Robert Dewey
EF5
Without looking like too much of a ST newbie (and disregarding my join date), what's "the core"? lol
Does it Cost $$$ To Join ST Now??
- Thread starter Dustin Wilcox
- Start date
Lanny Dean
EF5
This thread is giving me a headache. People saying the same damn thing over and over. What Tim does or does not with monies he may or may not accumulate from this forum is not any of my concern, nor should it be anyone else's concern.
This is a private forum, not a public one. To my knowledge, it has always been a private forum and as we all know, it takes some financial backing/funding to promote said forum.
It is very simple really...if people want to join, its gonna cost them $5. If money is an issue and they dont want to join because of that, then they sure as hell do not belong on the same forum as the rest of us.
Just my opinion, take it or leave it.
they sure as hell dont belong on the same forum that
This is a private forum, not a public one. To my knowledge, it has always been a private forum and as we all know, it takes some financial backing/funding to promote said forum.
It is very simple really...if people want to join, its gonna cost them $5. If money is an issue and they dont want to join because of that, then they sure as hell do not belong on the same forum as the rest of us.
Just my opinion, take it or leave it.
they sure as hell dont belong on the same forum that
Jason Bolt
I guess I'd like to challenge everyone to nut up and pay the supporter fee. Honestly, if you hadn't gotten $18 worth or info/entertainment/traffic here you wouldn't still be here! 
Buy now while they are still running the special: Two supporter sig tags for the price of one!
Buy now while they are still running the special: Two supporter sig tags for the price of one!
Bob Hartig
EF5
Buy now while they are still running the special: Two supporter sig tags for the price of one!
And a steal at twice the price!
Marcus Hicks
EF2
I just ponied up. Well worth the $$. I've gained a ton of knowledge from the people and information on this site. I personally don't care where the money goes as it's not my concern. Just keep ST going. Looks like I got the 2 for one deal too.
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Tim Vasquez
EF5
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2003
- Messages
- 3,411
Just a few quick responses:
* Jason: The Junior Member tag identifies the automatic 30-day probationary window for all new users which restricts access to Bar & Grill and Target Area. This was originally developed to cut down some of the problems we had in those forums back in 2006 or 2007. Myself and the mods will have to have some discussion this month on where to go with that. As the user group schemes have gotten jumbled with our recent changes, there's a good chance the board has stopped assigning Junior Member status.
* Tarmo: There's always room for exceptions based on situation like what you describe; it's circumstantial.
* The Core was an ill-fated idea we had in July 2004 to create an inner sanctum of quality and experience, borrowing from the concepts of CFDG. Just before this happened we had a small run of veterans depart for CFDG and there was some concern we were going to lose a lot of experience, so it was an attempt to develop the kind of noise-free and private environment these folks wanted. Invitations were based largely on exceptional quality of posts or solid accomplishments, but it took only about five days before it got outed. We took a lot of heat for segregating the site and creating what was basically a caste system, and in retrospect the whole thing was a really poor decision on my part, probably THE worst in my 13 years of running the site. If you dig around in the archives you may find some illuminating posts about at all. Feel free to split off another thread about the Core if you all feel like discussing it further.
Tim
* Jason: The Junior Member tag identifies the automatic 30-day probationary window for all new users which restricts access to Bar & Grill and Target Area. This was originally developed to cut down some of the problems we had in those forums back in 2006 or 2007. Myself and the mods will have to have some discussion this month on where to go with that. As the user group schemes have gotten jumbled with our recent changes, there's a good chance the board has stopped assigning Junior Member status.
* Tarmo: There's always room for exceptions based on situation like what you describe; it's circumstantial.
* The Core was an ill-fated idea we had in July 2004 to create an inner sanctum of quality and experience, borrowing from the concepts of CFDG. Just before this happened we had a small run of veterans depart for CFDG and there was some concern we were going to lose a lot of experience, so it was an attempt to develop the kind of noise-free and private environment these folks wanted. Invitations were based largely on exceptional quality of posts or solid accomplishments, but it took only about five days before it got outed. We took a lot of heat for segregating the site and creating what was basically a caste system, and in retrospect the whole thing was a really poor decision on my part, probably THE worst in my 13 years of running the site. If you dig around in the archives you may find some illuminating posts about at all. Feel free to split off another thread about the Core if you all feel like discussing it further.
Tim
Ryan Wichman
EF3
Maybe Tim and some older members can bring some light to this, but has there been an discussion about reviving the magazine aspect of ST? I do not know exactly what was in said magazine but I think it would be really cool to put on together on a quarterly basis based on what has been going on in the world of severe weather. Including related published papers by members, case studies or just editorials. I know a lot of this is covered online here in forums, but having a hard copy with some pictures included and the sort would be pretty neat to bring back.
MatthewCarman
I said a 5$ fee "could" bring in some low quality posters. I never said it would. I think we will get some low quality posters no matter how it is done. I think everyone who joins just needs to get the hang of how this forum is ran. I know at first I posted alot of low quality posts and have since learned from it. I don't feel a 5$ fee is a good or bad thing. I think this is a good forum and it is well worth the 5$ fee. Most other weather forums can't compete.
I do have a question for you Tim. I donated and recieved the membership for life deal but it said it was only for 25 years which is not what the description says. I was just curious if this was a mistake? I plan to donate every year if I can so that is fine if it is only for 25 years.
Dustin Wilcox
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.
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Robert Dewey
EF5
Ah yeah, now I remember the core... I can't believe I completely forgot about the whole debate.
Lanny Dean
EF5
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.
Joey Ketcham
I really don't know why people are so stuck on wanting to know where the money goes? If you don't want to donate, then don't. If you don't want to pay $5 to join, then don't. As Lanny said, it's quite simple. The ST donation has been around a long time, so I dont' know why suddenly everyone is so bent out of shape on knowing what the donations are used for.
All the money we, as storm chasers, spend each year on storm chasing and we are seriously going to cry over a measly few dollars? Really?
All the money we, as storm chasers, spend each year on storm chasing and we are seriously going to cry over a measly few dollars? Really?
Dustin Wilcox
EF5
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
Perhaps you're confused or fail to fully understand the definition of contradict; I'm fully aware if you want to become a member is cost $5, IMO that's great, could care less actually; There is a HUGE difference between telling someone it cost a Fee to join something and asking for Donations implying it will be used to fund something that in reality is already more than paid for; again not saying that's the case here, just pointing out it would be of benefit to the beneficiary to disclose some evidence on how donations are/will be allocated...
Quite similar situations
; but I will say, if one of my friends lost all their "worldly possessions" it would be quite obvious they need assistance, and I would donate whatever I could, be it for a new bed or clothing; now if on my way to make the donation, I see them walking into the local Casino, I'm probably going to rethink my donation. Using your spectacular fun little scenario, my question that seems no one can or wants to answer, has ST been burnt down and worldly possessions lost, or is the house still standing tall and the local casino seeing some business?
Robert Dewey
EF5
Given the number of people that have donated, I'm guessing most do not care where the money is going... as long as it is ST related.
Dustin Wilcox
EF5
Yeah, and that's means great things for the existence of ST (as long as it is ST related). I'm just saying if they truly need more assistance, they could pick up more donations by sharing some of the numbers. As it is, in refraining for disclosing that information *I* (and assuming others) interpret it as they are sitting fine financially and don't need additional donations to keep in operation. So I guess as a non-donator, I'll say thanks to all you pitching in the money, keep it up!!!
