If you are going to be paying less under the new DU plan

[boston bean]

Keep that shit to yourself! It sounds smug!

See what this is doing already to DU? It's splitting up the have and the have less.

The members, donating or non-donating or those who were given a star, is what made DU. Without those people DU would be nothing but some hole in the wall, rinky dink discussion board, with limited voices. If it existed at all.

So, yes, Skinner et al manage and make a few dollars, for a place for people to discuss, but if there was no one here discussing politics, this website wouldn't exist.

The problem with this is people who had given STARS freely before will be less likely inclined to do it. Sure you can buy someone a Star for a month, but if you want to do it for the whole year it's $42 if you pay upfront, or $60/year if you do it monthly.

Have a little empathy for others, will ya? There will be features, bells, whistles, that are yet to be disclosed that be given to those who can afford it. While all those who can afford it, say aww what's the big frickin deal. Well, it is a big frickin deal to many DU members on this board. It's even a big deal to some on this board who can afford the lump sum of $42/year. And then to punish those who can't afford $42 upfront, by making them give $5 monthly and paying more for the same exact access for $60/year.

It just doesn't seem right. Especially since DU is doing so well.

[Cirque du So-What]

1. Apparently the message contained

in Dr. Seuss' The Sneeches is lost on some. Quite coincidental that the distinguishing characteristic is the star on the belly. The direction DU has taken virtually assures that I'll never again become a 'star belly sneech,' as there's no 'star-on machine' for my benefit.

[unapatriciated]

45. I agree and will be forgoing renewing my star.

There is just something wrong about telling duers that the ad campaign is so doing well that there is no need for fund drives. But by the way you will need to donate more to keep your star..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3yJomUhs0g

[rosesaylavee]

2. Maybe Skinner et al will reconsider the new plan.

I agree that a lot of DU in the past has been about sharing - ideas AND stars.

I would hope that that will continue and they will rethink this.

[Logical]

3. Jesus, give it a rest, the drama here gets annoying! -1

[Cirque du So-What]

4. Not helpful

Scolds themselves are drama llamas IMO.

[joeglow3]

32. Wow. What political party makes it a habit to say that?

[hlthe2b]

56. Your callousness on this and previous thread of your own...

is so very telling. :eyes:

[golddigger]

63. The best way to take care of your annoying problem is to not

click on the OP.

[stillwaiting]

5. Well, it's certainly not progressive, but

it IS quite American isn't it?

Those with more financial resources never seem to pay as much for the same services they receive compared to the poor.

[Cirque du So-What]

6. +1

Thanks for pointing out the regressive nature inherent to the new membership plan.

[SammyWinstonJack]

60. +2

:thumbsup:

[Mimosa]

7. I hope they rethink this 'Third Way' type of approach

I never thought D.U. was broken. And buying stars for people made D.U. seem a sweeter warm place.

[Starry Messenger]

8. Members create the content.

Would anyone pay a monthly fee to their job? Consider that there are probably about 5000 core users here. 5000 x $42 plus the ad revenues...

[Uben]

9. Give it a chance, Bean

It might not be as bad as you might think. Change is never readily accepted, but usually needed.

Some people think the admins are making a killing here. Just because Skinner bought 100,000 acres in PAraguay and a new mega-yacht is no indication this site is profitable. HE got all that cash from his uncle, Fineas J. WHoopee, the infamous inventor of the 3DBB (three-dimesional blackboard). he he!

If it doesn't work out, I'm sure they'll make adjustments.

[boston bean]

19. I have no idea how much they make. I understand they have to make a living. however, Skinner said

DU was doing so great with the ADS that they wouldn't need to do fundraising anymore.

[barbtries]

10. i'll be paying twice as much approximately

if i choose to buy the annual plan. with the fund drives i donate $5 a quarter. if i am doing well cash wise i donate another $5 so someone else with even less to spare than i can have a star.
i don't know yet if i will sign up. i liked being able to give what i felt i could afford to give, and i don't need any more automatic deductions out of my bank account.
for my own self i wish they'd stick with the quarterly fundraisers.

eta spelling typo

[snooper2]

11. You folks really crack me up, this is so fucking hilarious

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Don't worry, you can still complain for free...The ads aren't bad by the way. Ads are everywhere on the Internet. You should be able to tune them out by now.

Maybe we should have a progressive payment plan based on income. So everybody send Skinner your tax returns for the last year and he can come up with the payments based on income :rofl:

We can make the 1% of DU'ers pay like $340 a month :)



At least we know what the thread de facto will be today :eyes:

[Cirque du So-What]

12. Glad it's such a source of amusement for you

and thanks a pantload for sharing that amusement with us. It's sooo helpful and will go such a long way toward establishing rapprochement. After all, we're here for your entertainment, right, so I'm sure we can count on your incessant commentary all day in the topic du jour.

