intuition

I (and others) have raised what we believe to be some valid concerns over the future mechanism. For me, it has been the question if a feedback thread has the ability to spawn any meaningful discussions.

From the responses it seemed to me no one really is getting my point, and I decided to silently remove myself from a non-fertile thread.


But then I realised this is the perfect display window of the perceived issue. On a TB topic thread there would have been a number of replies saying
I am decided / I am undecided, persuade me / I am not seeing enough demand / No it won't work because of these flaws / Yes it will work with these improvements / Here are links to our past experience and statistics

Now, all replies are of the type
Don't you worry about a thing / I vouch for the CD / I don't want to put the words in CD's mouth / I'd prefer the CD did respond to your concerns

The CD, the sole authoritative voice, has made one single un-comitting post to the thread.

Can you all now understand the point I am trying to make? If everyone just defers to a non-present person/role then there is nothing driving the discussion / suggestion forward.

So this is me hoping my concern is more understandable now - a feedback thread is just that. A one-way avenue where users can post their issues and suggestions. It can be great at that. But at this point I cannot see any soil for the alleged germination. Maybe there is. Maybe everyone else sees it. Then please post something about that instead of back pats.

GUWonder

A public/publicly-visible feedback forum with open discussions is more useful for idea-sharing and idea-improvement than the alternatives -- no matter how well-intended and well-managed the alternative may be.

nsx

GU, I fully expect you to see exactly that. There's no substitute for group discussion to uncover the flaws in an idea.

Randy made some missteps during his leadership of FT. Our new CD hasn't made a single one, as far as I know. She takes the time to reach the right decision the first time. She will find the most effective way to get member feedback.

GUWonder

While I have great respect and admiration for both persons, I don't see -- nor expect -- perfection in any individuals and the outcomes' their decisions have produced; and so I find no need to compare the CDs with each other. I'd rather compare systems.

I like systems that account for human limitations/imperfections; and I prefer systems with leadership cognizant of its own limitations and the situation requiring an open, broad debate to fuel improvement of a sort that is more sustainable and broadly rewarding than autocratic, sycophantic or incestuous group think can be.

No matter how great a "philosopher king" a polis may have ruling it, the philosopher king (writ large to include queens as well) isn't immortal. Even the founder of FT is no longer in control of this place.

nsx

That's a fair point. System A which works well under excellent leadership might not be the best choice when leadership is incompetent. System B might better accommodate incompetent leadership but it will perform worse under excellent leadership than System A. There is no universally best system, so let's design for the leadership we have. You wouldn't give da Vinci a paint by numbers canvas!

GUWonder

If given the chance, I would.

Designing a system for current and future leadership, not just current leadership, is more to my liking. Not that I'm expecting to do this.

RichMSN

I always pictured what would happen if the entire TalkTeam got together for a meal. TalkBoard would be seated at the kids table. Now the kids table has been moved outside the dining room entirely and the kids have been told to go outside and play with the other kids.

Nothing surprises me around here, but I have to admit that Carol eliminating the one elected body to represent FTers caught me by surprise. Guess it shouldn't have.

SkiAdcock

What a strange analogy. In the 15 years I've been on FT & long before I served on FT I never thought of TB as the kids table. Well maybe in the last couple of years, but that has more to do w/ 2-3 TB members bickering w/ each other all the time, both in the public & private forums

Cheers.

nsx

dchristiva

That's one way of putting it.

SkiAdcock

From a post by the CommunityDirector in the TB Closing thread:

"I expect to set up a new forum called "The Suggestion Box" and place it adjacent to CommunityBuzz. It wlll be the place for members to come who have an idea for how to do better what we already do very well."

GUWonder

Will that forum allow for continuing discussions about a "suggestion" posted there?

SanDiego1K

Yes, as long as it is genuinely a suggestion that the member believes will improve FlyerTalk, I've seen far too much bickering and carping at one another in this forum. I've no desire to have that continue.

SkiAdcock

I would think so. I seriously doubt it's a post your idea & have the thread locked right after you post forum. TB wasn't that, the Technical Issues & Suggestions forum isn't that, so I'd expect The Suggestion Box (TBS) forum to be similarly open. That it's being placed in the Community Forum near CommunityBuzz is a good thing IMO.

Having said the above, I think TSB is intended to be a suggest things, vs. kvetch/moan & groan/dig in a dagger because someone doesn't like something forum.

It should be noted the above is my opinion. I don't speak for the CommunityDirector.

Oops - the CD posted while I was writing this, so - what she said.

Cheers.

cblaisd

It's open:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/suggestion-box-756/