Motion Failed: Require Login to View Mileage Run Forum
Feb 20, 2012, 10:35 am
#151
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: AA, but I play the field
Posts: 1,440
I don't peruse the MR forum often enough to have a strong opinion about this matter, so defer to the wisdom of others who are more frequent forum users.
However, as a couple of people have pointed out, I do think it is a mistake to assume that individuals who are not logged in are not FT members:
As for requiring a simple login, the only opposition I can raise is for a member, say at an airline lounge computer or public access point, who may not wish to login with their FT account to assure that their FT login and password are not compromised due to a compromised computer.
Ditto if you wish to access FT from your workplace computer during lunch, and you don't care to have your employer know your FT handle.
Perhaps I am more security conscious/paranoid than most, but for the reasons above, I often peruse FT without logging in. I strongly suspect I am not the only FTer in this habit.
If the motion passes, I'll perhaps consider whether to make login the default on my home computer, but I probably won't change my habits on my mobile devices or other non-private computers. So I'll probably just be looking at the MR forum even less often. That may be an okay result -- i.e., perhaps the rules should be set in a manner that favors those who frequent the forum most. And I do appreciate the concern about search engines. But just for the record, I do think that requiring a login will, for better or for worse, reduce the number of registered FTers who are looking at the forum.
However, as a couple of people have pointed out, I do think it is a mistake to assume that individuals who are not logged in are not FT members:
As for requiring a simple login, the only opposition I can raise is for a member, say at an airline lounge computer or public access point, who may not wish to login with their FT account to assure that their FT login and password are not compromised due to a compromised computer.
Perhaps I am more security conscious/paranoid than most, but for the reasons above, I often peruse FT without logging in. I strongly suspect I am not the only FTer in this habit.
If the motion passes, I'll perhaps consider whether to make login the default on my home computer, but I probably won't change my habits on my mobile devices or other non-private computers. So I'll probably just be looking at the MR forum even less often. That may be an okay result -- i.e., perhaps the rules should be set in a manner that favors those who frequent the forum most. And I do appreciate the concern about search engines. But just for the record, I do think that requiring a login will, for better or for worse, reduce the number of registered FTers who are looking at the forum.
Feb 20, 2012, 2:48 pm
#152
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: AGR, PC, HH no status as I stopped paying for travel
Posts: 1,454
I would hope that at the very least some sort of viewing could be done sans log in. I do not always log in as I peruse the various forums but look to see if any relevant posts have been made. So I would like to be able to tell if new posts have been made without log in.
I do not see what you aim to accomplish by requiring log in but if it is to protect the deal I cannot see this working. It will stop BOTS but not people.
Maybe we should start a forum to post all hotel mistake rates and BRG's and require log in as well or maybe those are not worth protecting.
Consistency please.
so I am against I guess
I do not see what you aim to accomplish by requiring log in but if it is to protect the deal I cannot see this working. It will stop BOTS but not people.
Maybe we should start a forum to post all hotel mistake rates and BRG's and require log in as well or maybe those are not worth protecting.
Consistency please.
so I am against I guess
Feb 20, 2012, 3:23 pm
#154
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: ACC
Programs: milesandsmiles elite+
Posts: 70
Come on, now...how difficult is it to register for this site...I support this measure...surely it cannot hurt us
Feb 20, 2012, 4:17 pm
#155
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Greener Pastures
Posts: 10,515
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9700/5.0.0.979 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)
Been offline for the past several days as I was on vacation without a laptop (and posting from my blackberry en route back to NYC on Amtrak now)...as I've said in previous threads & explained in prior posts, I'm 100% against this motion and will be voting against it. It does not, IMHO, serve any valid purpose except to make life more difficult & likely to reduce new members in the long term (as I believe that many may come for the points, many more stay for deals).
This type of motion, if passed, is what will make FT a worse place in the future & is not for the better of FlyerTalk.
Been offline for the past several days as I was on vacation without a laptop (and posting from my blackberry en route back to NYC on Amtrak now)...as I've said in previous threads & explained in prior posts, I'm 100% against this motion and will be voting against it. It does not, IMHO, serve any valid purpose except to make life more difficult & likely to reduce new members in the long term (as I believe that many may come for the points, many more stay for deals).
