This is overdue, but it’s time to update the commenting guidelines here at OMAAT. It has been over five years since I’ve updated the rules, and a lot has changed during that time. Let me explain what my goal is with the OMAAT comments section, the basic rules that I ask people to follow, how I go about moderating the comments section, and more.
If you’re looking for the TL;DR version, I’ll give it to you upfront — just use common sense, be kind to others, and discuss the topic at hand, rather than hurling insults at others.
In this post:
My goal with the OMAAT comments section
I’m always impressed by the great insights of OMAAT readers, and lots of people tell me that a large part of what they like about the site is reading the comments section. That’s something that I love, and am incredibly grateful for. I truly believe that collectively, OMAAT readers know just about everything about the industry, and I learn a lot from the comments of others.
However, I think we can all agree that maintaining a respectful dialogue on the internet is harder than ever before, given how polarizing so many topics are.
I’d like OMAAT to be a place where people can engage in constructive and friendly dialogues. However, I also recognize that I need to be more conscientious of the environment I’m creating.
So many sites have either gone in the direction of completely eliminating comments, or otherwise having no moderation whatsoever. I think it’s important to strike a balance here, creating an environment in which people feel comfortable sharing their takes on situations, without fear of being attacked.
Let me also say that I’m not a free speech absolutist. I of course believe that people should be able to share their sincerely held beliefs (including criticizing me and others, respectfully). However, if you’re exclusively here to be negative and criticize others, then I don’t think that contributes positively to the site.
OMAAT comments section rules & guidelines
Fundamentally, what I ask is that people commenting here try to be polite and kind, while also adding value. I know there are a lot of people online who abuse anonymity. I encourage people to comment in a way where they’d be proud if their name were associated with what they write. Everyone should feel comfortable commenting here, without being harassed or bullied.
With that in mind, here are some of the OMAAT commenting rules and guidelines I’ve established, that I ask people to adhere to:
- Please don’t be harassing, threatening, antagonistic, hurtful, or overly-personal, whether it’s about a fellow commenter, or even a public figure
- Please refrain from using profanity or other obscene language
- Please avoid intolerant, racist, homophobic, sexist, or generally derogatory language toward any individual or group
- Please don’t copy or imitate the usernames of others, regardless of how annoying you may find them to be
- Please don’t spam the site or comment in a way that’s solely self promotional; you’re absolutely welcome to leave a link to a relevant topic from an outside site (including your own), but make sure it’s relevant to the post
- Please don’t beat a dead horse, and keep repeating yourself across many posts; by all means make your point, but we don’t need commenters copy and pasting the same point on every post about a particular topic
Let me say that I truly welcome constructive criticism, so you’re more than welcome to leave that on this site. All I ask is that it’s done in a respectful and constructive way. If you’re someone who has commented here 20 times, and every single comment has been negative and rude, then I think this probably isn’t the right site for you. 😉
If you’re going to disagree with others, please do so in a constructive way. Do you have a strong disagreement with another commenter? Please stick to addressing the points they make, rather than making it personal.
I also need to acknowledge that politics is incredibly polarizing nowadays. Ultimately travel and politics are connected, since political decisions do impact travel. So it wouldn’t be reasonable to ask people to completely not comment about politics.
You’re welcome to leave a relevant comment that involves politics, but please stick to the topic, rather than the people. There’s a difference between criticizing a specific policy or even politician, and criticizing anyone who belongs to a particular political party, or supports a certain politician.
OMAAT comments section moderation practices
What are the moderation practices like at OMAAT? There are a few ways that comments may get flagged, not immediately publish, or be taken down — there’s an element of automation, there’s a reporting system, and then there’s me using my discretion. Let me explain those in a bit more detail.
From a technical perspective, there are a few situations where your comment might not post right away (so please be patient, as most end up getting approved):
- If you’re commenting for the first time (this includes from a new email or IP address)
- If your comment includes links of any sort (this is to protect from spam)
- If your comment contains words on the blog’s filter list (this includes an assortment of profanity and other spam-triggered words)
Next, if you see a comment that you think crosses the line, just click the “Report” button underneath it. You’ll be asked why you’re reporting the comment, and then I can take a look. Please don’t engage negatively with someone being a jerk, perhaps other than reminding them that they’re violating the rules on commenting.
Lastly, I of course also monitor comments, and may take action based on that. Look, I’m grateful to everyone who reads, and it brings me no joy to ban people or moderate comments. When comments cross the line and break the rules, you might see me responding to those comments and asking people to please change their behavior going forward. After all, I want people to enjoy engaging, and I know that some people can evolve.
