Please stop merging threads
 

I hope this is the right place for this.

The mods in the AA forum are, IMHO, overzealous in merging threads together. I posted a question about 500 mile credits for shorter legs, it got merged into some mega-omnibus "status qualification" thread, and I simply cannot find it now.

I searched on my name and I *think* I found it, but then there's no easy way to figure out where in the 20+ pages of thread it is to see if there are new responses.

FT doesn't have a "show my posts" function, so catching up on what's been added is simply painful.

Huge meta threads may be nice for newbies, but for people that try to actively participate I think they're counter-productive.

I posted a humorous comment about this before xmas, but apparently meta threads aren't allowed in the boards.

My question - how do the mods know if people are happy with having everything that touches near status qualification tossed into a 20+ page thread? I would suggest posting one sticky meta thread in the AA forum to ask the question on poster's opinions about it to get a feel for whether the format is working for the people who participate.

Thanks.

Actually, it does, though it may not be called that. Click on your screen name in this thread and then "find more posts by .." and you'll see your post about 500 milers.

Philoj,

You can also search within a thread on keywords, including your handle. Just a thot ...

You can also use the "Search This Forum" function, then "Advanced Search," and fill in your username, and then select by thread or by post as you prefer.

I also encourage you to write directly to the mods for the forum where you'd like change. Mods want the best user experience possible, and welcome member input.

Keep in mind that mods are trying to balance the desires of all members, which can dramatically differ in opinion as to what kind of housekeeping is desired. Thus, your ideas have to be weighed against what others would like to see.

I think thread merges are, generally, a GOOD idea, if done prudently. However, they can be tricky.

As has already been mentioned by others, there are several ways in which the OP can find his/her post(s) within the merged thread using the Search function. One way is to use the "search this thread" feature and fill in the username in the appropriate box. I've used this, for example, to find my own posts within a lengthy thread.

I hardly think a blanket command to "please stop merging threads" is warranted just because of a particular difficulty with a particular thread (and lack of knowledge about how to find one's own posts).

new members often create new threads when search function fails and they need to be merged, but like the earlier poster said they have to be done prudently.

I like it when they merge the thread after the user gets some response or a link to the answer.