Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community  

Go Back   Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community > Chatter > General Discussion


 
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 03-13-2006, 10:58 AM   #1 (permalink)
Please touch this.
 
Halx's Avatar
 
Owner/Admin
Location: Manhattan
What's TFP worth?

So, it gets harder and harder to earn donations from people. The TFP has been around for more than 4 years and it has existed primarily because it's users support it with funds. Some users have donated over $400 over the course of these 4 years. There are a few people supporting the site financially with big chunks of money, while others throw in a few bucks here and there. Well, the problem with this model is donor burnout. I can only ask so much of the same people over and over. New donors have to step up. There are some people who have been browsing the TFP for all 4 years and have not given a cent. There are new users who really love the TFP, but who have not yet been through one of these donation rounds and dont even know how this site supports itself.

We're in a bind and the alternative to all of this is to charge a subscription fee. People have been suggesting it for years, but the donations have been sufficient. Sufficient, but with diminishing returns.

Why should you donate? Isn't the internet supposed to be free? Well, you have to take responsibility for your pleasures. If the TFP is one of your pleasures and it's struggling to make ends meet, then wouldn't the right thing to do be to pitch in?

We offer a site with great information and discussion, a soap box for you to voice your opinions, and thousands of members to interact with - all free of trolls, kids and advertising. None of it's very flashy, nor hi-tech, but it still costs a lot of money to maintain. We need help from EVERYONE, not just the same people over and over.

Please donate!
__________________
You have found this post informative.
-The Administrator
[Don't Feed The Animals]
Halx is offline  
Old 03-13-2006, 11:40 AM   #2 (permalink)
The Death Card
 
Ace_O_Spades's Avatar
 
Location: EH!?!?
my problem has always been the lack of a credit card, and therefore, the lack of paypal

if donations were accepted through other means I would donate, but you've repeatedly said that paypal is the only method of donation.

I don't know if this policy has changed, perhaps you could inform us.
__________________
Feh.
Ace_O_Spades is offline  
Old 03-13-2006, 11:42 AM   #3 (permalink)
... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.
 
Willravel's Avatar
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ace_O_Spades
my problem has always been the lack of a credit card, and therefore, the lack of paypal

if donations were accepted through other means I would donate, but you've repeatedly said that paypal is the only method of donation.

I don't know if this policy has changed, perhaps you could inform us.
I chopped up my credit cards years ago. All you need for paypal is a checking account. I'm sending $$ to my paypal from my checking right now. I should be able to donate within the next few days. You can also send a money order to Halx.
Willravel is offline  
Old 03-13-2006, 01:42 PM   #4 (permalink)
Psycho
 
keyshawn's Avatar
 
hey hey,

I am also very hesitant about using Paypal for things, until I remembered about checks ! I sent a personal check out to Halx (got the information from him) and it was all good.

If Halx doesn't want a suddent flood of checks (although that probably isn't that bad of thing) or do not have a checking account, you can go with a money order as well. Most banks offer them for nominal fees, or some (like mine) give you a few/year as a part of doing business with them.

Also, for those in the USA, you can get them at your local postal office [ http://www.usps.com/money/sendingmoney/welcome.htm ] , for only 95 cents. That's probably less than what paypal charges


Halx, (forgive me if this OT) but how much of the bandwidth costs attributed to the TB ? Just wondering if you're considering freezing that, as it was in the past during financial pinches (IIRC).

Catcha back on the flipside,
keyshawn
__________________
currently reading:

currently playing :
keyshawn is offline  
Old 03-13-2006, 02:38 PM   #5 (permalink)
Kick Ass Kunoichi
 
snowy's Avatar
 
Location: Oregon
I have no problem ponying up my fair share of the cash when I have it. The problem is that lately I haven't had it. But I am proud of my "donor" tag and I will continue to donate as long as I can spare $10-$20--that moment just isn't right now, but probably will be a month from now, maybe more.

And I really do urge those who can afford to donate to do so to help keep this site running not just for yourselves, but for the community at large.
__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau
snowy is offline  
Old 03-13-2006, 02:47 PM   #6 (permalink)
Apocalypse Nerd
 
Astrocloud's Avatar
 
I think friday I may have a few dollars to spare.
Astrocloud is offline  
Old 03-13-2006, 04:12 PM   #7 (permalink)
Darth Papa
 
ratbastid's Avatar
 
Location: Yonder
I'm chagrined to realize that the last time I donated was probably more than two years ago...

