It seems that recently there have been a lot of new users that have been "marathon posting" in order to reach 100 posts, and thus gain access to the Coupon Connection, OMNI, and SPAM. While there is an "ignore user" feature, it is quite annoying to have to continuously add users to my list.

It now seems that at least once a day, I must read posts such as the following: "I am this too" "This cos FA nice" "That is big plane" and other nonsensical, ridiculous, worthlesss, and irrevelant posts.

Would it be possible to add an additional or alternative requirement for those who wish to post in Coupon Connection, SPAM, and OMNI? I would suggest that perhaps there be a requirement that one must have been a member for at least 60 days, and have reached 100 posts in order to have the privilege of posting in the restriced fora.

If new members were required to be members for at least 60 days, I would imagine that this would discourage "marathon posting," and also discourage those members who are trying to take advantage of this board by quickly signing up, making 100 worthless posts, trading a coupon/getting an iPod/talking about politics, and then never contributing to the board again.

Hopefully, this 60 day period would give new members the chance to become respected members of the community, and gain an understanding of the intention and purpose of FlyerTalk.

Love the idea of a time on board as well...

Hope someone pays attention to the suggestion.

William

This makes sense to me as well. Is this a Talkboard issue? Or is this the proper place to discuss it?

Randy has made it clear to his moderators, fyi, that the avalanche nonsense posters' tactics are not welcome. In fact, he has said that if a mod would like to recommend that such "marathon posters" have their posts counts reduced that that is possible.

I definately support time on board and reducing the post counts. Twice in the past week the UA board has been "trashed" by such a poster. One was banned but the other seems to still be posting and just crossed 100. I guess now we will see where he.she wants to post

I already thought that it WAS 100 posts AND 30 days... seemingly not...

I understand this, and have even seen it occur. I am thankful that this can be done, but isn't it cumbersome and time-consuming for the moderators to have to "babysit?" It is unfortunate that the moderators' valuable, volunteered time is taken up with such nonsense. My goal was to make their job slightly easier, and allow them to concentrate on more important things.

I am not a moderator, and I don't mean to speak either for one or as one, but it would seem to me that having to constantly reduce post counts and ban members would be the less desirable part of the job. It is also a burden that I feel has unfairly been placed on them by new members who show no respect for FlyerTalk, and are simply trying to take advantage of the rules, for their own self advancement.

If this is not the right forum for this, then my apologies. In all honesty, while I have been an active, involved member in the airline and hotel fora, I have rarely ventured into the numerous fora at the "bottom of the list." If there is another forum which is more appropriate for my suggestion, then please feel free to move it there.

Thanks again everyone for your consideration, and thanks for everything you do for FlyerTalk!

I thought this is what FT is all about.. (Sorry, couldn't resist!)

Seriously, I completely second your post. Those trashers are really annoying and it should be more effective to prevent than to punish. Just my 2 cents.

Cheers,
Torsten

Scott, I thought the same thing. Apparently my mind and my actions are not talking to each other or are not linked. Anyway, I'll get with Dan, John and Tim to see what we can do. Hint: it won't be 30 days. Now that we have had some history in this area, the time frame needs to be drastically stretched. And I hope that members read clearly that we are not trying to keep members out of FlyerTalk, we are just remaining true to the main gola of this board and that is to talk miles and points, all the other things come as enhancements to your participation.

Frankly I'm wondering if we simply rid ourselves of the post count and time idea and form a committee of members who simply vote on those to be admitted to these privileges and that would certainly be based on these members positive contributions to FT - contributions we can see in real life. Oh, there's no perfecvt system and i'm sure we'll find one that works well - most of the time.

I'm sorry you all have to deal with dealing with this kind of silly behavior. One thing you might consider when setting up a "membership age" policy is in some cases of marathon posting, I've seen IDs from 2003 and less than 100 posts burst to life suddenly and start flooding FT with nonsense. Almost as if someone "resurrected" an alternate ID just to circumvent the rules. But, since duplicate IDs are against the TOS, I must be wrong. Sorry...

As always, thanks for the thoughful message and hopefully a solution can be had that keeps the board the great place it is. It's great to know that you are on top of these issues and will work on it. Those who are just using the board as their alternate ebay really don't fit in here imho.

Actually shouldn't it be "sprint posting"?

You know I only made that comment to get my posting numbers up, right?

Seriously, when this topic first came up (I think because of the i-pods) I "voted" for either a minimum number of posts or a time-as-member. The time-as-member idea was sort of shot down, if I remember correctly. As somebody who reads much more than she posts, I think time-on-board should count for something. Just my 2cents.

I didn't realize this thread was going until I clicked the "new posts" link and found it.

However, since I did, I would like to present the opposing point of view and something for consideration.

I have been a member of various online communities since 1980 (think Bulletin Board Systems via Modems). As such, I have a pretty good understanding of how they work, and of what value reputation in an online community has.

Knowing that as I do, I realize that if I do 100 inane posts that are off topic, "me too" or just not of value, I'll get on everyone's blocked lists and when I need help and post asking for it, I'll get nothing because anyone who would have had experience in the community already had me blocked.

Today and tomorrow will probably be my "marathon posting days."

But, because I have knowledge of how online communities work, I will be working hard to make sure that even though I am posting a large number of posts within a compressed space of time, that what I post is of value and adds value to the conversations that I join.

The reason I need to post so much to one board on one weekend is that I rarely have time to give concentrated time to this particular board. I'm here on and off as I can and if I waited until the occasional times that I can get on normally to accumulate to 100 posts, it would be a year or more before I ever made 100 and had access to the post-restriction areas.

While I do think that marathon posters whose sole contribution is "me too" or "thank you" should face sanctions, I think painting all people who do a large number of posts, without consideration for the value of their contributions, is unfair.

As I understand it, privileges in Coupon Connection or SPAM are limited to those who have taken the time to contribute to the board overall ... I don't think it fair to blindly block out those who have made that contribution over a shorter period of time ... if the contribution is of value and has added to the community.

Let the flame fest begin!!

[QUOTE=Seriously, when this topic first came up (I think because of the i-pods) I "voted" for either a minimum number of posts or a time-as-member. The time-as-member idea was sort of shot down, if I remember correctly. As somebody who reads much more than she posts, I think time-on-board should count for something. Just my 2cents.[/QUOTE]

I would like a combination of both. Such as minimum of 100 posts and a member for 3-6 months or so.

OUCH! Again ... I think that sometimes things can be taken on a case-by-case basis.

I certainly would feel quite abused to have done the work, contributed 100 spot on posts, only to have the rule changed on me mid-stream and be put in exile for another 1-4 months.

I don't think you can look at this in a strictly numbers sense. People who are willing to contribute time, effort, value and experience should be welcomed into this community.

Perhaps you can have the strict rules for the "me too" posters with an appeals process on the side that people who actually have something of value to contribute can avail themselves of?