Across the board, please be patient when it comes to comment moderation. I’m not online 24/7 to moderate comments, so it can take some time to get to them. For that matter, while I’ll put more effort into enforcing these rules going forward, this isn’t how I’d like to spend a significant amount of time, ideally (though I will if I have to).
OMAAT comments section elite status
While not specifically related to rules on commenting, I do want to briefly address the Gold and Diamond status that some users have next to their usernames when commenting. Anyone who registers for an account is eligible for this, and it’s based on how many points you accrue. How do you earn points?
- You earn points with each comment
- You earn points for each person who marks a comment you made as helpful
- You earn points for each comment of someone else that you mark as helpful
I’m sure people can appreciate the intent behind this — the more you comment, the more other people find your comments helpful, and the more you find other peoples’ comments helpful, the overall friendlier the community it is. At least that’s the goal. I’m working on some actual benefits to elite status beyond just bragging rights, but for now, hopefully that’s at least a simple explanation, for those who are curious.
Bottom line
I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who chooses to read and comment here at OMAAT, as comments are an integral part of this community. I’m lucky that blogging is my full-time job, and I wake up every day excited for “work.”
Given how dialogue on the internet has evolved over the years, I think it’s important to introduce some updated guidelines, in hopes of creating as pleasant of an environment as possible. Basically just be nice and constructive, and everything will be good.
If you notice someone behaving poorly in the comments section, please don’t stoop to their level, but either report it, or remind them of the rules. I really don’t want to be micro-managing comments, but I also promise I’ll do what I have to in order to ensure this is a friendly place for all.
Thanks so much for reading, and I’m always open to feedback!
great post.. thanks
Ben/ Lucky
Is there an incentive for frequent commenters to rack up lots of points?
Maybe coordinate schedules with the Master Reviewer in Chief and fly a really cool route together?
Some private tricks of the trade lessons that you might not be posting publicly?
reminder, there are no bad ideas in a brainstorm :) :) :)
I had always dreamed of visiting Egypt, but when a flight mix-up landed me in Tel Aviv instead of Cairo, I decided to make the best of it. After all, Israel and Egypt both start with "E," so how different could it be? I wandered around Tel Aviv’s Carmel Market, buying spices I couldn’t pronounce and pretending I was deep into the culture of the Middle East. A quick detour to the Dead Sea had...
I had always dreamed of visiting Egypt, but when a flight mix-up landed me in Tel Aviv instead of Cairo, I decided to make the best of it. After all, Israel and Egypt both start with "E," so how different could it be? I wandered around Tel Aviv’s Carmel Market, buying spices I couldn’t pronounce and pretending I was deep into the culture of the Middle East. A quick detour to the Dead Sea had me floating effortlessly like an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, though I mostly just worried about getting salt out of my hair. Eventually, I made it to Cairo, where I took the obligatory photo in front of the pyramids, rode a camel that was far less graceful than I’d imagined, and realized that the real adventure wasn’t in the ancient wonders themselves, but in the unexpected journey that got me there — from one "E" to the next.
How does Israel start with 'E'? That was a pretty mixed-up flight, yes?
In summary just be kind.
A few thoughts.
1. If you do not want politics discuss which I can understand and respect then I suggest you not post news or articles that are political in nature even if it is travel related. (e.g. Flights to/from certain countries)
2. If we are an registered member and earn points, what benefits can we do with those points? As a loyalty blog, if we could convert them to certain hotels or...
A few thoughts.
1. If you do not want politics discuss which I can understand and respect then I suggest you not post news or articles that are political in nature even if it is travel related. (e.g. Flights to/from certain countries)
2. If we are an registered member and earn points, what benefits can we do with those points? As a loyalty blog, if we could convert them to certain hotels or airlines or have some redemptions, it would bake sense and encourage more people to register.
3. I think the reason some websites stopped their comments sections is the effort it takes to manage versus the possible outcomes.
4. I agree if there was a way to edit comments it would be useful and that comments that are the same but have been posted many times because the system does not realize they are the same is also an issue.
"Flights to/from certain countries" are NOT political unless the reader with a specific bias makes them political for himself. Yes, authors can steer away from making politically charged comments, but simply visiting certain countries really takes a lot of imagination, free time, and unhappiness to interpret as political. If one is this unhappy with his life, then stepping away from social media and cable news for a few months probably helps a lot.
Ben, and anyone that has read this or any blog for any length of time, knows that news about certain countries elicits a very strong political reaction. Discussing aviation news about those countries should not become a platform for any number of political or related views.
Ben hasn't said as much about how we will change how he writes stories but he has clearly thought about what topics and statements result in the back...
