Suggest a 100 post minimum for SPAM too?
 

Hi Randy,

I'd like to suggest a 100 post minimum for SPAM too (similar to the Coupon Connection). I started a thread for free iPod mini's - a referral conga line - that appears to have pretty much blown up. The intention was to have FT'ers help other FT'ers get free iPods - which it has done - however, a LOT of newbies have joined Flyertalk (not that they aren't welcome to - as FT is a very welcoming place) but they've joined not because of the points, miles, and travel aspect, just for the freebie aspect - so I was thinking of making a recommendation & wondered yours & the communities thoughts on it.

Similar to the Coupon Connection & even OMNI - posting privileges for non-travel related forums (these are pretty much the only 3) should be restricted to FT'ers with a certain post count - maybe 100 like Coupon Connection - or maybe by request, like OMNI - or maybe you one has to have at least 6 months as an active member or something - just a thought.

Anyone else agree or disagree?

I like this idea. It would be a shame if FT turned into "fatwallet" or "bensbargains"...

...or Flyertalk Freebies?

Yeah, I like the idea of a minimum post (or request as some long-time FTers do not have 100 posts) for S.P.A.M.

I also noticed that thread blowing up and had the same thought. Lots of newbies in there that haven't posted anywhere but SPAM on that thread and now the flat screen thread.

How about having the mod just delete your post to have it stop? As the topic starter you could do that. I know you had the best of intentions, but this one just blew up. JMHO.

I agree. But I would go on to say that In actuality, the entire thread doesn't really comport with what the SPAM forum was originally meant to be, IMHO. It has nothing whatsoever to do with miles & points or flying or staying, etc. And, therefore, I think the decision to start the thread itself is as much to blame as all the teenagers it brought in. Again, MHO.

I would have no problems with a 100-post minimum, however...

If we establish a 100-post minimum for SPAM priviledges, you may have newbies (only interested in the ipod/flat screen promos) posting random (perhaps disruptive) things in all other forums to increase their post count.

If we establish a 100-post minimum AND remove the post, we will have all sorts of posts in other forums with titles like: "Where is the free ipod forum?"

Perhaps I'm thinking worst-case scenario...

That hasn't happened yet for Omni or CC...

I agree in principle ...
 

but am also wary of the possible disruption factor. The ipod thread seems to be imploding. Now there's someone suggesting they not even use the thread, and is diverting them elsewhere. Not that that is a problem at all! The bane of my existence, David087, has moved there and is pulling the same antics (posting his link over and over, flying in the face of the rules and others who follow them).

I trust your judgment. We need some sort of solution!

Thanks for all you do for/at FT.

Though I do not often make posts in SPAM, I do think a minimum post count would be a good qualifier. Combining this with a minimum time as a member would prevent people from going over to Omni and padding their post counts in a day or two.

I wondered how long this would take to come up ;)

Of course an easy answer would be to put the conga in Coupon Connection, maybe with a post in SPAM linking so regulars dont miss it.

I'd think the recent GMail "Conga" list would also be a good example of why a 100 post min. would be needed (seeing how people joined FT just to see if they can "smooch" an account out of an established FTer).

aloha

I think it's a great idea.
I know I am brand new, and joined FlyerTalk here just for the iPod thread, and I wouldn't have received the assistance I have gotten from this community. But I think it's important for a community to help eachother out, and I feel it might have been lost upon the newb's with the defiance and such they have demonstrated.

Interesting to see this thread.

I actually sent a message to the SPAM moderators asking for their help on this exact issue.

It was getting tiring seeing all the people coming in with one post and wanting referrals without taking the time to even understand the rules of the CONGA.... not like you could miss them, established members have done a great job detailing them.

I have a feeling most of these people will never become "productive" members of the community... no travel interest. They are only here for the freebie.

So, I think most will go away when they see that they have to get lots of posts sowhere else.

So, I would highly recommend the 100 post requirement....

William

I think that is a virtual certainty.

I completely understand & I would do that - but that wouldn't be fair to all the people that were legitimately a part of this. If I had known that was going to happen, I honestly wouldn't have started it. :(

I agree - the only thing is that when I posted it, I was under the impression that Conga lines were permitted & this is an alternative type of points (you have to get referral points to get the goods). If the SPAM Mods want to close it &/or if Randy wants to close, that's perfectly fine with me - I didn't mean for it to go the way it did - I meant for FT'ers to hook FT'ers up - also, I didn't think it was a bad thing to do because when it first was started, people, including a couple of people who are Mods & yourself included, JonNYC, posted & no one said that it was an improper post at the time - had a Moderator decided to move/delete it, that would have been fine with me at the time.

