What would you do if the forum had a subscription fee (to post classifieds, etc)?

Anyhow, heat off on the money front, over £400 has been donated in the last 2 days, and that pushes the doom out another 2 months to 3.5 months away. The point is, I know I can always beg for cash, I know I'll always get it... but that's a really crap way to have to survive, and the higher fees mean it will happen every few months. It already feels tired and old. If subscriptions can do something to give some perks to key users as well as give them priority in classifieds, and it additionally funds the server, then it just looks win-win... I get to not have to don the begging cap, helps me keep my dignity a bit, and I have so little of the stuff I'd like to keep what I have.

200+ people vote yes to £3 per year, why is the money raised over the last couple of days not more than £600 rather than £400?
Can you just make the donate button flash when you need money? A bit like the Batphone.

I didn't notice the donation button until now.

Make it flash for new members, or make it bigger in the nursery?

Forum members invest huge amounts of time in the forum. They generate content, support each other and put on events. What about the member who writes threads to help new members, or the member who designs, reccies and runs group events or rides. They have all made significant investments into the forum. Maybe they are as big a investment as VBs, maybe they aren't, but they shouldn't be ignored. Thus I feel I have to oppose the idea of VB making a profit, because if he does we all should, I'm talking principally, not practically. Maybe not every one deserves the same cut, but if VB started making sizeable sums of money from members using a board where they provide the content I would be worried to say the least.

By the same token VB shouldn't have to stump up and pay for the forum on his own. Infact I would argue that VB shouldn't contribute financialy at all, that all his technical stuff has earnt him the right to not pay. I don't think its earnt him the right to be paid. VB may well make the site run, and be responsible for it, ... That said if VB wanted to take some money from any profit I wouldn't complain, .

Forum members would not exist witout the forum, and the forum would not exist without VB/V/ DK

Yer don't get owt for nowt in this life.

No problem at all paying to support the infrastructure of this site.

I have no concerns whatsoever that VB will administer the funds fairly and appropriately.

+100000000000

There's a lot of talk of principles and taking the moral high ground, and how the users of this forum (us) generate the content, but if this forum disappears tomorrow, who sets up another one. Who has the technical skill/expertise and good will to keep a forum this size going. Who will make sure that this forum comes out top in the google search so our conversations can be read by those hungry for fixed gear knowledge. Certainly not me...
I've got no problem with VB making money from the forum, because he created it, he had the idea and he produced a space where we could all gather and information be disseminated.
And personally as stated before if your gonna quibble over £3 a year when your gonna spend however much on an anodized seatpost clamp, which fits the exact shade of puce you've painted your frame, then you need to gain a sense of perspective

+1 googleplex

JAMES: I'm not suggesting we don't pay, I think thats fine. The members should cover the cost of the forum. Its if the forum starts buying VB a yacht that I have a problem. I know its unlikely, but its the principle.

I think we should probably buy him a yacht, if that's what he wants.