Originally Posted by jackal

Makes sense, and that's a valid argument. But it's histrionic to demand the Information Desk be closed only to reopen something that's the Info Desk minus the cross-program discussion. It would make much more sense to suggest that cross-program discussion be moved out of Info Desk, leaving Info Desk to be the "How to use FlyerTalk" forum.

As a moderator of the forum in question, I don't disagree. We hemmed and hawed over this when the forum first opened but ultimately decided that topics that clearly belong in one of the other topic-specific forums would be moved there rather than kept in the "flame-free newbie incubator" or whatever you want to call it. If you find threads that you believe should be moved and find they have not been moved, you are very much welcome to RBP them and suggest as much and there's a very good chance they will be moved.

I will take this opportunity to post a bit of a mea culpa for not being good about responding to RBPs as of late. Between a very long stretch of overseas travel (over two months) and a few things such as my laptop and passport getting stolen, dealing with rental car damages (the car was broken into), and other challenges, I've been significantly less available online than I usually am (or, frankly, than a moderator should be). Fortunately, I've had the great help in the Information Desk forum from my fellow moderators scoow and especially aBroadAbroad, who deserves nothing but the community's utmost thanks for continuously making a Herculean effort to almost single-handedly keep the Information Desk forum from melting down. She truly is a gem, and without her persistence, I'm sure you'd all have voted to close the Information Desk down weeks ago.

Fortunately, I'm typing this from my new replacement laptop, which I just got turned on and running today, though I'm waiting for a few more Cyber Monday parts to arrive before being able to put it into full-time use. I hope to be back to full-time moderation of the Information Desk forum by this time next week--which means back to making the Information Desk the best place for people to find resources to help them use FlyerTalk more efficiently and find the information they need to learn the ropes of miles, points, and travel.

Originally Posted by JerryFF

There was a reason why ID was created in the first place - Miles Buzz had been taken over by people asking advice on how to....

That problem has clearly been solved by ID. If you want to close ID, then you need to come up with another solution for the original problem that ID solved. You shouldn't just close ID without considering why it was created in the first place and finding an alternative to ID if you don't like it.

Remember, nothing is perfect - ID improved some things. I think we are better off with it than without it and unless you come up with another way to solvethe original problem, I don't think you should close it.

Originally Posted by Doc Savage

Meh...

I think it is fine to have the flame free Info Desk, as it provides a place for the usual questions from relative novices. Seems like it also draws a lot of the spam, which can be quickly deleted from there without infecting the rest of FT, as well as a lot of the silly fare requests, which can be summarily dealt with similarly.

As long as the Info Desk Mods aren't running into insurmountable problems, I say leave it alone, or tweak it a bit. For those members who are annoyed by stuff posted in the forum, why not just ignore the forum or hide it? That way you don't have to deal with the "junk" anywhere.

Cheers,

Doc

Originally Posted by Adam1222

1) The title "Information Desk" is a huge huge problem.

Originally Posted by mia

This would be an argument for changing the name, not for closing the forum. Do I understand correctly that Questions about using FlyerTalk is your preferred name? I find it easier to compare a specific alternatives.

Originally Posted by Adam1222

...people don't seem to agree on the intended purpose.

Originally Posted by Adam1222

Again, I did not start this thread so "Close the Information Desk forum is not my verbiage."

The name should reflect what the intended purpose is, but people don't seem to agree on the intended purpose.

"How to Use Flyertalk"
"I Don't Know Where to Post This"
"New to Miles, Points, and Travel Questions"
"Cross-Program Discussion"

Each would attract very different questions (rightfully so).

Originally Posted by CMK10

Historically, information desks (think at airports) are where you go to ask questions, I think the name already reflects that.

Originally Posted by CMK10

Hard to get more explicit than a sticky that says:

Originally Posted by steveman518

Right but just because it's there in your face doesn't mean people will actually read it before posting things that don't belong there...(like on an unrelated note there are experienced FTers who participate in Secret Santa who choose not to read instructions)

Originally Posted by CMK10

I like the Info Desk forum, I agree it's still not perfect, but it's at least become a clearing house for the threads that used to clutter up Miles Buzz! and made that forum easier to navigate. It's also a good way for new members to get their feet wet in Flyertalk. I think the Mods are doing a great job transferring threads and pointing people in the right direction as need be.

Originally Posted by Adam1222

ok. the info desk will stay a complete mess. Because well for no good reason.

Originally Posted by Adam1222

may your forum continue to be full of spam, people who don't use google, and people who think Flyertalk is a travel agency.

Originally Posted by Adam1222

The attitude here seems to clearly be that the reason for the Info Desk is to serve as a place for new people to post any question they have, regardless of whether it is answered in detail elsewhere on Flyertalk. That doesn't sound like an "info desk" or a place for "crossprogram" questions, but "Flyertalk for Dummies/Lazies".