I do not agree with the removal.
Sorry but I do have a problem with the removal of the thread (the thread itself being immaterial to me). I think when you go through the posts on pprune, almost nothing meets up to any journalistic standard. And any news outlet quoting from pprune better do a lot more digging than just quoting directly from the forums. If on the other hand the press uses it as a jumping off point in their own research all the better. My view of pprune, is of people, venting, expressing an opinion, or relaying something they feel is noteworthy. I am far removed from the UK scene, couldn’t care the least of what happens at Ryanair, Easyjet or BA for that matter. But I do follow our industry enough to realize that Ryanair is using unusual business practices that might not stand the light of day. This pprune episode is just another worrying element in their way of doing things.
If the influence of Ryanair (or its leader) extends as far as being able to convince Danny and his people to pull things off their website, I believe we are moving down a very slippery slope. The pprune folks better realize that if they want to built their business, and retain their relevance to us, these sort of things shouldn’t be happening. Pprune is used by people in, or interested in the business of aviation. Pprune does not broadcast over the “public” airwaves. You don’t just happen to come upon pprune, you search it out. If we start holding all posts to a higher (say, journalistic) standard not much will be left on the forum.
As a matter of fact, there have been things posted about my airline that were at the least badly informed and at most liable. I respond when I feel I can bring relevance to the discussion, or ignore it if I can’t. But it would never enter my mind to bring it to the attention of my company’s executives and have them take action. It is an anonymous forum for crying out loud.
If the UK is not the place it once was for freedom of expression, it might be time to pull the website host from there, and incorporate it in a place where those values are still honoured. In other words use the Ryanair model. Most of their business is on the UK, but they incorporated in Ireland, because they are more receptive to their “concerns”.
It is a sad day to me, that pprune has been compromised. I would have gladly contributed to a defence funds to fight this nonsense.
I hope I have made my point.
Greetings O.