• Quick note - the problem with Youtube videos not embedding on the forum appears to have been fixed, thanks to ZiprHead. If you do still see problems let me know.

Future of the Forum

icerat said:
I've been catching up on a lot of other things this week, so not following this thread that closely, so my apologies if i've missed questions.

What will happen in 6-12 months? I'm not a psychic, but the goal is for it to run much as it has now except self-funded (hopefully the guest advertising will cover it, but donations will be accepted).

We (myself, admins, and some other volunteers members with expertise) are pretty much in agreement to upgrade the forum software to Xenforo at some stage, that's about the biggest change people will initially notice. The admins have also suggested some minor changes to the rules, nothing too big. We'll put them up for discussion first.

After that, who knows? One of the things I'm working a lot with at the moment is helping people connect better offline using online communities like forums. Would people be interested in a member map for example, and seeing where people live so they might be able to connect with like minded folk locally in meetups or whatever? (with privacy protections of course). That's the kind of thing we might look at adding on later if there's demand. How about member blogs? All sorts of possibilities, it's open for discussion.
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That's what I like to hear.
Again.
I apologize if something I put up offends you (or anyone here)......
I apologize.
I've only been on for a short while.
But there are others here who have put in countless hours.
So I just hope when it all shakes out they aren't left scratchin' their tail.
 
What will happen in 6-12 months? I'm not a psychic, but the goal is for it to run much as it has now except self-funded (hopefully the guest advertising will cover it, but donations will be accepted).

Icerat. From your post up above.

I guess that is my biggest concern.
This (new) site can be self-funded without calling in commercial interests. Or 'tie-ins".
I'll do my part. And donate. I think others will as well.
I'm glad we are on the same page.
 
Sticky Fingers said:
Icerat. From your post up above.

I guess that is my biggest concern.
This (new) site can be self-funded without calling in commercial interests. Or 'tie-ins".
I'll do my part. And donate. I think others will as well.
I'm glad we are on the same page.
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Depends on the "tie in". If we can negotiate a referral fee from JREF for TAM tickets or JREF cruises, or with JW's college cruises, I can't see a problem.

Amega Wand kickbacks on the other hand ..... :cool:

But no, it's not turning in to a commercial site. Personally I like the current model of ads for guests and nothing for members. With tweaking and donations I think we can cover costs without needing to sell tshirts :)
 
icerat said:
Depends on the "tie in". If we can negotiate a referral fee from JREF for TAM tickets or JREF cruises, or with JW's college cruises, I can't see a problem.

Amega Wand kickbacks on the other hand ..... :cool:

But no, it's not turning in to a commercial site. Personally I like the current model of ads for guests and nothing for members. With tweaking and donations I think we can cover costs without needing to sell tshirts :)
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That what I like to hear!
 
Sarcasm – doing it wrong yet again.

madurobob said:
Still relies on the fallacy that one's posting history on current events determines suitability to run the forums. Kind of like judging my ability to properly adjust the valves on your Ducati based on my position on Roe v, Wade.
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It wasn’t a fallacy, it was an error on platonov's part.
Not for the first time (apparently) when he presumed he was being as subtle as a sledgehammer wearing vivid yellow jackboots with bells on – his comment was taken too literally.

Points 1-3 refer to the forum as it is and presumably as it will be. (should I have bolded the shifty eyes and ETA )

On the 1st and 2nd – this forum has been far too soft >.> on both these issues.
On the 3rd – Well what forum doesn’t need more (or just as much) cartwheel.
On the last – OK This Amway thing sounds like a cross between Tupperware and Scientology.
It's the free market at its best !
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Point 4 was just a jokey dig at Amway (and icerat) about which I know next to nothing and care less.



marplots said:
Aw, c'mon. We are skeptics. Doubt is what we do. :D
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Yea, that's us ;)
 
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Matthew Best said:
Haven't had time to read the entire thread, so can I just say that I agree with everybody else and leave it at that?
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No. As a late joiner of this thread, it is your job to be outraged about several small details that have already been discussed at length and settled, and ignore all of those who try to explain this to you.
 
Rat said:
No. As a late joiner of this thread, it is your job to be outraged about several small details that have already been discussed at length and settled, and ignore all of those who try to explain this to you.
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Great insight!:p
 
platonov said:
It wasn’t a fallacy, it was an error on platonov's part.
Not for the first time (apparently) when he presumed he was being as subtle as a sledgehammer wearing vivid yellow jackboots with bells on – his comment was taken too literally.
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:) Sorry, it was quite clear it was sarcasm. But, even sarcastically, it was relying on a (fallacious) link between posting history on current events and ability to ethically host the forums.

