Forum tone

[leemin]

Hi all,

Despite me being largely 'out of it' for the last week or so, I've noticed some long-standing members have decided to leave AFF recently.

Not wanting to break any rules myself, or restart any issues that may or may not have arisen; I am curious to know whether the forum has taken on a different 'tone' lately. I'm relatively new myself, so I'm not sure and am not aware of any incidents in particular.

But is there some official or unofficial rules that haven't been or should be followed in future?

I have found AFF to be an absolutely fabulous resource and one I (perhaps not my wallet.. ) really want to continue to enjoy with all the great insights of long standing members and FF's.

Curious as to the thoughts of others..

Cheers,
jlm


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[Dyslexic traveler]

Hi JlmI am the same I have been on for a short time and have felt it's a good place to get info and meet likeminded people and there will always be things we do not like It may be that I just live in my own world but I am happy and that's all I need to beEnjoy life and never let someone kick your cat

 

[cove]

Jim,this site gives us a wealth of information so that we stumble a little less when we travel the world. The moderators are really nice and it should always be fun to get together for drinks or dinner. Well that's what I have found after about 3 and a half years and only one name change.

 

[admin]

But is there some official or unofficial rules that haven't been or should be followed in future?

There has been no change in our editorial policy. Our "official" guidelines can be viewed at Posting Guidelines. These haven't changed in ages.

We really do try not to limit our member's right to have their say (subject to the guidelines above) and the rule the moderators use when examining a post is "If in doubt, leave it" We believe "everything in moderation, including moderation!"

That said, the mods and I do try to encourage a "positive and constructive" culture. But as this is a public forum, we can't really control the direction some of the threads take at times. All I can ask is that our members keep things positive, respect the diverse views of our members, and promptly "Report a Post" if they feel a post or a thread is taking a nasty turn.

On balance, I believe we have a great community and the mods and I work hard to maintain its vibrance and relevance.

 

[bat21]

I have been on the AFF for some time and have managed to get a number of helpful hints and advice that has either saved me money, time or a bad experience so I will long continue. Saying that however, I rarely post as at times I feel very intimidated with all the abreviations, high handiness and seriousness of some of the more experienced AFFers'' who post about their 2 million SC points and how the cavier at xyz lounge was ghastly especially with all the riff raff dressed in a Van Heuson suit instead of their Zenga. I am just a small PAYE employee who pays for his own flights, economy of course, and QC. Other than my company paying for my QC nomination fee 8 or 9 years, everything comes out of my back pocket but I have close to a million FF points, enjoy dropping into a QC lounge in my jeans and tee shirt. I will always read AFF as I stated previously, the advice is invaluable but this is usually from the newer members who still have a sense of humour against those members who have to tell us about their horrid experience in Qantas first class when the wine on offer was 1982 Penfold Chardonny which everyone knows was a bad year.

I now I am going to cop it but what the heck, I still like AFF

 

[markis10]

I now I am going to cop it but what the heck, I still like AFF

I doubt you will cop it, that's not the AFF spirit! And don't feel overshadowed by the use of abbreviations etc, they are there to make it easier to post info without having to type Platinum etc all the time, AFF is not about secret clubs or spelling bees either, it's about a community who maximize their gains from doing what can at times be a boring and/or stressful experience - flying! Most of us spend more time in Y than we like, and can often be found in Jeans at the QP, in my case that will be me in Brisbane tomorrow night!

 

[Lawlass]

I have been on the AFF for some time and have managed to get a number of helpful hints and advice that has either saved me money, time or a bad experience so I will long continue. Saying that however, I rarely post as at times I feel very intimidated with all the abreviations, high handiness and seriousness of some of the more experienced AFFers'' who post about their 2 million SC points and how the cavier at xyz lounge was ghastly especially with all the riff raff dressed in a Van Heuson suit instead of their Zenga. I am just a small PAYE employee who pays for his own flights, economy of course, and QC. Other than my company paying for my QC nomination fee 8 or 9 years, everything comes out of my back pocket but I have close to a million FF points, enjoy dropping into a QC lounge in my jeans and tee shirt. I will always read AFF as I stated previously, the advice is invaluable but this is usually from the newer members who still have a sense of humour against those members who have to tell us about their horrid experience in Qantas first class when the wine on offer was 1982 Penfold Chardonny which everyone knows was a bad year.

