Originally Posted by CMK10

I too want to see answers to the questionnaire but I realize that they're best paired with common sense and numerous other factors.

Originally Posted by tom911

Yet in recent weeks the questionnaire has not been used at all-- that's what I'm trying to highlight. Why can't the Talk Board be consistent? If that questionnaire still has some value for Talk Board members in the Copa thread, as you indicate it has some value to you, why isn't it posted every time someone asks for a new forum or to close an existing forum? That's my concern. We should not pick and choose which forum requests get a questionnaire requirement. Is it valuable all the time or only valuable when a single Talk Board member decides its valuable and posts it in a thread?

For example, and I've cited these before, the questionnaire was not used in the creation of a smokers forum (I raised that back in June with no Talk Board member response - not a single one answered me when I raised the topic) or for the proposal to close the gambling forum. It was not raised in the discussion to close Travel News until that thread was 3 weeks old.

I just want some consistency. We shouldn't have to flip a coin to decide what forum requests or closure requests get directed to the questionnaire.

When I see new forum requests, should I post the questionnaire as I've done in past years? Who decides what requests get the questionnaire and what requests do not?

Originally Posted by tcook052

Agree and it could be sought and provided in each new forum request but it left up to each TB member as to how much if any weight to give the answers in their decision making.

Originally Posted by tom911

Yet we do have a Talk Board member that just yesterday asked for the questionnaire to be completed in a proposal for a new Copa forum. Is there even agreement among the Talk Board members about that questionnaire? A member not on the Talk Board posted the entire questionnaire in the Copa thread. Clearly some want it to be used. I just wish the policy was consistent across all proposals for new forums.

If a majority of the Talk Board finds no value in the questionnaire, which was voted in by the 2009 Talk Board, get rid of it.

Originally Posted by MSPeconomist

My stance is that we should see the questionnaire answers for all new forum proposals, rather than apply the requirement selectively. Personally I think it's wrong to ask for the questionnaire only for *some* proposed new fora. Still, this is not at all the same as having the questionnaire alone determine my vote.

Originally Posted by tom911

This is a sensible approach. I hope other Talk Board members can buy into it.

Originally Posted by Canarsie

I would like to remind everyone that the purpose of TalkBoard is to submit recommendations based on the input of FlyerTalk members, whom we represent.

• We do not have the power to create or close forums.
• We are not employees of Internet Brands.
• We have no control over any community directors of FlyerTalk.
• We are not attorneys who are versed on legal issues.
• We are not experts on information technology.

We simply submit recommendations. The powers of members of TalkBoard are not exactly all-encompassing and absolute. We are not out to create forums just for the sake of creating forums. As far as I am concerned, if a forum serves a need, it should exist. If a need for FlyerTalk members is not being served, they are then voted to be closed, as has happened to four separate forums recently.

Speaking for myself, I attempt to parse the input of fellow members of FlyerTalk to find out what can be done to improve FlyerTalk. I then communicate with other members of TalkBoard to find out what they think. Sometimes I agree with them. Sometimes I do not agree with them.

If a motion to vote comes to fruition and I am convinced one way or another, I vote in a manner in which I believe is best for the membership of FlyerTalk.

In this particular case, I have voted in favor of the creation of the proposed forum for smokers — despite the fact that I am vehemently against the entire concept of smoking and believe it should be abolished. I have lost family members to lung cancer. I seem to be the person to whom smokers inexplicably like to congregate adjacent despite having acres of room to go elsewhere; and I can drone on all day about how my right to breathe clean air is being breached.

Why, then, did I vote for this motion to pass? Because in my opinion, the FlyerTalk members who have weighed in on the proposed forum have demonstrated to me that there is a need for it.

I have met many FlyerTalk members over the years; and I cannot believe how many of them smoke. It is a disgusting and dangerous habit which I wish I could just wave a magic wand and have it disappear altogether for everyone; but for me to proselytize my adamant beliefs into a vote would be a significant disservice to the FlyerTalk members whom I serve.

To reiterate, the purpose of the proposed forum is not to glamorize or promote smoking of any substance — just as existing special interest forums do not promote a same-sex lifestyle or having a pet. It is simply to assist those FlyerTalk members who smoke to be able to travel — even if just a little bit easier...

...and I know first-hand that Internet Brands has a legal department. If the attorneys in the legal department deem it necessary to add an anti-smoking disclaimer to the proposed forum should the motion be passed, so be it. I am neither for or against that happening...

Originally Posted by tcook052

Agree and it could be sought and provided in each new forum request but it left up to each TB member as to how much if any weight to give the answers in their decision making.

Originally Posted by tom911

And I'm completely fine with that.

Originally Posted by Canarsie

As for the smoking forum, I initially took into account the questionnaire and numbers; but then I listened to what fellow FlyerTalk members had to say.

Originally Posted by tom911

Was the Talk Board questionnaire ever answered by anyone? I took a second look at the original discussion thread where I raised the topic, and don't see it answered there. Or, are you saying you weighed the various issues and decided the questionnaire wouldn't be needed in this case?

Originally Posted by tom911

Was the Talk Board questionnaire ever answered by anyone? I took a second look at the original discussion thread where I raised the topic, and don't see it answered there. Or, are you saying you weighed the various issues and decided the questionnaire wouldn't be needed in this case?

Originally Posted by tcook052

Agree and it could be sought and provided in each new forum request but it left up to each TB member as to how much if any weight to give the answers in their decision making.

Originally Posted by RichMSN

When I was on TalkBoard we had one TB member who *always* sent out a questionnaire for each new request -- I was reasonably fine with that....*as long as* it was never held up as a requirement for a motion to be raised to create the forum. That said, individual TalkBoard members who were not me *could* decide that filling out the questionnaire was required in order to get that TB members vote. That's up to that TB member, of course.