Ben, and anyone that has read this or any blog for any length of time, knows that news about certain countries elicits a very strong political reaction. Discussing aviation news about those countries should not become a platform for any number of political or related views.
Ben hasn't said as much about how we will change how he writes stories but he has clearly thought about what topics and statements result in the back and forth that some people find very objectionable.
As readers, we have a responsibility to put a lid on some topics and facts, as real as they may be, while Ben undoubtedly recognizes that the way he presents some topics has to change if he wants to keep the comments section from deteriorating into a madhouse.
If OMAAT succeeds, and I believe it won't take terribly long to change the climate, Ben will have succeeded in doing what few other sites have been willing to try, let alone succeed in accomplishing.
Good. Now make it last. I suspect it won't.
I like the 'Helpful' button. Have you considered switching to an upvote/downvote system, akin to reddit? An 'Unhelpful' button is useful, where (ideally) one downvotes a comment not because they disagree with it but because it doesn't contribute to the discussion, allowing the chat threads to be filtered accordingly.
Is there a way to fix the issue where not all comments and responses are displayed the same when sorted by most recent vs oldest first?
@Ben are you able to add an edit section for those who need to edit a typo or want to add more information instead of having to write another post?
Ben ; I don’t think I should be kicked off the island . I am a member of the American Airlines fandom. I’ve been less obnoxious . 1 out of 10 of my comments are helpful. People just ignore me most of time. I love recommendations from other commenters on here when I have an upcoming trip. Next up is Seoul later this month. I proactively try to avoid politics. Thanks . I frequent this blog several times daily.
You are a communist.
Censoring freedom of speech.
Updating your silly rules.
2025 is the year I quit reading all travel blogs.
Bye Felicia!! *rolls eyes*
P/S some EX-readers like myself, now travel and fly more than some of u so called “travel bloggers”!!
Unlike the airports you say you frequent, this comments section does not necessitate departure announcements...
You also have no freedom of speech on a private website. This isn’t a public high school or town meeting.
Bye!
Look at you using all those words you don't actually understand.
Freedom of speech generally applies to non-threatening statements against the government. Meaning you can't be prosecuted and persecuted for that. In a private sphere, let alone a blog, there is no such thing just like there isn't any at your workplace. Call a customer names and you'll be fired. Actions have consequences. I'm not a fan of blog micromanaging reader comments but people go over the line frequently, it takes a huge amount of time...
Freedom of speech generally applies to non-threatening statements against the government. Meaning you can't be prosecuted and persecuted for that. In a private sphere, let alone a blog, there is no such thing just like there isn't any at your workplace. Call a customer names and you'll be fired. Actions have consequences. I'm not a fan of blog micromanaging reader comments but people go over the line frequently, it takes a huge amount of time and effort to moderate and some blogs like TPG already shut off their comment section years ago.
Nothing important to say; I'm just contributing to get another point. It's like "Everytime I get a point, an Angel gets its wings!"
Echoing what others have said that is one of the reasons I love OMAAT is the community and the ability to (healthily) engage with said community. Thanks for building it Ben and continuing to facilitate it.
A suggestion I have is to add the ability to delete or even edit comments. I think some people who post a negative comment post in the heat of the moment when they are worked up and upon...
Echoing what others have said that is one of the reasons I love OMAAT is the community and the ability to (healthily) engage with said community. Thanks for building it Ben and continuing to facilitate it.
A suggestion I have is to add the ability to delete or even edit comments. I think some people who post a negative comment post in the heat of the moment when they are worked up and upon further reflection maybe regret it but can’t delete it and that’s when people see it and are drawn into a tit for tat.
Thanks for all you do, Ben. Just chiming in as one of the many daily readers who never comment. This is the only blog I come to daily and have for years, and will as long as you keep writing!
This also seems positive to me, Ben.
Looking forward to another good year of dialogue, Ben!
This is literally the only website in which I participate in a comments section, mostly because it is a relatively civil and respectful place. Even though, I'm still mostly a lurker not a poster.
Thanks Ben for still offering a comments section, it is a feature that sets you apart.
Ben, do you really get a lot of comments that need to be moderated/deleted? Compared to some other websites, where the comments section is like the Wild West, OMAAT has always been, for me, a place where civility and reasonableness live happily. Sure, sometimes there's a bit of snark in a comment, but it's usually mild and often understandable. Have you been moderating so well for so long that we have actually been protected from the "noise"?
“Guilty as charged m’Lord”
Yes, I will freely admit to being provoked into responding to what I consider to be the gross ignorance of some who post herein.
I have retaliated in kind to some very infantile comments aimed in my direction.
That said, some time ago I came to the conclusion that those people, (probably one and the same with multiple logins) are unworthy of my attention, therefore, I have resisted...
