nsx

For most subjects, I favor gaining a consensus prior to voting. On this subject, I believe that a public vote would serve the FT membership by showing where we stand. It also provides the best airing of the arguments pro and con.

That said, I'd like the proposal to be very accurately worded before it is put up for vote. A loss due in part to imprecision or incompleteness will be worse than no vote at all.

Markie

Love to know who they might be!

bhatnasx

Well, from what I understand (from a moderator, directly) Hyatt did give those that attended a recent moderator meeting elite status for starters...

RichMSN

Really? If that's true, that's unfortunate.

Cholula

I don't know if that's true or not as I haven't attended any recent Mod meetings. And nobody I know who did attend the last one mentioned receiving elite status.

The only thing I've received as a mod recently was a $5 Amazon Gift Card from IB last Christmas which was a 50% cut in gift $$'s from the previous year when Randy sent me a $10 Starbucks card for Christmas.

And I've received zero for my six years on TB and I don't expect anything for volunteering in either capacity. I do believe that IBB's are going to have to start compensating folks that serve in various positions in the future but that's a topic for another thread.

Jenbel

That's ok, I got a $10 Starbucks card when I stepped down from TB - althoguht that was back in Randy's day, all you may need to go do is step down to get your TB bennies which brings us back nicely to topic.

I can see a reasonable argument for term limits - limiting the number of consecutive terms, rather than absolute number could be a good thing.

nsx

I attended a Hyatt party for FTers (any and all FTers) at the Andaz in Los Angeles. Hyatt gave everyone gift cards ($100 plus $50 restaurant credit) and had a drawing for a TRIP TO LONDON. That's way more than just elite status. Is that unfortunate, too?

Some companies like to give back to FT at every opportunity. I don't see the business sense in it, but it's their decision.

Do I like Hyatt more because they gave me a gift card? Sure. Would it stop me from criticizing decisions I believe are wrong? Absolutely not. If anything, it would make me MORE likely to try to set the company straight when they make a bad decision. That's win-win.

I really don't see any problem here, real or potential.

DeaconFlyer

You don't see the perceived conflict of interest of a moderator who has the ability to delete negative posts about a company that has given them money in the past?

Would you allow UA Insider to moderate the United forum?

nsx

A company employee has divided loyalties. An FT moderator has loyalty only to FT members. It's impossible that a token gift would induce any moderator to act against the best interest of FT members.

Here's a better example of the issue. Suppose a company offers an FT moderator the chance to review and comment on a program change while the parameters of the change are still fluid. This can only be done under a non-disclosure agreement. Should the moderator agree?

I say yes. The chance to improve the program for all members outweighs any loss of ability to speculate on the changes before they occur.

You might not agree with my opinion, but regardless of that the decision will be made with the best interest of FT members being the only consideration. There is no conflict of interest. Perception of conflict is only possible from an absurdly jaundiced perspective. Or from that rare person who could be bribed by a $100 gift card to betray his fellow FTers.

RichMSN

Perception is reality. Something may, in actuality, be burnt umber, but if everyone else says it's brown, it's brown.

DeaconFlyer

I wish I could live in your black&white world.

SkiAdcock

Off-topic:

I'm not a mod. But from what I've heard, the inexpensive Starbuck gift cards at holiday time & a very small stipend to go towards defraying the cost of attending an all-day working mod meeting are about the only things mods get. Well that and a bunch of grief from FTers

Re: the Andez West Hollywood launch event - ALL FTers in attendance received a $100 Hyatt gift card. There was no distinction between mod or not. You just had to be an attendee. The person who won the trip to London was an FT newbie.

On-topic:

I support term limits. I'd say 2 terms on, and either 1 year or 1 term off.

Cheers.

DeaconFlyer

What about the reports of gifted elite status?

essxjay

Not that this is relevant to TB term limits but I've never been gifted elite status because of my standing on FT.

SkiAdcock

Off-topic:

So far there's been speculation by some or 'reports' that the mods received elite status, but I've not seen any concrete evidence presented by those reporting/speculating.

The mods are saying they haven't received elite status, and I believe them. And really, there are approx 90 mods from different parts of the world & different airline/hotel/rental car affiliations. It'd be a little hard to come up with something that would match them all.

On a dif note - given that FT is growing, I thought IB giving $5 Starbucks gift cards to the mods rather than $10 was a bit chintzy.

If someone is concerned about possible conflicts of interest w/ mods & hotel/airline/car rental companies, I'd recommend they contact the Community Director of FT.

On-topic:

Still supporting term limits.

Cheers.