Since TB doesn't seem too busy at the moment, here is an idea to consider. What if TB went through FT and somehow labeled threads that it considered to be extraordinary in some way. These could be highlighted in some way, maybe with an icon or a bolding or something similar. The idea would be to bring attention to threads that are particularly useful and should be recognized as such.

One of the comments I often receive from new FTers is that there is a morass of information on here, but it is often buried. New FTers often wish there was some way to "jump" to the real good stuff.

One of the comments I often receive from old FTers is that there is a feeling that a lot of good old threads get lost in the shuffle. Old FTers often which there was some way to "save" great threads for posterity in a high-profile way.

How good is defined would be up to TB. How you decide whether a thread fits is also up to you.

Under Thread Tools, select Suggest Thread for TalkMail. Then everyone who subscribes to TalkMail at http://www.flyertalk.com/talkmail will learn about the thread. Moderators and active forum participants should use this tool to attract new readers who will appreciate fun, interesting, and informative content.

I'm not sure TalkMail really captures what I'm after here. Talkmail is an email with some currently active threads. That's great for in the moment type stuff. What I'm talking about are your all-time historic FT threads. The real gems. The ones that people want to return to over and over again. Maybe it's a particularly good Trip Report. Maybe it's a moment in mileage running history that is important (like that US Air $2 fare). That kind of thing. Then these would be collected on a single page somewhere or something.

Perhaps Mikel could add a "FT Greatest Hits" section to TalkMail and take nominations. For example, on the Southwest forum, I think the Kyla Ebbert thread was the most entertaining ever. The Amtrak-Choice thread was also exciting, not least because of the reversal of already-completed transfers starting at post 512. Both of these threads were listed in TalkMail at the time they were hot.

Come to think of it, the best vehicle for this project would be a Wiki. MS, would you like to create a Wiki page with FT Greatest Hits? It's easier than you might think...

Given the OP's proposal isn't actually TB's mandate, not sure they need to do something like this. I like nsx's idea of the OP doing a wiki. Be interesting to see if he'd do it or just sluff it off saying it's a TB thing

BTW - what one person thinks is the world's best thread or new stuff isn't necessarily the other person's view. Or IOW, if it's not broke, does it need to be fixed? And speaking as someone who used to be a newbie, I didn't have a problem finding information when I needed to find it. In fairness I didn't expect it to be handed to me on a plate, but I also didn't have to search very far for it.

PS - I just thought about this. I can't think of too many threads that I want to 'read and read again' because they're classic, but that might just be me.

OVMV. Cheers.

Yeah, I have no desire whatsoever to do this myself. I thought one of our elected representatives could take it on.

There's a surprise But again, one person's classic is another person's yawn, so in this case I think the Talkmail stuff is fine. I have no doubt the newbies will eventually find the info they need - and even these 'classic' threads of which the OP speaks. OVMV. Cheers.

You think folks actually read the TalkMail?

And why is it a surprise that I should want my elected representatives here to actually do something?

Why are they waiting around for threads to be started here? Where is the initiative?

I do. Maybe you could contribute a thread of interest from OMNI/PR each month, as the newsletter does seem to focus on the travel side of FT.

TalkBoard could always bring back the thread rating system and let members rate threads. That would seem to accomplish some part of what you're after.

While I appreciate your effort to keep us busy, magiciansampras, I'm not really convinced there's a need for this. I, for one, read TalkMail, and find the threads in there to be rather informative/entertaining/worth reading. I'm not sure what makes you think "an ineffective and bureaucratic TB" would do a good job with this. After all, there are many barriers and levels of bureaucracy that would stand in the way of creating a truly valuable listing of threads. Would we have to vote on which threads would be included? What if there's not agreement? This might be a good task for some maverick FlyerTalkers, but given the layers of bureaucracy, I see more issues than value with this proposal.

Wouldn't you agree?

I would think that this would be something that Mods would do in their own forums. I don't see this as a TB function. Some already do that...

And yeah, I read TalkMail...

Not really. I don't think this is the type of activity that would be held up by the bureaucracy. The TB could even delegate individuals (moderators?) to provide threads from their forums to be included, taking TB out of the searching effort.

I tend to agree: one poster's trash is another poster's treasure.

Or, put another way, YMMV.

So then how can TB be legitimated at all?

"One man's forum is another man's trash." Ergo, how can TB impose itself on others who may find forums to be treasure?

It cannot. Because the TB does not sanction anything ever. It just makes recommendations.

I think there's a big difference between making suggestions regarding the overall organization of the board vs. choosing what threads are extraordinary.

It takes a herculean effort just to decide that, for example, Virgin America deserves its own forum. How in the world could a 9-person committee be expected to reach consensus to recommend individual threads in each forum out of the thousands and thousands of threads out there?

I can't think of a way.

But if you have a specific suggestion, I, at least, am all ears!