OK, the ads are here for a month, just so I can observe their performance. If I see that it's pointless to have them, I'll take them down.
Next, I want to clarify why I did it: Last year's operating costs were around $500, and I'm looking at at least another $500 this year (depending on whether or not I get this licensing bullshit resolved). In comparison, if you bought and had a SWG subscription for 3 years, you'd have spent roughly a little less than $600. I'm just trying to find a way to ease the load in the most unintrusive way possible.
Donations have always been a big thing people have suggested. So I guess I should clear up why I have not done it:
First of all, I don't feel it to be right to be asking you for money. I don't want your money, it's not fair to you to have to pay for this site. Second, I'm also against donations because of all the freeloaders that will exist. A handful of people will donate, and even a smaller number will frequently donate. The majority of the people will not. It isn't fair to those who do and do it regularly to spend their money so everyone else can hop along for a free ride. And having everyone pay a fee just to register and post is completely out of the question.
I've noticed that many high-volume forums have special sections and incentives for people who donate. Maybe we can do something like that? I'm open to all suggestions. But don't hate me for doing this, I rarely ask anyone on these forums for anything that involves personal favors. Furthermore, I'm not asking you to give me all the money required for the site to stay up and running. Even if 10% of the costs (which I'm aiming at with the ads) is a big help. I don't have a large disposable income (tuition fees are going up again, they're already at $7500 a quarter not including books) and I'm picking up an extra shift next quarter.
Again, any suggestions are appreciated in order to find an unobtrusive solution that won't (a) piss everyone off, or (B) not be pointles because people can just bypass it (aka, adblockers).
Next, I want to clarify why I did it: Last year's operating costs were around $500, and I'm looking at at least another $500 this year (depending on whether or not I get this licensing bullshit resolved). In comparison, if you bought and had a SWG subscription for 3 years, you'd have spent roughly a little less than $600. I'm just trying to find a way to ease the load in the most unintrusive way possible.
Donations have always been a big thing people have suggested. So I guess I should clear up why I have not done it:
First of all, I don't feel it to be right to be asking you for money. I don't want your money, it's not fair to you to have to pay for this site. Second, I'm also against donations because of all the freeloaders that will exist. A handful of people will donate, and even a smaller number will frequently donate. The majority of the people will not. It isn't fair to those who do and do it regularly to spend their money so everyone else can hop along for a free ride. And having everyone pay a fee just to register and post is completely out of the question.
I've noticed that many high-volume forums have special sections and incentives for people who donate. Maybe we can do something like that? I'm open to all suggestions. But don't hate me for doing this, I rarely ask anyone on these forums for anything that involves personal favors. Furthermore, I'm not asking you to give me all the money required for the site to stay up and running. Even if 10% of the costs (which I'm aiming at with the ads) is a big help. I don't have a large disposable income (tuition fees are going up again, they're already at $7500 a quarter not including books) and I'm picking up an extra shift next quarter.
Again, any suggestions are appreciated in order to find an unobtrusive solution that won't (a) piss everyone off, or (B) not be pointles because people can just bypass it (aka, adblockers).