Pop-up competition.

[Gary Compton]

I clicked on Triceratops blog and a pop-up came up saying, "SFF Chronicles wants you to take part in a survey and I could win an IPad.

Not sure this is down to you Brian. It doesnt seem your style - just a heads up

[Mouse]

Yeah I just clicked 'new posts' and a new window opened. I thought I'd clicked something by accident. Something weird's also appeared in your post, Gary.

[Gary Compton]

I think Bryan is trying something out. I don't like it, I think it cheapens the site, however as a businessman myself. I understand the need for revenue streams.

I wouldnt mind paying a yearly subscription - say £10 per year It would strengthen the site and keep out the riff-raff/spammers.

Its a resource worth paying for and why should Bryan pay for our fun

[Mouse]

That'd lose members. I wouldn't pay.

[Gary Compton]

Originally Posted by Mouse

That'd lose members. I wouldn't pay.

Really - why?

[Mouse]

Because I don't have money for luxuries. This site would become a luxury for me and I'm afraid it'd have to go.

[Gary Compton]

I meant £10 a year, 3P per day.

The cost of 4 beers, 2 books, or a Gucci handbag strap

I'm a member of a forum dealing with Glasgow Gangsters as research fo my next book. They do something similar, alot of the site is accessible but for the jucier bits you pay a £10 admin charge.

[springs]

I dunno, I'd quite like an Ipad... my question is would I be organised enough to sort it all out and get uploaded, I'm not sure...

[Gary Compton]

I think its very easy, and the English do it very well, is to take things for granted.

Bryan SHOULD have Chronicles online at his expense. Teresa and the Judge and the others SHOULD give up their free time to keep an eye on things.

I'm sure the writers on the main site dont do it for nothing. There are alot of expenses!

I myself think £10 is year is peanuts considering what we've all learned here. I bet most of us have paid for an edit, or a book on semi-colons, or some other writing related expense. Why not a membership fee?

This place has been far more valued to me. Without it I'd still be absolutely useless.

Surely out of 32,000 members, 2 or 3 thousand would value this place enough to support it at a tenner a time.

If not everyone paying £10, maybe a Platinum club where access to things like the writing group and critiques is given. How many people come here, knock out the 30 posts then put something up - then a revised version - then chapter 2.

In my personal opinion that in troubled times, we should straighten our backs, dust ourselves down and protect whats important. I mean, I spend £10 a day on Stella Artois

[Mouse]

Gary, I spent most of last year sleeping on a mattress on the floor because I could not afford a bed. I'm sure there are people here worse off than me. There are free writing sites out there.

I used to admin on two of the biggest Lost fan sites. I gave up my time for free. The mods here are fantastic, but they're not being forced into it!

[springs]

See, there's 2 questions, would I pay it now, maybe...
Would I have paid in the first place to join - no. And that's the problem - without new members it stagnates and dies and your model threatens that. Would I have a problem with more adverts etc, no, not at all... filling the odd survey in to help support the site, no probs... there are other models other than me paying a tenner a year which might be of more use...

[Mouse]

Absolute Write have a 'donate' button. That'd be more like it.

[Gary Compton]

Originally Posted by Mouse

Gary, I spent most of last year sleeping on a mattress on the floor because I could not afford a bed. I'm sure there are people here worse off than me. There are free writing sites out there.

I used to admin on two of the biggest Lost fan sites. I gave up my time for free. The mods here are fantastic, but they're not being forced into it!

I'm not, in any way having a go at you Mouse. If you are ever stuck you can have the penthouse suite at Blyth Towers for free It has views of the river and the dole office which is handy for me.

I'm just creating a discussion about the site after a pop-up nearly knocked me oot!

A donate button is a good one but I have had one on Blyth All weather Lifeboat and its a waste of time

[Mouse]

I know. Tis ok. I just get worked up when people start asking for money!

We had a donate button on the Lost site and I think it did ok. The owner set up a shop too where she sold Lost mugs and keyrings and what have you.

[Dave]

Couple of points here:

First, I don't know about the pop-ups. Brian hasn't mentioned it and I don't see them myself (but then I block all pop-ups anyway - which you could yourself.) Brian does try out new things occasionally. He will have to answer himself.

Secondly, Mouse - I think what Gary is saying is that people take things that are free for granted, whereas they expect excellence in things they have pay for. I agree with those sentiments. Just look at state schools or the NHS if you want examples.

Thirdly, while I'd happily pay for Chronicles, Brian has said before that he doesn't want to go down that road. He wants it to continue to be free and to grow organically to become the largest website of it's kind. There would be no question of making members pay in any case.

Finally, it's nice to feel appreciated, but the Moderators do it out of love, and don't need any payment.