AFF'rs come and go

[drron]

Although there wasn't a formal introductions forum initially there still were welcomes.One I still remember welcoming was the original incarnation of Flashback and I see that was in 2006.
I think it is a good thing to welcome new members.Certainly not for post padding.My contribution is episodic.Not sure why but it just happens that way.Sometimes though good reason for example when travelling and you just don't have time especially if trying to do a trip report.
I still feel part of a family even though I rarely get to social functions due to my hardly ever being in one place for too long.Though I will be home for about 12 days late January.

 

[JohnK]

Whether there's a point to padding post counts or not, I still question the sincerity.

I am not sure I understand the obsession with what other people post and their post counts.

No one is forced into reading all parts of AFF. I certainly do not read all parts of AFF. I read what interests me. If you don't like the Introductions forum then stay away from it. I can't stand the Wine lovers forum because I do not understand the obsession with wine. I drink alcohol for the numbing effect it has on the brain not the taste buds. But the forum is still there for people to participate.

My take on the Introductions forum is it is there for new members to get the courage to start a thread and to post something. Some people do not know how to start a thread, reply with quote etc. If I take the time to read their introduction and I post "welcome to AFF" then this is a good thing. It is not a bad thing. It makes the new poster feel welcome and the more people that post on the thread then obviously the better the introduction.

Then you need to get into the business side of things that I do not quite understand but I believe admin may have greater selling power of advertising if they can prove this is an active forum with so many active members, so many posts per day, so many posts per month etc. If every thread stopped after the first post that answered the question then this site would be extremely boring. You are potentially stopping constructive debate. Yes I know some threads go off topic but that can still be fun.

I have a passion for AFF. I think it is great. Very informative. Much better than Flyertalk. Lets not ruin it by heavily moderating the content of what is posted.

 

[kermatu]

Whether there's a point to padding post counts or not, I still question the sincerity.

View attachment 60034

A relatively new member takes a few seconds to welcome other new members. Hardly crime of the century.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

A welcome is seen on many forums as being just that....a welcome. I doubt it's post padding as there is no benefit (as far as I'm aware) at having a high or low post count once someone gets over the minimum number to PM other members. The sincerity is not questioned in my book, they're simply being friendly. Read the welcomes or ignore them, there's no obligation to read or post to the welcome thread. Another thing that I notice, is that I rarely actually look at a members post count. I can remember being criticised for being rude to a new member when I replied (possibly too curtly) to a particular post, but I didn't realise it was a new member. Another thing is the emoticons use. They're important to indicate the slant that should be read into a post.... humour, ribbing, sarcasm, genuine comment etc.

 

[serfty]

What makes it harder these days as far as terse/curt posts (welcomes or otherwise) is the use of small computers with tiny touch screens doubling as keyboards. (Otherwise known as "smartphones" or "tablets"/"pads".)

These make longer, more qualified, posts/replies somewhat painfull.

As a result many posts are cut short, containing only a few words which mean to the author what they intended but leave room to be misconstrued by others, often with adverse results.

 

[RooFlyer]

I am not sure I understand the obsession with what other people post and their post counts.

No one is forced into reading all parts of AFF. I certainly do not read all parts of AFF. I read what interests me. If you don't like the Introductions forum then stay away from it. I can't stand the Wine lovers forum because I do not understand the obsession with wine. I drink alcohol for the numbing effect it has on the brain not the taste buds. But the forum is still there for people to participate.

My take on the Introductions forum is it is there for new members to get the courage to start a thread and to post something. Some people do not know how to start a thread, reply with quote etc. If I take the time to read their introduction and I post "welcome to AFF" then this is a good thing. It is not a bad thing. It makes the new poster feel welcome and the more people that post on the thread then obviously the better the introduction.

Then you need to get into the business side of things that I do not quite understand but I believe admin may have greater selling power of advertising if they can prove this is an active forum with so many active members, so many posts per day, so many posts per month etc. If every thread stopped after the first post that answered the question then this site would be extremely boring. You are potentially stopping constructive debate. Yes I know some threads go off topic but that can still be fun.

I have a passion for AFF. I think it is great. Very informative. Much better than Flyertalk. Lets not ruin it by heavily moderating the content of what is posted.

Well said, JohnK I don't understand how anyone could anyone could come up with the concept of "AFF post count padding" and then be bothered about it. And to nay-say the act of welcoming someone to the forum?

 

[Pushka]

Actually I am embarrassed by my high post count. I think it makes me look like a chatterbox. . I dont see high post count as being prestigious and I've never understood why one would want to post-pad, nor why one would suggest others post-pad as I don't see the point. Its not like it earns us frequent flyer points or anything.

Dammit. Just added to my post count.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Well said, JohnK I don't understand how anyone could anyone could come up with the concept of "AFF post count padding" and then be bothered about it. And to nay-say the act of welcoming someone to the forum?

