CMK10

This thread was created January 4th:

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

On January 5th this was written:

This is why it's best to check into this forum early and often.

tom911

I think that's a great idea and might have a side-effect of seeing more Talk Board member participation on the public forum.

CMK10

For the record, I think there would be more participation if members toned down their hostility towards us. The level of vitriol is incredibly frustrating. I know we are elected officials and we're here to serve the entire community, but the distrust, the constant nitpicking and refusing to compromise makes it difficult to post here.

Please remember we are human and we are doing the best we can and that a little respect goes a long way.

kipper

The same goes for having respect towards those taking time to make suggestions and give feedback on threads. Fewer comments about comments being ridiculous, less arrogance, more of a willingness to admit that some proposed motions have issues and are concerning, and less use of terms like nitpicking might go a long way too.

Likewise, less hostility from some TB members towards others on TB might be nice too.

kokonutz

For the record, my suggestion for opening the private TB forum as read-only is about as likely to happen as my suggestion for the past decade or so that a mens travel forum be created: nil.

But that will never, ever stop me from tilting at my windmills!

CMK10

Ah yes it's all our fault. Do you realize how thankless a job this really is? There is never any gratitude: just complaint after complaint after complaint. Not to mention the twisting of the facts, the putting words in our mouths, the starting of rumors and spreading of disinformation, belief in conspiracies, general closed minded attitudes by a lot of people etc. etc. etc.

It's really easy to complain about the action (or inaction) we take, it's a lot harder to actually do what we do. You seem to have all the answers and we have an election later this year, why not put your money where your mouth is and lead by example?

kipper

So, you don't want hostility from general members, yet you are now posting this?

I ran for TB twice a few years ago (IIRC), and wasn't elected. I also don't have the time I had then, due to other commitments that I've made since then. As such, I have no interest in adding yet another thing to do to my list. That said, I didn't realize that being elected to or running for TB was a requirement to voice one's opinion in this forum.

If a member of TB doesn't want opinions and/or discussion from members, then instead of hostility, perhaps they should consider a motion to close this forum.

kipper

You keep tilting at your windmills! You did make some progress on a few of them.

CMK10

See what i mean about twisting words? Opinions are welcome, but there's a way to present them and a way not to.

Also, for someone who doesn't have time to serve on TalkBoard, you seem to have practically unlimited time to complain about TalkBoard...

kipper

There's also a a way to handle criticism and a way not to handle it...

So, now, you claim to know my schedule? I didn't realize that taking 15 minutes in the morning to surf FT and an hour or so at night was practically unlimited.

Moderator2

Agreed.

The tradition has been to allow open debate in this forum. However some of the postings in this thread are downright immature, aggressive, and lack constructive commentary.

If current board members have thin skin, then you might want to contemplate stepping back and determining if the grief is really worth it. If regular members have issues with individual board members state your case as objectively as possible and move on. If the object of your rhetoric doesn't embrace your premise then consider replacing them at the next election.


IJAFBB

bdschobel

Thank you! ^

Bruce

Canarsie

I de-emphasized what you posted, Moderator2; but I do want to comment on it.

Sure, sometimes it can be frustrating — whether as a moderator or member of TalkBoard — when a fellow FlyerTalk member offers criticism.

While I prefer the criticism to be constructive, I have learned some years ago that feedback is a gift. If a person is willing to take the time out of his or her life to provide constructive feedback — rather than do the easy thing and simply ignore the services I attempt to provide to fellow FlyerTalk members — then I listen:...and I agree with kipper — not just because I like smoked fish, which does not really go well with popcorn; but also because she and other FlyerTalk members have taken the time and effort to provide feedback from which I learn.

After all, we all generally have the same goal: to further improve FlyerTalk — so let’s work together and do what we can to accomplish that goal.

If someone posts that I am not doing a good job as a member of TalkBoard, that is useless to me. If someone posts why I am not doing a good job as a member of TalkBoard and provides alternate solutions from which I can learn where I can better serve the FlyerTalk community, that can potentially be significantly helpful...

...so why do I serve the FlyerTalk community? That is simple. For me over the years, FlyerTalk is not just another Internet bulletin board. I consider many members of FlyerTalk as friends over the years. I have benefited from the information posted on FlyerTalk. In some ways, it has changed my life...

...so I say, please keep the thoughts and suggestions coming. All I ask is that they be constructive so that I may learn from them.

Now, how can I serve you?

tom911

I don't doubt that. You make yourself very visible on this forum compared to some other members, so you're going to be involved in more dialog and more discussion/conflict here because of that. You have more posts in this thread than anyone else, and you're very visible in threads throughout this forum. Maybe it's time to scale back some and give other Talk Board members the opportunity to contribute more.

Dovster

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCtzyo8DWn4