Thanks for the explanation, it’s very much what we needed.
FWIW, I certainly won’t feel in the slightest bit cheated if we switch to a model with unlimited free posting, but ad-free (and hey, what about some other features? - even silly trivial stuff like custom user titles would be fun) for paying members.
I think my money is very well spent on this site, and I wouldn’t be troubled by other means of chipping in. SDMB coffee mug anyone?
Some quick back of the envelope math: 2 hours a day on the site, 365 days a year, 720 hours a year. 15/720 = about .02/hour. I make about 1 post per hour. Therefore, I am literally giving you all my $.02!! mwahaha!
Seriously though, that’s crazy cheap for an hour of very enjoyable reading.
This might be a stupid question, but I’ve seen several people now refer to “custom user titles.” What does that mean? What are they and where would they be if we had them?
Count me as one who is releived by Ed’s announcement.
However, anyone who thinks this will shake out to be an issue of banner ads vs. a nominal payment isn’t thinking it through.
It won’t stop at banner ads. Once CL starts poking around other sites that manage to make a few bucks, they’ll start packing this site with every type of revenue-generating trick known to geekdom.
Then the nominal charge to get an advertising-free version of the site will start to climb until only a few purists like me decide it’s worth it.
Whether that will change the essential character of the board is something no one can predict. Whatever happens will be an evolutionary process, with maybe a few bumps along the way when someone tries something that goes too far, too fast (like this abortive attempt.)
As someone who accepts the capitalistic model, I’m not saying this will necessarily be a bad thing. But we’ve only just seen the beginning of things to come.
Many thanks for the explanation Ed. I’d be happy with a two-tiered system.
I think it means that you can customize the title that appears under your username. So, instead of Charter Member, it might say “Dungeon Master” or “Packers Fan” or “What the fuck are you looking at?”
It would replace “Charter Member” under your username. like how Boyo Jim is “Best of the Worst.”
Replacing Charter Member or Member or BANNED
or late to the table agin
No. Avatars. That is actually the one thing that will send me running from this board faster than banner ads. I don’t even care if they can be disabled by individual users, if they exist and have to be downloaded to everyone else’s screens, then they’re using up bandwidth and slowing shit down, even if I don’t have to look at them.
Not to mention that the lack of avatars and other images is one of the primary features that not only sets the SDMB apart from every other message board out there, but is a significant reason many people like reading and posting here – its plain, simple content. If everyone surfing here for the first time had to put up with that crap until or unless they registered, they might be less likely to actually stick around and do so.
No. Just plain NO.
Another major No Fucking Way on this one, too. I don’t come here to be rated, and I sure as hell don’t want to see this place degrade into a Junior High Popularity Contest. Not to mention this idea also calls for more images and icons. No, no, no, no, no, no, NO! Ugh!
Naturally, we could never hope to generate millions of dollars in revenue, but given how many of us buy and sell stuff, or would like to buy and sell stuff if we felt we had a “safe” place to do so with a lesser potential for getting screwed, I’d like to recommend setting up an SDMB Classifieds page. Maybe make it available only to Registered Members who’ve been here at least 90 days or something.
What? :eek:
Not here, but they exist other places.
I’m glad to see (1) that TPTB responded so quickly to our feedback (threats, really, but a Doper’s gotta do what a Doper’s gotta do) and that (2) you guys may be employing a two-track system. The idea of a two-track registration system tickles me pink, personally; I envisioned three-track, but this is even better. I might even unblock ads from the SDMB if we went that direction. (Maybe I’d be the only one, I don’t know, but it seems like a worthy cause. And only as long as I could do my searchin’ and keep my Charter Member tag, BTW!)
And thanks for an unusually (for the Boards in general) in-depth explanation.
As for the merch, why don’t we have any yet? I think it’s patently obvious that it would sell.
