Attempting to drag this thread by the testicles back on-topic to address Merry's original post above:

I agree with most of what Merry has said above. As I've mentioned in other threads, I think TalkBoard is a bad idea and will only lead to more conflict.

Politics don't belong here.

If anyone cares about the logic behind my position, you'll find my posts on this subject in these threads:

Synopsis: A good idea is a good idea. Egos. Randy can do it better without TalkBoard.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum97/HTML/000660.html

Synopsis: TalkBoard is not representitive. Elections=Politics. Politics on FT=Bad.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum.../000030-2.html

I'll add one more thing that I've seen here on FT before:

Please do not assume that because someone gets a lot of public support (postings) that the majority of FTers support that position. And visa versa. A very bad assumption, IMHO.

Merry is right in that this is an embarassment to FlyerTalk. Personally, I believe that many of those that are embarrased, you don't hear from on the subject.

Others who are embarrased, you never hear from again.

OK, in response to the e-mails I've received from people I respect, and many posts, I once again offer to delete each and every one of my relevant posts in this sorry episode. I also offer to never again bring it up or reference it.

But again I reiterate, I will not do it alone, and I will not let myself be attacked without responding.

Dorian?
Goldlust?
Samantha?
Doc?

Can we agree to wipe these posts off of Flyertalk and simply agree to ignore each other for the good of the community?

NJ David: Four Paws UP for your suggestion! A good move IMHO.

Thank you.

No problem at all. Let me know which posts are attacks.

Dorian

thank you merry (supported by PremEx) and svpii for the civilized and intelligent discussion.

Your contributions/idea/'convictions' help me to (go on to) make up my own mind.

[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 02-27-2002).]

link


[This message has been edited by NJDavid (edited 02-28-2002).]

I tend to agree with Premex in alot of areas. However, I think in the next week you might see many positive changes, now that Talkboard has overcome some of the speedbumps.

Any hints, cigarman?

FewMiles..

never mind

[This message has been edited by NJDavid (edited 02-28-2002).]

sorry NJDavid but I don't find any program (and I have many on my Mac) to open the downloaded link you did provide above: enma-koorogi.rm

It is a RealAudio file of a cricket chirping - The historically consistent response from some parties to offers such as the one I made above. It is truly sad that so many here who can say "you'd better not break the TOS any more" can never agree to say "I won't break the TOS anymore."

[This message has been edited by NJDavid (edited 03-01-2002).]

Premex scribes:

Or only rarely...

The issue, for me, has always been a noise-to-signal ratio equation. As the noise rises (cacophony comes to mind, folks), the signal diminishes. And my own personal enjoyment of FT is directly related to strong signal, low noise.

And once again, it's incredibly friggin' LOUD around here...

I don't know (nor do I want to know) the origins of the current noise. I do know that the noise ratio started dropping 34 months ago and has continued to drop to the point where FT has become an occasional place to visit, rather than an oft-visited site. While my own contributions to this "community" may not amount to much, it is just this type of behavior that keeps me from even typing in the flyertalk.com url...

A public aside to my friend NJDavid: while I greatly respect the principles behind your stand, you are pissing in the wind...

res ipsa loquitor

[edited for rusty UBB coding]


[This message has been edited by onefreeman (edited 03-01-2002).]

As Dorian says what posts are attacks? We had a discussion earlier where your definition of a personal attack was quite nebulous (to me). Would you consider the following post to be a personal attack and edit your comments there?

http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...ML/000834.html

IMO, if you want to take the high road delete your own comments, and then let others act accordingly.

I have no problems saying "I won't break the TOS anymore." (qualified with - unless in an extreme situation in response to someone) - though I did not think that is what was on the table.


[This message has been edited by PG (edited 03-01-2002).]

I took Dorian's post here at face value. My comments are in reference to those who wil not respond, who essentially spit on the hand of truce whenever offered.

Read the TOS. I have a lot lately. It's pretty big and talks about a lot of things, not just calling names. You make your own call who has and has not violated it.

I was (am) willing to come to the table and say "enough" and take a pledge. That has meaning, and gives meaning to my efforts that required it in the first place. Unilaterally deleting my posts does not. In the past that effort has given "others" a sense of righteousness they do not deserve.

Honest self refelection, even for the good of the community, is spurned. No desire to forge a path to the middle exists. No compromise is acceptable. That is the undebatable message here.

Just as Onefreeman has chided me, I am "pissing in the wind."

[This message has been edited by NJDavid (edited 03-01-2002).]

It depends on the definition of LOUD. Sure there are some pretty intense fights in maybe 2% of the threads. But there is plenty of good information out there in the other 98%.

FlyerTalk is a lively, vibrant board. If I want to find some good discussions and conversations on my status airline, Northwest, I would much rather visit FlyerTalk which has hundreds of threads a month than some other board which has one thread in the past month (could you guess which one I am referring to?). If I want to maximize my points in my favorite hotel, Starwood, again FlyerTalk delivers.

You have been saying for years now that quality is going down, yet participation and quality keeps going up.

[This message has been edited by PG (edited 03-01-2002).]