# Ways To Improve Going Forward: Your thoughts on the matter. **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 3, 2018, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-improve-going-forward-your-thoughts-on-the-matter/819049 "2018-08-03T16:29:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-improve-going-forward-your-thoughts-on-the-matter/819049/301 "2018-08-09T14:57:11Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Far be it from me to sound elitist, but finances is finances. If something is going to cost you more, either you need to raise the price for everyone or raise it for the few who want the feature. If you raise it for everyone, then the rich keep getting richer and elitism expands. If you raise it for those who can afford it, then it helps to keep society more balanced. Sure, that means that there will be more symbols of wealth disparity around, but the actual wealth disparity will be lower. > > Granted, the price for this site isn’t enough to really factor into that in any meaningful way, but as a general rule if you hate symbols of wealth, then I’d say that hammering the wealthy is going to do more from a practical standpoint than trying to force equal prices across the land. An avatar should bother you less than a personal space exploration business. No matter what, some people are going to have symbols of wealth. You just get to decide whether you want to localize them into larger things, or spread them out and do more to actually help minimize the issue. We don’t have a way of knowing the wealth of posters here, so trying to figure out a way to charge the wealthy more is not getting us anywhere. The point is that we should do what makes sense in terms of raising the most revenue. I think we’re OK with a a few tiered offerings, but if we do nickel and dime for every little thing it will most likely cause people to leave or just not sign up in the first place. And that will be a net loss of income, not a net gain. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-improve-going-forward-your-thoughts-on-the-matter/819049/302 "2018-08-09T15:25:52Z")
I find the idea of trying to guilt people into paying rather gauche. Some people choose to pay, others not. It’s each person’s choice and they don’t owe anyone an explanation. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-improve-going-forward-your-thoughts-on-the-matter/819049/303 "2018-08-09T15:49:49Z")
The aim should be to make this a place that people are willing to pay to support. I know that personally I pay because I enjoy the site and would hate to see it go away. It’s one of my main hangouts on the web. However I recognize that what I find valuable isn’t necessarily what others find valuable. I think the question is how do we make it something people are willing to support financially without catering to the lowest common denominator. (Does that sound elitist?) ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-improve-going-forward-your-thoughts-on-the-matter/819049/304 "2018-08-09T16:51:36Z")
> [@XT](#): > > \ > As I mentioned earlier, we could also host a YouTube channel as well, assuming someone could be found to front it and we could scrape up the initial capital to get it started and keep it going. Basically, there is a lot of content on this board that could be used for a weekly video channel IMHO. We could also think about a Twitch channel using the game room…I know there are some gamer 'dopers on the board, perhaps one would be willing to be the front, or find someone. Or a movie review or pick apart channel, discussing movies or TV shows. Personally, I think something like Curious Droid, Joe Scott or Issac Author’s channel would be really cool…or Because Science. The point is, if we had a presence on YouTube or something like Twitch it would give us a new audience…one who might be interested in joining the board as well. Or becoming a Patreon member to support it. It would be all about using the brand but expanding it and expanding the audience. There are, of course, other ways to do this. A presence on Facebook or Twitter feed that discusses hot topics or points out interesting threads. I think a SD YouTube channel is a great idea. I also believe the SD should have a social media presence (FaceBook, Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin). Cross links help draw traffic and help “_search engine optimization_”. I have experience with all of these—they’re not costly or hard to build. Big companies like Coke, Nike, etc. do social media, so should the SD. One way to attract more guests is to offer more and better content. One way to convert more guests to members is to offer \*premium \*content available only to members. Let’s use a SD Youtube site as an example. Let’s say one channel is “Movie Revues” (I think Onion type movie reviews would be great). Lot’s of musicians on the boards, too. I’d like to see **TubaDiva** play the tuba on the SD music channel. Guests would have access to the channels on regular Youtube. But, members would have access to the channel on ad-free Youtube Red. It’s quite easy to put a member log-in to whatever pages you want. Suggestion: How about a button to translate the website into alternate languages? It may attract more foreign traffic and perhaps make current foreign-speaking members more comfortable reading in their native tongue. I put a translation button at the top right of the [mock-up page, here](https://spyderwebtest1.website/). Languages can easily be added or subtracted to the submenu. I also put dummy social media buttons on the footer. Check it out. As I mentioned in a previous thread, we want new members, but we want the right type of members. If any of you belong to other high-brow message boards (science, creative writing, the arts, ad infinitum), suggest that they check out the SD. I got at least a couple