[flpab]

13. Paypal

love that you can donated that way.

[Fumesucker]

31. You have to have a bank account to have Paypal..

Not everyone has an account..

[JanMichael]

14. you think it's hilarious

that the poster is upset about many DUers not being able to afford to be donors, or that many people who donated for other posters now can't afford that?

[snooper2]

15. I think the topic of the day that gets everybody up in arms

and then is forgotten in three days when all the threads die to the 3rd-4th-5th days is hilarious

[JanMichael]

18. I doubt people are going to be over their financial

troubles in a few days. It will only be forgotten to people who can afford to donate; the others will just not post.

But, in the meantime, you got your jab in, so you should be happy.

[snooper2]

20. If you are in financial trouble why are you giving money to a website you can utilize for free?

Does that make any freaking sense?

Jesus it's like having to deal with my mother-in-law..

No income, no money coming in, can't get on SSDI, the well is about dry. And while we are straining our paycheck every two weeks to help out. She's out buying new fucking speakers for her computer and a wireless mouse.

REALLY, REALLY!! some folks have their priorities all messed up-

[JanMichael]

22. I think the part that you missed was that some people can

afford the features NOW... they will lose that option...AND many people who donate memberships to others who can't afford it, are now priced out of that option.

DU is a very real community to many people; when Redstone died..do you really think he had met all those people that thought of him as a friend?

Think about what you are joking about; being able to afford even less now...particularly in a forum like this, is emotionally hurtful to many.

[snooper2]

26. I think there will be some kind of donation plan come up with..

Point is forum is and will be still here for free for people to use. Do you really need the "special features" if you don't have money to pay your electric bill in full?

Shit, you shouldn't be donating to random websites in the first place if you are in dire financial straits.

[JanMichael]

29. Many people here can afford their bills

and very little else. And they supported this forum for years...yeah, maybe it was just a couple of dollars a month...but, they got to use the search functions, etc. And that type of involvement is all many people have for socialization.

[hlthe2b]

57. Could you be more callous and disgusting?

I doubt it. :eyes:

[Donnachaidh]

27. wow -- such a wonderful *familial* feeling being exuded here

Your MIL has our sympathies.... :eyes:

[snooper2]

28. You have no clue

[Donnachaidh]

30. Actually, I do

but your *concern* is certainly telling.... :eyes:

[snooper2]

35. Good, well you come down to Plano Texas and sit in my house for a day

When Susan comes over with the stiff upper lip you can listen to her daughter (my wife) and her mom (who flew in from Vegas on Friday (82 and going strong)) explain the dire situation in front of her.


Husband died a week ago. They were living on his SSDI of $1475 a month. She is incapable of holding a job. 58 years old, no survior benifits. A hoarded house of crap she's bought for the last 30 years. Most of which is worthless on the open market but treasures to her.

House is paid for but needs probably about 20K of work to be truly livable. She's got two 70lb dogs, two cats, no money coming in. We are strapped ourselves.

Tell her she's not going to be able to keep the house. Will have to live with us or move to Vegas.



All she does is sob, and sob, and sob, and get mad, and get mad. Not over her husband being dead. Not over the fact that she cares about that house. Except for the fact it holds her stuff. It's all about the "stuff"

So yeah, you really have no fucking clue. Your welcome to come assist the situation though.

Would you be interested in buying around 6-700 books, 350 or so VHS, probably 30 keyboards, seven dressers, a couple twin beds, two old beat up saddles, two kilns (one works I think), around sixty dried up gallon buckets of paint, a bunch of urine soaked furniture and about 1500lbs of sewing crap?


Oh, and if she was a regular poster of DU she wouldn't think twice about paying the $5 a month. She would just take it out of the gas and food money we have been giving her. :eyes:

[JanMichael]

36. the woman's husband died a week ago...she is showing signs

of mourning, worried about her "stuff," and you are bitching about her?

[boston bean]

37. he doesn't like to help her out. He knows how she should spend her money.

He isn't use to giving just to give, because it's the right thing to do.

[JanMichael]

39. worse, he's bitching about

a woman whose husband died a week ago. I hope you caught that tidbit. Now she's worried about keeping her "stuff" and pets.

[snooper2]

44. Actually, they aren't married. We discovered this weekend after a bunch of prying

That when they got divorced in the early 80's, and got back together, they never got re-married...