I now I am going to cop it but what the heck, I still like AFF

I sooo feel your pain.

It's more fun just to laugh at them and then make their heads explode by turning up to the lounges in singlet/ripped jeans/thongs.

 

[TonyHancock]

Ithe advice is invaluable but this is usually from the newer members who still have a sense of humour against those members who have to tell us about their horrid experience in Qantas first class when the wine on offer was 1982 Penfold Chardonny which everyone knows was a bad year.

Your getting confused, it was 1983 that was the bad year

 

[Justchecking]

I wouldn't take the departure of a few long standing members as necessarily a bad sign. I've left many forums in the past simply because I've learnt or given all I could, the community focus changed or I just developed other interests. It's a normal part of public forum life to see the joining and departure of many members on a regular basis.

 

[pauly7]

The only thing that I've really noticed is a general negativity which can get a bit tiresome especially when it is repeated. Endlessly....

I just try and avoid the moaning and whinging/repetitive and PR agenda driven threads that I know are a- typical of certain members and that makes my experience more enjoyable!!

Just focus on the more practical and considered opinions and AFF is still an amazing, fantastic and friendly forum!!! I don't know what I'd do without it

 

[Moopere]

I'm just a newbie, been here since Feb this year so can't comment on change in tone on this forum. However, I've got a long history with other forums, decades long, and I can't say I've noticed anything going on here that doesn't happen on other public meeting places. In fact, if anything, things here are a lot more friendly and helpful especially for new comers like myself.

I agree with JustChecking above. Folks leave for a number of reasons and unless we see a sudden mass exodus I'd not see such change as out of the ordinary.

Its the public nature of a meeting place like this that gives it the vitality it needs. No good having only a handful of members who only reinforce their own point of view, diversity builds knowledge and interest value I reckon. Pretty soon you get to know a lot of the names here and a little about their online personality, this helps a lot to not be 'hooked' by someone who may be trolling for a verbal fight (hehehe). Its all good in my opinion.

 

[straitman]

Hi all,

But is there some official or unofficial rules that haven't been or should be followed in future?

I have found AFF to be an absolutely fabulous resource and one I (perhaps not my wallet.. ) really want to continue to enjoy with all the great insights of long standing members and FF's.

Curious as to the thoughts of others..

Cheers,
jlm


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app

Hi jlm,

I really like your post and the discussion that I hope it brings.

admin has stated the official policy but I'm happy to say it from my perspective. No matter where you go in the world there will be some positive and some negative people (and a few confused ones in the middle). I have always tried to be of the positive persuasion with the forum but I understand the frustrations as some people just seem to want to argue because they can and some are just negative.

What can you do? You can skim past the threads that you don't like or where people are too serious or at the extreme you can put people on your ignore list. If you think it's going to help then possibly try and put in a positive influence or if not then simply ignore the thread.

As admin says this is a community and as such attracts all sorts of ideas, comments and people. Some posts on here I find to be extreme and/or annoying by my standards but so long as someone is attacking the topic (not individuals) and are not using inappropriate language (or symbols masking bad language) then they are entitled to make their points.

If you think at any time that it's getting too OT or rough (in any way) then please report the post so that we can have a look at what's going on.

 

[TonyHancock]

Its the public nature of a meeting place like this that gives it the vitality it needs. No good having only a handful of members who only reinforce their own point of view, diversity builds knowledge and interest value I reckon. Pretty soon you get to know a lot of the names here and a little about their online personality, this helps a lot to not be 'hooked' by someone who may be trolling for a verbal fight (hehehe). Its all good in my opinion.

mmmm....is one aloud to attempt humour in the Open Discussion section or is that for Playground only?

I'll err on the side of caution!!!!

I think diversity is the key. I have seen many forums become stale because of a lack of injection of new blood, and new blood can become quite jarring to established members because the "tone" of a forum can begin to take a different direction.

So much of "real life" communication is carried out through gestures and body language it makes it quite difficult to pick up on intonation in a written post. IMHO most disagreements I have seen here are caused by cough ups than deliberate attempts to annoy.