I'm fairly certain it does go on. It's not just something peculiar to AFF. There's a whole section devoted to it on Whingepool.
I'm not personally bothered by it at all.
There is a certain prestige attached here and elsewhere to posters with vast post counts. We have the structure ie. titles given at different levels along with the "congratulations on X posts" threads.
I tend to favour quality over quantity when reading posts and we certainly have a a fair few great members with both.
Some have quantity but less quality.

 

[RooFlyer]

Actually I am embarrassed by my high post count. I think it makes me look like a chatterbox. . I dont see high post count as being prestigious and I've never understood why one would want to post-pad, nor why one would suggest others post-pad as I don't see the point. Its not like it earns us frequent flyer points or anything.

Dammit. Just added to my post count.

Hey, great idea. Maybe we should get Admin and Qantas Loyalty talking to each other and have (say) a point earned for every post (like the Qantas toolbar searches ). I too suppose that activity on AFF contributes to AFF ability to sell advertising etc, so revving it up would be a win-win .

Hey! I've just done another post too. How did that happen?

 

[Awesom Andy]

We have the structure ie. titles given at different levels

I've only just noticed this myself... do those titles mean much here at all? (Apart from the important ones such as "moderator" that is).

 

[RooFlyer]

I've only just noticed this myself... do those titles mean much here at all? (Apart from the important ones such as "moderator" that is).

Its another metric for DYKWIA :mrgreen: .

I just googled 'padding' images for a suitable illustration. You get some interesting takes on 'padding' !!

 

[kelvedon]

If "post count padding" in the Welcome section is considered a concern then don't let it could towards a post count (as in Playground). That won't stop the sincere members from welcoming new ones.

 

[nickfromeastryde]

Getting back a little to topic, what did happen to Markis if it's not too rude to ask. As a real newbie when I first joined found his willingness to respond a real help in starting to understand the ins and outs of this game

 

[OATEK]

I've only just noticed this myself... do those titles mean much here at all? (Apart from the important ones such as "moderator" that is).

Perhaps it means something to newcomers in terms of them assessing what they are reading.

Of course the other side of it, for the poster, is probably a sense of belonging.

But apart from perhaps the 1,000 post acknowledgement, it would be a long time between drinks before the next "reward" for a serious post-padder.

 

[JohnK]

Getting back a little to topic, what did happen to Markis if it's not too rude to ask. As a real newbie when I first joined found his willingness to respond a real help in starting to understand the ins and outs of this game

He is still posting on Flyertalk.

 

[feezable]

I have been quietly following this thread, as I do many others, and have now decided to add some of my thoughts. AFF changed my life, I mean that, I was a frustrated traveller living life as a suburban mum. I love being a mum, I love my family, but there was a whole area of my past life that was seemingly lost to me. I am not a very social beast, I'm not timid, but rather a typical INTJ personality type and finding this online community opened the door to a new world and a fabulous new phase of my life. I discovered that there is a whole world of people out there who like me, love the smell of av gas in the morning and who's heads swivel at the sound of an unexpected plane overhead. Since joining AFF, I have taken my kids, one at a time, on their own special adventures, we've had family holidays and I've managed to leave them all at home for a few short days several times. Even 'why fly direct when you can connect' was a revelation to me and made my desire to spend more time on planes feel less odd. I am on AFF every day and would be lost without it, my friends live here. Yes, I have real world friends, but on here I don't have to explain myself or justify that I would prefer to fly than replace my old TV. Thanks, in great part, to the regular posters on here, since joining 3 years ago I have been to Bali twice, Japan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, New Zealand, Broome, Perth, Canberra plus Melbourne and Brisbane several times. Next year we have a second family trip to NZ and another mum/son adventure to Yunnan China. I would love to attend an AFF get together, I will have to get past my nervousness about meeting face to face to do this. Thank you all, my friends. And p.s. I was quite affected when Markis left, losing him from my online life was really disappointing. And p.s.s. My family is now happily on board with my passion, hubby loves the benefits of travel and having a happy wife and I am breeding a new generation of AFFers in my children.