She has been lying all these years, all last week until finally this weekend we found no marriage certificate. Lying to her mom and her daughters (my wife is a twin) for a couple decades saying it was all done at the courthouse.

Oh, and of course the house deed is in his name only.


You good with common law, probate law, and the such?

[snooper2]

41. ROFL, I just bought a Nissan Altima off Craigslist for my sister-in-law

yesterday...

She's had our second car to go back and forth to school since September. I'm riding my crappy motorcycle to work in 30 degree temps so wife has a car at home as we have a two year old.

Yeah, I never give just to give because it's the right thing to do....Never :eyes:



It's like we have a bunch of Bill Frist's of personality assessments on DU. It is entertaining though :rofl:

I really did need the laugh after this past weekend :)

[snooper2]

38. Her husband was in ICU for the past 4 months, staying with us before then because

She can't "handle" him..

And at one point a couple months ago when he was able to talk and he asked her about selling some things to have some money when he passes. She stated to my wife "I wish he would die already".....


again, no clue...

[SidDithers]

16. Completely agree...

:thumbsup:

Sid

[boston bean]

17. of course you do. You have such a wonderful sense of humor.....

[SidDithers]

21. Maybe you should organize a march to protest the structure at DU3...nt

Sid

[JanMichael]

23. maybe you should read my reply above

nt

[boston bean]

maybe you should organize one to do the opposite. nt

[GoCubsGo]

42. It's not just about the ads.

Some of us use some of the other forums that require a star for us to participate. Anyone, such as myself, who are out of work and can't afford $42, are going to be shut out of participation if membership is still required with this new plan.

[Le Taz Hot]

54. You just proved the OP's point.

Impeccable timing!

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

65. LOL... true

[DesertFlower]

24. a few years ago there was a very popular

DUer who did not have a star. i know her personally and knew she could afford one. i bought her one to embarrass her.

[dipsydoodle]

25. At the risk of sounding like a stainless steel saucepan set saleman

What else can you get of this quality for eleven and a half cents a day ?

[meow mix]

33. dang so no more stars, or bumperstickers =(

blaaah

[seabeyond]

34. it would be kinda nifty if some creative way we could have a little slush fund. those that pay more

than 42 continue to pay what always was paid, yet the money left over go into a slush fun to help those that dont generally pay 42.

the democratic way

[Whisp]

43. thats sounds okay but

who will decide who gets membership from that slush fund? Sounds complicated to me.

the old way was pretty simple, it was just up to the donor to give whoever he/she chose.

[seabeyond]

47. that is why it needs to be creative. i dont know. lol. nt

[Whisp]

52. maybe some sort of lottery... n/t

[seabeyond]

58. that would truely be more democratic but

a troll would probably win everytime, lol. though, that might be a good idea and if enough people put in the pot, that could be a number of memberships. i would increase the amount i put in. even though i am watching every $

[ProfessorGAC]

46. That's A Good Idea

I've been paying $5 a month for years. If the fee is really $42, then the Admins could set aside my extra $18, then for every 7 donors like me, 3 others could get a star. Maybe longevity on the site could be used as one criterion, so long time members don't get bumped.

Good notion, seabeyond.
GAC

[seabeyond]

48. longevity on the site

i was thinking regular duer might have something to do with getting fund.

[ProfessorGAC]

49. That Might Work Too

I know there are people i'd be willing to send my excess toward so they could be starred members.

I wouldn't need to have veto power. Just input.

Your idea might be made to be very workable.

Edited for a fat finger error in the title.

[seabeyond]

50. maybe suggestions with send in. but i would not need input necessarily.

i trust whomever would do it at figuring it out.

[ProfessorGAC]

51. Me Too

I was just spinning off your idea. I'd be ok with it either way.
GAC

[seabeyond]

61. or a christmas fund. everyone that wants a gift send in name. everyone with extra.. send it in.

and gift it.

[ProfessorGAC]

64. Another Great Idea

You're on a roll.

[nc4bo]

40. Class warfare on DU, of all the places.

Yea it was here all along but I suspect it will become even more apparent after the changes are implemented, some of the comments already reek of it.

ETA: Glad the business has become or is about to become more profitable, just don't be surprised if everyone can't get on board.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

53. Some animals are more equal than others. - George Orwell

[hlthe2b]

55. Strongly agree and K&R

[TNLib]

59. I agree!

nt

[Codeine]

62. Perhaps those who can't afford it should also "keep that shit to" themselves?

Jebus. It's a fucking anonymous message board membership. It means entirely less than nothing.