New Translation service and Quick Reply Box

While I very much appreciate all of the work that goes into making this place, I doubt I could stay on if it turned into a pay site. Perhaps you could strike a balance by asking for voluntary contributions...I think making it a requirement could run off a lot of good people.

No offence meant--this is just my "two cents".

__________________
"And with these words I can see
Clear through the clouds that covered me
Just give it time then speak my name
Now we can hear ourselves again..."

WrightSatellite #1

FW, thanks for expressing your opinion - BTW, no offense taken whatsoever. I want to assure you and everybody else that such thought never crossed my mind, turning this into a subscription site, where non-paying users are denied access. I still believe that the Internet should be a free place, where you can find free information. I'm thinking of creating a voluntary donation-based system where users who donate won't be shown any banners/advertising and will get a few extras as well. So people who don't contribute directly will have to see the ads (including the popunders, which I personally hate) because that is what keeps the site alive, just like you see it now. So if I ever implement this (and I would like to hear everyone's thoughts on this), non-paying users will see the site just as it is now.

__________________
Shine on,
Paulo

"What is more important: Satisfying one thousand desires or conquering just one?" - Samsara

I am glad you clarified that. I shall explain why I become wary anytime money becomes involved...it has nothing to do with you, but with other experiences of mine.

ezBoard, the service I use for free message boards has got to a point where, although they offer a free service, I think they are trying to annoy people into paying for their subscription service. I have no alternative, but I believe they're getting to where they are intentionally trying to inconvenience their free customers. I also notice that except for bug-fixing, we on the free service receive no upgrades. This is why I am very, very wary anytime people start bringing member payments into the equation--there is the potential that it can lead to some rather abusive practices.

While I understand it will be good for you to offer some incentives, this is something that can be abused by administrators. Probably the simple elimination of ads would be a fair reward, since donations pay what would otherwise be handled by your advertising costs. But I think you'll need to make sure that everyone receives all upgrades, and that ads do not increase on those who cannot pay.

As for the ads, I can't really complain--you certainly don't abuse them like some people do. PopUPs I have a quick trigger-finger for, so usually I've killed them before they even have a chance to load. Granted, the popunders can be a bit of a pain, but they're nothing like ezBoard or some services--which can deploy two or more at a time!!! And I do think you've done well at making the other ads rather unobtrusive, integrating them pretty well into the site design. The other thing I would like to ask is, if people purchase items you are advertising, how can we make sure you get your "commission"? I don't order online very often, but the next time I do have to order a PF-related product, I'd like to make sure I know what to do, because that's probably the only way I could really contribute. I also think it would be good information for others.

__________________
"And with these words I can see
Clear through the clouds that covered me
Just give it time then speak my name
Now we can hear ourselves again..."

WrightSatellite #1

totally agree on both the paying basis thing and pop up ads. Both experiences I've had with the Open Diary fiasco that transpired a while back. Fortunately, while it was going under (don't know if any of you are familiar with OD) the site split into a 'Free' Open Diary, which was very similar to the Open Diary I had been used to for a year, and a paying site. The paying site did have more benefits except for the major reason for which I did not contribute...no money to be had or given on my part. But, the now 'Free' Open Diary did have the pop up 'cookies' i guess, or ads, that did slow down the site quite a bit and made it very, very tedious to do anything on it. I had enough of it and just deleted my diary. Anyhow, this site is absolutely wondeful as it is, but again, if paying came in, i'd have no choice but to not sign on, as much as it would pain me to do so.

Guys and gals, don't panic. Most of all, this site is a work of love. If I was interested in money, I would have shut it down long ago, believe me. So far, I've put a lot of money and specially time (imagine a minimum of 10 hours a week since October 1995) into this, not because I wanted to make money or anything, but simply because I like it.

Those were just some thoughts, if I ever put up a donation system, I think it's fair for people who contributed not to see any ads, be marked as a contributor on the forums and things like that. At no times my intentions were to fill non-contributing users with popups, ads or anything else other than the ones you see now. Forcing people to pay is definately not something I ever intended to do. The site will NOT change in any way. Rest assured of that.

I'm actually only thinking about this because a few users (see previous posts) mentioned the donation thing. Of course, if people want to help us out in keeping the site up, they're welcome to do. If not, that's ok as well. I feel awful, because by the way you speak, it seems you have the impression I'm here only for the money. I'll say it again: if I was running this website commercially, I would have gone bankrupt long ago, and this wouldn't be online now.

Well, I'm off, I'll be out of town in the next few days. Been kinda busy, that's why I'm not very active lately.

__________________
Shine on,
Paulo

"What is more important: Satisfying one thousand desires or conquering just one?" - Samsara

Piper, I understand you are NOT doing what ezBoard did, and I think your plan sounds pretty good. I think you've done a good job for this site, and I don't think you're greedy or anything.

It's just that I have had a bad experience somewhere else, that's all.

__________________
"And with these words I can see
Clear through the clouds that covered me
Just give it time then speak my name
Now we can hear ourselves again..."

WrightSatellite #1

same here. And I wasn't trying to imply you were simply in it for the money, for someone to produce such a wonderful site, you'd have to at the very least *enjoy* doing something like this.

Well said, Icarus.

__________________
"And with these words I can see
Clear through the clouds that covered me
Just give it time then speak my name
Now we can hear ourselves again..."

WrightSatellite #1

thank ye