 

[pagingjoan]

I have been quietly following this thread, as I do many others, and have now decided to add some of my thoughts. AFF changed my life, I mean that, I was a frustrated traveller living life as a suburban mum. I love being a mum, I love my family, but there was a whole area of my past life that was seemingly lost to me. I am not a very social beast, I'm not timid, but rather a typical INTJ personality type and finding this online community opened the door to a new world and a fabulous new phase of my life. I discovered that there is a whole world of people out there who like me, love the smell of av gas in the morning and who's heads swivel at the sound of an unexpected plane overhead. Since joining AFF, I have taken my kids, one at a time, on their own special adventures, we've had family holidays and I've managed to leave them all at home for a few short days several times. Even 'why fly direct when you can connect' was a revelation to me and made my desire to spend more time on planes feel less odd. I am on AFF every day and would be lost without it, my friends live here. Yes, I have real world friends, but on here I don't have to explain myself or justify that I would prefer to fly than replace my old TV. Thanks, in great part, to the regular posters on here, since joining 3 years ago I have been to Bali twice, Japan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, New Zealand, Broome, Perth, Canberra plus Melbourne and Brisbane several times. Next year we have a second family trip to NZ and another mum/son adventure to Yunnan China. I would love to attend an AFF get together, I will have to get past my nervousness about meeting face to face to do this. Thank you all, my friends. And p.s. I was quite affected when Markis left, losing him from my online life was really disappointing. And p.s.s. My family is now happily on board with my passion, hubby loves the benefits of travel and having a happy wife and I am breeding a new generation of AFFers in my children.

What a lovely positive post! Enjoy your future travels as much as those you've ticked off the list so far - or even more!

 

[Deleted member]

I have been quietly following this thread, as I do many others, and have now decided to add some of my thoughts. AFF changed my life, I mean that, I was a frustrated traveller living life as a suburban mum. I love being a mum, I love my family, but there was a whole area of my past life that was seemingly lost to me. I am not a very social beast, I'm not timid, but rather a typical INTJ personality type and finding this online community opened the door to a new world and a fabulous new phase of my life. I discovered that there is a whole world of people out there who like me, love the smell of av gas in the morning and who's heads swivel at the sound of an unexpected plane overhead. Since joining AFF, I have taken my kids, one at a time, on their own special adventures, we've had family holidays and I've managed to leave them all at home for a few short days several times. Even 'why fly direct when you can connect' was a revelation to me and made my desire to spend more time on planes feel less odd. I am on AFF every day and would be lost without it, my friends live here. Yes, I have real world friends, but on here I don't have to explain myself or justify that I would prefer to fly than replace my old TV. Thanks, in great part, to the regular posters on here, since joining 3 years ago I have been to Bali twice, Japan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, New Zealand, Broome, Perth, Canberra plus Melbourne and Brisbane several times. Next year we have a second family trip to NZ and another mum/son adventure to Yunnan China. I would love to attend an AFF get together, I will have to get past my nervousness about meeting face to face to do this. Thank you all, my friends. And p.s. I was quite affected when Markis left, losing him from my online life was really disappointing. And p.s.s. My family is now happily on board with my passion, hubby loves the benefits of travel and having a happy wife and I am breeding a new generation of AFFers in my children.

I think your baring of your soul as it were is enough to say you're well and truly ready to meet and greet the great unwashed that is AFF. No judgments or justifications , we all share a number of common passions, and I suppose we are all a little eccentric in our own way. get along to a function, and I suspect you will get along to more.
The pinnacle (IMHO) is a Buzzard Wine tour. I just wish could attend more.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[Reise]

I'm ready to go again myself

I have been quietly following this thread, as I do many others, and have now decided to add some of my thoughts. AFF changed my life, I mean that, I was a frustrated traveller living life as a suburban mum. I love being a mum, I love my family, but there was a whole area of my past life that was seemingly lost to me. I am not a very social beast, I'm not timid, but rather a typical INTJ personality type and finding this online community opened the door to a new world and a fabulous new phase of my life. I discovered that there is a whole world of people out there who like me, love the smell of av gas in the morning and who's heads swivel at the sound of an unexpected plane overhead. Since joining AFF, I have taken my kids, one at a time, on their own special adventures, we've had family holidays and I've managed to leave them all at home for a few short days several times. Even 'why fly direct when you can connect' was a revelation to me and made my desire to spend more time on planes feel less odd. I am on AFF every day and would be lost without it, my friends live here. Yes, I have real world friends, but on here I don't have to explain myself or justify that I would prefer to fly than replace my old TV. Thanks, in great part, to the regular posters on here, since joining 3 years ago I have been to Bali twice, Japan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, New Zealand, Broome, Perth, Canberra plus Melbourne and Brisbane several times. Next year we have a second family trip to NZ and another mum/son adventure to Yunnan China. I would love to attend an AFF get together, I will have to get past my nervousness about meeting face to face to do this. Thank you all, my friends. And p.s. I was quite affected when Markis left, losing him from my online life was really disappointing. And p.s.s. My family is now happily on board with my passion, hubby loves the benefits of travel and having a happy wife and I am breeding a new generation of AFFers in my children.

 

[Jobu]

I do miss bossreggie , markis10 and nycguy who were on this forum a while ago.
It is lovely to have serfty on board as he works flying to the max.

Why did Bossreggie and nycguy leave? I enjoyed their posts.

For those who remember BR. He always referred to his homeland as "shebangabang"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lx_kxp3R2oU