But, yeah, there was no need for the rolly eyes on that one ;)
 
madurobob said:
That value has yet to be proven, of course. It sure wasn't a profit center for the JREF.
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You want evidence that this forum is a valuable asset? Then take a look at this http://www.websiteoutlook.com/www.forums.randi.org. It says that ads are worth $59.75 per day. Most of the traffic to the domain is to the forum. So when this forum moves JREF will have a lot of unused hardware.

If JREF are not exploiting the value of the forum that is their fault and whoever takes it over may not make the same mistake.
 
rjh01 said:
You want evidence that this forum is a valuable asset? Then take a look at this http://www.websiteoutlook.com/www.forums.randi.org. It says that ads are worth $59.75 per day. Most of the traffic to the domain is to the forum. So when this forum moves JREF will have a lot of unused hardware.

If JREF are not exploiting the value of the forum that is their fault and whoever takes it over may not make the same mistake.
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Yes, but its a simple equation based on web traffic; not any real intelligence on the site/forums. I don't believe it recognizes that ads are only served to folks not logged on, and only in single, obtrusive banner ads. If the JREF (or icerat) tried to maximize that $59/day it would be very short lived, as folks would bail out in droves when faced with the onslaught of ads.

In short, I think their $59/day is bogus. But, if the forums can break even run as they are now, or even run a small profit for icerat - excellent! My annual donation won't be needed and I can direct it where its more needed (Madurobob's Non-Profit Bourbon Supply).
 
madurobob said:
:) Sorry, it was quite clear it was sarcasm. But, even sarcastically, it was relying on a (fallacious) link between posting history on current events and ability to ethically host the forums.

But, yeah, there was no need for the rolly eyes on that one ;)
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Nope.
It wasn't relying, fallaciously or otherwise, on posting history.
It wasn’t even about icerat (mostly)

It was using the 'hubub' about icerat as a hook to make a point* (which may be complete nonsense OMMV) about the forum as it currently is.

I thought that was obvious. Perhaps I've been too hard on the 'intellectuals' on another thread who are always pleading incomprehension. Maybe my english isn’t as good as I think it is.

* Which came to mind after reading a post by Tricky ? in FMF – not that I doubt the veracity (generally) of his argument in that case.
 
arthwollipot said:
For the record, I'd totally buy a t-shirt.
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For the record, selling t-shirts and coffee mugs is exactly what we SHOULD BE DOING. Links to Amazon for books? Just the few pennies from the Arthwollipot annual book budget would probably pay for the servers for a month. :D

Those sorts of things can be done unobtrusively on a "Shop" page. And t-shirts, posters, coffee mugs and such are points of pride for some members. Of course, that's after we come up with a name and logo....

Icerat,
Do we have an estimate of hard figures? Just an estimate. How much are we talking about needing to raise annually to sustain the forums at breakeven plus one Euro? Are you aware of the potential angels and how much they might provide? Has this been discussed? If you were to poll the members, I'm guessing 75% would vote for "Donations and No Ads" and that half of those 75% would commit to an annual donation. (The same crew would refuse to pay a membership fee just because.... it's what we are, a bunch of contrary folks.)
 
Foolmewunz said:
For the record, selling t-shirts and coffee mugs is exactly what we SHOULD BE DOING. Links to Amazon for books? Just the few pennies from the Arthwollipot annual book budget would probably pay for the servers for a month. :D

Those sorts of things can be done unobtrusively on a "Shop" page. And t-shirts, posters, coffee mugs and such are points of pride for some members. Of course, that's after we come up with a name and logo....

Icerat,
Do we have an estimate of hard figures? Just an estimate. How much are we talking about needing to raise annually to sustain the forums at breakeven plus one Euro? Are you aware of the potential angels and how much they might provide? Has this been discussed? If you were to poll the members, I'm guessing 75% would vote for "Donations and No Ads" and that half of those 75% would commit to an annual donation. (The same crew would refuse to pay a membership fee just because.... it's what we are, a bunch of contrary folks.)
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There WAS a JREF store. It closed and switched to Amazon because not enough people bought things.
 
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