Forum Fee

[wbalsam1]

Quote:
Originally Posted by iwire
I am pretty sure I would not be wiling to pay anything to come to a free forum. :wink:

oh, that's ok bob...it's not your fault

Liberally speaking, it's nobody's fault! :wink:

 

[nolabama]

as a long time user of the internets i feel that all knowledge repositorys such as this should be free to all - i know that servers are not free but ad space can help offset such costs - that being said if this forum were to charge a nominal fee and all of the current super users were to continue to use it i would feel compelled to pay the vig so to speak as it is probably one of the best learning tools i have access to - all saftey training that i have recieved has been from this forum and other sites like this one - sad but true

 

[mdshunk]

as a long time user of the internets i feel that all knowledge repositorys such as this should be free to all

There's more than one? Awesome!

 

[nolabama]

of course their is more than one you dont think that the goverment would let us have the best stuff out there do you

 

[Rockyd]

Free is free. having said that though, I strongly recommend taking one of these. Actually, strongly recommend taking as many as reasonably fit the need! Mike, in person rocks!


So there are my$.02 worth

 

[joebell]

I strongly recommend taking one of these. Actually, strongly recommend taking as many as reasonably fit the need! Mike, in person rocks!

I'll agree with that I took the code change seminar about a year ago. Well worth the money.

Joe

 

[weressl]

Charlie,

I in NO WAY mean this to be disrepectful to Mike Holt. I am just hypothetically asking a question. In light of the current economic situation I do not see it as being far fetched either.

Joe

1. Paying for something free is an oxymoron.
2. The contribution of each member far exceeds ANY of the fees suggested.
3. Nash's theorem: any groups activity will be progressive when each member will act what is best for the individual AND the group.
4. How #3 is applicable to this group is that each of us share our individual expereince and knowledge here, thus all of us learn and expand our knowledge collectively. There is no job-security issue involved here, even though the practices reflect some of that, but no one is threathened that by sharing their knowledge somebody else will 'take their job'.

 

[khixxx]

I would not use this forum if I HAD to pay. I would be forced outside to see the sunlight. I would develop FRIENDS. My skin would get a shade tanner instead of this pale look. I would lose some weight sense I will most likely pick up a sport. The best thing is you wouldn't have to read this post

I know some forum ask for donations but not to many donate. I think if you give $100 you get a hooded sweatshirt, and a symbol beside your name on the forum.

 

[romeo]

Forum Fee

I kind of see it like Charlie.

You would not go to someones home for dinner and ask the other guests what the dinner would be worth if they had to pay for it.

I agree,well said

 

[ultramegabob]

I am pretty sure I would not be wiling to pay anything to come to a free forum. :wink:

thats pretty much what I think, its kind of a goofy question....

 

[LarryFine]

thats pretty much what I think, its kind of a goofy question....

Gawrsh!

 

[joebell]

1. Paying for something free is an oxymoron.
2. The contribution of each member far exceeds ANY of the fees suggested.
3. Nash's theorem: any groups activity will be progressive when each member will act what is best for the individual AND the group.
4. How #3 is applicable to this group is that each of us share our individual expereince and knowledge here, thus all of us learn and expand our knowledge collectively. There is no job-security issue involved here, even though the practices reflect some of that, but no one is threathened that by sharing their knowledge somebody else will 'take their job'.

I did not author the question on the poll. I merely asked a question brought about by a post on one of the threads concerning IAEI membership where a poster there commented that he would much rather pay a fee for this site than join that organization. So I hypothetically asked the question if this was a pay for use site how many would pay.


I can honestly say that by the response of the poll that if this was a pay for use site I would have to second guess my original decission of joining due to the quality of membership that would be lost.

Joe

 

[mikeames]

Zero. If this forum were unable to continue without people forking over a few bucks, another free forum would fill the gap.

I agree I love this site and respect Mike Holt, but server space in not very expensive either. I am involved with a hosting/ development company and see it first hand. Companies find there is more value in free information than charging for something. Just look how much traffic this forum drives to Mikes Site. I would bet this forum is more than 90% of the domains total traffic.

 

[JJWalecka]

That would be an unkind thing to suggest to the man who created this forum, and who pays for its operational costs out of his own pocket, since this is his way to give something back to the industry that has done so much for him.

I love this forum. Thank you Mr. Holt.

JJ

 

[Rockyd]

I agree with Mike Ames. Look at the stats -

Mike Holt's Forum Statistics
Threads: 54,415, Posts: 602,561, Members: 48,242, Active Members: 1,904
Welcome to our newest member, bagoon316

The membership of the forum , plus the man who owns the site, have created a great synergy point. There is a reason that this symbol is on the opening page -

 

[SEO]

I love this forum. Thank you Mr. Holt.

JJ

I agree with you JJWalecka.

 

[480sparky]

Then would the following question be out of line:?

How many are willing to make a voluntary donation in order to maintain the Forum?

 

[Greg Swartz]

If there is a fee involved, the forum is no longer free. :grin:

So the question invalid on its own merits.

I was kinda thinking along these same lines.

 

[Greg Swartz]

I agree I love this site and respect Mike Holt, but server space in not very expensive either. I am involved with a hosting/ development company and see it first hand. Companies find there is more value in free information than charging for something. Just look how much traffic this forum drives to Mikes Site. I would bet this forum is more than 90% of the domains total traffic.

My website costs about $4.95 a month, and I have thousands of e-mail address capabilities, 1 Terabyte of data transfer per month, and the ability to have a php forum...
More expensive plans go up to about $30 a month, that could cover the data transfer of this site...

Nonetheless, I agree about the forum being about 90% of the traffic. I also think that it boosts sales for Mr. Holt... and that is alright!

More traffic = more views of your product = more sales of your product.

I think the free forum is a terrific idea. It benefits us all... including Mr. Holt.

 

[LarryFine]

How many are willing to make a voluntary donation in order to maintain the Forum?

I refuse to answer the question on the grounds that it may cost me money.