You say you don't need validation but here you are, every day, trying to shine the turd and convince others that the pay, qol and career expectations are equal to, or better than, just about every other airline. If you're so happy, why do you feel the need to strap on your cape and tidy up negative press? Seems like a happy person would gleefully skip right past the b@&ch boards. It obviously affects you when you read anything other than glowing reviews about AS. I think you, like plOTZ and a few others, take it personally when someone says AS isn't on par with the best. Learn to separate yourself from your place of employment and maybe you'll see this place for what it really is. It's OK to admit that you don't work for the best darn airline in the world. I'm sure it's hard for a superior aviator such as yourself, who would never work anywhere other than the best airline. But once you can acknowledge this aint that place, we can move forward, towards making AS, at least a really good place to spend a career.