BTW, Cervaise, the FreeOnes message board (very NSFW, so no link) has a reputation system, too. I don’t know if it’s such a great idea for the SDMB, because while the, er, “movie” review boards can rate people for having good taste in movies, I think the rep on the SDMB might just indicate how popular each person’s political views are.
Is Godwin’s Law going to have to take on Hostile’s Corollary? I think Bush is well on his way to replacing Hitler as the man most likely to be mentioned in a sufficiently long online discussion.
Which reminds me of the Dope’s most serious problem: not enough beer. Are you guys working on that one, Ed?
If you log in, you can keep track of your subscribed threads in your User CP without having your inbox flooded with emails.
BTW, “for cryin’ out loud, my name is Jerry.” had me LOLing profusely.
Thanks, Ed. I also think the two-tiered system would be worth a try.
One question I haven’t seen addressed yet. Does the server know whether or not an ad is blocked by AdBlock or other software? In other words, does it count as an “impression” if the user doesn’t see it?
I’m also strongly opposed to avatars, but if i understand correctly, they don’t necessarily slow down the servers.
I’m a member on another board where avatars are allowed, and the avatars themselves are not actually stored on the board’s servers at all. You upload your avatar to a web host somewhere (plenty of people use photobucket or flickr or imageshack), then put the image address in your board profile, and the avatar image is loaded directly from the photo hosting site each time the page loads.
Sure, this requires a small bit of extra html in the thread, but the images themselves don’t slow down the board.
Like you, though, i’d still prefer a board without avatars.
Why, oh, why don’t they make beverage-proof monitors? You’re killing me here…
The worst ones not only insert links, but spawn a little pop-up balloon when you mouse over them. That’s the single most agrgravating thing I’ve ever seen on the Web.
Agreed. There are lots of message boards out on the World Wide Web. I think the SDMB has a niche, and it should market to that niche. People can be anime characters, monster trucks, and fuzzy kittens on other boards. People can come here if they think the written word is more important.
Put me down with the (literally) hundreds who
A. Have thanked you so much for this.
B. Would be willing to pay more, if need be, for a subscription.
C. Think that the two-tier unlimited free posting = seeing ads and subscription posting = seeing no ads is a fabulous idea.
Thanks Ed. I had said I wasn’t going to re-up due to how this was done. That’s now been fixed IMO. You will continue to receive my money happily. I would be willing to give more BTW. Just give me the options beforehand and I’m a happy bunny.
You may be surprised BTW if you set a minimum payment but also give us the opportunity to voluntarily pay more if we so wish. The yearly payment for me as a charter member is almost meaningless to me. Luckily, I’m in a position and am willing to pay more. I would. Just don’t make me feel like a putz and I’ll gladly pay for what to me is the very centre of my web experience.
Again, thank you.
Ed, thank you very much for the quite reasonable and very informative post. Interesting about the flat growth in accesses since P2P. I was always of the (admittedly uninformed) opinion that lurkers far exceeded posters/members. That casts everything in a much different light. Consider my ignorance fought.
I’ll go along with anything within reason to keep the board in existence. A little advance notice would be nice, although I realize you may not have that option when upper management just says “Do this NOW”.
Global warming! 
Another vote for making tiny – agreed, tiny – avatars available to top-tier subscribers, but only if everybody – even the lowest tier – can set their options to “don’t show avatars”. And no moving GIFs at all.
Some boards that allow avatars have a stable of limited choices available to new members, and allow custom avatars only to members who’ve reached a certain post count. What about tying avatar choices to subscription rate? No avatars for registered but not subscribed; a choice from the stable for basic subscription; custom avatars for an extra, say, five bucks?
I’m much relieved to learn that sanity has prevailed in the corporate reaches, and that the SDMB is in fact a valued property rather than a red-headed stepchild.
I *love *the rep point system on another board, but that’s because they disabled the visible green blobs. It makes it really easy to send a brief message to an individual user commenting on a specific post. Great for “me, too” posts or “LOL” or whatever.