eggheads to join this way. Hopefully the Sun Times will decide to retain the SD website and boards. If they do, I offer my services to revamp the site, add new menu items, content, social media tie-in, YouTube, etc. I have experience with all that. Is the SD still in print? That’s the only thing I can think of that would be costly to The Sun Times. Maybe suggest that they drop the print version and just retain the web presence. Nothing expensive about that. And with a dedicated webmaster or 3, I’m confident we could reverse the attrition. Show the Sun Time increased revenue and they won’t want to drop us. If, on the other hand they do want to drop the SD, hopefully we could come to an amicable agreement to transfer ownership to us, at little to no cost (I mean, if they’re going to drop it entirely, it’s worth nothing to them. If they sell it to some other entity, that’s ok—our eyes are the biggest asset, so no loss to us. But, if they sold to us (at least the domain name and boards), I think that would be be the best case scenario. We’d have complete control over content. Migrate the site to a new host (I recommend Bluehost, they are one of the best and very secure). ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-improve-going-forward-your-thoughts-on-the-matter/819049/305 "2018-08-09T18:03:01Z")
Is the goal to keep the site alive through memberships and voluntary contributions from those us who are die-hard fans (many of whom have been around for a while)? Or is the idea to increase traffic, membership and page views among new users so that the ad revenue, membership fees and so forth sustain it? Because the former doesn’t seem sustainable in the long run. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-improve-going-forward-your-thoughts-on-the-matter/819049/306 "2018-08-09T18:04:57Z")
A YouTube channel is total pie in the sky. There’s no way you could keep up a stream of decent quality content. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-improve-going-forward-your-thoughts-on-the-matter/819049/307 "2018-08-09T18:14:21Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > A YouTube channel is total pie in the sky. There’s no way you could keep up a stream of decent quality content. I’ll bet this guy will take up the cause. [SDMB Fan](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxn9ypNJdJg&t=3s) ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-improve-going-forward-your-thoughts-on-the-matter/819049/308 "2018-08-09T18:22:22Z")
I didn’t read through the whole thread (sorry!) but the thought of the SDMB going away disturbs me a lot. This has been one of my most consistent internet “homes” since I joined in 2000, kind of a refuge away from the nastiness of the rest of the net. I’d be willing to pay a monthly fee to keep the lights on, as long as the board maintained most of its essential qualities (mods to keep civility, not a lot of glitz and flashing lights and giant signature files, etc.) If the board should ever go away and we had to move on to somewhere else, would there be any way to archive it somewhere so the old posts were available? There are some important events in my life that I wrote about in detail here (like my feelings about both my parents’ deaths) that I would hate to lose access to. I know I could grab them myself and probably will, but I’d really hate to lose access to this big chunk of history, both my own posts and others’. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-improve-going-forward-your-thoughts-on-the-matter/819049/309 "2018-08-09T18:27:16Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > A YouTube channel is total pie in the sky. There’s no way you could keep up a stream of decent quality content. The other thing is that there are millions of videos and probably thousands of channels on YouTube. What are the odds that any particular one breaks out in popularity? Not very likely. A very few SDMB threads have attracted a decent amount of traffic or attention, such as “[If LotR Had Been Written By Someone Else!?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=138905)” or “[Best Names in Public Radio](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=671771)”. If we could reproduce that magic on a regular basis, they wouldn’t need voluntary contributions. But it’s tough. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-improve-going-forward-your-thoughts-on-the-matter/819049/310 "2018-08-09T18:45:19Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Is the goal to keep the site alive through memberships and voluntary contributions from those us who are die-hard fans (many of whom have been around for a while)? Or is the idea to increase traffic, membership and page views among new users so that the ad revenue, membership fees and so forth sustain it? > > Because the former doesn’t seem sustainable in the long run. This. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-improve-going-forward-your-thoughts-on-the-matter/819049/311 "2018-08-09T19:04:45Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > A YouTube channel is total pie in the sky. There’s no way you could keep up a stream of decent quality content. Yeah. Some of this thread reminds me of a Judy Garland / Micky Rooney movie. JUDY:\* “Oh no! They’re gonna close the nunnery because they’re out of money!”\* MICKEY:\*“Say! We could put on a show! Sam there could play a detective, and Mary’d make a swell damsel in distress! Why, we’ll make up the money in no time at all!” \* It’s super-sweet good intentions coloring reality a bit. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-improve-going-forward-your-thoughts-on-the-matter/819049/312 "2018-08-09T19:28:10Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > This is rule #1 over there > > While I guess asshole and jerk are different, I don’t see how they are THAT much different to mean that acting like a jerk is in any way tolerated or encouraged. They may seem similar, but the important part is why the language was changed. The GB allows personal attacks in all forums, not just the Pit. In fact, the Pit is a very underused forum over there (to the point of it being mostly joke threads back when I posted over there). This change causes a huge difference. The moderation over there is quite different, as well. Some rules are different, like the previously mentioned insults rule and allowing socks, but it’s mostly a completely different goal and attitude. Mods just decide if something is getting out of hand and then deal with it as they see fit. Sure, the SDMB isn’t entirely about rules, but the GB basically doesn’t involve them at all in moderating decisions. In addition, unless things have changed, The Giraffe Boards are supported out of its owner’s own pocket, meaning that making money off of it has never really been a goal. But trying to make more money is the entire purpose of this thread. Point is, it’s a different place. And those differences must be acknowledged, even if some ideas can transfer over. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-improve-going-forward-your-thoughts-on-the-matter/819049/313 "2018-08-09T20:16:52Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > Yeah. Some of this thread reminds me of a Judy Garland / Micky Rooney movie. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-improve-going-forward-your-thoughts-on-the-matter/819049/314 "2018-08-09T20:40:40Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Or maybe, people could, know you, actually put their money where their mouth is, and couch up a little support instead of just complaining? Nahh, crazy thought. The only time I’ve seen this “Guest vs. Member” conflict is when the topic is “Guest vs. Member” … I’ve never been told anywhere else that because I’m a guest I should shut up … > [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > Yeah. Some of this thread reminds me of a Judy Garland / Micky Rooney movie … [snip] More like [The Bickersons](https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-Lkry-SF01&hsimp=yhs-SF01&hspart=Lkry&p=bickersons#id=1&vid=110d598dd3763091627f553651fb79a7&action=click) {YouTube 13’16"} … (note as a married couple they sleep in separate beds [rolls eyes]) … ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-improve-going-forward-your-thoughts-on-the-matter/819049/315 "2018-08-09T21:37:21Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > (note as a married couple they sleep in separate beds [rolls eyes]) … [Blatant aside] IIRC that’s not actually uncommon. I think we’ve had a thread or two about it. [/Aside] ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-improve-going-forward-your-thoughts-on-the-matter/819049/316 "2018-08-09T21:56:10Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > A YouTube channel is total pie in the sky. There’s no way you could keep up a stream of decent quality content. I have Dachshunds. I could do it single-handed. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2018, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-improve-going-forward-your-thoughts-on-the-matter/819049/317 "2018-08-09T22:21:29Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > > > Is the goal to keep the site alive through memberships and voluntary contributions from those us who are die-hard fans (many of whom have been around for a while)? Or is the idea to increase traffic, membership and page views among new users so that the ad revenue, membership fees and so forth sustain it? > > > > Because the former doesn’t seem sustainable in the long run. > > This. Keep in mind that increasing traffic, membership and page views might involve things that us long-timers _hate_. (Perhaps, for instance, they redirect the board so it focuses on Justin Bieber, or whatever music the kids are listening to today.) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Crap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.crap/32/3131_2.png) [@Dr.Crap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Crap)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-improve-going-forward-your-thoughts-on-the-matter/819049/318 "2018-08-10T00:15:00Z")
Speaking of things you might hate, here are ideas cribbed from other forums that may not be technically possible: In addition to titles, enable default avatars and allow members to purchase a custom one – including for other members. Allow members to purchase ad-banner time/space that is displayed separately from regular ads. Most of these, I imagine, would point to specific threads. Enable an ad-free expierence, not applying to the above member-driven ads, for a fee. Disable features for guests, such as search and avatars. And, to repeat something from the subscription thread, allow the banned to repurchase membership. Edit: Enable media embedding for a fee. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-improve-going-forward-your-thoughts-on-the-matter/819049/319 "2018-08-10T01:49:54Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Perhaps, for instance, they redirect the board so it focuses on Justin Bieber No, Please Jesus, no! ---
**Author:** ![expectopatronum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/expectopatronum/32/173_2.png) [@expectopatronum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/expectopatronum)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-improve-going-forward-your-thoughts-on-the-matter/819049/320 "2018-08-10T02:07:06Z")
So, avatars check. Next up: a like button? 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-improve-going-forward-your-thoughts-on-the-matter/819049.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ways-to-improve-going-forward-your-thoughts-on-the-matter/819049.md?page=17)