This type of motion, if passed, is what will make FT a worse place in the future & is not for the better of FlyerTalk.
Feb 20, 2012, 5:58 pm
#157
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: YVR
Programs: ACSEMM QRGold SPGLifetimePlat FairmontPlat HyattD AMEXCenturion SerenaPlat TalkBoard Founding Member
Posts: 8,963
I'm "meh" about it...
Will impact nothing.
Will impact nothing.
Feb 20, 2012, 6:08 pm
#158
Moderator: Delta SkyMiles, Luxury Hotels, TravelBuzz! and Italy
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 26,540
The MR forum moderators wanted to add our support to this motion to make MR available only to those FT members who are signed in. We feel it isn't too high a barrier to restrict those really interested in benefiting from one of FT’s main draws while keeping searchbots out.
jpdx said it well in this thread from almost 2 years ago which was the last time forum access restrictions were debated and approved before later being overturned upon further TB review:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/talkb...onnection.html
We appreciate this opportunity to revisit the access debate and hope TB will consider voting in favor of this motion.
On behalf of BiziBB, rcs85551 and jpdx
tcook052
MR Moderator
jpdx said it well in this thread from almost 2 years ago which was the last time forum access restrictions were debated and approved before later being overturned upon further TB review:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/talkb...onnection.html
We appreciate this opportunity to revisit the access debate and hope TB will consider voting in favor of this motion.
On behalf of BiziBB, rcs85551 and jpdx
tcook052
MR Moderator
Feb 20, 2012, 6:52 pm
#160
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Thanks for the Memories !!!
Posts: 10,656
Why is it be anymore compelling that a newbie mod gives a thumbs up than a general member?
Don't believe it will make a difference one way or another......the bloggers will out the fares as soon as they are made aware of them !
Don't believe it will make a difference one way or another......the bloggers will out the fares as soon as they are made aware of them !
Feb 20, 2012, 7:02 pm
#161
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Airline nobody. Sad!
Posts: 26,062
They will come for the points, which they can still see without becoming a member and logging in. However, instead of staying for the deals, they will move on because they cannot see the deal forum if this motion passes. It will be "ok, this is a points forum, I've seen all this website has to offer, time to move on" because they haven't registered and don't see the deals. The real key for FT should be increasing the number of contributing members. This will do the most in the long term to increase the viability of FT for the community. Someone registering just to register to see MR deals does not do that. This motion should be viewed with the lens of "Will this motion increase the value of FT for its user community? Will it create more active, contributing members with new ideas who can expand the community and the value it creates?" I lean towards no as the answer for both of those questions personally.
Feb 20, 2012, 7:06 pm
#162
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Greener Pastures
Posts: 10,515
No...I mean what I said. Sure, I think a lot of people come for the deals (especially given the fact that the media's main sources about anything travel related these days seems to be FlyerTalk.com and MilePoint.com) - but I think there are those that find FT because they were searching for something on their particular hotel and/or airline - then they start exploring & see the MR deals section and stick around because of things like that. I think that some lurkers search something specific about a service provider & find FT and then end up exploring more of FT & that the MR forum is one of those things that keep people coming back. If a registration requirement is needed to view it, many people won't know it exists...
Feb 20, 2012, 8:00 pm
#163
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SF BayArea
Programs: Nothing worth mentioning
Posts: 2,223
Previous discussions were aimed at restricting newbies from using MR forum until they had a certain number of posts. This I disagreed with, as the MR Forum is one of the best inducements to attract new people to FT & they often offer great deals in their 1st posts.
This new proposal just asks that one be a member of the FT community & login: very reasonable & I support it.
This new proposal just asks that one be a member of the FT community & login: very reasonable & I support it.
Feb 20, 2012, 8:14 pm
#164
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: T82
Programs: AA Gold, HH Gold
Posts: 2,845
Support.
Feb 20, 2012, 8:24 pm
#165
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: May 2002
Location: YEG
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 56,442