no matter how much they irritate you) and you'll never hear from a moderator. Now are the moderators going to catch everything? Of course not. Do we rely on the complain process? Yes. Do some people complain to us too much? Sometimes.

But the truth is that some members can't seem to help themselves. They insist on commenting on other FTers, straying from topic, and in most cases resorting to personal attacks. These are the behaviors that the moderators are here to stop, those "negative" behaviors are quite clearly laid out in the TOS (as is the "disciplinary action" model).

If you look at the number of people posting, and the number of "warnings" we've had to make on OMNI, you'll see that there are very few people that fall into the category I've outlined.

I wish this was more juicy for you. Personalities and grudges don't come into play for me. At the end of the day, I just want to avoid having to lock threads, edit posts, and warn members. It makes less work for me as a moderator, and raises my enjoyment of FT more.

If you're going to post on OMNI, remember the TOS.

Are EITHER suitable for a Flyer Bulletin board - that is the simple question.

As I have said, I think calling Moderators "gestapo" is not appropriate on any FT Forum. (Whether they acted a little like them or not.

Is calling the USA President a "moron" just for the fun of it - and having nothing whatever to do with the thread topic what Randy wants this board to be in business for?? Seems so, as the poster was not advised to stay on topic in a thread 2 Mods posted on:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...08#post2754708

I guess as this is Randy's Forum he is the only one that can really answer that?

I have posted many times that religion and politics can be vigorously discussed/debated/argued on 1000s of other BB's - all with varying moderation controls and policies. I just fail to see what either of these subjects has to do with Flyertalk.

The connection OMNI (and its sleazier dimensions of politics and religion) has with Flyertalk is that it keeps a group of people (even if a small minority of FTers) visiting FT more frequently than they would otherwise. As a consequence, we have marginally more participants with substantive travel knowledge lingering online to help inform, clarify, assist and/or enjoy the airline/hotel game in the company of fellow FTers.

Hot Dog. ^^^^

So can we next expect to see ..... on-line auctions, tarot card and horoscope readings, a dating site, beanie baby discussion groups, a used car market, baseball debate area, porno jpeg swap meets, a Music download Centre, Employment classifeds, horse racing tip sheets, Catholic Theology think tanks, and the Billboard Hot 100 on streaming video?

Those will all attract a bunch of folks too. Of course they need know nothing about flying either.

As always - I could be wrong, but those do not YET appear to be a main corporate objective or mission statement for Flyertalk.

Randy could multiply x 1000 the daily visitors to this site just by introducing a few of the above 'great' ideas. So far (thankfully) he does not appear to have been tempted.

"Bush is a moron" is about as close as we are getting. As that is still regarded as civil posting it seems.

Wow, I think I'm being lighthearted (if perhaps a little bit impish)... but I get a negative reputation hit for this??

I tell ya!

Thank you, ozstamps, for your very very accurate observations.

Perhaps with the new format the TOS was changed, but under the old rules it was specifically written that "Any posts containing communications that are knowingly false and/or defamatory, inaccurate, obscene, profane, threatening, harassing, offensive, vulgar, abusive, hateful or bashing -- especially those aimed at sexual orientation, gender, race, color, religious views , national origin, or disability - will not be tolerated."

In the post immediately above the one which CactusPete had removed, the person he allegedly attacked had written, "The 'kangaroo bone' faith is no more worse that the evangelical faith of the chimp."

The words "the chimp" referred to Bush, who is not a poster on F/T and therefore does not constitute a violation of the TOS. However, many Christians, including some who are indeed members of F/T, share that "evangelical faith" and to have it compared to a "kangeroo bone faith" would certainly be offensive to them. More than that, it is certainly "defamatory...hateful or bashing...aimed at...religious views."

Oddly, although it is unquestionable that this letter was seen by at least two moderators, it was not removed.

Dovster, the OMNI moderation double standard is alive and well. And whenever there is irrefutable evidence presented or pointed questions asked, they are routinely met with silence.

Really, well, how come everyone is bickering how terrible we are, and that we meet things with silence, and yet, I have posted a few questions but no one has answered them.

So, back to you

Much closer to "home" than The White House....

Where does calling someone a "Cretin" fall into those standards of tastelessness?

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=91458

Or "Idiot?"

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ighlight=idiot
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ighlight=idiot

And calling the person that eliminated Godivas from United flights a "Moron?"

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...ighlight=moron

Just wondering.

Those are just from the United forum. I also seem to recall others in other forums that contained more. One to avek00 comes to mind that contained several if I recall.



It's always been my impression that you can't say anything you like here...even if it's true! But you can say anything you like as long as you say it in way that isn't a personal attack on a fellow FlyerTalkers in violation of TOS.

I always thought that the quickest way for Gordon Bethune to stop all the morons and idiots and other insults being tossed his way, would have been to make a post. Then he would be protected by TOS!

But then again...what defines a "FlyerTalker?" I've always considered anyone that even lurks occasionally and that has never registered for posting privileges, to be a FlyerTalker too. Even met couple that had the FlyerTalk tags on their bags!

Call someone a moron out on the street face-to-face...better be prepared to face any consequences. Same here in writing, IMHO. Whether it be from the offended parties, or from the owner of this house (Randy), or from his appointed custodians (Moderators).

JFE, I have never said that you are terrible. I do, as you know, see a difference in way some people's posts are handled on Omni as opposed to those made by others.

However, you have me at a loss. I have not seen the questions you refer to. If you would repeat them, and if they have anything to do with what I posted either now or in the past, I would be happy to try to answer them.

None of them were directed at you, but you can read, and you will find them