I voted today. But I didn't get a badge...
#46
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I think MSP is vastly overrating the importance of the Flyertalk guy avatar & any influence it might have on voters.
As rwoman mentions, it is an avatar that has a tendency to disappear/re-appear on a regular basis. Also most FTers wouldn't know what it is, means, or that if you click on it it will take you to an interview (which in my case is a a few years ago, so info dated). I didn't even know that until recently.
Following MSP's reasoning, a TB member shouldn't have their title under their handle, nor a mod their title nor an ambassador their title nor the evangelist or legend their title for the entire 3-4 weeks of the election process, because any of those titles could influence voters. Heck, they should probably not post in any forum for the 3-4 weeks too because FTers might get to know them better if one posts in a more active forum than another.
If someone is going to take the time to vote, assuming they're not familiar with the candidates, they're probably going to vote based on what they read in the talkthevote/platform part & maybe the Q&A if they got to that part. Whenever I vote (before, during & after my term on TB), I went through each candidate's platform & based my vote on that. Avatars don't even appear in the 'talk the vote'.
The concern about the Flyertalk guy avatar is much ado about nothing IMO.
Cheers. Sharon
As rwoman mentions, it is an avatar that has a tendency to disappear/re-appear on a regular basis. Also most FTers wouldn't know what it is, means, or that if you click on it it will take you to an interview (which in my case is a a few years ago, so info dated). I didn't even know that until recently.
Following MSP's reasoning, a TB member shouldn't have their title under their handle, nor a mod their title nor an ambassador their title nor the evangelist or legend their title for the entire 3-4 weeks of the election process, because any of those titles could influence voters. Heck, they should probably not post in any forum for the 3-4 weeks too because FTers might get to know them better if one posts in a more active forum than another.
If someone is going to take the time to vote, assuming they're not familiar with the candidates, they're probably going to vote based on what they read in the talkthevote/platform part & maybe the Q&A if they got to that part. Whenever I vote (before, during & after my term on TB), I went through each candidate's platform & based my vote on that. Avatars don't even appear in the 'talk the vote'.
The concern about the Flyertalk guy avatar is much ado about nothing IMO.
Cheers. Sharon
#47
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Perhaps this year (I hadn't even noticed, which lends a bit of credence to not everyone pays attention to what's under a handle) but in prior years they have displayed. Again, having a Flyertalk guy avatar is just not that big a deal & I believe you vastly over-estimate its importance. Shrug. Anyway, I'm done w/ the topic.
Cheers. Sharon
Cheers. Sharon
#48
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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I think MSP is vastly overrating the importance of the Flyertalk guy avatar & any influence it might have on voters.
As rwoman mentions, it is an avatar that has a tendency to disappear/re-appear on a regular basis. Also most FTers wouldn't know what it is, means, or that if you click on it it will take you to an interview (which in my case is a a few years ago, so info dated). I didn't even know that until recently.
Following MSP's reasoning, a TB member shouldn't have their title under their handle, nor a mod their title nor an ambassador their title nor the evangelist or legend their title for the entire 3-4 weeks of the election process, because any of those titles could influence voters. Heck, they should probably not post in any forum for the 3-4 weeks too because FTers might get to know them better if one posts in a more active forum than another.
If someone is going to take the time to vote, assuming they're not familiar with the candidates, they're probably going to vote based on what they read in the talkthevote/platform part & maybe the Q&A if they got to that part. Whenever I vote (before, during & after my term on TB), I went through each candidate's platform & based my vote on that. Avatars don't even appear in the 'talk the vote'.
The concern about the Flyertalk guy avatar is much ado about nothing IMO.
Cheers. Sharon
As rwoman mentions, it is an avatar that has a tendency to disappear/re-appear on a regular basis. Also most FTers wouldn't know what it is, means, or that if you click on it it will take you to an interview (which in my case is a a few years ago, so info dated). I didn't even know that until recently.
