How should AFF receive new poster "rants"......

[Pushka]

At the end of the day, that thread vindicated the OP’s original problem/rant did it not? Ok, he omitted a paragraph but that did not change the outcome did it? In fact it made Virgin look worse. They refused his claim about the error in payment taken yet he could prove the error.

As far as individuals being held responsible then my take was that people were holding Virgin and not individuals responsible but might have missed that.

 

[jb747]

Ah, rants, they always provide a fair bit of entertainment. Sometimes for the rant itself, but as often as not for the responses.

One thing that I’ve noticed is pretty common though, is that the initial post often leaves out a few facts. And a few regulars on here are pretty good at sniffing them out. Once the entire story is revealed...the OP disappears.

So, if you have a rant to post, by all means do so, but don’t edit it. Facts will speak for themselves, one way or another.

 

[Pushka]

Ah, rants, they always provide a fair bit of entertainment. Sometimes for the rant itself, but as often as not for the responses.

One thing that I’ve noticed is pretty common though, is that the initial post often leaves out a few facts. And a few regulars on here are pretty good at sniffing them out. Once the entire story is revealed...the OP disappears.

So, if you have a rant to post, by all means do so, but don’t edit it. Facts will speak for themselves, one way or another.

True. However in this case the OP was spot on with his issue. Even with the missing para.

 

[Denali]

Should AFF members agree....

You've met us before, right?

 

[Antoallison]

I will weigh in on this one and say that as a relative newbie (in relation to how many posts I have made), I was surprised by the tone of many of the posts in regards to the Virgin issue.

So apart from what was actually said in the replies to the guy with the refund problem, what predominately came across the me reading them was that this could be a somewhat hostile, rather than welcoming environment to pose a query in or vent about an issue with an airline.

I concede that the poster did not help matters by using an emotive tone by referring to Virgin ‘stealing’.

I guess its all about the first impression that AFF give to a first time poster ... the outcome should be that you want it to be welcoming and for the poster to return to the site.

 

[Dr Paris]

I haven’t disappeared

 

[fitzy]

I think we also need to be understanding that many people would use emotive language if $5k unexpectedly left their bank account with no notice or permission, and that the line between "stole" and "overcharged" is pretty slim at times!

 

[burmans]

Nothing was offered by the OP to substantiate this

Unfortunately I disagree with this, while he did mask some parts of the letter he also in posts 10 and 12 of that thread post screen images of what he was asked to pay upfront. He may not have posted his CC statements (would you?) but I see very litle evidence to suggest anything other than that Velocity took more money from the account than they are entitled to. What's your definition of theft?

While I agree that the use of the word "Theft" is emotive (I personally wouldnt have worded that way) and the OP did for reasons best known to himself obscure some of an email sent to him I see no reason to believe that the basic complaint (that Velocity massively overcharged) was not in fact true.

 

[opusman]

But it's just silly, bordering on a pack mentality, when the vilification continued after the Mia culpa and even into a new thread!!

The only vilification I saw was from people like you who didn't think the OP's rant against an airline should be in any way questioned. At no time was the OP actually attacked.

 

[Pushka]

The only vilification I saw was from people like you who didn't think the OP's rant against an airline should be in any way questioned. At no time was the OP actually attacked.

Funny how we have a different take on such discussions.

Any angst I saw came from those who were more concerned about the missing paragraph than the fact the OP could prove the funds had been withdrawn in error. I’d be pretty dirty about this transaction too.

 

[RooFlyer]

I haven’t disappeared

Good stuff!

Gosh, does that mean that certain posts on that aspect contain lies ?

Lets call them out !

 

[Kerrodt]

Dear me.....this thread has morphed into a thread about a thread.....Jerry Seinfeld couldn’t have come up with a better storyline than this in 180 episodes of television.

 

[jb747]

Sadly this seems to have morphed into a discussion about a particular post. The Virgin related one would have angered anyone...but many have been on somewhat thinner ice.

The forum is full of people who have a lot of knowledge on how to use the system to their best advantage, and also how to sort out issues. But, problems that could be described as "first world problems" tend to be given shorter shrift. Not unexpected really.

 

[dajop]

Well one thing, AFF is much better than FT. On Flyertalk there's a number off specific contributors that come across as either know-it-all, arrogant and/or defend the airline at all costs. I've seen a few in both QF and SQ forums over there - to the point where you just can't be bothered making any contributions unless to call out the know-it-alls. At least here the debate is, more substantive and questioning and helpful response more educational, rather than the shutting down people and "go back in your box" type attitude.

Having said that, unless it is obvious that the newbie is trolling or really embellishing their rant, it doesn't hurt to educate rather than attack (and try to avoid being patronising). That's the way I behave in the real world, that's the way I behave on the internet.

 

[Vic]

Hi all,
am not really sure how to frame this, but due to a recent thread, I was left wondering about a few issues.
Essentially, this is about how the general AFF community should respond to first-time posters "with a grudge".

IE someone new appears and posts what is usually known as a "rant" - airline "X" did YZ to them, etc. This is a common thing, and usually said new posters disappear within a few days - for whatever reasons.

I understand that many negative things affect travellers, and when fighting a huge company, the chance to let loose here is attractive.

But in this recent thread it was claimed that AFF as a whole is not welcoming to new people (a claim I totally reject).

There are many sides to this. My personal position is that each and every thread should stand on its own merits. But it appears many think that a new poster should not be questioned. As that may scare them away from AFF?

I may be wrong, but in all the myriad threads I have seen, there is no barrier to new members. The only barrier ever raised seems to be common sense.

If a new member just wants airtime to bag whatever airline , etc, and to not scare him off we must simply agree with whatever they post, this seems garbage to me. Waste of time all round.

Opinions?

My own experiences tend to support the claim you reject.

You are not forced to post in a thread. Therefore, I totally reject the suggestion that anyone must simply agree...

 

[RooFlyer]

Well one thing, AFF is much better than FT. On Flyertalk there's a number off specific contributors that come across as either know-it-all, arrogant and/or defend the airline at all costs.

That's for sure! I left FT long ago because of the constant overt hostility ( I'm a shrinking violet at heart ). Even on the Air Canada forum. Canadians are normally some of the most polite people in the world!

 

[Pushka]

Sadly this seems to have morphed into a discussion about a particular post. The Virgin related one would have angered anyone...but many have been on somewhat thinner ice.

The forum is full of people who have a lot of knowledge on how to use the system to their best advantage, and also how to sort out issues. But, problems that could be described as "first world problems" tend to be given shorter shrift. Not unexpected really.

I think it was always about a particular thread tbh.

 

[RooFlyer]

Yeah. That's why I suggested up thread that the 2 threads be merged

 

[juddles]

I think it was always about a particular thread tbh.

Pushka, NO! I did not mean it to be about that thread - it is just that thread is an excellent example.

A concern has been expressed that AFF as a community is not inviting to newbies, and that when someone's first (rant) post has details questioned, that this scares off potential new members.

I think AFF is a site where anyone who actually asks a question is absolutely showered with advice, tips, guidance, etc. People fall over themselves to help others, especially newbies.

But for those who's first contribution to the community is to post a rant thread, I do not believe that being a newbie means we all have to cheer and share in the rant.

(and without getting dragged back to the Virgin thread, please let me be clear that I am not suggesting the OP there was a "one rant wonder" - he followed up posts and didn't disappear - good on him!)

 

[Kerrodt]

All together now.....1.....2......3......