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

for the record I'm not lame Phil, I was just trying to think things through. That's what this thread is for. I personally think VB should be liberally festooned with wine, virgins and accolades for his efforts.

Wine and accolades, fine... The rest is bloody hard to come by in this town.

This is already done.

But it's irrelevant, you want to use that information to stem your contributions based on the your view that the only costs are material and that so long as material costs are just covered then no more need ever be given. The result of which is that you specifically wish to see transparency so that it is used to actively deny the potential to make a profit should that even be possible. As I said earlier, I don't think it's possible, and it's not a motive... but fuck you Paul Michel if you think I'm going to act in a way to please you that goes against a simple notion that I'm allowed to make a profit. I'm not going to act in a way that denies it on principal.

Ah fuck it... your alias can go back to being banned you selfish motherfucker.

I, apparently, must spread my love around before giving it to you again.
Consider yourself repped (or commented) in an exceedingly positive manner.

er... I feel like a small child who's just come downstairs to find everyone in the house dead from some weird virus..

..but I just wanted to say after reading the last coupla pages that I think the people who want this to continue without subscriptions or are arguing about how much profit VB is allowed to make are lame. The forum's massive now and the work involved to keep it running let alone administrate it must be considerable. I also know that a small number of people (I'm not among them) have been very generous in helping out when money was needed, and I'd like to see those people not have to continue bailing the forum out. I think people are taking the forum's existence for granted.

As far as paying contributors for copy - please, the reason people spend a lot of time on here and contribute (myself included) is to enjoy having a laugh and comparing knowledge and keeping in touch. You can post anything you want on here within reason and let's face it most of it's bollocks. The idea that contributors should be singled out as worthy of payment for helping grow the forum is daft - as far as I know no-one's precious about the stuff they post here. If you're precious about your copy then link to it from your own website and charge people to read it. See how many people will pay you for the privilege.

If VB made so much profit out of the subscriptions that he could buy himself a nice bike, or even a yacht - as long as he fulfilled his obligations to the subscribers to keep the forum running efficiently and in the way we have become accustomed to seeing it (ie no big brands breathing down our necks) I really would only have props for him. The forum he's furnished London with is superb and has given active members an incredible return - for nothing. If he charged £15 a year and 4000 people subscribed, as far as I'm concerned he could do whatever he wanted with the money left over after running costs were met.

He's put in the work for two years and you haven't. It's his forum and he can choose to do what he likes with it. He's sliding this in democratically because he doesn't want a load of people getting indignant at what's suddenly implemented without their consent, but for it to have evolved suggests a solution has to be found which generates a steady cashflow. It's about the forum having grown beyond a point where it can still be called a labour of love.

+1,000,000,000,000

Still can't believe it hasn't already been "actioned". VB deserves to break even, make money & or have a yacht / shiny bike.

Dunno about everyone else, but 85% of people agree that subscriptions are fine, shouldn't we just sort out how much it is then let VB put it into practice? As many others have said, £3 is fine, a lot say £10 is fine, some say £15, even £15 is about a pint a week, surely the forum is worth that much, and i'm a student with bugger all money!

for the record I'm not lame Phil, I was just trying to think things through. That's what this thread is for. I personally think VB should be liberally festooned with wine, virgins and accolades for his efforts.

not directed at you personally SP but the reasons why I think that are in my post.. not trying to make anyone feel hounded..;)

As far as paying contributors for copy - please, the reason people spend a lot of time on here and contribute (myself included) is to enjoy having a laugh and comparing knowledge and keeping in touch. You can post anything you want on here within reason and let's face it most of it's bollocks. The idea that contributors should be singled out as worthy of payment for helping grow the forum is daft - as far as I know no-one's precious about the stuff they post here. If you're precious about your copy then link to it from your own website and charge people to read it. See how many people will pay you for the privilege.

+lots
I for one refuse to pay Hippy to abuse people (and conti tyres)!

If VB made so much profit out of the subscriptions that he could buy himself a nice bike, or even a yacht - as long as he fulfilled his obligations to the subscribers to keep the forum running efficiently and in the way we have become accustomed to seeing it (ie no big brands breathing down our necks) I really would only have props for him. The forum he's furnished London with is superb and has given active members an incredible return - for nothing. If he charged £15 a year and 4000 people subscribed, as far as I'm concerned he could do whatever he wanted with the money left over after running costs were met.

+lots
I pay silly money for my sat tv subscription, but spend more time here, then in front of the tele.

I think it's hilarious that people have a problem with VB making a profit.
Crazy stuff, if he does or does not make a profit it has nothing to do with me or anyone else.

If I were him i would aim to MAKE a profit, albeit a small one.
That's MY opinion and as such is irrelevant and bears no semblance to the problem at hand.

Whatever happens, change is inevitable, as is the story with everything that grows, and this forum is no exception.
If people have a problem with change, that's tough luck, it has to happen in the name of progress. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Anyway, VB can do what he wants, but I'm 100% positive (although i don't actually know him) he'll finalise upon the best decision for the forum.
Whatever changes are made, they must be made a and that is it.

even £15 is about a pint a week.