Sorry, Hal. It slipped my mind, so thanks for the reminder. A little sumpthin-sumpthin is headed your way right now.
ratbastid is offline  
Old 03-13-2006, 04:47 PM   #8 (permalink)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
 
*Nikki*'s Avatar
 
Location: Charleston, SC
If you PM Hal he will give you an address to SEND a check to. You do not NEED to use paypal!!
*Nikki* is offline  
Old 03-13-2006, 05:05 PM   #9 (permalink)
immoral minority
 
ASU2003's Avatar
 
Location: Back in Ohio
Does Paypal take out any fees if it's just a person to person transfer?
ASU2003 is offline  
Old 03-13-2006, 05:26 PM   #10 (permalink)
Psycho
 
ryfo's Avatar
 
Location: melbourne australia
Havent used paypal much and I just donatted but I think I donated in Aus dollars. Hope this still works out ok for TFP, I will check what currency i am using before I donate next time:-)
ryfo is offline  
Old 03-13-2006, 05:38 PM   #11 (permalink)
<3 TFP
 
xepherys's Avatar
 
Location: 17TLH2445607250
Quote:
Originally Posted by ASU2003
Does Paypal take out any fees if it's just a person to person transfer?
Yes they do.
xepherys is offline  
Old 03-13-2006, 05:41 PM   #12 (permalink)
Insane
 
ScottKuma's Avatar
 
Location: Maineville, OH
Mine's on its way...
__________________
A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take from you everything you have.
-Gerald R. Ford

GoogleMap Me
ScottKuma is offline  
Old 03-13-2006, 06:50 PM   #13 (permalink)
Please touch this.
 
Halx's Avatar
 
Owner/Admin
Location: Manhattan
Quote:
Originally Posted by *Nikki*
If you PM Hal he will give you an address to SEND a check to. You do not NEED to use paypal!!
Well my dear, if you had read the announcement like it was designed to make you do, you'd see that I listed my mailing address for you to send naked pictures and personal checks to.
__________________
You have found this post informative.
-The Administrator
[Don't Feed The Animals]
Halx is offline  
Old 03-13-2006, 06:52 PM   #14 (permalink)
Please touch this.
 
Halx's Avatar
 
Owner/Admin
Location: Manhattan
Quote:
Originally Posted by ASU2003
Does Paypal take out any fees if it's just a person to person transfer?
They take out fees on my end, only because my account is set up to accept credit cards. If I left it as bank account only, then there would be no fees.
__________________
You have found this post informative.
-The Administrator
[Don't Feed The Animals]
Halx is offline  
Old 03-13-2006, 07:39 PM   #15 (permalink)
Non-Rookie
 
NoSoup's Avatar
 
Location: Green Bay, WI
There you are Halx

Thanks for all your hard work keeping this community up and running!
__________________
I have an aura of reliability and good judgement.

Just in case you were wondering...
NoSoup is offline  
Old 03-13-2006, 07:44 PM   #16 (permalink)
Fade out
 
Location: in love
without TFP where would i post nude pics?
my $25 sent.




Come on ppl... give if you can...

AND i'll give you a kiss for it

Who wants kisses? If you donate... i'll give you a kiss

sweetpea
__________________
Having a Pet Will Change Your Life!
Looking for a great pet?! Click Here!
"I am the Type of Person Who Can Get Away With A lot, Simply Because I Don't Ask Permission for the Privilege of Being Myself"
Sweetpea is offline  
Old 03-13-2006, 07:49 PM   #17 (permalink)
peekaboo
 
ngdawg's Avatar
 
Location: on the back, bitch
Heh. Sent my $45 before I saw this here....you'd think with all the users, if everyone sent in $15, there'd be...uh...hm..well, enough to run this for a long time
Here's what I do and it would probably work for everyone: When you get your tax refund (and we know you will get one, you're all very savvy TFP'ers), give 2%. Ok, if you're only getting back $10, just send half that, but if it's a goodly amount, you won't miss that 2%-you'd probably just spend it on something really dumb. Right?
__________________
Don't blame me. I didn't vote for either of'em.
ngdawg is offline  
Old 03-13-2006, 09:17 PM   #18 (permalink)
With a mustache, the cool factor would be too much
 
Fremen's Avatar
 
Location: left side of my couch, East Texas
I'd like my sweetpea kiss, please.
__________________
Google
Fremen is offline  
Old 03-13-2006, 09:19 PM   #19 (permalink)
Tilted
 
TFP's traffic ranking on Alexa.com is 57,676 or so of all websites. That's a very good ranking. With a little know how you can turn that into serious sponsorship dollars.
Brilliant Idiot is offline  
Old 03-13-2006, 09:31 PM   #20 (permalink)
Please touch this.
 