“Guilty as charged m’Lord”
Yes, I will freely admit to being provoked into responding to what I consider to be the gross ignorance of some who post herein.
I have retaliated in kind to some very infantile comments aimed in my direction.
That said, some time ago I came to the conclusion that those people, (probably one and the same with multiple logins) are unworthy of my attention, therefore, I have resisted the temptation to respond directly to their gross ignorance.
No names, no pack drill, some will know only too well to whom I refer.
crazy to think that the last rules were created 5 years ago
Hi Ben, please let us know the difference between the Member and Guest status.
Members are people who register with the site; guests are any visitor posting a comment without having registered.
What are the odds that this becomes the most commented-on post for 2025?
Okay, I’ll take the computer away from Momma Dunn! She had a great run! Cheers to a New Year Ben!
Thanks Lucky. As a proud Diamond commentator, I hope you don't move to a revenue-based loyalty system. ;)
THANK YOU ! I have enjoyed OMAAT for a number of years and have, at times, been really surprised at some on the vitriol and unnecessary injection of political views that seem to be occurring more frequently. This is (supposed to be....) a travel related forum. Not an opportunity to be little, mock or condemn others. All Ben points out, we are all bringing a tremendous amount of travel and life experience to this community....
THANK YOU ! I have enjoyed OMAAT for a number of years and have, at times, been really surprised at some on the vitriol and unnecessary injection of political views that seem to be occurring more frequently. This is (supposed to be....) a travel related forum. Not an opportunity to be little, mock or condemn others. All Ben points out, we are all bringing a tremendous amount of travel and life experience to this community. Let's remember who we are and respect our fellow members and guests.
Will a certain user be banned if he continues to do these two items?
1. Please don’t be harassing, threatening, antagonistic, hurtful, or overly-personal, whether it’s about a fellow commenter, or even a public figure
2. Please don’t beat a dead horse, and keep repeating yourself across many posts; by all means make your point, but we don’t need commenters copy and pasting the same point on every post about a particular topic
the number...
Will a certain user be banned if he continues to do these two items?
1. Please don’t be harassing, threatening, antagonistic, hurtful, or overly-personal, whether it’s about a fellow commenter, or even a public figure
2. Please don’t beat a dead horse, and keep repeating yourself across many posts; by all means make your point, but we don’t need commenters copy and pasting the same point on every post about a particular topic
the number of times a certain user has harassed others for using a "fake name" when he uses one himself or just goes VERY personal quickly...
To say nothing of repeating the same talking points on every post on anything even somewhat related to Delta...
"you do realize"
Ben provided no guidance whether someone uses their real name or any part of it or a made-up username.
It should be clear that Ben is promoting the principle of discussing the topic and not other users including whether their names are related to something on their birth certificate or not. It isn't your job or anyone else's to make the determination or extrapolate anything else to a username other than what they have...
Ben provided no guidance whether someone uses their real name or any part of it or a made-up username.
It should be clear that Ben is promoting the principle of discussing the topic and not other users including whether their names are related to something on their birth certificate or not. It isn't your job or anyone else's to make the determination or extrapolate anything else to a username other than what they have shared on this site.
Ben has not said that facts are no longer welcome, even if someone else doesn't like them. He did wisely say that there is no reason for endless arguments.
Current facts and data that are related to the topic are appropriate to present. Once per each article where they are relevant. If someone doesn't like verifiable, published facts, arguing doesn't make those facts go away and only delays an end to the conversation.
Glad you can identify when a comment is about you since you know your own flaws.
I'm not interested in a 30 reply comment on a topic about commenting but I'll simply leave you with your own words, Tim:
"all of social media exists because people live it or at least love to push extremes that they would never live in in real life."
--Tim Dunn
Let's hope you don't continue your...
Glad you can identify when a comment is about you since you know your own flaws.
I'm not interested in a 30 reply comment on a topic about commenting but I'll simply leave you with your own words, Tim:
"all of social media exists because people live it or at least love to push extremes that they would never live in in real life."
--Tim Dunn
Let's hope you don't continue your own self-admitted internet trolling to feed your own ego in 2025.
"I am still rooting for Ben to win the internet for 2024 but a return - or perhaps first time arrival at some objective rationality and willingness to accept it - would be a wonderful place to end 2024 and begin 2025."
--Tim Dunn
And let's also hope that you can stop trashing Ben when and refuse to allow other opinions about your favorite airline. This attack on Ben was pretty mild compared to some of your other trashing of him on opinion pieces about Delta or United's relative performance.
https://onemileatatime.com/news/united-los-angeles-beijing-flights/
Link to your own words. Do better, Tim.