As in 52 weeks in a year.....?
£15 for 52 pints.....?
30p a pint......?

Wheres your local, I'm on my way ;)

Haven't read this thread but what I think you will find is:

The results to the poll are totally skewed, all of the regulars answered it and the VAST majority of users didn't.

I use the classifieds very infrequently, such that £3 would make eBay a better option...

I think your best bet would be to sell merchandise (you could probably employ a specialist website to actually make and sell the merchanise, so it would be not much work for you).

Also, adverts... why not send a few emails to the big ones (Wiggle, CRC, Parkers etc) and see if they will cough up some money. To advertise on a site like this is a unique opportunity for them...

P.S. I'd be quite likely to get one of these for £15, but unlikely to pay £3 for a subscription.

I don't want no adverts on this here forum. No thanks.

VB , just get it together and do the damn thing. Most will pay, if not, nevermind. This is boring me now. £3 is bugger all. changes tune

I think secretly, VB wants out.. so we all pay (sort of anti-ransom) and keep him tied to the server indefinately, no trips to paris with girlfriend, the forum can't survive without them, he might do a runner.. we have become addicted to the forum, my wife says so.. he's dealing in our dreams and emotions, we need to feed this habit, get our fix..

jeez, i've turned into Skullz' avatar..

I don't want no adverts on this here forum. No thanks.

VB , just get it together and do the damn thing. Most will pay, if not, nevermind. This is boring me now. £3 is bugger all. changes tune
What about adverts that are only displayed to non-paying users?

I've not met VB but I think he's done an outstanding job with this forum and if he thinks that £3 subscriptions will sort out funding issues then I can't see any reason to doubt his wisdom, or motivation (why would it be so bad for him to make a few quid for his efforts)?

It's not as if we're being asked to pay a membership fee for some wank, elitist club, we'd be contributing to the running of something that is an amazing source of knowledge and nice people.

£5 a year,10p aweek.its cheap as chips for what you get..vast database of knowledge, freedom of speech you cant call someone a cunt even if their not ,without someone screaming BAD SHOW on other forums.TYNAN (SATAN'S LANDLORD) with his human shit antitheft advice and the hilarity,stupidity, relentless pisstaking what more could you want.any money left over could be used for competitions,good causes like the easter egg run or therapy for most of us lunatics who inhabit thiis place

pay the money if you want the perks. its that simple. new users wont feel put off because they can still post use the forum. as to people comparing money donated with people willing to pay, one should not represent the other, people can say they are willing to pay a subscription or even be in favour of the idea without instantly donating.

Frank's got it.

VB has done the world good, let him get on with it until years from now when the power and $'s go to his head. Then the forums can revolt and try running it as a group and watch it fall into utter anarchy and chaos.

I'm in and donating.
P.S. VB I don't know you but do not need to, to know that the above is just to make a point and you will be as much yourself in the future as you come across now in your posts and actions for and about this amazing effort and yes, your wife deserves much credit too for the support and time I am sure she contributes in unseen ways!
P.P.S. I hope that did not seem rude it sincerely was not meant to be!!

Whilst the overall consensus is "just do it already", I think the best thing is to actually ask the whole community and as most don't log on as frequently as us addicts do, this involves emailing everyone.

So... I'm currently creating an email for everyone with the basic questions:
1) Should we do it?
2) What features should be linked to the subscription?
3) What do you think is a fair price (in beers per year)?

That email should go out today or tomorrow.

Should it go ahead, I don't do it for at least 3 months as we have more than that in funding already.

Should it go ahead, anyone who donated in the last calendar month will be made a subscriber automatically.

sounds cool vb

Whilst the overall consensus is "just do it already", I think the best thing is to actually ask the whole community and as most don't log on as frequently as us addicts do, this involves emailing everyone.

So... I'm currently creating an email for everyone with the basic questions:
1) Should we do it?
2) What features should be linked to the subscription?
3) What do you think is a fair price (in beers per year)?

That email should go out today or tomorrow.

Should it go ahead, I don't do it for at least 3 months as we have more than that in funding already.

Should it go ahead, anyone who donated in the last calendar month will be made a subscriber automatically.
Can I cancel all of my alias accounts before the email goes out.

No, if the forum loses half of its members, that will bugger up all of the revenue predictions.

Can I cancel all of my alias accounts before the email goes out.

If they used the same email address then you're fine, duplicates were removed.

No, if the forum loses half of its members, that will bugger up all of the revenue predictions.

If the forum loses half it's members then we'll be back to the good old days.

If the forum loses half it's members then we'll be back to the good old days.

elite-ism ftl.. there have been plenty of valuable members contributing to the forum that are relatively new here.

I only do the accounts monthly as it's a pain in the arse, and I don't like the idea of doing the accounts twice...

double-entry accounting... :p

seriously, enough middle-class handwringing....

Velocio, JFDI!