Halx's Avatar
 
Owner/Admin
Location: Manhattan
Call me lame, but I don't think my users want to log in to ads all over the place. Even when we were in the 6,000's for a time, I have never considered it.
__________________
You have found this post informative.
-The Administrator
[Don't Feed The Animals]
Halx is offline  
Old 03-13-2006, 10:12 PM   #21 (permalink)
Fade out
 
Location: in love
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fremen
I'd like my sweetpea kiss, please.



Thanks for donating to this amazing site

sweetpea
__________________
Having a Pet Will Change Your Life!
Looking for a great pet?! Click Here!
"I am the Type of Person Who Can Get Away With A lot, Simply Because I Don't Ask Permission for the Privilege of Being Myself"
Sweetpea is offline  
Old 03-13-2006, 10:13 PM   #22 (permalink)
Fade out
 
Location: in love
Quote:
Originally Posted by Halx
Call me lame, but I don't think my users want to log in to ads all over the place. Even when we were in the 6,000's for a time, I have never considered it.
as usual... Halx is wise.

sweetpea
__________________
Having a Pet Will Change Your Life!
Looking for a great pet?! Click Here!
"I am the Type of Person Who Can Get Away With A lot, Simply Because I Don't Ask Permission for the Privilege of Being Myself"
Sweetpea is offline  
Old 03-13-2006, 11:01 PM   #23 (permalink)
Quadrature Amplitude Modulator
 
oberon's Avatar
 
Location: Denver
It's been about a year since my last donation, and since that time I've gotten a nice job, so I sent $100.

Subscriptions would be an easy way to avoid needing to do fundraising like this every so often. Unfortunately, it might cut out some college students who don't already benefit from TFP as much as they can. Perhaps what we could do is have subscriptions, but allow people to have a free subscription for the first 3 months or so? Thing is, at $5 a subscription you'd only need 80 of them to cover the monthly bill.
__________________
"There are finer fish in the sea than have ever been caught." -- Irish proverb
oberon is offline  
Old 03-13-2006, 11:16 PM   #24 (permalink)
Insane
 
Tamerlain's Avatar
 
Location: Victoria
I think a free subscription followed by a fee is a good idea. In 3 months (even less) one should be able to get a good feel for this place.

Cheque will be in the mail shortly after the tax refund goes into my bank account.

-Tamerlain
__________________
I never let school interfere with my education.
Tamerlain is offline  
Old 03-13-2006, 11:23 PM   #25 (permalink)
Boy am I horny today
 
absorbentishe's Avatar
 
Location: T O L E D O, Toledo!!
I'm sorry about not donating anything in a year. I had a crappy job, and now no job... But, I'll be sending what I can Friday. I personally love this place, and wouldn't find the net as interesting without. Once I get my unemployment check, I'll send $50.00.
absorbentishe is offline  
Old 03-13-2006, 11:23 PM   #26 (permalink)
Fade out
 
Location: in love
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tamerlain
I think a free subscription followed by a fee is a good idea. In 3 months (even less) one should be able to get a good feel for this place.

Cheque will be in the mail shortly after the tax refund goes into my bank account.

-Tamerlain
But the whole point is for TFP to be free i believe.

We SHOULD be able to support it with all the members we have... if we'd only donate a little more often and without getting a kick in the ass about it.

sweetpea
__________________
Having a Pet Will Change Your Life!
Looking for a great pet?! Click Here!
"I am the Type of Person Who Can Get Away With A lot, Simply Because I Don't Ask Permission for the Privilege of Being Myself"
Sweetpea is offline  
Old 03-14-2006, 02:01 AM   #27 (permalink)
Found my way back
 
healer's Avatar
 
Location: South Africa
Quote:
Originally Posted by sweetpea
But the whole point is for TFP to be free i believe.
I have the same point of view. Which is why I choose to donate to the community, rather than having to pay a fee for subscription. I feel that a subscription will take something away from the general feel/experience. It's kinda hard to explain.

But anyways...

