What you mention is something that will probably make its way onto MP in a matter of time; how long it will take, I have no idea. Some of the people who do what you describe have made it over to MP. I won't say FT is dead (or will be), because I know that's not true. However, I will say that FT needs to take a long, hard look at itself. While there is an undeniable difference in content as of this writing that gives FT a huge advantage, there is a huge culture difference that is in MP's advantage. Won't go into specifics, but I cannot begin to express what a breath of fresh air MP is.
Two forums? There are many more than two forums. FlyerTalk, SQTalk, AFF and those German ones that Randy mentioned are just a few. Competition hurts as often as it helps. What will be the benefit for us users of having to look in two places for the information? I agree that the interface of MP is slicker. And hopefully a year from now you won't be able to compare MP and FT because MP will have taken steps to differentiate itself to such and extent that it won't be in the same classification. But competition for the sake of competition is not helpful to those of us simply looking to share and attain information. At this point the only compelling thing that MP offers over FT for me is the interface. I don't find the community any more or less friendly that the folks I've been interacting with for years on FT.
There Can Be Only One. While there will be a few people who will willing post the same stuff using the same FT/MP handle on both sites for a period of time, at some point most people will settle in with either FTCoke or MPPepsi. It will be interesting how the market will break down, for right now, MP is nothing more than a spiffed-up clone of FT, complete with inane counting threads.
As mentioned before, Milepoint does not have the content (yet). Thus, it's not a 'spiffed-up clone.' There's a big difference in the approach between the two sites. Read the entire thread and you'll see what I mean.
One thing I've noticed, and not to the betterment of MP, is the little petty grievances that are all too common over there, starting to arise here on MP. The "fun" part of MP was to be apart of something new. To share, chat, enjoy traveling and other stuff with sort of like minded folks. No cliques and no flaming. I'm starting to see that here and to me, that is not a good sign . I hope I am wrong and those posts are the outliers rather than part of the normal distribution. Cheers -
Yet another flying forum here. I dunno I do get used to FT but I am trying to see if MilePoint will become a good alternative. I also used AFF regularly given where I am residing.
MP needs to create a new culture where certain behaviours are not accepted. The trick is how to achieve this.
Look, I like the idea of Randy being able to earn and spend the same penny twice. It would be amusing if the current owners of FT were left with nothing after every FTer became an MPtonian. Alas, I believe the window of opportunity Randy has to pull this off is very small. MP needs to become the tool of choice rapidly or it will fade into oblivion in three months. Gotta run...my Friendster and Orkut accounts need tending!
It certainly has a hard hill to climb (pushing jello all the way) but I think it has longer than 3 months to get there & it only needs to become A tool of choice ... not THE tool of choice
+1 I've been saying all along, the potential pool of interested people is huge, many millions of active fliers. The two sites don't have to fight over the same 300k members. Both can thrive, and it's best if they develop unique personalities.
Now i have made into "Original Member", I do feel more "special" here than FT. Maybe I should just hang around here more often! Of course, I will still go to AFF for Aussie specific items.
I think people are very impatient when it comes to the establishment of MP. MP is only eight weeks old. It is slowly building an identity. Brand definition takes time and it certainly does not come about with comparing itself to another site. Let's build content. Let's create good helping relationships. Let's develop a culture of respect for diversity of opinion and experience. Let's create a reputation for being a site that enhances our travel exerience. Let us build all this; and they will come !
Actually, there was one very famous case where it came about in an exceptional manner. Avis started the "We're Number 2 -- We Try Harder", supposedly as an attack on Hertz. Hertz responded with a number of ads specifically aimed at Avis. Blood enemies, right? Sort of like the Yankees and the BoSox or 'Bama and Auburn? Wrong. Both companies shared the same advertising company and were not trying to get each other's market share. Avis, you see, was really Number 3 when the campaign began. National was Number 2. Avis and Hertz, however, drilled it into the public's mind that the only choice was between Number 2 which tries harder and Number 1, whose very success was proof of how good it is. Customer after customer decided which of the two he preferred and poor National was forgotten about and soon became a very distant # 3. That is what A&H wanted -- to split National's customers between the two of them, not to go after each other's business.
I remember that one and a few others. That said, most of the other cases do not involve a startup challenging established players. Hyundai is one such case, and there are lots of others. Initial criticism tends to focus on the poor quality (in MP case, lack of content) but a good ownership experience helps correct the initial deficiencies. We are getting content quickly IMO, we have been post-beta less than a month. In the meantime we are having fun while building content too. I have no problem with that.
