Goodbye to the SDMB? (Subscriptions and its effect on MBs)

The BBQ Pit
41

Forgive me. It’s apparently your writing skills that are the problem, not your attitude to fiscal responsibility.

The post from which i quoted contained three paragraphs. The first one dealt exclusively with the issue of membership and its relationship to people’s other financial commitments. The second paragraph, however, dealt exclusively with the ways in which the content of this message board would (in your opinion) improve after the subscription service kicks in.

Where in that post did you place your sentence about looking “forward to a smaller group of people who are a bit more fiscally responsible”? Not in the first paragraph, where you were dealing with the issue of balancing financial obligations. No, you plunked it right at the beginning of the second paragraph dealing with Board content, suggesting that this sentence was the topic sentence for that particular paragraph.

When you start a paragraph with a sentence saying that you “look forward to a smaller group of people who are a bit more fiscally responsible,” and then continue that paragraph with a set of claims about how the content of the boards might improve, is it not logical for us to make a direct connection between the two statements?

I agree with you that some people who are worried about the $5 might need to examine their overall financial situation more closely. But, to me at least, your post strongly implied a connection between people’s “fiscal responsibility” on the one hand, and the quality of their contributions to this message board on the other. And i just don’t see the correlation.

YMMV.

42

Well, you’re right. I should have been more clear. As someone who has been dirt poor many times (and in fact was born that way), I certainly didn’t mean to equate fiscal irresponsibility with poverty. I apologize to all whom I offended (except for those who are in fact fiscally irresponsible).

43

This is one of the most shamefully offensive posts I’ve ever seen here, no matter what you were replying to. It doesn’t matter a damn why people who can’t pay, can’t, and it’s not your place to sit in judgment of them, either. We do happen to have indigent posters here who, believe it or not, live in shelters and post from libraries. Their contributions are no less valuable than yours, just because of their current lot in life. The more that comment festers in my head, the angrier it’s making me.

Every time I read another post by someone saying that can’t or won’t stay, my heart sinks a little. I’m so sad for the loss of so many bright and intresting voices. Too bad you want to turn this place into an elitist circle-jerk.

Feh.

44

Speaking of taking offense, as someone who is officially listed as willing to sponsor 10 people, I think you’re a jackass, Shayna. Maybe you should take your knee out of your mouth.

45

We get it already, you are a regular paragon of virtue who is willing to sponsor a shit load of people (and buy them sandwiches or something). Should I request a sticky thread testifying to what a model of good-works and downright wholesome goodness you are? Give it a rest.

46

I started what was probably the first one many years ago. It was rejected.

47

I may or may not subscribe, I don’t know yet. This may be the catalyst I need to clean myself of the addiction that is the SDMB. If I want to be cleaned that is.

On a side note, when in Rome, in regards to Libertarian whom I had quite a bit of respect for, all I can say is fuck, you are arrogant.

48

You are who again?

49

:smiley: I’m just glad I’m on steroids today!

50

Just the guy who interested you enough to cause you to spend time replying with some sort of backhanded insult, rather that dispute my claim. I hope that you don’t think that my being on your radar or not matters to me more than a fart in a high wind.

51

Actually, at this moment, you seem rather obsessed with me.

52

Remind me again which branch of Christianity you practice?

53

Have you always been this much of an egomaniac? If so, I hadn’t noticed it until now. Replying to one of your insults certainly doesn’t make him “obsessed”. Holy Christ, this goes far beyond density and obtuseness and well into ‘deluded’.

Sam

54

The difference I think between this plan and Salon’s Table Talk is that Salon’s was pretty expensive. Something around 7 bucks a month. Plus, the moderators over there are pretty bad. And I do pay for a yearly Salon subscription. I’ll pay for the SDMB too.

Remember if you don’t post, just read and lurk, you don’t have to pay.

55

Man, Lib, give it a break. If I offer to sponsor 100 people will you give up the heavy-handed ‘I am so virtuous’ thing? Try some humility.

56

Sadly, this may be my last SDMB post…

Before being hastily slapped with the cheapskate label, or getting a guilt trip for “not supporting the community or the providers of the SDMB” I’d like to hopefully explain my feelings.

I am also a member of several other messageboards that have grappled with this transition from the “free old west” to the “coming of the railroad barons”. Most notably, “slashdot.org” and “tolkienonline.com”.

I have yet to see a site that has gone to a paid subscription model and slowly withered away into a shred of its former glory. I give the SDMB one year before the heart, soul, and grand “gotcha ya!” culture evaporates. Other boards have quite successfully maintained their free subscriber models while supporting themselves in other ways, like bennies for primomembers (avatars, coffee mugs, other enhancements). Even the dreaded advertisement model would be prefereable. Blanket paid subscriptions will not work.

I love the net, the freedom of information ethic, the culture. I see this as simply yet another nickle-and-diming of my resources and my ability to participate in this culture. $5, no big deal? Sure, what about my 20 other messageboard accounts, server space, webmail boxes, Ophoto and Kodak pictures, ad infintum. This is a trend destined to rape the internet of open culture and free content.

The internet can only truly exist and benefit humanity under the grand ethical umbrella of “total information and resource to all, from anywhere on earth, with no cultural or economic bias or class structure.” The “go hug a tree ya cheap-ass pinko liberal or get yer own messageboard” attitude from some of the mods to the community here is doubly saddening.

As another poster said, to see the ethic of “teeming millions dispelling ignorance” changed to “dwindling few grudgingly parceling morsels to those economically worthy” breaks my heart. :frowning: I love this place, and have been reading and buying Cecil books since the 70’s.

Nothing else to say. :frowning:

  • Gargoyle humbly bows from his perch on the eaves, turns, and wings softly into the night *
57

I meant

…to a paid subscription model and NOT slowly withered away into…

sigh :rolleyes:

58

As pretty as this may seem it hasn’t really been the case for years.

And anyway, who would pay for this brilliant resource?

TANSTAAFL!

59

IMO, the boards will die. I do not think this is the proper business model for these boards. It will still exist, and still have posters, yes–but it won’t be the same board and some of those who pony up the first year might not be around the second year.

Everyone has offered plenty of suggestions, and the only two responses I’ve seen from these are, “Buy more coffee mugs!” and “We’re considering all our options.”

Bullshit. There is almost zero time investment in setting up an Amazon referrer program. Never saw that tried. “Click to donate” never appeared. Charging for perks? I don’t see it. In the–what, two years?–time we’ve discussed this nothing has been attempted.

At any rate, I intend to pay for the first year as a thanks for the previous years I’ve been a member. Depending on the user agreement, I may continue to contribute. The rest is totally in the air. I’m extremely skeptical about paying to post something that can be published without my explicit authorization. I’m skeptical about supporting a website with arbitrary moderation (for free I never minded). I’m skeptical that the character of the boards won’t change for the worse. But I will be here for the trial period, hoping it doesn’t change.

60

Well I just got a large raise, however this board costing $1 isn’t worth it. What made this board great WAS the interaction between the ignorant and the edumacated. The social society. The way everyone helped each other out. Now with a pay class you won’t get new members and all you’ll be left with is your pinko bugeoise class that’ll pay for their little speakeasie. So long guys, hope your business model is better than Enron’s (Snicker).