The point is that unless we posters are able to observe you Talkboarders debate and make your cases we are seriously hamstrung in our ability to judge your performance. And it would be nice to know what you guys are considering WHILE you are considering it (in real time) so we can comment on it in THIS forum.

For example, if it were not for the locked thread, I would not know that you all are debating a motion regarding openness. Yet you are. IMHO, posters deserve to learn and read your positions about things AS YOU CONSIDER THEM, not on as a fait accomplis nor on a watered down, revisionist basis.

Another example: it took me two weeks and considerable effort to find out how TB members voted on the proposed Mens forum and why. That is unacceptable, IMHO. The debates and the votes should be 'on the record' for all to see and consider.

I (continue to) fail to understand what could be so 'sensitive' or 'private' that you are not comfortable talking about it in public. You are our elected represenatives to Randy, your charter is to consider forums. Where is the rub?

koko, for the first time in the past 37 minutes, I agree with you. ^

1. Votes are open for two weeks. While individual members are free to report how they voted (and, if I recall, I did) the results are not announced until the vote is completed. At that point, I can not understand why it took you "considerable effort" to find out who voted and in what way -- it was announced here.

2. TalkBoard's charter is not restricted to considering forums. While the specifics of just what it entails have been debated by TB members for a long time, the charter -- as shown on Town Hall -- states that "The TalkBoard serves as a User Advisory Council representing the general FlyerTalk population and addresses issues that serve the long-term interests of the FlyerTalk community."

How is the bolded part of your quote served if the "general FlyerTalk population cannot see how they are being represented?

Did I say it was?

Stopping by this thread upon request - I notice something unusual about this thread. I'm going to point out some research I did during the general elections which i did not put forth but given the continuing disruption of the topic feel it may be relevant.

Koko - I find your thread to be somewhat disengenous. It may well be me. You ran your platform on being transparent and seem to be continuing the dialog here. My problem is that this seems to be just a game for you on FT. In my research, I came across information that you have been and may well continue to be a moderator on the moremiles.org Web site. What is puzzling is that Web site from day one has always had two secret forums - one for moderators (you are or were a member of) and a secret forum for the founders. Nowhere on that Web site was I able to find via search that you called for transparency or for open skies for its two forums that remain private access only. There are several other members here on FlyerTalk that have continued to flout this transparency issue when behind your own doors seem to privately support an environment where there is an area in which to discuss matters of common opinion. So it would seem that FlyerTalk is not alone in your memberships of Web sites that do have areas for private discussion.

There would seem to be a disconnect on what your practice in support elsewhere is vs. what it is here on FlyerTalk. One might even deduce that such "talking/acting out of both sides of the mouth" is disruptive.

Same is true for this Men's Forum topic (I am not connecting you [personally with that crusade) . I looked over at moremiles.org, flyerchat.com and even errorplan.com and in none of these forums have i found a Men's Forum, yet there are some on this thread that seek disruption because the member-elected TalkBoard did not vote to have one. While some have pointed out that Women and GLBT have their forums, why not men. Again, as i have made the statement before, i use research - not emotion and silliness to make a point. Arguably, two of the highest traffic and well known other travel communities are Lonely Planet and Frommers (both .com). If you will research those two Web sites and both have been online longer than FT, you will notice that they each have forums for women travelers and GLBT travelers. Neither has a Men's Forum. The fact is that in the past (prior to the active formation of the TalkBoard) FlyerTalk has tried hard to research the best practices of other leading Web sites - which is how these forums came into being. Today, that process is different in that it is now being determined by the process of our elected Talkboard and I'm comfortable with that change. However, when members seek to use disruptive methods on FlyerTalk to draw attention to their individual POV, that is something that I take personally because for those who don't use their keyboard as a statement, preferring to use their keyboard as a reference tool for great frequent flyer and other travel-related information, they will at least have me looking out for their best interest.

Might I suggest that a number of the members that have started or contributed to the threads in this forum take a rest. Allow the TalkBoard to get into their current term and later on measure their progress and contribute feedback where appropriate.

Koko, i did not start out to make this a post that highlights your contributions and support elsewhere which seem to contradict your position here and please accept my apology if it comes off that way, however, i find it highly unfair for you to cast an unfair light toward the topic here. They got elected, let them act out their responsibilities.

To further my position that the Board needs to get on with their duties without the distraction of these somewhat hollow claims, I personally am closing this thread and welcome any rebuttal to my PM account.