I'm sure I've had my failings in replies to you, but I'm certainly not a choir of one wanting you banned or heavily moderated.
Ben made his principles clear and he will make the decisions.
Some people will struggle that their past behavior and comments are no longer acceptable while others will thrive.
Anyone that focuses on the topic instead of other users and accepts that facts supersede opinions on the same topic should have no problem.
a good summary of Ben's principles MIGHT INCLUDE to "take the log out of your own eye before trying to remove the speck from someone else's"
you just can't help yourself.
Only one of us has been banned from websites and threatened many times with a ban from others.
Give yourself a 2025 goal of less trolling.
Enjoy your day.
Ben devised his guidance and requirements based on feedback from ALL of his readers. He is not interested in silencing any voices, facts or opinions.
He decides what happens on this site. Period.
Some people won't make it on OMAAT under this new and needed format.
Do what's necessary to make sure you remain .
The complete and utter lack of self awareness it must take to say that since Ben has actually mentioned banning you specifically.
Be less of a troll. Stop attacking writers like Ben when you disagree about their opinions.
You are not the owner of facts. You are the owner of your own opinions, nothing more.
Stick to facts, not your opinions stated as facts.
State opinions as such.
Stop attacking...
The complete and utter lack of self awareness it must take to say that since Ben has actually mentioned banning you specifically.
Be less of a troll. Stop attacking writers like Ben when you disagree about their opinions.
You are not the owner of facts. You are the owner of your own opinions, nothing more.
Stick to facts, not your opinions stated as facts.
State opinions as such.
Stop attacking other users for their “names” when you use a fake name.
And stop attacking EVERYTHING everyone says when they don’t like delta as much as you.
And maybe you’ll survive 2025, not banned from yet another website.
You were already threatened with a ban on this website in 2024.
Happy 2025
What a waste of a comment section… but hardly a surprise
quit worrying about what other people do and make your own contributions and you will do just fine.
You don't get to make up your own "facts" about anyone. Ben isn't even giving you the bandwidth to air your own opinions about other users.
It's pretty simple. Interact with ideas and leave your opinions and "facts" about other users somewhere else.
Ben is a big boy. He can stand up for himself. always has...
quit worrying about what other people do and make your own contributions and you will do just fine.
You don't get to make up your own "facts" about anyone. Ben isn't even giving you the bandwidth to air your own opinions about other users.
It's pretty simple. Interact with ideas and leave your opinions and "facts" about other users somewhere else.
Ben is a big boy. He can stand up for himself. always has been able to and always will be.
It's his website and he could have cut it all off a long time ago if that is what he wanted.
Ben wants civility and order, not a wasteland where a few people control the narrative to the exclusion of every other user and idea.
Published, verifiable facts including from the federal government are not anyone's to control. Or deny.
You have made it abundantly clear that YOU want to be the arbiter of participation on the internet - and Ben has made it clear that he will make the decisions, as he has the right to do.
I will do just fine. I would very much like to see you here with me at the end of Dec and beyond - but nobody should expect to get a pass.
You need to do something about the filter, it gets triggered by random things and ends up disappearing long comments.
+1.
no, +10!
This is the correct form of moderation. Keep the vibes good. Internet would be a much better place if websites or social media would just push back on people being assholes or creepy.
How can I stay logged in? I end up commenting without logging in most of the time because every time I visit this site I must go thru the process of logging in again, which I often don’t bother with.
I have similar problem, altho' it falls short of "every time".
I get logged out of the Comments (on my PC or IPhone) about once a week, dunno why. The rest of the time it stays logged in fine and I comment as a Member.
I do as well, and thought that was odd. I make a point every day of checking my "status" and logging back in if needed.
Before you put your username and password in the login section tick the “remember me” box this should keep you logged in for a few weeks.
I also have this problem - love reading the blog, but get logged out all the time, so rarely go through the hassle of logging in to comment
I think the 'keep me logged in' button only keeps the login cookies alive for 2 weeks. I'm trying an experiment where I manually edited the cookie expiration in Chrome's developer tools interface, to see whether that keeps me logged in forever or whether the server will override it at some point.
Guys, can we STOP and acknowledge that everyone here is aware of the "keep me logged in" checkbox? Or did I need to say "AND I am aware of the checkbox AND I used it with each login AND nevertheless I get logged out"?
Hit 'n run messages telling us the checkbox exists are simply irritating. Sorry, but I'm confident I'm in the majority in this view.
I am well aware of the checkbox. The issue is much of the time checking it doesn’t yield the correct result and I still get logged out.
Hi Ben - thank you for updating the rules, and also thank you for continuing the comment feature of this site.
