I suppose you have to pick who you want to feel alienated; you or the members. Your post reminded me of a free webhost I used to use where the attitude was that everything was free and the members couldn't complain about what was provided because of that. That site eventually fell apart, mainly due to admin inactivity; but all the same, you can't please all of the people all the time.

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vbStartup - vBulletin Styles and Stuff

Well, they pay for nothing right now and if we're down for five minutes ??? Fire and Brimstone! Blood in the streets! (I exxagerate of course but 'What the hell happened??? has been asked, on occaision)

I really have seen it in the past with someone that donated all of $10 to the forum but just had an absolute fit about something and was peeved because 'they had made a donation and EVERYTHING!!!!11eleventybillion11!! I don't feel like dealing with that x 200.

Plus I don't want to feel like I have to account for every dollar and if I say I can't afford to add something or I will get a 'then what do we pay for?' My membership isn't big enough to cover much of anything anyway.

We have paid classes on our site that are $50 and typically around 10 to 20 ppl a month. We're trying to get it state certified to give CE credits to the students and we could charge more. We will most likely be going to $20/yearly membership fee for new members in the future and grandfather in past members.

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TheBiggestBoards - See where your forum ranks - Size Matters!

I hear ya, i have a myspace for the site, and a few know my number. I dont need email updates or to check the site to know its down. myspace messages, comments, phone calls, its crazy....lol people start buggin cause if you have a community that people really like it gets to be almost a addiction and if you take that away they get upset.

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PA Forums
Philly Sports
Delaware Online
boomshockalacka

That has happened on my site too! It's amazing to me how some members get such a big head over a $5 or $10 donation. I can't imagine having hundreds of my members acting like that....I would close down lol

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Nope and I never would either. I don't believe in that. That is my personnel view but I don't have a problem if other forums do.

I am not using my forums to make money or sell anything, that is why I also will not put ads on either. It is just one of my weird or not so weird quirks or the socialist in me ha. I just do not like ads and I actually stay away from forums with lots of them. Although the ad block extension for FF does block a lot of them out.

I did ask for donations once and got enough to pay for server space for the next 7+ years, I did not intend to ask but when we had to move servers from the crappy one I had many members suggested I add a donation box and kept it on for a couple weeks and was very surprised at the amount donated.

I also donate at sites I like and visit often. But i cant stand how some forum owners send emails asking for money outright, that seems cheesey and in poor taste.

I think it depends on the site. We provide a service that isn't available for free any where and provide the information at a cheaper cost than anyone else so people are willing and happy to pay for it on our site.

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TheBiggestBoards - See where your forum ranks - Size Matters!

We have paid subscriptions. I have several different levels set up and they get a little more with each package.

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Angel
Mothers Unite

Well i dont know what the genre is of your forum.....but you could have a "for sale" forum that you have to "donate" money too the "forum" too gain access to it......

Nope.

I haven't set up any paid subscriptions / memberships on my Forum.
It isn't that big enough!

Though i'm planning to roll out some paid subscriptions and services in the coming 2 months.

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Webmaster Forum