Server Upgrade discussion

**Moo** · 26-05-2008

If you want to talk about the announcements of the server upgrade, and changes to the donation system, do it here

Possible topics you might want to think about include:

If there are any donation amounts (or time periods) that are missing from the current system, that you'd like to see.
If there are any features (larger PM storage quota, donor-only subforum, or whatever) that you'd like donors to have.
If you have any questions about what happens to historical donors as this new system progresses (currently, the plan is to leave them as they are for a month or two, but eventually donor status will end for people who donated once but aren't on the new plan).

Our current monthly costs are:

$49 for server fees (rising to $79 with this upgrade)
$15 for software licenses
$5-60 for very effective advertising
Total: $90-150 per month.

d4l · 26-05-2008

I don't see any need for a donor sub forum. Theres isn't that many of them to begin with anyways.(but im not a donor do what ever you want)

**Moo** · 26-05-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diapered4lyfe

I don't see any need for a donor sub forum. Theres isn't that many of them to begin with.(but im not a donor do what ever you want)

You're right in that there are relatively few donors (just like there are relatively few VIPs). We don't really need a VIP forum either... but we have one... to encourage people to try for VIP, and to give VIPs the chance to post really personal stuff there if they want to.
Similarly, we don't really need a donors forum, but I was thinking of ways to motivate people to donate more, given our rising server costs. If donors want something else (like a larger PM box, or something...) I can look into that instead.

Izzy · 26-05-2008

Custom titles

^

d4l · 26-05-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moo

You're right in that there are relatively few donors (just like there are relatively few VIPs). We don't really need a VIP forum either... but we have one... to encourage people to try for VIP, and to give VIPs the chance to post really personal stuff there if they want to.
Similarly, we don't really need a donors forum, but I was thinking of ways to motivate people to donate more, given our rising server costs. If donors want something else (like a larger PM box, or something...) I can look into that instead.

That is sort of flawed within itself. There aren't many donors so an inactive forum isn't really an incentive within itself. You need a substantial amount of donors to get more to donate yet you need more to donate to get more.(diapered4lyfes brains hit the computer screen) but i digress.

Anyways congrats on the server upgrade.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Izzy

Custom titles

^

That's already avalible to vips i think hes looking for distinct rewards for donors.

**Moo** · 26-05-2008

Izzy: custom titles may well be something I'd offer... given that VIP is now quite a lot harder to get, and custom titles are a big draw for some people..

Diapered4lyfe: some donors might just want to have their own little subforum, even if they never use it much. But yes, unique rewards for donating are probably a good thing. I would like to keep the incentives distinct, so donors have a motivation to become VIPs and VIPs have a motivation to donate.

Abigail · 26-05-2008

Well I'm VIP and a Donor... so I guess a forum for the Donors would be pretty cool.

I don't really have a use for a larger PM box, I end up deleting them after a while, anyways.

How about a bigger signature size? I would absolutely love that!

As for the custom titles, I think that should stay VIP only. I don't think donors should have the ability to have that.. it's something thats always been VIP only. Whether VIP is harder to get now or not.. it should stay among that group of people.

Error404 · 26-05-2008

I personally think you should set up more than one status. One for 'one time donor' and one for 'reoccuring donors', not everyone always has cash that they can throw arround, and no offense Moo, but asking that someone reoccurs a donation monthly is sort of arrogant, it's taking something that someone does out of the goodness of their heart and turns it onto a partial burden for the rest of the year for them. I understand you provide us with an (excellent) service, but you do these things as per your own choice, I believe that donors should have that same liberty. I had been considering donating for quite some time now, mainly just to help out. But if by doing that I'm suddenly expected to donate again another month... (Or maybe I've read it wrong) I've been put off the idea.

Maybe you could clarify for me - If I donate $5 this month, will it automatically attempt to direct debit me another $5 the next month and so on? If that's the case...Then...I honestly
don't know what to think or say.

If above is the actual case, could I perhaps reccommend you set up a 'one time' donation system as well. Last we need is someone donating once and accidentily getting trapped in a reoccuring 'payment'.

Lukie · 26-05-2008

A donor-only subforum would be useless to those who only care to donate once every so often (which seems to be the majority) and I hardly think it would be any different from the Off-Topic or Regular's Forum. Good incentives are one's that people would love to have, like special features, titles/status or other form of recognition. Not that I think it should be "in your face". But alas, I'm stuck for ideas on that one. I have donated before simply because I like coming here and using this site (and I would love to continue to be able to do that), not because I wanted to have a bonus title or coloured username. Unfortunately, I understand that not everyone shares that sentiment...

Error404 · 26-05-2008

On the note of Lukies post. Is there an option that if you donate, that you DON'T get a pink name? I don't mind donating and NOT being known as a donator. That and I don't like Pink. Maybe you could make several donator groups, allowing a member a coloured name of their choice? I'd like a baby blue name, specifically 00CAFE.

