Lanny Dean
EF5
Just my humble opinion, but anytime donations are called for and made (regardless if it’s a public or private endeavor), it is only with decency that the donator (should he/she be interested) be allowed to have some sort of idea how their donation is being allocated. I agree with many, $5 is peanuts and I see nothing wrong with charging whatever price for a FEE to join the forum (regardless of how that revenue is being allocated). That being said, I don't feel the same when it comes to donations. When I heard it now cost to join, and knowing many donations have been made and much ad space sold, it made me question the many times I've seen it implied that donations were needed to "fund the website operation and other unforeseen expenses (like if we have to migrate to a bigger server during a big chase week), and hopefully soon we will be able to give moderators a small stipend for their volunteer work" Now I'm no server and web operation person and I have no idea what it costs to operate something such as ST, perhaps it's a struggle to fund with the given revenue, were that the case, I'd have no problem throwing money into the pot and being a "StormTrack Supporter"; now if revenue is far greater than costs, rather than blindly funding hidden interests, I'd prefer to send my donation to a worthwhile charity, rather than being a "Unknown Supporter". Now if the first scenario were the case (struggle to keep revenue near costs) as has been “vaguely†implied in the past, I'd think the admins would openly state that, and in doing so surely would boost donations; if the second scenario (revenue greater than costs) I can fully understand them wanting to keep quiet, just hope they too than understand the negative stigma that creates.
I am sorry Dustin, I simply do not understand your post. You contradicted yourself with the whole donation thing.
Again, to me, it is really really very simple....if you want to become a member it is going to cost a whole $5
As far as the donation, and this is what I think you were trying to say, I understand the "need" to know where you money is going. But let me ask you this......for the sake of argument, let's say that one of your friends lost all their worldly possessions is a house fire and the locals decided to take and give dontations for/to them. You even decided to give um...lets say $18 .....does it matter and do you need to know if your $18 went for a new bed or clothing???
Come on people, I might be able to understand if we were talking big
$$$ dollars $$$$ ......we are talking $5 to join and donations ranging from $18-$50!!!
As I said earler, this thread is really going nowhere on this issue IMO.