Proposal: CC Subforum for "Karma/Nothing In Return"
 

My proposal is that we create a subforum, in the Coupon Connection Forum, for the threads that have nothing to offer in return.

Threads to note:
Exhibit A Post #12

Exhibit B Post #20

While I understand that both of these suggestions were mentioned by the same person, I think there are many others that agree. Personally, I would like to see it for many reason.
People who feel the need to buy some karma have an easy place to go :D.
We no longer have to look at the rants debating whether these posts should be there, or whether the OP deserves such a "gift". For examples of that just read through the links I provided earlier. I am a fan of the CC, but think because of the potentially sensitive nature of the "business transactions" that we should keep it short, simple, and to the point if at all possible.
I dont believe that Flyertalk is served well by the majority of the negative commentary that appears in these threads, and have noticed a growing negativity that detracts from the overall purpose of FT. I think that this will help, if only a little, reduce that.
Edit to add: Also, the criticizing keeps posts at the top of the forum which would otherwise fade to the bottom, where they should be headed if nobody is interested in them for the purposes of a trade.

Based on two threads? How many are there, for instance, over the last 6 months or year?

So far I have found 5 (fairly recent), but to be honest I am going to stop looking. FT-search isnt all that helpful and even google is hard to use because people use many terms other than karma (thanks/gratuity/good will/nothing/etc). The more I look at it, this might be better served with a master thread within the forum, similar to the "premium class" thread in the MR forum. A "Karma Master Thread" of sorts.
I would like input from others on this because I wouldn't feel comfortable starting such a thread in case it was deemed to be either unnecessary or inappropriate.

It's a waste of a sub-forum.

It's easy to ignore these posts and scroll past them.

Particularly when the thread title makes it very clear what the deal is.

That might be better discussed with the Coupon Connection moderators. Have you discussed any of your ideas with them?

I have sent a PM to a mod, and seeing how the original idea has been amended to a master thread from a CC subforum, this thread might as well be closed. Thanks for the responses.

Not to me Tom.

I am totally against this.... we make sure titles are pretty clear... if someone does not want to read a thread, s/he does not have to open the thread.

I am against subforums in general because of how threads appear in the forum lists.... and specifically see no need whatsoever for the Coupon Connection Forum.

That is my personal opinion... not representing the CC moderators.

FWIW I always liked seeing those threads as it quietly reaffirmed the community spirit of FT. I'll opt for status quo.

I've posted a few of these types of items over the years when I had something to give away, and I can assure you that they do NOT get missed in the main CC forum, I've always gotten virtually instantaneous responses!

Status quo works fine for me.

I'm not positive but it appears you may be missing the intent of the OP, which was that the subforum include "W: <stuff>; H: nothing" (i.e. requests), not "H: <stuff>; W: nothing" (i.e. giveaways).

I agree that there is often instantaneous response to both... except that it's almost always exceedingly negative (lately) for the request threads.

Of course, most can probably guess my response here. I'm opposed to a subforum, for any number of reasons, including what wharvey said. More importantly, though, it's because many people don't read subforums, and any threads placed there are quite likely to simply die without ever getting a single look. I'm sure many CC denizens, especially those who take it upon themselves to post vitriolic comments on many request threads, would love to see exactly that outcome... but I, for one, still believe in the community spirit of FT, and of CC, and I think there's plenty of good reason to keep request threads in CC. As wharvey stated in the relevant thread on CC, anyone uninterested can very easily skip the thread.

(To those who might argue that comments "questioning the offer" may help prevent newbies from getting duped, I'll point out that while that may be perfectly valid for actual trade offers, for request threads where it is entirely clear that there is nothing offered in return, there can be no "duping" in such scenarios. Criticisms of the request are therefore inherently criticisms of the OP, and even if we completely ignore the TOS restriction on public discussion of individual members [which may not really apply to this situation], the "worthiness" of the OP and his/her request is completely subjective and is a determination that anyone reading or responding to the thread can and should make for themselves. Request threads are not analogous to one-sided/unfair trade proposals.)

i dont see the point in a subforum for karma posts

let people make their posts in CC.

I am also against a sub-forum. We could just as easily justify having a sub-forum for each program. I like the current structure. If there is something that doesn't interest me, I just pass on by.

mxm135 :)

I don't always agree with my fellow Mod :) but I do in this case. Much to do about nothing...