But that's just me.

26-05-2008	#1 (permalink)
Moo Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New York Posts: 826 Threads: 84 Wiki Edits: 42	Server Upgrade discussion If you want to talk about the announcements of the server upgrade, and changes to the donation system, do it here Possible topics you might want to think about include: If there are any donation amounts (or time periods) that are missing from the current system, that you'd like to see. If there are any features (larger PM storage quota, donor-only subforum, or whatever) that you'd like donors to have. If you have any questions about what happens to historical donors as this new system progresses (currently, the plan is to leave them as they are for a month or two, but eventually donor status will end for people who donated once but aren't on the new plan). Our current monthly costs are: $49 for server fees (rising to $79 with this upgrade) $15 for software licenses $5-60 for very effective advertising Total: $90-150 per month.

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26-05-2008	#2 (permalink)
d4l Regular Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Michigan Age: 17 Posts: 586 Threads: 30 Gallery Uploads: 5 Blog Entries: 1	I don't see any need for a donor sub forum. Theres isn't that many of them to begin with anyways.(but im not a donor do what ever you want)

26-05-2008	#4 (permalink)
Izzy Lurker Silver Donor Historical Donor Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Haven, CT, USA Posts: 149 Threads: 7 Gallery Uploads: 6 Wiki Edits: 2	Custom titles ^

26-05-2008	#6 (permalink)
Moo Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New York Posts: 826 Threads: 84 Wiki Edits: 42	Izzy: custom titles may well be something I'd offer... given that VIP is now quite a lot harder to get, and custom titles are a big draw for some people.. Diapered4lyfe: some donors might just want to have their own little subforum, even if they never use it much. But yes, unique rewards for donating are probably a good thing. I would like to keep the incentives distinct, so donors have a motivation to become VIPs and VIPs have a motivation to donate.

26-05-2008	#7 (permalink)
Abigail Bride of Hypnotoad Historical Donor Staff Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Windsor, ON, CA Age: 18 Posts: 2,161 Threads: 90 Gallery Uploads: 37 Blog Entries: 11	Well I'm VIP and a Donor... so I guess a forum for the Donors would be pretty cool. I don't really have a use for a larger PM box, I end up deleting them after a while, anyways. How about a bigger signature size? I would absolutely love that! As for the custom titles, I think that should stay VIP only. I don't think donors should have the ability to have that.. it's something thats always been VIP only. Whether VIP is harder to get now or not.. it should stay among that group of people.

26-05-2008	#8 (permalink)
Error404 Regular Join Date: May 2008 Location: England. Age: 19 Posts: 782 Threads: 35 Wiki Edits: 8	I personally think you should set up more than one status. One for 'one time donor' and one for 'reoccuring donors', not everyone always has cash that they can throw arround, and no offense Moo, but asking that someone reoccurs a donation monthly is sort of arrogant, it's taking something that someone does out of the goodness of their heart and turns it onto a partial burden for the rest of the year for them. I understand you provide us with an (excellent) service, but you do these things as per your own choice, I believe that donors should have that same liberty. I had been considering donating for quite some time now, mainly just to help out. But if by doing that I'm suddenly expected to donate again another month... (Or maybe I've read it wrong) I've been put off the idea. Maybe you could clarify for me - If I donate $5 this month, will it automatically attempt to direct debit me another $5 the next month and so on? If that's the case...Then...I honestly don't know what to think or say. If above is the actual case, could I perhaps reccommend you set up a 'one time' donation system as well. Last we need is someone donating once and accidentily getting trapped in a reoccuring 'payment'.

26-05-2008	#9 (permalink)
Lukie Aysc.qm Historical Donor Staff Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Australia Age: 19 Posts: 2,110 Threads: 26 Gallery Uploads: 6 Wiki Edits: 148 Blog Entries: 36	A donor-only subforum would be useless to those who only care to donate once every so often (which seems to be the majority) and I hardly think it would be any different from the Off-Topic or Regular's Forum. Good incentives are one's that people would love to have, like special features, titles/status or other form of recognition. Not that I think it should be "in your face". But alas, I'm stuck for ideas on that one. I have donated before simply because I like coming here and using this site (and I would love to continue to be able to do that), not because I wanted to have a bonus title or coloured username. Unfortunately, I understand that not everyone shares that sentiment...

26-05-2008	#10 (permalink)
Error404 Regular Join Date: May 2008 Location: England. Age: 19 Posts: 782 Threads: 35 Wiki Edits: 8	On the note of Lukies post. Is there an option that if you donate, that you DON'T get a pink name? I don't mind donating and NOT being known as a donator. That and I don't like Pink. Maybe you could make several donator groups, allowing a member a coloured name of their choice? I'd like a baby blue name, specifically 00CAFE. But that's just me.