# I don't know this board sysadmin Jerry, but.. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 7, 2008, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-this-board-sysadmin-jerry-but/462437 "2008-09-07T01:52:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-this-board-sysadmin-jerry-but/462437/21 "2008-09-07T15:45:38Z")
> [@DudleyGarrett](#): > > Um, anyone disagreeing with the OP is clearly a fucking idiot. No, moron, this message board is NOT the primary, or even a tertiary, source of income for the Reader or Creative Loafing. It’s a marketing tool, and not a particularly high-priority one, at that. Subscriptions for the board serve only to help offset its operating costs. And even those are very small in relation to ad revenue. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-this-board-sysadmin-jerry-but/462437/22 "2008-09-07T15:47:06Z")
> [@DudleyGarrett](#): > > Really? What is the business model then? If subscriptions aren’t part of the revenue stream, where does that money go? The are offering the subscriptions to members that don’t want to see the ads but still want to contribute to the dope. The Board is now to make money of Ads. Lots of ads apparently. Sign out and surf the dope for a bit. I understand it might even get worse. At least that has been the gist of what has been posted over the last 9 months as to the business model change. Thus the subscription feature is not a priority in this upgrade. Normally, you would have been correct. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-this-board-sysadmin-jerry-but/462437/23 "2008-09-07T15:47:49Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Normally, you would have been correct. No, he wouldn’t have been. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-this-board-sysadmin-jerry-but/462437/24 "2008-09-07T15:48:23Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > No, moron, this message board is NOT the primary, or even a tertiary, source of income for the Reader or Creative Loafing. It’s a marketing tool, and not a particularly high-priority one, at that. Subscriptions for the board serve only to help offset its operating costs. And even those are very small in relation to ad revenue. I know we are in the pit, but as I demonstrated, there was a polite way to say the same thing and no need to act like an ass. Do you really just enjoy pissing people off? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-this-board-sysadmin-jerry-but/462437/25 "2008-09-07T15:50:18Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > No, he wouldn’t have been. For three years the board made money on subscription fees. If the update was done under those conditions, he would have been correct. ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-this-board-sysadmin-jerry-but/462437/26 "2008-09-07T15:51:23Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > No, moron, this message board is NOT the primary, or even a tertiary, source of income for the Reader or Creative Loafing. It’s a marketing tool, and not a particularly high-priority one, at that. Well, no shit, Sherlock. Even if the subscriptions are a tiny piece of the company’s revenue as a whole, it should change the fact that the credit card system should be operational immediately after the site itself is publicly available. In Jerry’s little IT world where he’s considered overhead, his business sense needs to be sharper. His priority list is skewed if he puts erratic performance above revenue, no matter how small of the percentage it is. I can’t see how this is even arguable, unless of course you’re choosing to be obtuse for sport. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-this-board-sysadmin-jerry-but/462437/27 "2008-09-07T15:52:57Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > For three years the board made money on subscription fees. If the update was done under those conditions, he would have been correct. No. The board is not a business, it is a business _tool_. Subscriptions barely offset its own operating cost, let alone put any money into the pockets of the parent company. ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-this-board-sysadmin-jerry-but/462437/28 "2008-09-07T15:53:12Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > No, moron, this message board is NOT the primary, or even a tertiary, source of income for the Reader or Creative Loafing. It’s a marketing tool, and not a particularly high-priority one, at that. Subscriptions for the board serve only to help offset its operating costs. And even those are very small in relation to ad revenue. How the hell do you know what the ad revenue is? Have you seen the books? Have you ever worked for a company that gets all or at least part of their revenue via credit card purchases over the Internet? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-this-board-sysadmin-jerry-but/462437/29 "2008-09-07T15:55:04Z")
> [@DudleyGarrett](#): > > His priority list is skewed if he puts erratic performance above revenue, no matter how small of the percentage it is. He doesn’t put anything above anything, idiot. He does what his bosses tell him to do; he only gets to decide how it gets done. This board and it’s subscription system is not a priority for them, so it’s not a priority for him. Get it? Or am I going too fast for you? ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-this-board-sysadmin-jerry-but/462437/30 "2008-09-07T15:56:26Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > The are offering the subscriptions to members that don’t want to see the ads but still want to contribute to the dope. The Board is now to make money of Ads. Lots of ads apparently. Sign out and surf the dope for a bit. I understand it might even get worse. > > At least that has been the gist of what has been posted over the last 9 months as to the business model change. > > Thus the subscription feature is not a priority in this upgrade. Normally, you would have been correct. > > Jim Wow. If that’s the case, this site is horribly run and will likely be out of business in short order. The days of blasting tons of ads at people hoping that makes a steady revenue stream are long gone. ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-this-board-sysadmin-jerry-but/462437/31 "2008-09-07T15:59:29Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > He doesn’t put anything above anything, idiot. He does what his bosses tell him to do; he only gets to decide how it gets done. This board and it’s subscription system is not a priority for them, so it’s not a priority for him. Get it? Or am I going too fast for you? Wow, the more you try to talk authoritatively about things you most certainly have NO FUCKING IDEA about, the more I’m enjoying this. Keep talking, know-it-all. I’m guessing, since Jerry is the “Director of IT,” he has a lot more say in the priorities of the web site that you’re considering. Of course I don’t know this for sure, but I’m taking a guess. ---
