Originally Posted by kokonutz

Funny this thread should be bumped. I just apologized last week in the private forum for being so busy at work (got a promotion that has significantly increased my work load) and travelling (just got back from back to back trips to Atlanta, Bogata and Tokyo...I'm pretty sure I felt like the former was the most foreign to me ) that I haven't spent as much time on FT or TB issues as usual.

That said, I do believe it has been a rather busy and productive winter for the TB. Although many of the proposals in the OP have proven to be non-starters, I'm pretty pleased with all the improvements that this TB has recommended.

And despite my more limited time for FT, I'm open to working on more improvements. Any suggestions!?

Originally Posted by oliver2002

Elected to TB, not to TBP... let me read up on your TB manifesto... to see if I have to wear flat heels when going to the mod do in october... wouldn't want to hurt you doing a lie in at the entrance of the conference room

Originally Posted by kipper

I'd ask that something be done about commercial links in signatures, perhaps revising the TOS to prohibit referral links or "PM me for a referral to XYZ site," in signatures.

Originally Posted by kokonutz

Where is the mod do taking place? Just, you know...wonderin'. @:-)

I'm following that thread.

And your suggestion here has merit, imho.

Originally Posted by oliver2002

So, as the term draws to close with a few weeks left... any remaining open items? Should I wear my pointy heels at the mod do next month? @:-)

Originally Posted by koko's manefesto

I intend to run for President of the TalkBoard...: FAIL

First of all I think it would be cool if, for the first time in, what? Ten years or more? The President of the Talk Board was not also a moderator.: FAIL

In point of fact, not only am I not a moderator, but by Randy’s stupid old rules I am prohibited from ever becoming a moderator.And really, how stupid is that; there is no person who is more dedicated to FlyerTalk than I am. I was one of the very first posters here. I have made a lot of my best friends here. For God’s sake, I even met my wife here. True story! And I’ve never tried to make a dime from being involved in FT or very frequent travel. And yet, by some retarded, arbitrary Randy Petersen decree/decision I am prohibited from getting more involved in the FT decision-taking process. Stupid. FAIL Although Carol has implemented a bit of a statute of limitations on discipline.

But that’s not what this post is about. Because Randy did me a favor in his decision to never allow me to moderate. He ensured that I would always and forever see FlyerTalk from the perspective of a poster and only a poster; that I would never become invested in FlyerTalk as a moderator or senior moderator or administrator. So he locked me into that perspective, that unique perspective, and it has given me a unique insight into the poster experience.

So, from that unique perspective I am taking the unusual (and likely controversial) decision to announce my intention to run for President of TB here rather than in the rarified airs of the private TB forum. After all, if TB is going to be totally transparent it should start right here, right now. I apologize in advance for this breach of decorum.

But I view my intention as far more than an administrative nicety. I view it as a proposed revolution. FAIL

I don’t intend to preside over the TalkBoard. I intend to revolutionize it. I intend to, to coin a phrase, #occupy it. #FAIL

Here is what I would do as President of the TB:

Work with Carol to expand the scope of the TB beyond its Randy-assigned task of recommending forums into a body tasked with making recommendations regarding every aspect of the FT experience.: FAIL

Make FT truly and 100% responsive to the posters, from forum creation to moderation to forum closure.: FAIL

Use that influence to, for example:
Audit suspensions, forum bans and permanent suspensions of posters to make recommendations to ensure they are appropriate.: FAIL

Make recommendations to enforce best practices on moderators up to and including reviewing and if necessary removing moderators.: FAIL

Draw a bright line between FT administration and moderation by ensuring that TB members divorce themselves from moderation responsibilities.: FAIL

Ensure that TB members, moderators and all who are entrusted with leading FT have the interests of FT and only the interests of FT at heart. Ie, no hucksters, money-grubbers or commercialists taking the critical decisions on FT.: FAIL

Generally work in an uninhibited and unlimited collaborative way to ensure that the TB make FT into a place that is by the posters, of the posters and for the posters.: FAIL

Originally Posted by kokonutz

I'd like to see where other TB member stand on the notion of amending the TOS as suggested in this thread on the public TB Topics forum:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/talkb...-feedback.html

Here is the amendment to the current TOS I propose:

Originally Posted by tom911

One thing you can take credit for, and I'd call it a success, is the ability to communicate in public on this forum with the members throughout the year. I may disagree with some of your positions, but I always look forward to reading how you have come to your viewpoint and recognize the amount of time you have taken to engage members in public.

Originally Posted by kokonutz

Thanks, man.

But that does raise another failure: my campaign promise to make the private TB forum available for any poster to see on a 'read only' basis, since imho there is never enough engagement by TB members in this forum.

Originally Posted by kokonutz

Thanks, man.

But that does raise another failure: my campaign promise to make the private TB forum available for any poster to see on a 'read only' basis, since imho there is never enough engagement by TB members in this forum.

Originally Posted by Eastbay1K

So, are you trying to tell us that you are not an effective lobbyist?

Originally Posted by Jenbel

Can I ask why, if you don't read TB much, you've decided to run? I've always wondered why people do that and now I get to ask someone

Originally Posted by MSPeconomist

Are you asking a candidate to "campaign" here?