# Weak guys. **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [May 23, 2013, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weak-guys/659087 "2013-05-23T03:17:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2013, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weak-guys/659087/61 "2013-05-23T22:49:45Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > So is anyone else wondering, “Surely there’s more reliable hosting for what we’re paying?” > [@twickster](#): > > Asks the guest. I assumed he meant what we (royal we of SDMB) are paying (to the folks that host our DB server), not what we (members) are paying (in subscription fees). ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2013, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weak-guys/659087/62 "2013-05-23T22:50:30Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I assumed he meant what we (royal we of SDMB) are paying (to the folks that host our DB server), not what we (members) are paying (in subscription fees). Could be. Like I said earlier, I’m sure the people who make those decisions are aware of their options. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2013, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weak-guys/659087/63 "2013-05-23T22:52:36Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Could be. Like I said earlier, I’m sure the people who make those decisions are aware of their options. Sure, it just renders **Twicksters** comment irrelevant if you interpret it the other way. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weak-guys/659087/64 "2013-05-24T00:20:09Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Like I said earlier, I’m sure the people who make those decisions are aware of their options. I think Ed has accurately communicated to the users exactly what he thinks of us. Keep cashing those Google Ads checks, guys! ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weak-guys/659087/65 "2013-05-24T02:07:44Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > That is the stock message that the current server farm throws up when they are working on problems, even if the problem is unscheduled. There’s always crap around the corner for anything to do with hosting or computing and it just has to be waited out: it’s like complaining about a sudden rainstorm; it’s gonna happen and won’t go away just because people don’t like it. Saying which, the whole last week since the 90,000 botnet thing started ( which did not affect my sites personally ) my WP site was up and down continuously — but mainly down — due to a cascade of hosting errors and I became more aware of the variety of 404s, 500s and 503s different causes could give as outcomes. Including among others _Host Not Configured To Serve Web Traffic_, \* Internal Server Error\*, _Server Temporarily Unavailable_, to the magnificent _There was a problem processing your request_ and I was stuck at the sheer effortless skill involved in making astoundingly useless notices. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weak-guys/659087/66 "2013-05-24T02:08:39Z")
> [@Astral\_Rejection](#): > > Isn’t he paying by being a set of eyeballs (and source of potential clicks) on the site’s ads? I don’t understand why you’d dismiss him like that. > [@Marley23](#): > > If he’s doing that, he’s also using the site’s resources without paying for them as members do. I would think that works both ways. Perhaps his word choice was just unclear. So? Members don’t see ads. That’s one of their perks. Only guests are forced to look at ads. So don’t we also pay by clicking on them? Or doesn’t that make up the difference that would otherwise be made up from a subscription? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weak-guys/659087/67 "2013-05-24T02:16:02Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > So don’t we also pay by clicking on them? Or doesn’t that make up the difference that would otherwise be made up from a subscription? Most don’t click, and ads pay very little. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weak-guys/659087/68 "2013-05-24T02:25:14Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Most don’t click, and ads pay very little. But if they were worthless, we wouldn’t have them. Since we do have them, they must have value. And members don’t see them, which means any value they have is provided solely by non-members. So either non-members contribute to the financial well being of the board, or we’re looking at a bunch of ads for no apparent reason. eta: That said, a little outage here and there isn’t something that’s a big deal to me. Stuff happens. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weak-guys/659087/69 "2013-05-24T05:12:01Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I assumed he meant what we (royal we of SDMB) are paying (to the folks that host our DB server), not what we (members) are paying (in subscription fees). Thanks, that’s what I wanted to say. And I was a member up to 2 weeks ago. I’m waiting before rejoining to see where this goes. Like has been said, this level of availability could be expected of a free service. Are “we” sure our ISP isn’t scalping us? Is this the best deal? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Dord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@The\_Dord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Dord)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weak-guys/659087/70 "2013-05-24T08:30:47Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > She doesn’t pay for it, true-she _works_ for it. It’s not enough compensation I say! 😛 Although it’s a perk for being a moderator and not compensation (IMO). ( Not related, but I make more than that with Bing points in 2 months that what she gets for a year for moderating the dope considering I get about $10 a month. She probably has to put more time in a day and more headaches than I have to! :eek: ) ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weak-guys/659087/71 "2013-05-24T12:58:40Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > But if they were worthless, we wouldn’t have them. Since we do have them, they must have value. Yes, but very little. IMO (since I don’t have access to the financials) their biggest value is annoyance to guests making them become members and pay. ---
