BraindDen is a great place because of the time, energy, and mental athletics contributed by all its members. However, while most of us can only give a little bit, it should be recognized that there is a significant expenditure of time and money by the site's creator and sole admin (rookie1ja) to keep this place thriving and fun for everyone. It is truly a labor of love for the rookie, but none of us want to see him burn out due to the drain of running the site. This post is about exploring options to help relieve the pressure a bit.
Probably very few of us would have made it past the first page of the forums if the site weren't freely available, so I think it's fair to say that the free and open nature of the site is critical to its success. But how can the costs be defrayed? I sent a PM to a number of regular members, and the foremost suggestion was ...
1. Ads
It seems most members would have no problems with the addition of a few unobtrusive ads, and the more visitors the site gets, the greater the revenue generated by the ads. If you think ads would be an acceptable change to the site, please indicate this in your response to the poll. But what about ...
2. PayPal donations
Would there be enough interest in supporting the site to make this a worthwhile option? Would it be appropriate to have set amounts, a minimum donation amount, or leave it completely up to the member?
3. Voluntary monthly subscriptions
It's easier to contribute regularly and consistently if you designate a small amount each month rather than making individual donations whenever you happen to think of it. What's the general feeling towards such subscriptions?
This raises another question. If there are voluntary subscriptions, should there be perks that come with being a voluntary supporter? For example, perhaps a member could get the same editing rights as a VIP member simply by donating a set amount per month (say, $25). Would that be worthwhile? Please indicate whether or not you would seriously consider choosing such an option via the poll.
Additionally, the hosting costs that rookie mentioned to me seem a bit high. Perhaps some members are aware of better options which could reduce costs. If so, please discuss with rookie via PM.
Basically, after I brought up the idea, rookie indicated he is definitely interested in getting some help, but I don't think he wanted to lead the charge himself. Of course, help can also take the form of assistance with moderating; this place would be considerably more chaotic if it weren't for the outstanding efforts of martini and bonanova, but most of us don't have the time or fortitude to take on such an assignment. If we have a bit of cash to spare, however, it would be greatly appreciated, and this thread is a good place to post your thoughts on the matter.
I appreciate the responses I already received, but I realized I don't want to be the mediator for this topic. I just want to stir up interest and generate feedback.
So let's hear it. Let the rookie know what you think.
Question
Guest
BraindDen is a great place because of the time, energy, and mental athletics contributed by all its members. However, while most of us can only give a little bit, it should be recognized that there is a significant expenditure of time and money by the site's creator and sole admin (rookie1ja) to keep this place thriving and fun for everyone. It is truly a labor of love for the rookie, but none of us want to see him burn out due to the drain of running the site. This post is about exploring options to help relieve the pressure a bit.
Probably very few of us would have made it past the first page of the forums if the site weren't freely available, so I think it's fair to say that the free and open nature of the site is critical to its success. But how can the costs be defrayed? I sent a PM to a number of regular members, and the foremost suggestion was ...
1. Ads
It seems most members would have no problems with the addition of a few unobtrusive ads, and the more visitors the site gets, the greater the revenue generated by the ads. If you think ads would be an acceptable change to the site, please indicate this in your response to the poll. But what about ...
2. PayPal donations
Would there be enough interest in supporting the site to make this a worthwhile option? Would it be appropriate to have set amounts, a minimum donation amount, or leave it completely up to the member?
3. Voluntary monthly subscriptions
It's easier to contribute regularly and consistently if you designate a small amount each month rather than making individual donations whenever you happen to think of it. What's the general feeling towards such subscriptions?
This raises another question. If there are voluntary subscriptions, should there be perks that come with being a voluntary supporter? For example, perhaps a member could get the same editing rights as a VIP member simply by donating a set amount per month (say, $25). Would that be worthwhile? Please indicate whether or not you would seriously consider choosing such an option via the poll.
Additionally, the hosting costs that rookie mentioned to me seem a bit high. Perhaps some members are aware of better options which could reduce costs. If so, please discuss with rookie via PM.
Basically, after I brought up the idea, rookie indicated he is definitely interested in getting some help, but I don't think he wanted to lead the charge himself. Of course, help can also take the form of assistance with moderating; this place would be considerably more chaotic if it weren't for the outstanding efforts of martini and bonanova, but most of us don't have the time or fortitude to take on such an assignment. If we have a bit of cash to spare, however, it would be greatly appreciated, and this thread is a good place to post your thoughts on the matter.
I appreciate the responses I already received, but I realized I don't want to be the mediator for this topic. I just want to stir up interest and generate feedback.
So let's hear it. Let the rookie know what you think.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
16 answers to this question
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.