[Answered] Will MP become a clone of FT ?

To be honest, I am wondering if the idea was to build a preliminary framework with the forums in order to capture data during the beta phase. I would not be surprised if the result on 1 Mar was not different from the first iteration.

You could very well be right. The mission statement from Randy does say right in it that the entire site can morph quickly in the beginning moments of life.

We may be quite surprised at the result at the end of the beta phase. A lot of planning and discussion seems to be going on a recuring basis. The working out of the bugs on the technological side is quite evident but the website content is not as apparent. Perhaps shortly one or two forums will be morphed into a new format/entity/reality as a test forum.

One feature I'm enjoying that is unique here is the ability to import topics from Boarding Gate right into Newsstand. Much easier to scan the titles there than going to a different site each day to see what's new there.

The messaging feature ("conversations") is also quite easy to use, and your profile and photo pops up along with your message.

In general, I like the feel and look too. However, being sort of web purist (how I miss old good Netscape!) some of the "more modern" additions (eg pop up previews) annoy me a bit. But I am sure I will get used...

The site is in Beta mode. When I do a project around the house, and am about 20% into it, Mrs. gemac will walk by, look at it, and say "You aren't going to leave it that way, are you?" No, I'm not, and I'm betting Randy won't leave it like this either. We need to have patience with an unfinished work. Randy let us in at this stage to stress-test it and to help him to hone and refine it. Let's help him any way we can, and see what develops.

I think I'll check this out with Lynx tomorrow.

(I actually still do have access to a working Lynx)

I'm really impressed with what I see so far. And lots of exploring yet to do. Where other sites (and FT is but one of them) seem flat and stale, this seems alive. The calendar features I like a lot. Likewise the avatar and picture-signature abilities.

As a moderator on one (of many) private aviation forums, I've found that each can survive in it's own way, and develop it's own culture. It's always exciting to be part of the formation of that culture.

To success of Milepoint!

Randy and the tech team have already said some things will change - beta isn't exactly the final version of milepoint.

Could somebody point out, very succinctly, what the substantive differences are between MP and FT at stage? Apart from the technology and the airy-fairy "we will be friendlier" stuff. They look and sound pretty much alike to me at this stage. What will change that?

(This place is already like FT: despite pages of posts it's hard to find answers. )

Then we can expect housecleaning of threads ?

What did you have in mind?

Don't get me going about the stuff on omni threads.....

I thought all from YWG needed a good boost in the winter!

I joined up today following Gary publishing link on view from the wing, my top visited site behind FT.

So far I am very unsure. It appears an exact clone of FT. Randy I get the comparison of Expedia, Orbitz etc but not sure it's valid. And yes all forums have off topic areas but do they all even have the same name??? It just concerns me the structure is an EXACT copy

Now the one big difference I do see is the ability to like posts, and this I do NOT like. It's similar to the rep points I see on the City Data forums. What this leads to is gang/herd behavior where a few folks who post a lot with populist views end up looking like the rock-stars. So anyone going into AA or DL or UA forum and saying things that don't comply with the views of those who are 'liked' are left feeling very unwelcome indeed. I think you will find the post liking will not be compatible with the desire to be a more friendly place, particularly for newcomers.

In the spirit of constructive feedback I do like the Tripadvisor model of having "destination experts". These are people who volunteer to field newbie questions about a destination they are very familiar with. It's purely voluntary and self designated. I for one find it very helpful. Having an AA or DL or SPG set of "experts" would be a great way to truly start differentiating, rather than having the same forums but the ability for folks to "gang up" on popular viewpoints.

Although I haven't navigated through all of the forums, I like the look and feel of the new site. Look forward to participating in content building over the weekend in LA.

I will follow this with great interest over the first year or two. I'm hopeful that the temptation to create a whole lot of unnecessary rules and policies will be avoided (although people are *already* starting to talk that way with respect to handle changes, the off topic forum, and the "Like" feature and I hope RP is wise to let that talk go unanswered) and that the caste system of FT will not exist over here.

With rapid growth, it is unevitable that rules and regulations will be formulated. Otherwise you are inviting chaos to set in... that is the nature of the process....with growth comes structure.

And it's the "structure" that led to the problems (as I see them) over at FT. The fact that people couldn't get through the weekend without talking about rules and what should be "kept out" of MP tells me that some people, unfortunately, like it that way.

I hope RP resists this and does so as long as possible.

It is very difficult to give up habits, especially habits that give one a sense of power and entitlement, which serving as a moderator on FT most definitely did.

Going back to being an ordinary mortal after having experienced a sense of power, is probably as bad as being forced to go back and sit in coach after years of sitting in first.

So far, and it's a very short so far, the amount of endless bitching about things in the threads I've read or participated in has been minimal. When it has been a criticism, the current MPers seem to comment or answer with something positive, knowledgeable or humorous.

If it gets to the level and style that seems to permeate FT, I'd really like to see something along the lines of a TJB button (They're just bitching) and if a thread gets 10-15 TJBs it gets moved to the "We're Just Bitching" forum. Then everyone will know where to go when they just want to either bitch about something or at someone else.

(Please, please, please, PUHLEEZE don't take the 2nd paragraph of this post too seriously. )

But I think we should! I love the idea of a TJB button

BTW fully agree with your first comment also, plus I am seeing posters having fun and that is important at the launch here. Fun is as important as content right now and both are coming along nicely I think ... content will take time, we know that, but if we can have fun while doing content building, the why not!

Now about that TJB button

Hey. Take the idea and use it or let's pass it up the line. I hereby assign royalty-free usage rights specifically for use on www.milepoint.com but reserve all rights and copyrights for any other usage beyond that. [diver90 scurries away to file various copyright and patents.]

Either this is a marvelous use of sarcasm/irony, or someone needs to read posts 92 and 94, above.

Please read #96 to get a bit more color. I try to approach life armed with several funny bones and a couple of ironic ligaments.

And don't be plagiarizing my intellectual property now.