I do assure you all that Mary2e above is correct - I did have the best of intentions - I just didn't realize that it'd get out of hand - which is why I'm making a suggestion about the minimum time/post count (and I'm echoing boilermaker's suggestion of having those who don't have the minimum post count, but a long time membership with FT having to request permission to post).

Oh boy, this is a tough one.

Not sure where we to stand in this issue.

On one hand, we have the sanctity of the SPAM forum ;), where only discuss points, miles, other types of loyalty currency. Which as of late, they have dried out, and the fact that iDine has its own forum, has decreased the amount of posts that could certainly fit into that category

jsm and I have discussed this issue before, allowing the posting of freebies in the forum, because of the lack of traffic, and the fact that many of us don't really frequent the above mentioned sites that offer this type of threads. I always thought it was nice that someone gave us a heads up when a bargain was out there.

But now, we have the ipod, gmail and the flat screen threads. I have personally dedicated some time and effort to the gmail thread, trying to organize it, and the fact that is a free service (invitation only), thought it was a good thing for the community. I am not so sure about the ipod and flat screen ones.

These threads have attracted many newcomers to FT.Whether this is good or bad I have no idea, all we can hope is that every member that joins FT, be for an ipod or asking how the AA Gold Status challenge works, becomes a member and contributes to this community.

The ipod thread, needless to say is getting out of control, and I might have to do something about it. Not sure, but enforcing rules in this type of thread is somewhat difficult.

The 100 post limit in SPAM, I am not sure which way I would go, who knows, we might be turning away the next Flyertalk Evangelist because he couldn't sign up for an ipod ;)

This is probably the longest post of my life :p

I agree. An alternative may be that someone with less than 100 posts can post to an open thread but cannot start a new thread of their own.

bhatnasx; I should apologize if it seemed like I was accusing you in any way-- I'm definitely not. I hate when people use 20/20 hindsight to claim "I knew this would happen!" I didn't see it turning out this way at all-- no one did, I would say. I did post early-on that all multi-layer marketing schemes have one thing in common; the ones at the beginning make out and a very large number of people end up disappointed. That will, inevitably be the case here, but then again the ones who got in at the beginning deserve to get "theirs," IMHO. BTW, I 'aint no moderator nor do I have particularly good judgment-- so don't go by my lack of objection! :)

I do have a lot of concern about all the newly registered members. Most are teenagers and, actually, I hope they just say "no free ipod, no interest" and don't migrate to other areas of FT... I dunno', that's just my personal prejudice I guess. Reading their posts makes me very skeptical that any of them would ever contribute positively to FT.

That kind of defeats the purpose, I think.

Yeah it does, I fully agree. I'm just trying to see we do not make sure we don't turn away someone who CAN (and I know this is a stretch) become a productive FT member.

I agree there has to be some way to prevent this from becoming another fatwallet. I'm not sure this is it. How about... someone with less than 100 posts can only post to open threads - ONCE. Would that help?

But I would be supportive your suggestion since right now, it looks to be the best solution.

Interesting predicament :confused:

The answer seems to be clear and simple to me:

“Conga” lines should be allowed in the S.P.A.M. forum for offers where everyone can benefit, such as referrals for joining MyPoints.

Pyramid schemes should be absolutely prohibited from being posted anywhere on FlyerTalk. In pyramid schemes, only a few FlyerTalk members stand to benefit, and that is simply not within the spirit upon which FlyerTalk was founded and presently continues.

Am I wrong?

That might be the best solution. The logic is flawless and it is completely in line with the community's philosophy and purpose.
^

Agree completely, but in all honesty, when I saw the ipod thread, I thought one was going to get one referral, and then it was on their own to get the other four.

But you are right ;)

I agree 100%. I posted very early-on in that thread the following:

And while I was, apparently, dead wrong about the company itself, I stand by the pyramid/MLM objection that Canarsie put so succinctly and concisely. FT should aim to foster good will, MLM's do just the opposite.

