I just discovered this thread and wanted to give my perspective...

chexfan, S.P.A.M. certainly has changed over the years. When I first joined it was strictly points programs, reward programs, and congas. After I came back to FT after being away for a few years, I noticed all the freebie postings. Then a free magazine sticky was created. I assumed that freebie postings were appropriate and allowed.

Most of the free samples are for shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, etc. Another member started a "free samples of toiletries" thread and since then I post those type of freebies in that one thread, as it keeps clutter to a minimum. However, most of the other members post them individually. I think if we had a requirement that toiletries are all in that one thread, the board would be greatly improved and much easier to navigate.

I would also like to add that I do not post every freebie that I run across. I don't post them to contibute to my post count either -- I don't care about that. I run across many freebies every day and only post the ones I think are worthwhile! You see, I am the wife of a FF and it's my small contribution in appreciation for the miles and points our family has received as a result of all of you.

I didn't realize how many people are upset about this and I'm sorry if I've contributed to a problem I wasn't even aware of. :o

I asked a similar question three years ago!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=196747

I know this thread is old, but s.p.a.m. is even worse than last year.

Can there be a separate forum, "Deals Unrelated to Travel"?"

The name "S.P.A.M." is clever but misleading. It could be renamed to "Alternative Point Sites."

If you still want acronyms, I guess they would be DUTT and APS.

Yes, I wonder if perhaps the name of the forum is one of the reasons that it ended up full of such garbage. ;) Those who want a true "alternative point sites" forum shouldn't have to wade through the garbage, and perhaps miss something relating to APS (easy to do, especially if the APS stuff has fallen off the first page).

I'm pretty much accepted that SPAM has gone too far down the path at this point to be corrected. :(

Of the last 60 topics replied to in the forum, there have been 9 threads about Sites Offering Points and Alternative Miles:

AMEX Business Card 25,000 Rewards Pts
List of online rewards programs worldwide
Sticky: My Coke Reward Points - Consolidated Thread ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page)
250 AA Miles (very short survey) ( 1 2 3)
500 Marriott points for quick survey ( 1 2 3 4)
6,000 free miles on any airline + 2 nights hotel points ( 1 2 3)
Any promotions for signing up for New US Air dividend?
e-reward expiring currency
e-rewards is a SCAM ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page)

There are even 2 stickies for non-SPAM threads. :confused:

I like both of these ideas. ^

OK, but I disagree because I feel the name itself is the reason these things appear in s.p.a.m. The name is too clever for its own good.

Maybe a Freebie subforum under SPAM?
 

I totally agree with the observation that SPAM is getting so "out of shape" this year!

The name may have something to do with it. But I think there's also a domino effects that when one particular FTer starts posting one freebie offer after another so rigorously, others sort of jump in, thinking "I can do that too", which makes the forum more crowded than ever.

Personally I have nothing against freebies. I also contribute regularly to the magazine sticky. :p However, when I am looking for freebies, I don't come to our FT forum. I go to FW and SD. I also try to do good deeds posting Mypoints bonus offers and e-rewards discussion. Obviously we cannot stop people moving freebies from FW/SD. As jfe had pointed out, Randy is taking easy on freebie threads.

If that's the case, would a FREEBIE subforum make SPAM more "tolerable" and focused? A recent sucessful example here in FT is the Travel Photography subforum under Travel Technology. That makes it easy for those FTers who are looking for something specific. I have no doubt a FREEBIE subforum will make S.P.A.M. a much "cleaner" place. And for those who cann't care any less for freebies, they don't have to see it in plain sight when visiting SPAM. :)

What do y'all think?

Given how many people DO take advantage of the freebie offers, views of those threads, the thanks posted, etc, I think they're valued by FTers.

And speaking only for myself, until this thread came up I had never heard of fatwallets or slickdeals & still haven't gone to those sites. FT takes up enough of my time.

But as I mentioned last fall, I think making the 'freebies' a sub-forum on SPAM wouldn't be a problem. People would know they could go there for the freebie offers, and it cleans up the miles/points for those who would prefer that to stay the focus (although ironically enough those threads aren't really all that plentiful from what I can tell even if you take out the freebies).

Can the mod or Randy just make the freebies a sticky, or does it need Talkboard action?

Cheers.

I guess there's an important direction that is unknowingly being decided on; keeping the masses happy with what they value as opposed to staying on the path with FlyerTalk's focus.

FlyerTalk's initial mission was Miles & Points, Miles & Points, Miles & Points. It's definitely matured and evolved over the past 9 years to include most topics of around Travel. Which, to me, is a natural progression. Isn't a freebie section for things like Post-It Notes, or Hot Sauce, or Beef Jerky completely going in a different and unrelated direction? Afterall there are other deal websites out there for those who live by the mantra "If it's free, it's for me". Why should FT compete with those or provide the same "service"?

I agree, which is why I started this thread in the TalkBoard forum:
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=718189

As far as a lot of the samples, there are those of us who take the samples of foods (if only I'd had some on Saturday night), or pens, or a lot of things like that, especially toiletries and toss them in luggage.

I agree with those who see this as an issue for the member-elected TalkBoard and while I am but a single voice, I do se where the growth of FlyerTalk has contributed to making small adjustments like this is the S.P.A.M. forum. As I hope everyone realizes, the purpose of the forum was quite helpful in the days of dotcom mania when there were truly some unique other travel currencies out there.

To give credit where credit is due – the term and the definition for the S.P.A.M. forum came from one of our early members, NJDavid.

I'm glad to see that a thread has ben started in the TalkBoard form regarding this.

My vote is simple
 

Sub Forum for freebies and non travel related bargains ie; Restaurant.com coupons.

Change name of SPAM to better communicate intent of forum.

I like SPAM!
 

SPAM! SPAM! SPAM! SPAM!
SPAM! SPAM! SPAM! SPAM!
SPAMMITY SPAM! O' WONDERFUL SPAM!

Sorry but Monty Python references are hard to pass by...

I like the thread. I know that it will have things other than "points". So be it. I have taken advantage of some of them. I find it to be a great thread and check it 2-3 times a day as I do all of my favorite threads on FT. If it were to be eliminated, then I would start spending time on other sites. I don't want to do that. I like the fact that FT is my "one stop shop" each day. Like anything else in this world, there is always a little give and take. If you go to the beach, expect a little sand in the suit.

If some threads need to purged to make room, how about those 14 "Discontinued Programs/Partners" threads at the bottom, many of which have not been touched since 2005 or later? Seems like a great place to start "culling".

That is my $0.02...

I think most people are not asking to completely eliminate non-travel deals like freebies. They just belong in a separate category or subcategory. It will make it easier to find information that way, whatever it is.