Just a friendly bump as it has been about 10 weeks since this first was reported as being under talkboard discussion, and sweet willie has started a thread in ORP that reminds me of the need for such a forum.

Thanks for any feedback you might have.

I only go to threads that show current, interesting, posts on the main page. I have noticed that since the new forum has been introduced, that I rarely even go to my specific airline or hotel forums--I may be missing a few things, but I already know everything important that I need to know about my programs, have way too many miles and points, know how to get lots more, and find that it is just too big a pain for me to dig down to find and read my specific program forums.

While I sincerely hope that the new format is working for the vast majority, it does not work for me. Now, I only regularly vist Women's Forum, Community and OMNI.

How is it working for the rest of you?

I have my favorite forums subscribed to on "My Flyer Talk" and immediately head to that page. This saves me digging down. I also look at "New Posts" (or did until it was removed -- hopefully it will return soon).

When "My FlyerTalk" came out, I did that too, Dov, but now I only go there when I get a new message. I know sliding down the front page looking at new posts on thread that interest me, is just a habit which I could probably easily could and should change.

.....

There has been a bit more discussion on this matter, however it did not get a motion for a vote, nor a second and has therefore been tabled.

I'm disappointed to hear this. When you refer to "this matter," is that with respect to establishing an "Ask FlyerTalk" forum or the larger matter of where threads should be posted when they overlap forums, which is the subject of a similar thread? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=379205

I encourage the TalkBoard to make a recommendation, even if on an interim basis and if left it open to moderators as to whether or not to move threads. It could be as simple as deciding which component of a discussion has priority (geography, provider, or type of travel) when deciding on the appropriate. Thus, if a person has a question about train travel from NY to Boston, should it go to the NY or NE forum, the Amtrak forum, or TravelBuzz? With the search function down (and all of us sending good vibes for a rapid recovery) and Google search not being a perfect alternative, the more guidance there is about where to post, the easier it will be for a person, especially a newbie, who skims the most appropriate forum to find helpful information.

Thanks for the time to spent on FT matters.

Moderators already have the authority to move a thread if they feel it would be better served by being in a different forum.

In fact, I have sometimes seen threads which began, correctly, in one forum and when the tone of the thread changed it was moved to another. (I seem to recall a Delta Forum thread, for example, which became more concerned with security checks than Delta operations and was moved to the Travel Safety/Security Forum.)

Great idea, robb! ^ Does being tabled mean it's a no-go?

It means that the TalkBoard will not be making a recommendation to Randy on it one way or the other.

Bump in response to similar discussion in http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...52#post6346852.

One of the best ideas I've seen in a long time and definite 'add value' forum option.

I like it for several reasons;

- it encourages people to ask questions they might not feel there's an appropriate forum for;

- it ensures that relevant but ambiguous threads find the right home sooner rather than later;

- new threads will see an initial hit of responses from a wider audience before being properly 'filed' (as Robb said in his OP).

- (edited to add) it would also make a great sounding out platform for new travel relevant threads... travelling with pets for instance.

On the downside it would need dedicated moderation.

5 :-:

Would this forum be open to all users or would you consider it only for new(er) members?

I'd like to prevent seeing every member on FT finding out that the "ask Flyertalk" forum us the easiest place to post.

I'd certainly post my support for this forum, perhaps as a trial if it is opened to all members that have been on FT for shorter than say 180 days. Also, once their thread is moved I'd suggest they get a PM telling them where it was moved, why and with a welcome to Flyertalk.

I may be missing something here, but if we were to limit this new forum to new members only, we completely miss the issue that has caused the bumping of this thread. The issue now at hand is not just new members not knowing where to post, but veteran members who know exactly where something "should" go, but because of a lack of traffic post somewhere else. IOW, they want a larger audience to see the question/post.

I think the new issue at hand really centers around the question "Is it acceptable to purposefully post in the wrong forum when one is hoping to have more eyes see that post?" And if the answer to that is yes, should we allow members to just post where they want, or should a special forum be created to facilitate those posts (and maybe facilitate posts from new members as well.)

I dont like this idea. I think it is a cop-out for not having forums that are appropriate and/or forums that create a community that is available and able to answer appropriate questions.

Just because creating and eliminating the right forums in order to grow communities that are available to answer questions is difficult does not mean that it should not be done. IMHO, the REASON FT works is the communities it sustains: the UA community, the Starwood community, the womens community, the technology community, yeah, even the OMNI community. Etc. Etc.

Asking and answering questions is a fundamental component of the FT community experience, not a function that should be segregated away from the communities.

I see this issue as a desire to return to the days of FT when ALL that was discussed were strict frequency questions. There still is a place for that, but the community that has naturally evolved well beyond that is what keeps folks coming back long after they are frequency Jedis and makes them available to answer fundamental questions.

The current issue is that people dont post to the right forum because there is no traffic there. That is a problem for the TB to solve in a way that does not disrupt the forums that DO have communities that work, IMHO.

There is no "Flyertalk" per se. So saying "Ask FlyerTalk" is nonsensical. There is a community of people. More specifically, a community of communities. A community full of information, opinions, wit and thoughtfulness. Without that, you have nothing more than an echo chamber.