No worries! :) I just kind of wanted to nip it in the bud in case anyone else felt like doing a personal attack - I did not feel you were attacking me at all.

I would also like to add that I agree with Canarsie - please close the thread if need be, for example, if this becomes a rule on FT.

Editted to add - the reason I started this thread in the ORP forum is because I hoped to take ownership of a little problem that I created - my apologies to all, especially the Mods & Randy.

Exactly. ^

I am now the proud owner of [email protected] with a free 1 Gig mailbox due to this Beta test invite. The number of folks on that conga with a dozen or so posts is amazing.

Agree entirely with bhatnasx original post.

No thank you. :D

Chuck
aka cblaisd
Moderator, Coupon Connection

Oops my ;) was slightly misplaced :D

I agree. The problem with pyramids is that someone along the way always gets gypped. No sense living in denile on this, right?

Thank you for causing everyone to desert this thread, skofarrell.

I'm just wondering, with all the 100 post minimums that are out there, when will we have a 100 post minimum to post on Flyertalk. :eek: :D

sphinx a lot, skofarrell and canarsie :D

I count just 2 Forums out of way over 100 Forums that require 100 posts minimum. Adding SPAM would be a perfect fit to those 2 IMHO. None of the other Forums would need it.

What canarsie said.

I understand where you are coming from
 

I have been a silent FT'er lurking in the shadows since 2003. I do not feel the need to write my comment's about everything in the world. I have used FT for the Iceland Air trip and I am a Delta PM (I know everyones feeling there). I am not one to participate in too many schemes on the internet, but I have participated in this because of the reputation I know loyal FT'ers to have. I do not have 100 posts, and as long as I continue to lurk in the shadows, it will take me years to get there. I do not feel that a 100 post minimum would work with out some sort of opt out clause, or just a 6 mont or 100 post requirement.

WASfireman


ps I am one of the pain's in all of the moderators asses that did not read far enough ahead and signed up incorrectly for the IPOD. The first post said refer to page 48 and post #??? and I went to page 48 and clicked on the first link I saw. The person was not far down in line but the damage had been done and I apologize.

PPS I will be in the other room commiting Hari kari with my DELTA amex card with a razor sharp edge from over use :D

WASfireman, I believe you have only posted once or twice on the Delta Forum, and the recent addition of Canarsie as one of its moderators will undoubtedly discourage you from ever returning.

For all that, I would like to urge you to become more active there. As a PM you certainly have enough flying time to be able to add to our store of knowledge and, more importantly, you might be able to tell us of places you have found Cholula Hot Sauce.

There is only one thing to keep in mind: On the Delta Forum SSM has a very different meaning than it does on Omni. :)

I guess I have to disagree here... I believe the spirit of the IPOD conga was right on... a FTer saw a great deal... and chose to share it with the community for anyone that wanted to participate. Any person who was able to get five referrals would get the IPOD (and the referrals did not have to all come from FT). So, to me this is not a pyramid scheme. Of course, there were people who have decided that they just want to get all the referrals from FT (usually the people with 1 or 2 posts) and that to me is wrong.

Coupon Connection is not a pyramid scheme area, but it is an area where only a few Flyertalk members stand to benefit... once a particular coupon is taken, it is gone... no unlimited use or value (usually).

I believe the original solution of requiring 100 posts to gain posting privileges in the SPAM forum is the way to go. That way, these offers can stay there for our FT community (and remember, no one is forcing anyone to join a CONGA line) to enjoy as they see fit and not encourage the "riff raff" of takers to gain quick access to the forum.

I believe the moderators of that forum have done a great job of managing and helping that forum grow in ways that members who frequent that forum appreciate. Why change that overall philosophy?

William

Well said, William! ^

Easy for you to say, being on top of the pyramid ;)

Well.... that did not hurt.... :) OUCH... what is that pointy thing.... :)

Would not change my opinion though... my brother was one of my referrals... but I did not then go and get him to sign up on FT to get in that Conga... and he would have been high up. I did not feel it was right to do that. (NOW... of course, if someone wants to sign up under him, email me!!!) :)

I am getting more and more concerned about the "TAKE ONLY" mentality of certain posters.... that is NOT the spirit of FT... but then, you have to be a member for awhile to know that. This was the same problem with the Coupon Connection forum until the recent 100 post change. I think it HAS made a difference... and believe it would do the same for the SPAM forum.

William