Originally Posted by dchristiva (Post 17419912)

Please define "value". Activity is valuable in terms of fostering community, which is important for any organization, including an internet bulletin board. But activity doesn't necessarily equate to "value" if the community isn't providing content related to the objective of that organization. I see members who lurk or post sporadically, contributing little content directed towards FT's mission/objective. I also see newbies who post extremely helpful information in their very first post, or perhaps have posted only a handful of times and yet offer far more "content" than someone who posts regularly in OMNI or in the lounges.

Both types of members add "value", but I don't think "activity" is a good way to measure that value.

Originally Posted by joshwex90 (Post 17419980)

Yes. Someone's first post can be really helpful. And someone with 60K posts might not be helpful at all. But generally, I think many people do look at post counts to gauge how active a poster is, to help determine the veracity of their posts.

Originally Posted by joshwex90 (Post 17419861)

I would agree with removing previous OMNI posts counts, but I'm not so sure how feasible that is.

And you mention that you don't plan on making your TB term about this, so let's just get it out of the way and move on. Well hasn't that happened? What's a vote now going to change, as this is an issue that will keep coming up. I don't see a vote, even one that passed 9-0, as really getting the issue of of the way.

When this came up recently, why didn't it pass? I remember there being some ferocious debates on the subject, and I'm really interested to hear what FTers have to say on the issue.

Originally Posted by kipper (Post 17418396)

OMNI and Coupon Connection are restricted access for a few reasons. CC in part because it involves trading, people want to know that their trading partner is honest and they aren't going to get stiffed on the trade.

Originally Posted by kipper

OMNI is restricted in part because of trolls who joined simply to post in OMNI, and had no desire to contribute to the points and miles discussions, and as such added nothing to the community.

Originally Posted by jackal (Post 17417575)

.....I apologize, but I vehemently disagree with this proposed solution. The lounge threads have become as much a part of the FlyerTalk culture as anything else. Sequestering them away in a remote forum would completely obfuscate their entire raison d'être.

If you still believe that lounge threads add no value, I invite you to visit the following lounges:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alask...y-welcome.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...y-welcome.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...nalty-box.html

I am sure other lounges are similarly valuable, but these are the three that I have (for better or for worse) become familiar with.

Originally Posted by kipper (Post 17414673)

Hey, I can't get in on this? :D Yes, I think OMNI posts should count.

If a flat out all OMNI posts count won't pass, then the idea to split OMNI that I referenced earlier could be a viable compromise, but I'd rather that all OMNI posts count.

Originally Posted by dinoscool3 (Post 17417976)

There's a problem with making a separate lounge forum, the lounges will be emptier. I don't think half of the people that use The Penelty Box on the UA forum, for example, would use it if their was a Lounge Forum. Besides, isn't that practically Omni?