**Author:** ![Astral\_Rejection](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/258eb7/32.png) [@Astral\_Rejection](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astral_Rejection)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weak-guys/659087/72 "2013-05-24T13:42:59Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > So? Members don’t see ads. That’s one of their perks. Only guests are forced to look at ads. So don’t we also pay by clicking on them? Or doesn’t that make up the difference that would otherwise be made up from a subscription? Thank you, that’s what I was getting at. I just didn’t see the need to snipe at a poster for not “paying his dues,” as if that means his question is invalid. I also interpreted his post to mean “we the SDMB,” not “we the posters.” ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weak-guys/659087/73 "2013-05-24T14:57:56Z")
> [@Claverhouse](#): > > There’s always crap around the corner for anything to do with hosting or computing and it just has to be waited out: it’s like complaining about a sudden rainstorm; it’s gonna happen and won’t go away just because people don’t like it. This. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weak-guys/659087/74 "2013-05-24T16:27:41Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Yes, but very little. IMO (since I don’t have access to the financials) their biggest value is annoyance to guests making them become members and pay. I would absolutely love to see the financials on this place. I suspect they make significantly more on the ads than membership fees just based on how reluctant they are to ever complain about malware ads. Unfortunately, I have it on good authority that the balance sheet is actually a stained cocktail napkin with the phrase “web hosting - $24/year” scrawled on it. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weak-guys/659087/75 "2013-05-24T17:31:07Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > It cracks me up to realize how hooked I am on that good Dope. When the board goes down, I start looking for that methadone to hold me over. I start visiting websites I haven’t been to in ages. Websites I forgot about. Nothing hits that spot till the dope is back in the veins though. They don’t call it the Dope for nuttin’… ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weak-guys/659087/76 "2013-05-24T18:13:39Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > I would absolutely love to see the financials on this place. I suspect they make significantly more on the ads than membership fees just based on how reluctant they are to ever complain about malware ads. \*\*Yeah, MODERATORS!! Why aren’t you complaining to us about malware ads… \*\* wait, wha? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weak-guys/659087/77 "2013-05-24T18:30:42Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > But if they were worthless, we wouldn’t have them. Since we do have them, they must have value. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weak-guys/659087/78 "2013-05-24T18:47:13Z")
> [@moriah](#): > > \*\*Yeah, MODERATORS!! Why aren’t you complaining to us about malware ads… \*\* > > wait, wha? No, I mean the SDMB admins refuse to complain to the ad companies who give them shitty malware ads. I assume this is because they like the ad revenue too much to make waves. But speaking of the ownership, has it ever been clarified just who owns this place? Is it 100% owned by the Chicago Reader? Does Ed Zotti have an ownership interest or does he receive a stipend? Just what is his stake in this place? Wouldn’t it make sense to clarify just who profits from the SDMB since you actively solicit membership and money? ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weak-guys/659087/79 "2013-05-24T20:25:44Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > No, I mean the SDMB admins refuse to complain to the ad companies who give them shitty malware ads.\*\* I assume this \*\*is because **they like the ad revenue too much to make waves**. Well, that’s a pretty baseless assumption. It would be similar for me to say that you make that assumption because I assume you like money and thus you want everything to be free out of a sense of entitlement. Now, would such an assumption be fair to make? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weak-guys/659087/80 "2013-05-24T20:59:28Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > But speaking of the ownership, has it ever been clarified just who owns this place? Is it 100% owned by the Chicago Reader? Does Ed Zotti have an ownership interest or does he receive a stipend? Just what is his stake in this place? Wouldn’t it make sense to clarify just who profits from the SDMB since you actively solicit membership and money? > [@](#): > > In 2012, the Chicago Reader was acquired by Wrapports LLC, parent company of Sun-Times Media. From [Chicago Reader - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Reader) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weak-guys/659087.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weak-guys/659087.md?page=5)