ENWorld Liberation Movement - The Elitism must end

[Greatwyrm]

I found the lack of a search function for non-supporters annoying, too. At the same time, something in me kept me from complaining that the free stuff wasn't good enough. I never felt I had any room to complain that the functions that used the most resources weren't available to me at a time when I didn't feel like paying for them.

 

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

I don't get it.

You're saying that Community Supporters are 'elitist,' but that we also enjoy



Is that a non sequitur?

-F

Yes

But that is the very thing I would like to change

 

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

I have to admit that I probably wouldn't have donated unless the site was in trouble, BFG; I'm a procrastinator. And even when I did, I had no clue that I was getting a CS out of the deal.

I think most people feel this way, Blackshirt5. That is why future ENWorld fundraisers will do well, and keep this site running and improving for the long-term.

 

[Umbran]

The old paradigm of exclusively supporting ENWorld by selling individual CS accounts has failed.

No, it hasn't. All that's changed is when people buy individual CS accounts.

What the recent financial problems indicate is that unless the users are told otherwise, they will not donate enough. This is very much like PBS in the US. People buy a membership in their local public broadcasting station during a pledge drive, and generally not at other times.

And when people do donate to a public TV or radio station, they get perks too. They get members magazines, they get gifts, and discounts at area retailers and museums...

So, EN World is like a public broadcast station, is all. It still sells memberships. It still gives minor perks to those members. The model works.

 

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

I think you may have misread Talwyn's post, or maybe you didn't read the entire thread?



That statement, to me, seems as though Talwyn believes that paying for extra features is justified. I have to say, I agree.

The idea that community supporters are given extra perks may seem 'elitist' to you, but has there really been any kind of backlash against the people who *haven't* donated to the site? Honestly, I don't see what's prompted this post. The idea of 'elitism' has a very negative connotation, and I think it's a little insulting to imply that everyone with a custom title is an 'elitist.'

'Control, rule and domination' indeed.

-F

Talwyn just wanted to search, and couldn't. Do you think we will see him/her again? Possibly, but probably not. Most new users aren't going to spend the time to make a post pointing out a percieved functionality error either. He/She
is just the type of poster we(I) want on these boards; someone who will participate to make a difference.

I certainly do NOT think that all CS are elitist.

If you haven't realized by now, my mission and message is the following:

As we now have the resources to allow everyone to search, let's make it happen on the upcoming boards!

 

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

No, it hasn't. All that's changed is when people buy individual CS accounts.

What the recent financial problems indicate is that unless the users are told otherwise, they will not donate enough. This is very much like PBS in the US. People buy a membership in their local public broadcasting station during a pledge drive, and generally not at other times.

And when people do donate to a public TV or radio station, they get perks too. They get members magazines, they get gifts, and discounts at area retailers and museums...

So, EN World is like a public broadcast station, is all. It still sells memberships. It still gives minor perks to those members. The model works.

Repectfully, I feel that the CS model did not work.

If you remember correctly, there was no initial offer of a CS account to donate when money was needed, but donate we did anyway. The sale of CS's did not cover the needed revenue.

Future ENWorld fundraisers will get the job done, and yes, there will be many perks or incentives by private and commercial entities to encourage donating. Using your example, perks for supporting PBS are not given at all donation levels.

The fundraiser is the new model. The CS sales were the old model that did not work.

Also, I'm NOT saying that CS memberships should be unavailable for sale at anytime ( altough it is obvious that these alone cannot cover EnWorld's nut) . I'm just lobbying for giving the right to search to anyone on the new server.

 

[Gez]

I felt this thread deserved to have the opinion of a non-CS.

Spoiler

I would be a CS, though, if I had two things that I'm missing: 1°, money; and 2°, a way to spend this money over the net. But that's irrelevant to the topic.

I don't care about the lack of PMs -- mails work better, anyway. The user-title thing, likewise, is a bit gadgety. I don't choose it either on NKL. (I got Biggus Dickus, it could have been worse. )

The only thing I miss is the Search function, but I'm devious enough to have found a way not to require it.

When I search for a given thread, through the careful use of my incredible memory, I remember the name of either the thread's title, or the thread starter's name, or both. Then it's just a question of sorting threads by thread starter or by title, and here you go.

 

[Femerus the Gnecro]

Talwyn just wanted to search, and couldn't. Do you think we will see him/her again? Possibly, but probably not.

Talwyn's later post in the General Forum about planescape tends to disprove your (baseless, I think) assumption. This site is ridiculously addictive, search capability or no.

The point of the boards isn't the search feature, it's the community. If the search feature was disabled entirely, do you think the boards would wither and die? I highly doubt it.

I can respect your views on the subject, and I applaud your willingness to support equity for all ENworld users, but frankly I think that those of us who donated have earned the features which happily came bundled with our peace of mind in knowing that ENworld will continue into the future.

-F

 

[Darrin Drader]

I can respect your views on the subject, and I applaud your willingness to support equity for all ENworld users, but frankly I think that those of us who donated have earned the features which happily came bundled with our peace of mind in knowing that ENworld will continue into the future.

Ditto.

 

[barsoomcore]

I don't feel that I have earned these features. I prefer to imagine that I'm actually implementing a cunning plan to steal them.