In transparency, I haven’t been to TPG a single time since they disabled the comments, and since VFTW confuses toxic comments with engagement, I’ve steered clear of that site as well. I think you generally have a good balance here, but agreed minor improvements in decorum would be good.
Anyhow, thank you again! Great job!
Kudos and the biggest high five to you, Ben.
I can feel cooler breezes blowing already
Check your zippers. Happens to the best of us. :P
Will you ever allow commenters to block other commenters who say the same thing over and over, or constantly harass others? That would go a long way in keeping the peace.
Concur with this, but I don't think that's possible with the current system. (Maybe Disqus allows that?)
I’m still waiting for the first airline / brand to offer a status match directly from OMAAT status.
I hope the guys from StatusMatch.com are listening…
Ben, thanks for your thoughtfulness and engagement on this issue. Let's hope your updated policy succeeds. OMAAT's comments are a key reason that I follow you. Some commenters provide very useful information and insights that I value.
We really need to stop abusive and repetitive comments (e.g. Tim Dunn imitators). Trash like this is the reason I've given up reading the comments on Gary's site.
These rules sound quite reasonable to me.
As others have noted, even though the comments section can get a bit derailed and annoying at times, the overall vibe on this blog is very positive. Every time I find myself on FlyerTalk I'm forcefully reminded of this...
Name violation
A Happy New Year and thank you Ben for all the great content. OMAAT has been a great resource and inspiration. It allowed to to have memorable travel experiences that I otherwise would not have been aware about or would not have been able to afford paying cash.
I hope the comment section will be available for years to come. I found many, many useful information from other readers in the comment section and usually simply overlook the distracting ones.
Love it.
Way back when your the OMAAT website was last upgraded with the then-new comment section, I recall there was mention (and some support for) up-voting/down-voting. The helpful tag is sort-of an upvote, but I would like to see some form of an "unhelpful" tag for those comments that detract from the flow of comments. Perhaps some amount of peer pressure might discourage those commenters
Cool member name!
Agree with that idea! There are many occasions where you may agree/disagree with a comment but do not feel the need to do a Reply which maybe won't add anything new to the original comment.
Ben, just wanted to say thanks for everything you do here. I love the balance you achieve between credit cards, reviews, avgeekery, and editorial. It makes OMAAT my favorite read. And I also have to commend you on your editorial takes being extremely level-headed and reasonable, while consistently showing empathy for all. Kudos!
I would be enthralled if you censored/blocked those who continually condescendingly refer to you as a "self-anointed travel guru".
I'm more entralled when such people learn what we all think of them. And it's nice for Ben to see his army of loyal reasonables take out the trash.
Are you sure they're referring to Ben? I assumed that specific term was in reference to another travel blogger with a less than stellar reputation.
@Dunningham- pretty confident the reference is to several bloggers- inclusive of Ben- because the love for Hyatt across the board in these blogs massively exceeds the love for Hilton. Which frustrates said commenter to no end.
@DenB: said commenter has never taken/will never take the hint.
Said commenter has taken the hint long ago. His view is largely unorthodox (he does make a reasonable point that Hilton is underrated) but he is neither stupid nor self-unaware. He continues to comment on this site because he cannot find a woman.
He also likes the sound of his own voice. Which explains the long diatribes every post of his goes on about Hilton when most people are indifferent to the program's existence.
Name violation
A reasonable, nuanced policy presented in a reasonable, easy-to-understand manner? I disagree! Totally unacceptable!!
Kidding aside, thanks for making this post. I guess this is as good a time as any to promote myself from “guest” to “member”. Happy New Year, Ben!
The OMAAT comment sections have been a mess, to put lightly. I'm mostly appreciating this update and looking forward for a strict enforcement of this guideline.
By the way, happy (late) new year everyone.
This will probably be an unpopular take, but I do wish you’d make registration required to leave a comment. It would cut down on [most] of the impersonation and other needless fluff comments. Generally speaking, I despise when a site makes you register to use even the most basic features, but I feel in this case it’s warranted.
Let me be the first to disagree, with genuine respect. I don't blame you or disrespect you for this opinion, but I'm inclined to advocate strongly against it. Let's get rid of the dirty bathwater, but keep the baby.
Ben's business would suffer badly if the Comments became thinner, fewer, or harder to join as a newb, so adding friction for newbs is an extreme idea that I expect he'd avoid, if at all possible.
...Let me be the first to disagree, with genuine respect. I don't blame you or disrespect you for this opinion, but I'm inclined to advocate strongly against it. Let's get rid of the dirty bathwater, but keep the baby.
