So, where is it?


:mad:

;)

As I was reading this thread this same thought came into my head :D

Thoughts from FT member with low post numbers
 

Hi there.

I just sent a PM to bhatnasx about the ipod thread. Like WAS, I'm more of a lurker than a poster. I dip in and out of different forums, and by the time I read all the threads that interest me I'm usually running late and have to leave the house before I can post. :) I like FT a lot and have found it very useful and enjoyable to find fellow travelers. I've also gotten some good suggestions about traveling and have tried to provide some advice in return.

I have to say that I was very surprised and a bit shocked at the ipod thread. It started off as the typical FT "secret tidbit" and seemed to degenerate into an AOL chat room. I give the moderators and senior folks a lot of credit for trying to bring order back. I feel strongly that I don't want FT to become a community of "grabbies."

My vote would be for using longevity as part of the criteria, since it seems like it would be a hard thing to fake. I'd hate to read 99 stupid posts from people who were just trying to get their posting numbers up so that they could then "legitimately" ask for something. The whole ipod thread made me realize that if there is a way to game something, people will.

Maybe a combination of posts and time...? Or something that shows input and caring as opposed to how fast we can post or how long we can leave an account open.

Just my 2cents. (does this count as a post? ;) )

Sure does. And keep the faith. At your present rate of .06 posts per day, you’re only 3.65 years away from OMNI posting ability.
Something to look forward to....;)

Many of the posts that have been disruptrive on SPAM have been from new members with 1 or 2 posts as well as commercial posters trying to advertise thier website. I want everyone to be able to participate in this forum, but we have had a lot of disruptions lately. I am not sure about the technical restrictions, but what about a 50 post minimum or be a member for 6 months for SPAM??

I want a free iPod too....


Josh

I think it may be time to close & lock the thread and delete any new congas that might pop up

One poster offered money to jump the conga line and another offered gmail accounts.

Today, I noticed someone posting the same freeipods type conga on tivocommunity.com. Except that person was run off for promoting a "pyramid" scheme, or a "matrix" scheme. This person also listed several other legitimate sites with ipod congas.. Guess what, the FT thread was listed as one of the sites.

Just a thought. If you look through the ipod thread you can see it's gotten way out of hand.

Mary

Mary, forgive my opposition to closing and locking this thread. As bhatnasx stated in this thread, he had only noble intent in sharing an opportunity with the community.

Many loyal FTers are on the list, have followed the rules of both the community and the thread, and have been patiently awaiting their turn at the top. To close it now would be unfair to them. Yes, the newcomers have been a persistent problem. However, the thread administrators (myself included) have worked tirelessly to keep the thread in order and to keep it going.

I have gotten so much benefit from FlyerTalk, I appreciated the opportunity to give something back through "wardening" the line for a while. The tough line we are taking is actually benefitting the community as a whole. Some who were chastised and corrected, and had wanted to swoop in only to use the line, have actually commented about the community, how they appreciate it, and how they will stick around to contribute to it.

I agree that a combination of minimum membership time/number of posts is a good suggestion; to penalize those currently queued is a wrong reaction.

Thank you!

I understand your point. Believe it or not, I was coming here to note that Tivocommunity has deleted the post and all the references to other communities with a conga for ipods.

The (mostly) techies that hang out on those boards were almost rabid in their disdain for the poster and calling freeipods a pyramid & matrix scheme.

I have been looking through it, and I do have to admire the order you're trying to maintain there. However, as long as there are loads of kiddies signing up only to get free ipods (some causing trouble) nothing good can come from allowing it to continue.

If you look, I was the second poster on this thread and fully understand bhatnasx's intent.

IMO, it's out of hand now. FT is making the internet rounds as the place to go to get Free iPods, not information on points and miles.

Mary

Sorry --
 

I was updating my reply when you replied. This was the additional point I made: I have gotten so much benefit from FlyerTalk, I appreciated the opportunity to give something back through "wardening" the line for a while. The tough line we are taking is actually benefitting the community as a whole. Some who were chastised and corrected, and had wanted to swoop in only to use the line, have actually commented about the community, how they appreciate it, and how they will stick around to contribute to it.

Regards.

We need to deal with the people who are joining FT to just post on the CONGA thread... not punish the remainder of the FT community. If we had a 100 post minimum, that would at least filter out MOST of those new members... they will not have the patience to get the 100 posts...

I also have a problem causing this a pyramid scheme. As I think of a pyramid scheme, you pay to be part of it... in this case, no money has to be invested to get the Ipod... and the promoters on freeipod had to know this. So, if freeipods stops their offer... then no one is out of any money (unless they chose to NOT cancel their offers in time).

I think the moderators are doing a good job of trying to keep up... and members are also trying to self-moderate the thread... and should be commended.

William

I agree William. I wasn't calling it a pyramid scheme - the folks on tivocommunity were. I just relayed the information to this group. I have no interest in an ipod, and I remember seeing the first post about it. Seemed like too much grief to get one. If I really wanted one that badly, I'd pay for it. But that's me. I'm not a teenager with lots of free time looking for a freebie.

I agree that the 100 post count minimum is a good idea, but FT is making the rounds on the internet as the place to go get free ipods. Do we really want people polluting other topics just to get the minimum of 100?

Unfortunately, to get it to stop the conga has to be cut off (imho). This case only...

I also commended the folks on that thread for trying to keep a sense of order. It can't be easy.

Mary

When an iPod Mini conga is within striking distance of the JFK-KEF for $61 thread's post count, it is indeed a moment when we need to reflect on the nature of our community. I too, was part of the thread, did my part managing it, got my iPod Mini (well, it's technically on back order :mad: ) and I know bhatnasx well and know his intentions were never for it to get the way it has. People like L101, pseudoswede etc. have all stepped in and managed the thread admirably.

But I am forced to agree with Mary2E - maybe it is time to lock the thread - people in it will still have their links and chances. But then again, I say this after I got my iPod (well, it's technically on back order :mad: )

We want FT to be "the place that had the $61 fare to Iceland," NOT "the place where you can get a free iPod, or flat screen (which I also got (well, it's technically shipped :) )) or free anything."

IMHO, you can't seriously look at the tone and the content of those kids who have most recently signed up-- for the sole and exclusive purpose of joining one of the congas-- as potential "contributors" to FT. In fact, when they don't get their ipods (and the vast majority won't) I think we'll see just why this should have been stopped earlier. IMHO.

flyertalk I and flyertalk II
 

Sure why not. Actually, the founding fathers and chartering folks could simply segment all of those with 100 plus postings (regardless of the post-value and general interest) and call that group flyertalk I and close it to any additional newbies. You could kinda 'chat amoungst yourself'. Or do away with the SPAM section all together as it does not seem to have much applicability to the primary purpose of the site anyway.

There are two conflicting schools of thought in internet advertising:

1. The first school feels that the more people you can reach the more your website is worth. This, in fact, is the theory behind spam -- just send out tons of e-mail and you will be certain to sell enough of your product. If this is correct then somebody who comes on here only for an iPod, or to tell us that George Bush is going to blow up the world, or that that John Kerry is Osama Bin Ladin's cousin is just as valuable as the most knowledgable frequent flier.

2. The second school believes in demographics. It feels that you waste time, money, and effort is reaching people who are not apt to buy your product. To this mind, frequent flyers are not a good market for trailer park advertisements but are incomparable for airlines or hotels.

It is Randy's right to decide which school he belongs to and to encourage posters based on that decision.