(off topic) Make EN World a pay site?

[Macbeth]

I Like Berandor's idea. This site would never work as a pay site. I know that when I first started comming here I didn't have a credit card, or enough money to do much. Now, i threw in my two bits for the 'save ENWorld' fund, and I earn my Community Supporter account as a news hound. If I had seen this was a pay site when I first arrived, i would have never joined this wonderful community.

 

[Teflon Billy]

I agree with both Berandor and Viking Bastard on both their points.

 

[Dimwhit]

I, too, am not hip on the pay site idea. If that happened, we'd immediately lose a good number of people, and much of what makes this a great site is the large number of people and ideas.

I think the currently way is best. For free, you have access to most everything. Pay to be a CS, and you get extra perks.

I wouldn't want a pay site.
However, what I could see:
A meter on the homepage, showing how much money was donated each month, and how much is still needed to pay for server costs.
So it's no virtual "Yeah, I should pay them again, someday" thing, but "Hey, they only got 250$ so far. Best I go send my 10$ in to make it to 400" or "Well, this month's paid for. Phew."

I could see a problem with this, though the general concept is good. For one, hosting fees aren't the only cost. So people may only contribute until the hosting is paid for. And I don't think Morrus would want to detail out all the expenses on the main page. Then what happens if more money is collected than what the main pages states is the operating costs? Then Morrus is going to have to detail every penny he receives for the site. In his place, I wouldn't want to do that.

I'm not sure if there's a workaround. I think I'd rather Morrus just give occassional updates and let us know if funds are running low or not.

But that's just me. I'm sure there are all kinds of solutions out there that will work. As long as this site keeps going, I'll be happy.

 

[Teflon Billy]

I agree with both Berandor and Viking Bastard on both their points.

 

[Dimwhit]

I, too, am not hip on the pay site idea. If that happened, we'd immediately lose a good number of people, and much of what makes this a great site is the large number of people and ideas.

I think the currently way is best. For free, you have access to most everything. Pay to be a CS, and you get extra perks.

I wouldn't want a pay site.
However, what I could see:
A meter on the homepage, showing how much money was donated each month, and how much is still needed to pay for server costs.
So it's no virtual "Yeah, I should pay them again, someday" thing, but "Hey, they only got 250$ so far. Best I go send my 10$ in to make it to 400" or "Well, this month's paid for. Phew."

I could see a problem with this, though the general concept is good. For one, hosting fees aren't the only cost. So people may only contribute until the hosting is paid for. And I don't think Morrus would want to detail out all the expenses on the main page. Then what happens if more money is collected than what the main pages states is the operating costs? Then Morrus is going to have to detail every penny he receives for the site. In his place, I wouldn't want to do that.

I'm not sure if there's a workaround. I think I'd rather Morrus just give occassional updates and let us know if funds are running low or not.

But that's just me. I'm sure there are all kinds of solutions out there that will work. As long as this site keeps going, I'll be happy.

 

[Teflon Billy]

I've mentioned it in other threads, but will repeat it here: I like the idea of a yearly "Telethon" type arrangement.

Though I don't think any decision should be made any time soon.

So far this crisis has generated a storm of ideas, good and bad, and I think that there is a very real chance of overreaction if Morrus tries (or is expected to try) to get everything into place ASAP.

we've given him some Breathing space...let him breathe for awhile.

 

[Creamsteak]

I agree with both Berandor and Viking Bastard on both their points.

I'll agree with Teflon Billy on his point that Berandor and Viking Bastard have good points.

But I also think that it would make more sense reverse-engineered. A complimentary counter that says, "Enworld has $12,000" that ticks down as the money gets spent on site needs and important community stuff like Gencon. I think that our community wouldn't ever be willing to let our funds drop below $2000 ever again...

Then again, I think having said counter would possibly bother people...

 

[HellHound]

I agree with Creamsteak on his point of agreeing with Teflon Billy on his point that Berandor and Viking Bastard have good points.

 

[the Jester]

I like the idea of a meter on the front page; and I agree totally with Hellhound et. al.

 

[Darrin Drader]

If this became a pay site, all that would happen is that it would only be frequented by the same talking heads rather than the diverse group of frequent posters and noobs that drop in now. Even the regulars would drift off eventually and the community would dwindle.

No thanks. There are better solutions.