Ben's business would suffer badly if the Comments became thinner, fewer, or harder to join as a newb, so adding friction for newbs is an extreme idea that I expect he'd avoid, if at all possible.
How bad is the "problem"? My observation is that I am thoroughly put off by about 10% of the Comments, mildly irritated by another 10%, while I highly value about 5% (by "value" I mean I learn something I will definitely apply) and the rest varies from amusing to inane chatter. The time I spend wading through the muck to get to the nuggets is worth it, in my opinion. Even reading the amusing chatter is sometimes worth it; there's wit herein.
I think it's important to welcome new people into this "world" of points/miles. Adding gates and ID requirements would be a big change, likely creating new problems, while shockingly not solving the old one(s).
@DenB, respectful disagreement accepted! I can absolutely see both sides of the coin. It would arguably be a negative for both our sake as readers and Ben’s if engagement dwindled as a result of gatekeeping. I would say that the majority of what I learn in the comments is from members. I think perhaps the comments are difficult for me to sift through as I am almost always on my iPad and the comment section...
@DenB, respectful disagreement accepted! I can absolutely see both sides of the coin. It would arguably be a negative for both our sake as readers and Ben’s if engagement dwindled as a result of gatekeeping. I would say that the majority of what I learn in the comments is from members. I think perhaps the comments are difficult for me to sift through as I am almost always on my iPad and the comment section is, unpleasant to sort through on iPad in general by way of its design.
To the honorable Mr. Dunningham’s point, signing up for an account here is one of the least cumbersome processes anywhere. It consistently surprises me that certain commenters, or at least their “names” leave a message [of varying quality and usefulness] on seemingly every post yet can’t be bothered to make an account.
Agreed, Timtamtrak.
Registering for an account on OMAAT is literally your email address and a profile name... not exactly the most cumbersome task on the planet.
I disagree with DenB that it would add friction or reduce the number of comments -- a lot of regulars post here under guest accounts but I'm sure that's more due to laziness (RSS reader apps make cookies difficult) than a desire to avoid creating an account. Certainly...
Agreed, Timtamtrak.
Registering for an account on OMAAT is literally your email address and a profile name... not exactly the most cumbersome task on the planet.
I disagree with DenB that it would add friction or reduce the number of comments -- a lot of regulars post here under guest accounts but I'm sure that's more due to laziness (RSS reader apps make cookies difficult) than a desire to avoid creating an account. Certainly that's the case with me -- my desktop is logged in to my account at all times, but I hardly ever access OMAAT via my phone on a regular browser because of all the clutter.
I can see the benefit of allowing guest comments. In the beginning, I started commenting as a guest and only registered after the first few comments. With mandatory registration, I wouldn't have started.
Now I'm for sure no "poweruser" and no expert with valuable contributions, but I think some of them might be discouraged from contributing just like it would've been with me.
Thanks for mentioning cookies @Timothy-Dunningham. It reminds me that I have a lot of forced logouts. Your assertion that your desktop is "logged in at all times" triggered my FOMO. Dunno if it's my adblocker, without which OMAAT page loads are so slow my Chrome browser augers in and can't even be closed.
I suppose I see "Login/Logout as something more onerous than some others do.
If I could have just one thing change here,...
Thanks for mentioning cookies @Timothy-Dunningham. It reminds me that I have a lot of forced logouts. Your assertion that your desktop is "logged in at all times" triggered my FOMO. Dunno if it's my adblocker, without which OMAAT page loads are so slow my Chrome browser augers in and can't even be closed.
I suppose I see "Login/Logout as something more onerous than some others do.
If I could have just one thing change here, it'd be an Edit function. No control freak wants to be associated with spelling errors.
@DenB - Amen to taht
@DenB, an edit button sounds decent in theory, but I realized I’m okay with occasionally being labeled as a semi-literate buffoon making honest spelling or grammar mistakes. The benefit of no edit button is users cannot go back and retract their, uh, “facts” down the road.
Excellent post and excellent strategy!
in fairness, i was the original TD imitator. everyone else has been copying me. while flattery is the most sincere form of imitation, it's still annoying.
@ Dim Tunn -- Heh, at least you were the original! I hope you can continue to contribute under another username. :-)
@Ben if i legally change my name, can I keep commenting under DT?
@Ben,
Please Dim Tunn to keep his username.
You can regard it as grandfathering!
thank you Albert!!!
It's important to have rules in order to protect the quality of experience for everyone. That said, do you have a moderator or is this a one man show?
@ Matt H -- I'm going to do the bulk of the moderating for now, so that there's a consistent strategy. But let's see how it evolves.
"Please don’t copy or imitate the usernames of others, regardless of how annoying you may find them to be"
Yes, but a big question that I believe a lot of us have, is will that actually be ENFORCED now?