Following MSP's reasoning, a TB member shouldn't have their title under their handle, nor a mod their title nor an ambassador their title nor the evangelist or legend their title for the entire 3-4 weeks of the election process, because any of those titles could influence voters. Heck, they should probably not post in any forum for the 3-4 weeks too because FTers might get to know them better if one posts in a more active forum than another.
If someone is going to take the time to vote, assuming they're not familiar with the candidates, they're probably going to vote based on what they read in the talkthevote/platform part & maybe the Q&A if they got to that part. Whenever I vote (before, during & after my term on TB), I went through each candidate's platform & based my vote on that. Avatars don't even appear in the 'talk the vote'.
The concern about the Flyertalk guy avatar is much ado about nothing IMO.
Cheers. Sharon
#49
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,755
I delete regular titles each year during the election period. During election time, the person is a Talkboard candidate, first and foremost. It's a nuisance for me, as I have to save the proper titles and reenter them after the election, but I think it is a good thing to do.
#50
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I delete regular titles each year during the election period. During election time, the person is a Talkboard candidate, first and foremost. It's a nuisance for me, as I have to save the proper titles and reenter them after the election, but I think it is a good thing to do.
#51
Join Date: Nov 1999
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Posts: 9,180
I plan on driving 100 MPH later today and will show my I Voted badge to the cop who pulls me over. I will report back.
#53
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Singapore
Programs: KrisFlyer - Nothing
Posts: 49
Welp, looks like everything is fixed now "I am proud to be a voter." - FTTB2015
#54
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Australia
Programs: Too many
Posts: 1,096
Have voted again and enjoyed reading all the candidates profile, though I was familiar with most of them due to either past talk boards, elections or seeing posts in different forums.
Good luck to everyone
*Note: Checking to see if I get a badge LOL
Good luck to everyone
*Note: Checking to see if I get a badge LOL
#55
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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You've got Santa and "I Voted" badges!
#56
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The Santa badges are so cute, but I wish there were a version for SantaPaws too--not that I'm a pet owner, but I think it would be fun.
#57
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2014
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Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
I'm not laughing at you MSP. I'm laughing at the idea of learning about a candidate by way of a 1960's WASP Male icon under their user name.
And it isn't the caricature or the stereotype that makes the idea funny. I rather like the nostalgic look, and find it befitting the graphics of the jet age that minted itself in the same era as man yearned for the moon.
What is funny is how the candidates half ignore the very structure that Flyertalk provides for members to learn about them. There is a night and day difference between what some candidates provide for us to learn about them, versus what other candidates provide.
It isn't necessary to name names... their statements speak for themselves. But here's a hint... if a candidate doesn't take the time to thoroughly engage with the questions and talking points suggested when completing the candidate's statement, how can they be expected to thoroughly engage with the questions and talking points that are put before the board?
I went through each candidates statement twice. Knowing nothing about any of them, the right type of leaders were self evident by their own statements, and to my eye clearly distinguished themselves from the others. We could vote for five. I only voted for two. That's how clear the difference was.
A badge under their name is meaningless when there is already a provision to read what the candidates say about themselves.
#58
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I went through each candidates statement twice. Knowing nothing about any of them, the right type of leaders were self evident by their own statements, and to my eye clearly distinguished themselves from the others. We could vote for five. I only voted for two. That's how clear the difference was.
#59
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Australia
Programs: Too many
Posts: 1,096
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flyertall
I went through each candidates statement twice. Knowing nothing about any of them, the right type of leaders were self evident by their own statements, and to my eye clearly distinguished themselves from the others. We could vote for five. I only voted for two. That's how clear the difference was.
I read all the statements as well. Then decided to use three of my votes.
Originally Posted by Flyertall
I went through each candidates statement twice. Knowing nothing about any of them, the right type of leaders were self evident by their own statements, and to my eye clearly distinguished themselves from the others. We could vote for five. I only voted for two. That's how clear the difference was.
I read all the statements as well. Then decided to use three of my votes.
#60
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The "I voted" icons disappeared awfully fast this time.