**Author:** ![rayh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@rayh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayh)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-this-board-sysadmin-jerry-but/462437/32 "2008-09-07T16:03:44Z")
> [@DudleyGarrett](#): > > Wow, the more you try to talk authoritatively about things you most certainly have NO FUCKING IDEA about, the more I’m enjoying this. Keep talking, know-it-all. > > I’m guessing, since Jerry is the “Director of IT,” he has a lot more say in the priorities of the web site that you’re considering. Of course I don’t know this for sure, but I’m taking a guess. See [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=481859) or [this one](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=482164). Come back when you have a clue. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-this-board-sysadmin-jerry-but/462437/33 "2008-09-07T16:06:03Z")
> [@DudleyGarrett](#): > > I’m guessing, since Jerry is the “Director of IT,” he has a lot more say in the priorities of the web site that you’re considering. Of course I don’t know this for sure, but I’m taking a guess. What, you think the web site encompasses the entirety of his responsibilities? Really? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-this-board-sysadmin-jerry-but/462437/34 "2008-09-07T16:08:24Z")
> [@rayh](#): > > See [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=481859) or [this one](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=482164). Come back when you have a clue. Show me anything in those threads that’s in disagreement with what I wrote. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-this-board-sysadmin-jerry-but/462437/35 "2008-09-07T16:09:19Z")
> [@DudleyGarrett](#): > > Wow. If that’s the case, this site is horribly run and will likely be out of business in short order. You said “no shit” the first time I told you this, but that was apparently just reflexive bullshit because you obviously still don’t get it: This. Website. Is. Not. A. Business. It’s a _tool_ for the business, which is the Chicago Reader operating under the auspices of Creative Loafing. I guarantee you they can shut this entire website down and still remain comfortably in business without us. ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-this-board-sysadmin-jerry-but/462437/36 "2008-09-07T16:09:27Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > What, you think the web site encompasses the entirety of his responsibilities? Really? :rolleyes: OK, this is done. I asked you several questions and you’ve avoided every one of them. Go yip at someone else. ---
**Author:** ![rayh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@rayh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayh)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-this-board-sysadmin-jerry-but/462437/37 "2008-09-07T16:12:25Z")
> [@DudleyGarrett](#): > > Show me anything in those threads that’s in disagreement with what I wrote. [This](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10161063&postcount=10). ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-this-board-sysadmin-jerry-but/462437/38 "2008-09-07T16:14:40Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > Chill, numbnuts. They just got the board migrated to a brandy-new server and fully upgraded to the latest vBulletin software, they’re still tweaking this-and-that to optimize performance and they haven’t gotten around to enabling the subscription system yet; I’m not even aware that they’ve finalized a price structure yet. I’m so goddamned sick of these arguments by people who don’t know a goddamned thing about technology. Running a vBulletin server isn’t fucking rocket science folks. It’s far too obvious to me that Jerry is simply a guy who isn’t that fucking good at his job, who also doesn’t give a shit about this project because he’s got other things going on. Maintaining this website doesn’t take that much time, people. If I were in charge, I’d have the whole thing running on some kind of scalable infrastructure like Amazon’s EC2, and we’d never have these fucking problems. I’m also kind of curious as to what kind of internet connection the server has. I wouldn’t be terribly surprised if it was consumer-grade. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-this-board-sysadmin-jerry-but/462437/39 "2008-09-07T16:16:18Z")
> [@DudleyGarrett](#): > > OK, this is done. I asked you several questions and you’ve avoided every one of them. Go yip at someone else. In order, the answers to your questions are: Because that’s what Ed told us. No. And no. Only that first one really matters. ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2008, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-this-board-sysadmin-jerry-but/462437/40 "2008-09-07T16:19:14Z")
> [@rayh](#): > > [This](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10161063&postcount=10). Are you serious? I didn’t say Jerry was in charge of the Straight Dope. I said he was the Director of IT. By pointing that out, I implied that he had a lot more say in technical decisions that he was originally stated by QED. What you just linked to was a very vague declaration by Ed Zotti that he’s in charge of the Straight Dope, as a whole. At the same time, and not contradicting what I wrote, he may have very well delegated all technical responsibility (including the priority in which problems are solved) to Jerry. If I were in charge of a web operation, and I had a Director level employee working for me, I’d do the same. Would you? Do you understand now? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-this-board-sysadmin-jerry-but/462437.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-know-this-board-sysadmin-jerry-but/462437.md?page=3)