Because if we're being honest, so much of what's contributed to the negativity in the forum, are people who still think it's funny to come up with new Tim Dunn imitation profiles, then spam every thread with engagement bait.
@ ImmortalSynn -- That's one of the reasons that I added that commenting rule, as it wasn't there in the past. I agree with you, it definitely contributed to the issue. So yes, it will be enforced going forward.
My hope is that these new rules will help with some of the more notorious users we have. Hopefully by them not being imitated, there won't be quite as much back and forth, and personal attacks....
@ ImmortalSynn -- That's one of the reasons that I added that commenting rule, as it wasn't there in the past. I agree with you, it definitely contributed to the issue. So yes, it will be enforced going forward.
My hope is that these new rules will help with some of the more notorious users we have. Hopefully by them not being imitated, there won't be quite as much back and forth, and personal attacks. And I'll also be holding them to rules about personal attacks of others.
Nice! Thank you for hearing us, and taking action!
@Ben
Notorious users, sounds perfect.
Forget about Gold or Diamond.
You need to give these special ones the Notorious status.
Ben, there is popular demand to see a YouTube video of you singing “Notorious”. oliver2002 will then do his routine and come out to remind people what went on between United and you. :D
I appreciate your interest in "rolling your own" comments system, but given that several years on it remains not much better than a simple text system, you may wish to evaluate whether your (and Tiffany's?) efforts might be be better spent elsewhere.
There are so many third party comment systems that would be objectively better for users, more capable, and less work for you.
@ Never In Doubt -- I hear you, and honestly, I don't love the commenting system, and am adding finding a solution to my "list." To be perfectly honest, the challenge is that switching to any different platform when there are so many hundreds of thousands of comments, and nearly 17 years of history, isn't easy.
Thx for all the articles you’ve written through the years! I still read them but will admit don’t comment as much. You’re one of the best!
@ Joey -- Thanks for still reading, I really appreciate it, and hope all is well with you!
"I’m working on some actual benefits to elite status beyond just bragging rights..."
Most liked comments in a year get to go on a trip with you :)
Is there anyway to get an email notification when somebody replies to my comment on OMAAT?
Yeah, that's something I would like to see too. It has happened in the past that I commented, and only much later (because the article was updated) checked again to see a response.
It would be great to have similar options like other blogs, where you can choose to subscribe to answers on your own comment, or any comment for the post.
The first option (answers to my own comments) is something I...
Yeah, that's something I would like to see too. It has happened in the past that I commented, and only much later (because the article was updated) checked again to see a response.
It would be great to have similar options like other blogs, where you can choose to subscribe to answers on your own comment, or any comment for the post.
The first option (answers to my own comments) is something I always choose when possible, while the second option (any comment for the post) is sometimes useful if I'm very interested in that topic.
Would be really cool to see that here.
Exactly it leads to having a conversation over a few days after the post is published. My current system is awful I'll keep the tab open for a few hours after I post to engage with others if needed.
If that actually becomes a thing, I hope that would be an optional feature rather than being default.
@ Brian G. -- Unfortunately as of now there's no functionality like that, but I'll see what I can do.
I'm glad you're keeping comments open. That's part of the reason I quit visiting TPG (along with way fewer reviews on their site now).
A post this reasonable, patient and welcoming must have been written by Ben Schlappig. It's part of the special sauce that makes OMAAT successful and respected. I'm glad there's now a reference post to provide guidance when Comments decorum is discussed.
I don't like everything I encounter in the Comments, but broadly OMAAT's Comments section is a healthy environment with valuable content. Thanks to all who make it so.
@ DenB -- You're too kind, and thanks for being such a positive contributor!
As a daily reader, thank you for listening.
Thank you!! Long time reader and commenter. I've gotten so many useful tips from other commenters over the years, as many industry insiders and savvy users frequent this site as well. It's definitely become harder and harder to have these interactions as the comment section has become a place to just dump hatred, or for certain people to basically turn it into their own blog.
Really hoping that going forward, we can all be constructive...
Thank you!! Long time reader and commenter. I've gotten so many useful tips from other commenters over the years, as many industry insiders and savvy users frequent this site as well. It's definitely become harder and harder to have these interactions as the comment section has become a place to just dump hatred, or for certain people to basically turn it into their own blog.
Really hoping that going forward, we can all be constructive and helpful, and use the comment section to build on each other's knowledge relevant to the article at hand.
Thanks for everything you do, Ben. Unfortunate that you have to handle the nonsense you do, but kudos for handling with grace.
I will continue to be a frequent contributor to the comments.