I'd like to send the money via snail mail, but I'm not sure what the best way is to go about doing it. I've heard the postal cheque/money order idea, but I'm not sure if it'll work since it's foreign currency and being sent internationally.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

healer
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Jazz
Ok - can I edit my posts to read "what healer said"?
healer is offline  
Old 03-14-2006, 02:53 AM   #28 (permalink)
What the HELL?
 
sonikeko's Avatar
 
Location: Bowling Green, OH
I understand the dilemma of many of our members. I AM the college student that some of you speak of. Money is ALWAYS tight, but if you will notice at right, I DO have a donar tag. I know, I know. You're all thinking that I am a hermit that never leaves his appartement and is really good with money right? HAHAHA. Donate what you feel you can afford. This IS a place worth keeping around and FREE!
__________________
"Adolescence is short, maturity is forever"
sonikeko is offline  
Old 03-14-2006, 03:39 AM   #29 (permalink)
C'mon, just blow it.
 
hulk's Avatar
 
Location: Perth, Australia
Heh, I donated a hunjie last time and still haven't received the donor tag. Had slipped my mind until now Want a copy of the receipt, Halx?
__________________
"'There's a tendency among the press to attribute the creation of a game to a single person,' says Warren Spector, creator of Thief and Deus Ex."
-- From an IGN game review.
hulk is offline  
Old 03-14-2006, 09:52 AM   #30 (permalink)
peekaboo
 
ngdawg's Avatar
 
Location: on the back, bitch
Heh. Forgot about the 'donor tag'....I feel so 'speshul' now
__________________
Don't blame me. I didn't vote for either of'em.
ngdawg is offline  
Old 03-14-2006, 10:02 AM   #31 (permalink)
Psycho
 
Location: Right behind you...BOO!
I've been here for a while, and I will freely admit I haven't donated before now, and what I did send I hope isn't worthless with the fees...but it's what I and asshopo could do! I hope it helps maybe just a little bit!

Thanks to everyone who has helped keep this place alive and to Halx for the reminder of how we are all working together to keep this place what it is...and not just in terms of money!
__________________
Smile It makes people wonder what you're up too!
Hash_Browns is offline  
Old 03-14-2006, 11:17 AM   #32 (permalink)
Crazy
 
I'm really confused about why this site costs $400 a month to run... are there not really cheap hosting solutions out there?? Don't get me wrong, I sent my donation, and was happy to do it...

and don't yell at me for never donating before, because before two months ago I really only dropped by TFP a couple times a year, and i've only been a regular visitor/contributor to TFP for about the last two months despite my join date...

anyway, i'm getting sidetracked... how much bandwidth does this place use? I mean... there are really great hosts out there with dedicated servers, 80GB hard drive, 1.5 terabytes of transfer per month for $200... surely that would be enough for TFP, right? Or is TFP really THAT huge?

Okay, that's enough out of me.
__________________
I'm swimming in the digital residue of a media-drenched world. It's too cold.
robbdn is offline  
Old 03-14-2006, 12:05 PM   #33 (permalink)
You had me at hello
 
Poppinjay's Avatar
 
Location: DC/Coastal VA
It seems like every site I’ve been on has had the discussion about cheap servers, cheap hosting etc. All of those sites have gone to subscription (which absolutely KILLS a site), or have become unworkable with ads or spammers.

Yeah, you can do it a lot cheaper. Go look at peoplesforum.com. Still free, but un-moderated or administered, except for when the site owner gets around to weeding through the thousands of reported posts. And filled with asshats. If it takes $400 a month to run a moderated board like this, I take it as an article of faith. There’s nothing else like this forum.

I asked and PM’ed for donor info without paypal, because of some shady meanness they committed recently. Now that I know how to send some ka-ching, I will. I promise.
__________________
I think the Apocalypse is happening all around us. We go on eating desserts and watching TV. I know I do. I wish we were more capable of sustained passion and sustained resistance. We should be screaming and what we do is gossip. -Lydia Millet
Poppinjay is offline  
Old 03-14-2006, 12:08 PM   #34 (permalink)
Apocalypse Nerd
 
Astrocloud's Avatar
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Halx
Well my dear, if you had read the announcement like it was designed to make you do, you'd see that I listed my mailing address for you to send naked pictures and personal checks to.
So which is it that you want? Dollars or naked pictures of Astrocloud?
Astrocloud is offline  
Old 03-14-2006, 03:26 PM   #35 (permalink)
 
abaya's Avatar
 
Location: Iceland
Money comin' your way ASAP, Halx.

/toddles off to locate checks... should I just put my user name at the bottom?

