My thoughts for the 2012 Talkboard
Dec 25, 2011, 11:41 am
#16
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Loyal to Myself
Posts: 8,303
What a disappointment
It's truly disappointing to see that a business which generates all of it's revenue from the speech of it's users remains completely committed to opacity and censorship of reasonable but disagreeable speech on topics of interest, and a centralized command and control structure that absolutely assures this will not be influenced by the users in any structured way.
And as disappointing as this pronouncement is, even more so is the spin with which the message is delivered, which is, unfortunately, much more transparent than possibly intended.
The value proposition of this website, which is 100% derived from the users, and 0% from the management, is such that users will tolerate enormous censorship and limitations on their participation, and that will continue unless or until someone disrupts the business with a different, democratic conversation model.
I do think we owe a moment of thanks to the management, however, for making their intentions very clear, regardless of their actual intent in doing so.
And as disappointing as this pronouncement is, even more so is the spin with which the message is delivered, which is, unfortunately, much more transparent than possibly intended.
The value proposition of this website, which is 100% derived from the users, and 0% from the management, is such that users will tolerate enormous censorship and limitations on their participation, and that will continue unless or until someone disrupts the business with a different, democratic conversation model.
I do think we owe a moment of thanks to the management, however, for making their intentions very clear, regardless of their actual intent in doing so.
Dec 25, 2011, 2:07 pm
#17
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Home
Posts: 2,707
It's truly disappointing to see that a business which generates all of it's revenue from the speech of it's users remains completely committed to opacity and censorship of reasonable but disagreeable speech on topics of interest, and a centralized command and control structure that absolutely assures this will not be influenced by the users in any structured way.
And as disappointing as this pronouncement is, even more so is the spin with which the message is delivered, which is, unfortunately, much more transparent than possibly intended.
The value proposition of this website, which is 100% derived from the users, and 0% from the management, is such that users will tolerate enormous censorship and limitations on their participation, and that will continue unless or until someone disrupts the business with a different, democratic conversation model.
I do think we owe a moment of thanks to the management, however, for making their intentions very clear, regardless of their actual intent in doing so.
And as disappointing as this pronouncement is, even more so is the spin with which the message is delivered, which is, unfortunately, much more transparent than possibly intended.
The value proposition of this website, which is 100% derived from the users, and 0% from the management, is such that users will tolerate enormous censorship and limitations on their participation, and that will continue unless or until someone disrupts the business with a different, democratic conversation model.
I do think we owe a moment of thanks to the management, however, for making their intentions very clear, regardless of their actual intent in doing so.
Dec 26, 2011, 3:45 am
#18
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: Gold, plat, diamond and more
Posts: 3,360
Pretty strong statements from long time members.
I hope the management is willing to listen to their concerns, as to the concerns of many other members, including elected TB members.
Hopefully we can work together to get what the posters want.
In the long run its just not possible to disregard repeated concerns.
Its time for a FT wake up call@:-)
I hope the management is willing to listen to their concerns, as to the concerns of many other members, including elected TB members.
Hopefully we can work together to get what the posters want.
In the long run its just not possible to disregard repeated concerns.
Its time for a FT wake up call@:-)
Dec 26, 2011, 7:04 pm
#19
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Australia
Programs: Too many
Posts: 1,096
Great post Carol and look forward to continued improvements under your stellar guidance
Dec 26, 2011, 7:07 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 1999
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 15,353
All I'm going to say on the subject is that I was elected to represent the members (and I interpret this as "general members") of FT and will do so to the best of my ability over the next two years.
Feel free to PM me with anything -- no topic is off-limit or off-topic in my PM box.
Feel free to PM me with anything -- no topic is off-limit or off-topic in my PM box.
Dec 27, 2011, 8:14 am
#21
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...
Posts: 51,051
All I'm going to say on the subject is that I was elected to represent the members (and I interpret this as "general members") of FT and will do so to the best of my ability over the next two years.
Feel free to PM me with anything -- no topic is off-limit or off-topic in my PM box.
Feel free to PM me with anything -- no topic is off-limit or off-topic in my PM box.
Dec 27, 2011, 9:41 am
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
anyone can PM SanDiego1K/mod/TB/IB.
anyone who is responsive/reply = ^
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Dec 27, 2011 at 11:49 am
Dec 27, 2011, 11:43 am
#23
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
Posts: 28,878
All I'm going to say on the subject is that I was elected to represent the members (and I interpret this as "general members") of FT and will do so to the best of my ability over the next two years.
Feel free to PM me with anything -- no topic is off-limit or off-topic in my PM box.
Feel free to PM me with anything -- no topic is off-limit or off-topic in my PM box.
Dec 27, 2011, 3:47 pm
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+, now an elite peon)
Posts: 23,194
My signature even has a direct link to the PM form for me. 
I have yet to receive any PMs, though.
I have yet to receive any PMs, though.
Dec 29, 2011, 12:44 am
#25
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Here I was thinking that this would be a thread that could seed an OCD forum on FT, as successor to ORP. 
Dec 29, 2011, 11:35 pm
#27
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,027
Nope, despite some having come up with a great acronym, OCD, Only Community Director. Randy was special. He is iconic in the industry. He is the world expert on miles and points. He has television reporters follow him around. He is our own celebrity. Me? I'm good at organization, understand his ethos for flyertalk.com, and hope to keep the user experience a positive one. But I've got nothing interesting to say publicly in the ways that Randy did.
It's flattering that anyone would think my thoughts should have boardwide appeal. Thank you for the compliment. However, I will not be opening an OCD forum. Tom911 has found a quote of mine which continues to represent my thoughts.
Why did Randy have an ORP forum?
None of those points are relevant to me. I do get a lot of emails, though nothing on the order of what he gets, but enough to be challenging to work thru. Regardless, I try very hard and get to a high percentage of them.
So thank you for the kind words, but I'm happy with today's structure.
Carol
Why did Randy have an ORP forum?
- He is a world reknown expert on points and miles. He is on TV, in newspapers, in magazines, and gives talks at seminars. We wanted the chance to ask our celeb our own questions.
- He travels actively, so while at the helm of FT, was often away.
- He ran and runs a multiple of businesses. While we always thought we were his most loved, the reality is that he needed to support a lot of employees in his various business endeavours.
- He received thousands of emails a week, well beyond any person's ability to respond. ORP gave folks a way to get issues in front of him.
None of those points are relevant to me. I do get a lot of emails, though nothing on the order of what he gets, but enough to be challenging to work thru. Regardless, I try very hard and get to a high percentage of them.
So thank you for the kind words, but I'm happy with today's structure.
Carol
Last edited by cblaisd; Dec 29, 2011 at 11:53 pm
Jan 2, 2012, 10:30 pm
#28
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Fairmont Platinum, Aeroplan Diamond, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 18,686
Certainly appreciate the hard work and effort put into the community.. I found that responses by the TB and Moderators to be quite detailed.. there is definite direction set forth..
unfortunately, with size comes mistakes, and some member discontentment.. with anything in life, there is room for improvement..
But I for one personally, truly appreciate the L/Earning experience curve in my personal travels with the 2 years of membership here on FT. Thanks for all the volunteers' effort and input.. Have a Happy New Year..