SanDiego1K

From a member:

Are you an administrator, moderator, or do you hold any financial interest for any other travel-related web site and/or travel discussion forum?

Do you believe that a TB member who holds such a position would have a conflict of interest, or at the least, give the appearance of a conflict of interest with FT?

nsx

No.

That's likely, but there may be exceptions. For example a site dedicated to charity would probably not create any conflict or perception of conflict.

United747

Nope.

If it is a site that is just like Flyertalk, then I think they would be a conflict of interest. But, if it was some random website that was not related to Flyertalk, then I don't think it creates a conflict of interest nor an appearance of one.

Delta747

N830MH

Yes, I am very active on aviation-related forum. I read the aviation-related forum for everyday and see what happened the airline and etc. I always be more respectable to others. In particular, I didn't have a chance to post in OMNI very often. Because it was too many personal attacks in OMNI/PR. Too many politics, religious and etc.

frubio2012

No I do not.

Depends. If it is a financial interest, the most definitely. The member who receives some financial incentive for promoting a specific topic will clearly be blinded from being unbaised.

dinoscool3

No.

Yes and no, obviously if he/she spends a lot of time on the other site, yes, but if he/she uses the interest to help him/her do better as a TalkBoard member then yes it helps.

ryandc99

1. No

2. Yes it could be a conflict of interest if it was a site identical to flyertalk, but would have to be examined on a case by case basis.

RichMSN

(1) No.

(2) It could be. It's something that should be handled on a case-by-case basis, in my opinion. If the member has a financial stake in a site that could take members away from FT, then I think it's a conflict of interest that should preclude the member from serving.

I don't think this is a problem now, though.

Ancien Maestro

I'm not an administrator, moderator, nor do I hold any financial interest for any other travel-related web site and/or travel discussion forum.

The Balance of the Post has been edited and submitted to the Community Director

Jinxy

No I am not involved with any other travel forums.

I think Flyertalk is so well known and respected now in the industry that no other travel type forum comes close.

However I do believe you cannot do a role effectively if you spend time on multiple forums and certainly not in any voting or management decisions.

jackal

I do not hold any role or have any financial interest in any other forum of any kind.

Although the TalkBoard does not really have any kind of influence on decisions that would be affected by a conflict of interest, it absolutely makes sense to me that accepting a leadership role here is best served by being free from any influences or interest in a competitor of FlyerTalk.

I have on occasion posted on other forums (some travel-related) on the Internet, but FlyerTalk has always been and will continue to be by far my primary home community.

CMK10

I cannot say that I do. I am a member of Airliners.net but haven't posted there in over a year.

I can see the worry about a conflict of interest but I do not think there should be limits on whether a Talk Board member can also serve in an administrative capacity elsewhere. I'd like to think that everyone running for this post is mature and trustworthy enough to know to keep their business here separate from their business elsewhere.

RichMSN

One thing I learned from my officiating world is that just the appearance of a conflict of interest is enough to erode the trust in someone. So, for example, I think Gary made the right decision when he resigned from TB and from being a moderator here when he took on a formal role on MP.

To me, though, this is more of an academic question. It's up to the member to disclose such a connection and stay away from a leadership role if he/she chooses.

joshwex90

No. I'm a member of another travel-related site, but that's it.

In what way? I don't see it, but perhaps if the member can explain how it would be a conflict of interest. Perhaps, if I used my influence of TalkBoard to "bring down FlyerTalk," ensuring that the other site, in which I hold a financial stake, succeeds. But TB isn't the same as the board of IB.

goalie

No

I cannot say that one who holds such a position would (n.b. would) have a conflict of interest as that is solely up to them but as to giving the appearance of holding a conflict of interest-YES. Imho, if there is even a remote chance of it appearing as a conflict of interest, that person (again, imho) loses integrity with others (both board members and others in the community) and that could lead to behind the scene "issues" between members which could in turn lead to nothing getting done.

Now I'm gonna go out on a limb (and probably get myself in trouble ) but I'll extend the subject of conflict of interest to forum moderators also being members of Talkboard and vice-versa and say that imho, that should not be allowed as for simplicity’s sake, one makes the rules and the other enforces the rules and imho, never the two should be combined.