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Now a PM from Randi

Did the JREF run a deficit before Phil became president? No. So 'for many years' may be hyperbole. Also, if one person wasn't paying the two biggest salaries the JREF would run in deficit. If the JREF was ran the way it was run in 2008 then it would be pocketing a small sum of money every year. The idea that before Randi stepped down as president the JREF was a money loser isn't true. It's a 501(c) 3 and this info is out there.

I'm not saying this is the wrong direction, but the idea that without DJ saving the world the JREF would be dead is ridiculous. Expenses are up at the JREF, not down. Let's hope that the JREF can do enough good to justify it.
 
Bartmon said:
Expenses are up at the JREF, not down. Let's hope that the JREF can do enough good to justify it.
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That's kinda it in a nutshell. (No, I'm not calling DJ a nut... :D )(Although... I have seen some interesting pictures on Facebook...) Needing more money is perfectly reasonable if it's being used to get out and educate. At least a few people have stated already that perhaps the biggest issue is that the JREF isn't doing the best job of actually stating what it is they're doing, perhaps if everyone were more aware of specifically what the money was needed for, the requests for it wouldn't be as nagging seeming. After all, when we do the forum "this person needs help", it's always followed with a certain thing we're helping with, so that there is a goal that we can see.

On the other hand (I'm my own worst enemy), I can see that that really doesn't work as well for a large organization, but perhaps a modified version of this sort of thing could be used.
 
Did anyone else get the following email recently? It baffles me, as I'm unaware of signing up to anything recently. _________________________________________________________________ Thank you for signing up to receive e-mail updates from the James Randi Educational Foundation. I commend you for taking an interest in promoting critical thinking and skepticism with our organization. In the near future, you can expect to receive information on exciting new programs and initiatives of the JREF, updates on projects in progress, and ideas for ways you can become involved. Whether it is our renewed support of grassroots skeptic outreach, or our investment in resources for educators and students, our expanding digital educational offerings, or JREF events such as our annual Amaz!ng Meetings, your involvement helps make our programs possible. Again, welcome to the JREF online! I look forward to working with you in the future to keep the JREF the candle in the dark it has always been. Warm regards,
 
Yep, I just figured it to be a mistake, since it's the same email (or near enough to) I got when I did sign up to receive email updates from the JREF.
 
Soapy Sam said:
Did anyone else get the following email recently? It baffles me, as I'm unaware of signing up to anything recently.
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I apologize -- this was an error on my part caused by a change to that scheduled email which everyone receives when they sign up. The change resulted in a minority of users receiving the welcome email even though they'd received one in the past, because the system did not recognize the email as the same one sent before. We've identified the problem so it shouldn't happen again.
 
Sadie said:
I apologize -- this was an error on my part caused by a change to that scheduled email which everyone receives when they sign up. The change resulted in a minority of users receiving the welcome email even though they'd received one in the past, because the system did not recognize the email as the same one sent before. We've identified the problem so it shouldn't happen again.
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Thanks for the input. As you may have noticed, receiving an extra email or PM can be very upsetting to some people.
 
The Central Scrutinizer said:
Thanks for the input. As you may have noticed, receiving an extra email or PM can be very upsetting to some people.
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A bit confusing, maybe.

I'm equally confused by the appearance of Sadie, a person new to me and apparently a forum Admin.

Have we been introduced?
 
No, my point is that no one is whining, and that your posts contribute nothing to the discussion about whether or not the correspondance was excessive.
 
JihadJane said:
It's better than the spam I keep getting from Locknar. ;)
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I seem to be having similar infusions.
El Greco said:
Just got a PM about buying 2 Viagra for $99.90 and getting a free penis stretcher with the JREF logo on it. Anyone else got it ?
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The "free penis stretcher" is your right hand, hence you don't need to pay for it. :cool:
lionking said:
To your edit, do not presume that other members are like you. I'm not one of your "us".
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I'm with you.
DJGrothe said:
Greater fool: Some of that back and forth may result from a misunderstanding you have that the JREF does not work with the forum. In fact, we work with the forum robustly.
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I'll be in my bunk.
fishbob said:
I'm supposed to by annoyed by a PM?

Nobody ever sends me PMs. I was so excited I sent money.
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PM on the way ...
RemieV said:
The JREF forum is not a resource. Not really.
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It is a cost center. Got it. OH and Remie, thanks for all you did while at JREF. Much appreciated by some of the great unwashed. :cool:
Soapy Sam said:
There are threads far longer about far less.
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Like a certain Foxy Seattlite ...