I have been here less than a year. The one comment I would make is that I had noticed a change towards more light hearted posts in recent weeks. Personally I like that style, but I guess there a members who don't. Everyone is different. I certainly shy away from posting on some areas of the site these days.

edit: Actually I think a little bit more before posting, perhaps, more than shy away, and perhaps don't write what I would like to.

 

[JohnK]

Put simply, "people come and people go" and a lot of times we will never know the real reason behind their departure.

 

[drron]

I sooo feel your pain.

It's more fun just to laugh at them and then make their heads explode by turning up to the lounges in singlet/ripped jeans/thongs.

Ah but then you are the evil twin aren't you.

I have been on the AFF for some time and have managed to get a number of helpful hints and advice that has either saved me money, time or a bad experience so I will long continue. Saying that however, I rarely post as at times I feel very intimidated with all the abreviations, high handiness and seriousness of some of the more experienced AFFers'' who post about their 2 million SC points and how the cavier at xyz lounge was ghastly especially with all the riff raff dressed in a Van Heuson suit instead of their Zenga. I am just a small PAYE employee who pays for his own flights, economy of course, and QC. Other than my company paying for my QC nomination fee 8 or 9 years, everything comes out of my back pocket but I have close to a million FF points, enjoy dropping into a QC lounge in my jeans and tee shirt. I will always read AFF as I stated previously, the advice is invaluable but this is usually from the newer members who still have a sense of humour against those members who have to tell us about their horrid experience in Qantas first class when the wine on offer was 1982 Penfold Chardonny which everyone knows was a bad year.

I now I am going to cop it but what the heck, I still like AFF

Boy you need to relax.I know I can be annoying but I dont even like caviar.My shirts are virtually all Van Heusen-all costing less than S14-ie much cheaper than ripped jeans!.
I do always ponder whether to do another trip report(there didn't call it a TR).I worry people will just think I am boasting or up myself but hey it really makes me reflect and remember my trip(and I need all the help I can get to remember).I also hope someone might just learn something or I will arouse interest in a destination or activity.I do apologise for all the photos of food-but I do live to eat........and travel.
And just a word in defence of some of the more experienced AFFers.I have not met that many but I have played around with Lindsay Wilson,Serfty and Johnk.All very nice people-even if they do poke fun at my golf shorts.

 

[medhead]

Posting on iPad so not going to try a structure replybto various posts. Just want to say if anyone feels intimidated by my posts picture me naked. If that doesn't work just tell me to get lost. Do remember that I have the memory retention skills of a gnat, so in all likelihood I will have made some stupid mistake and I'll forget you telling me to get lost after about 43 minutes.

 

[elbarto]

People should spend some time on airliners.net before criticising AFF. The nerds over there have their heads so far up the respective cough of Airbus or Boeing, whatever they support that threads quickly degenerate into slanging matches. And you wouldn't want to be someone whose 'uneducated' in the technical workings of an airliner or the airliner industry. You'll quickly be told off by a teenager whose, business experience is little more then a high school class in business studies, that you know nothing about the airline industry and shouldn't be asking your 'dumb' questions. Long live the arm chair CEO.

While I don't see an overly negative tone here, I do believe at times that some members vent a bit of frustration to repetitive questions being asked over and over again. This probably comes from the poster of the thread failing to search the forum properly before starting a new thread.

 

[drron]

Posting on iPad so not going to try a structure replybto various posts. Just want to say if anyone feels intimidated by my posts picture me naked. If that doesn't work just tell me to get lost. Do remember that I have the memory retention skills of a gnat, so in all likelihood I will have made some stupid mistake and I'll forget you telling me to get lost after about 43 minutes.

So I'm the older brother you weren't told was adopted out at birth?

 

[straitman]

And just a word in defence of some of the more experienced AFFers.I have not met that many but I have played around with Lindsay Wilson,Serfty and Johnk.All very nice people-even if they do poke fun at my golf shorts.

drron,

I feel really left out now :!:

I also think your golf shorts are awful.

 

[markis10]

drron,

I feel really left out now :!:

I also think your golf shorts are awful.

Does that mean we can put you down for the next AFF Golf Day .