EDIT: PayPal is easier, gonna do that.
__________________
And think not you can direct the course of Love;
for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

--Khalil Gibran

Last edited by abaya; 03-14-2006 at 06:33 PM..
abaya is offline  
Old 03-14-2006, 08:53 PM   #36 (permalink)
peekaboo
 
ngdawg's Avatar
 
Location: on the back, bitch
Quote:
Originally Posted by robbdn
I'm really confused about why this site costs $400 a month to run... are there not really cheap hosting solutions out there?? Don't get me wrong, I sent my donation, and was happy to do it...

and don't yell at me for never donating before, because before two months ago I really only dropped by TFP a couple times a year, and i've only been a regular visitor/contributor to TFP for about the last two months despite my join date...

anyway, i'm getting sidetracked... how much bandwidth does this place use? I mean... there are really great hosts out there with dedicated servers, 80GB hard drive, 1.5 terabytes of transfer per month for $200... surely that would be enough for TFP, right? Or is TFP really THAT huge?

Okay, that's enough out of me.
With the pictures and such that many put up, lots of bandwidth gets used. There are ways to reduce individual picture posting though: Link instead of upload. If you must upload, 'save for web' first and make the picture about 400width or less-that will greatly reduce its 'weight'.(that also prevents 'theft' as the picture will pixellate so badly as to be unusable to the thief, but looks fine as a post). Don't ramble when replying or post entire linked articles-paste excerpts and link the rest. This all sounds like pittance on an individual level, but when you have 100 or more here a night, posting, reading, etc., it really adds up.
__________________
Don't blame me. I didn't vote for either of'em.
ngdawg is offline  
Old 03-15-2006, 05:02 AM   #37 (permalink)
Leaning against the -Sun-
 
little_tippler's Avatar
 
Super Moderator
Location: on the other side
I made a donation yesterday, hope you got it Hal. My Paypal doesn't use my little_tippler email so you might be wondering who that's from. I'll try and donate more regularly from now on. I can't believe that soon it'll be two years that I've been on TFP!
__________________
Whether we write or speak or do but look
We are ever unapparent. What we are
Cannot be transfused into word or book.
Our soul from us is infinitely far.
However much we give our thoughts the will
To be our soul and gesture it abroad,
Our hearts are incommunicable still.
In what we show ourselves we are ignored.
The abyss from soul to soul cannot be bridged
By any skill of thought or trick of seeming.
Unto our very selves we are abridged
When we would utter to our thought our being.
We are our dreams of ourselves, souls by gleams,
And each to each other dreams of others' dreams.


Fernando Pessoa, 1918
little_tippler is offline  
Old 03-15-2006, 08:34 AM   #38 (permalink)
pig
pigglet pigglet
 
pig's Avatar
 
Location: Locash
Halx,

Can y'all set up something like a bi-annual reminder, or quarterly or something? Something like those little mandatory messages we get - or a reminder over in the corner on the front page? I don't know if it would bother people or not, or if you feel it would come to close to whoring the site out. Just thought it might help if there was a reminder every so often to make a donation for those of us who would donate anyways.
__________________
You don't love me, you just love my piggy style
pig is offline  
Old 03-15-2006, 12:04 PM   #39 (permalink)
Please touch this.
 
Halx's Avatar
 
Owner/Admin
Location: Manhattan
To those wondering about the TFP's performance... it actually runs on 2 servers, whose hosting space makes up the bulk of the cost. The bandwidth it uses IS substantial, but people don't normally realize that we do use 2 servers.
__________________
You have found this post informative.
-The Administrator
[Don't Feed The Animals]
Halx is offline  
Old 03-15-2006, 02:34 PM   #40 (permalink)
paranoid
 
Silvy's Avatar
 
Location: The Netherlands
Ok, I must confess... I've been a lurker here for quite a while now.

Haven't been on much the past 6 months, but I've missed it, so I'm back now.
And with my return will come a donation!

I'm currently broke, but next week some money will find it's way to you Hal.
I also hope to make regular (bi-monthly or so) donations in the future if this PayPal thing works out. (I'm new to PayPal)

I hope we can all chip in enough to cover the costs!
__________________
"Do not kill. Do not rape. Do not steal. These are principles which every man of every faith can embrace. "
- Murphy MacManus (Boondock Saints)
Silvy is offline  
 

Tags
tfp, worth


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:20 AM.

Tilted Forum Project

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2
© 2002-2012 Tilted Forum Project

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360