Sadie said:
I apologize -- this was an error on my part caused by a change to that scheduled email which everyone receives when they sign up.
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Heh, the IT system will screw up again, so "never again" is optimistic. Thanks for the efforts, in any case.

For DJ: I contributed 100 bucks last year. It was part of a bet that I lost in re Amanda Knox and her appeal, though I had hoped to win the bet and thus have my worthy opponents make the donation. Didn't work out that way.

In a "penny for your thoughts" line of thinking, I think a penny per post here is a good idea, like a pre paid phone card, beyond a two posts per day limit.

Looking at my post count and past donations, I may be in arrears by a hundred bucks or so. Hmm, still a good idea.

So here is a suggestion:

Offer anyone registered two or five posts per day, no charge. (or five. Or ten. Pick a number)
If you want to post more often than that, your account needs to have as many cents in it as you want there to be posts, to be purchased in units of one or two hundred.

Micro contributions, as it were.

And savings on bandwidth, not to mention certain folks, looks at avatar and post count, might not post in excess. :blush:

So, a penny for your thoughts, implemented.

Who's with me?
 
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I wonder why you keep trolling this thread by using words no one else has used seriously (upsetting instead of annoying), but again, since you don't actually _contribute_ to threads...
 
Belz... said:
I wonder why you keep trolling this thread by using words no one else has used seriously (upsetting instead of annoying), but again, since you don't actually _contribute_ to threads...
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The PMs are so upsetting, that even talking about them is too much for some.
 
If you think you're successfully trolling me, think again, scrut:

I just want to make sure you don't convince some lurkers that people were really "upset" with those e-mails and PMs. Just annoyed.

My posts were not for your benefit, since you're just posting for the hell of it.
 
Lurkers reading back through the thread can judge for themselves how upset people were. I mean, they had to hit delete, 2 sometimes 3 times!!! :eek:
 
Starting a thread and registering a complain on a thread goes beyond being a "little annoyed." I mean come on. We all get junk mail in our mail boxes and know to throw them out. Calling up the post office and registering a complaint and then meeting with a crowd at the front of the post office demanding to speak with the manager is more than a little upset. LOL
 
truethat said:
We all get junk mail in our mail boxes and know to throw them out.
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1) I don't get much spam from the same person.

2) If I could ask them to stop, I would. I can, so I am.

I think the people who are most annoyed here are the people who disagree with the people who are annoyed.
 
truethat said:
Starting a thread and registering a complain on a thread goes beyond being a "little annoyed." I mean come on.
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Yeah, it's so much work to start a thread here (note to Scrut: we'll take your "almost as hard as hitting 'delete'" rebuttal as read. You're welcome.), that people only do it when they're very upset. That's why we never get silly parody threads here.

We all get junk mail in our mail boxes and know to throw them out. Calling up the post office and registering a complaint and then meeting with a crowd at the front of the post office demanding to speak with the manager is more than a little upset. LOL
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Poor analogy, because (1) what you're describing is a lot more work than taking 30 seconds to post a thread; and (2) the JREF isn't simply the post office manager here (who is just delivering what it's obligated to deliver), but the actual sender.

Most people don't complain to the senders of spam because we don't expect it to do any good. I guess some people held the JREF to a higher standard than junk mailers. They now know better. So I guess this thread has accomplished something.
 
Dunstan said:
Yeah, it's so much work to start a thread here (note to Scrut: we'll take your "almost as hard as hitting 'delete'" rebuttal as read. You're welcome.), that people only do it when they're very upset. That's why we never get silly parody threads here.



Poor analogy, because (1) what you're describing is a lot more work than taking 30 seconds to post a thread; and (2) the JREF isn't simply the post office manager here (who is just delivering what it's obligated to deliver), but the actual sender.

Most people don't complain to the senders of spam because we don't expect it to do any good. I guess some people held the JREF to a higher standard than junk mailers. They now know better. So I guess this thread has accomplished something.
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Which is why I'm begging the JREF to stop. I don't want anyone to have their panties in a bunch over this.
 
Belz... said:
1) I don't get much spam from the same person.

2) If I could ask them to stop, I would. I can, so I am.

I think the people who are most annoyed here are the people who disagree with the people who are annoyed.
Click to expand...

Oh wait, that's funny. We're making fun of you but "we're the ones who are really annoyed" and you guys are just "a tad annoyed"


You got three emails of spam from the same person. Click, click, click gone.
 
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