It doesn't matter how long you spend on that post- it's not adding to the main aim of FT-

Whether or not Lounge Threads should be allowed in the main forums is a separate issues, and this is the not the appropriate thread to (repeatedly) bring this up.

but it matters to the bottom line of IB. This is the only forum that makes the off topic area posters second class citizens, all while saying it's one of the busiest and most popular boards in the forum.

why not? Just because someone posts off topic information in a miles and points area doesn't make them contributors to the core of this community. I've seen a few who only post in lounge threads. Why do their posts have value and mine in Omni do not? At least I also post elsewhere.

I only bring it up to make a case for Omni posts counting. Your example proves my point. Lounge threads have zero to do with the core mission of this forum.

That's nice to hear, and yet I'm still left trying to understand this.

1. Was there a huge problem with large numbers of suspended members creating new FT accounts under a 90-day+90-post rule so as to post in OMNI?


2. Was there a huge problem with large numbers of commercially-oriented spammers using FT accounts under a 90-day+90-post rule so as to post in OMNI and not elsewhere on FT as well?


3. Was there a huge problem with Google bots creating FT accounts under a 90-day+90-post rule so as to do who knows what with OMNI?

With regard to the first question:

As suspended members creating new FT accounts (so as to post on FT) is not limited to OMNI, I'm not sure I understand the basis for the intent to deny entrance to suspended members with yet another raising of barriers like this.

With regard to the second question:

As spammers have hit various parts of FT that have no entry restrictions, I'm not sure I understand the basis for how spammers could be a bigger issue for the OMNI forum(s) than for the rest of FT. Commercially it doesn't make sense to focus on spamming OMNI as the forum is unpopular in its most basic way -- unlike with access to most of the rest of FT, the overwhelming majority of FTers were not able to post in the OMNI forum(s) even before the furhter raising of the barrier like this.

With regard to the third question:

Unless Google bots have any history of creating FT accounts to post 90 times on FT and then maintain membership for 90 days before trying to use the OMNI forum(s), I'm not sure I understand the basis of how Google bots would be thwarted by a 180-post+180-day restriction any more or less than under a 90-post+90-day restriction.

I'm just not sure how a 90-day+90-post rule would be insufficient for delivering on the intent stated in the post above while a 180-day+180-post rule would be sufficient for delivering on said intent.

The focus on intent -- (pseudo)-legislative or otherwise -- is less interesting to me than a focus on actual delivery.

I strongly oppose this. I believe it would result in making me a "FlyerTalk Posting Legend", thus making it even clearer than my "Evangelist" title does that I have no life.

Luckily, the Talkboard doesn't base its decisions on how to maximize profit for IB.

And there are plenty of forums out there where posts on the off-topic board don't count.

Off topic posts are a moderation issue, not a TB issue. This isn't the right forum to (repeatedly) bring it up.

With regard to the above post, it's clear as mud that "off topic posts are a moderation issues, not a TB issue". What's clear as good air on a sunny day is that there is irony in claiming that an issue should not be brought up here yet brining it up anyway.

Talk about a post having internal inconsistency.

(Bolding mine)

Really?!

:D

I haven't seen any. I've seen forums where you have to pay to get to a special off-topic area, but not those with posts that don't count.

First of all, in my last post on the subject, I mentioned any off topic posts, not just those in lounge threads.

As well, how else do I make my point about the community valuing some posts more than others when they are all off-topic?

That is the gist here. If the TB is trying to equalize Omni with the other forums, such as now allowing images, why stop there? Posts should count for that reason alone.

Or better yet, no posts should count anywhere on FT.

Do you think that majority of FT member accounts have at least 180 posts per account? They don't.

180 days of membership duration is something the majority of FTers have achieved.

The overwhelming majority of FTers are not even really members of the community - they may have signed up and posted once or twice, or signed up to win an ipod (remember that nonsense?), or to get information. I believe the core number of users is a small fraction of the actual number of people who are "members."

This thread isn't about giving equal access or removing restrictions to Omni - there is a thread for that.

This is about having the posts count. If you'd like to discuss having people unmasked from Omni then you should create a thread for that - however, I believe that truly is a moderation issue.

I've seen a few people who were allowed back in, and they're back to their old pot-stirring ways.

So please, restrict your opinion to whether or not you are for or against posts counting for Omni and a reason why.

That can be easily done, and retroactively at that too. However, I doubt that such will be implemented across the board.

Even those who mock the concept of post counts on FT do so because of concern about it. The irony of that.

With regard to restricting my opinion, I don't see why it should be restricted when the communication is not a FT TOS violation and my post is on topic. The post which you quoted above -- but only in fragment -- is but an example of my responding to a post in the thread in an appropriate manner. And opinion about this topic need not be one built upon a single, isolated pillar that supports who knows what or nothing at all.

I'm not asking you to restrict your opinion, just to start a new thread about the issues you have, nor have I said it's a TOS violation. This thread is about allowing posts to count.

So far, every single motion or suggestion that has come up about Omni you mention the inability for people not to see it for various reasons, yet I have to see you start a thread about that. That's the appropriate procedure to get converstaion going about it and the talk board to take notice.

The threads that exist are ones I deem sufficient as is. I am still of the opinion that I'd be all in favor of allowing posts to count (again) for the OMNI forum(s) if the forum were treated in a manner consistent with most all of FT. Unfortunately such consistency does not exist.

That is certainly not the case, as I read it.

So because you haven't seen any, means they don't exist?

Off-topic posts are a violation of the TOS and a moderation issue. If you have a problem with them, bring them up in the right forum.