ADMIN: Should we have a Subscribers Only Area?

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[Star]

But what could the non-US citizens choose, then?

::nods::  Exactly.  All I'm thinking of is extra privileges, and I'm not a big fan of making that a giveaway prize.  And we have enough non-US/Canada posters that this would be a big consideration.

On the overall issue of a Subscribers-Only area...  I guess it depends on how it's used, but I'm not seeing a useful way to implement it off the top of my head.  A Full-Members-esque discussion area strikes me as something likely to result in people who do have access tending to start threads outside of it in order not to leave people out, or likely to result in duplicate discussions when people outside the area want to talk about something that's been started inside the area.  (We had both of these problems to some extent with the Full Member setup, as I recall.)  Giveaways are a neat idea, but have some practical issues that may prevent their being something we can actually do...

I'm not actively against it, I'm jut having a hard time seeing a good way for it to fit into the forum setup.

[stardancer]

::nods::  Exactly.  All I'm thinking of is extra privileges, and I'm not a big fan of making that a giveaway prize.  And we have enough non-US/Canada posters that this would be a big consideration.

How about free readings? There is already some ad flying around this place about a numerology reading - and those sort of things can go by email as easy as by post.

[RandallS]

How about free readings? There is already some ad flying around this place about a numerology reading - and those sort of things can go by email as easy as by post.

Assuming I can get the program I used to do them working right again, we could do that.

Star's right on two points: a) we have far too many non-North American members for a donor giveaway that targets only people in North America to be fair. and b) I just don't see a way to built a major donor-only area into the board. Perhaps if we had designed TC around something like that years ago, it would be different -- but I just don't see much we could add that would be a valuable subscriber area.

The one exception to the latter I can see is a spell-begging board. It could be set up to that only donors could start threads but all regular members could answer. Donors would be warned that only rational requests were likely to be answered so we would not have to bother with eye color changing and the like.

[Star]

The one exception to the latter I can see is a spell-begging board. It could be set up to that only donors could start threads but all regular members could answer. Donors would be warned that only rational requests were likely to be answered so we would not have to bother with eye color changing and the like.

Would we then institute a rule against spell-begging anywhere else on the board?  And how do we define spell-begging--does asking for input or feedback on a spell one is writing count, for example?  Asking what went wrong with a spell already cast?  Looking for information on correspondences or magical techniques with the explicitly-stated intent of using them in a specific spell?  For that matter, what counts as a spell--does "how do I cast a circle" count?  (Because...  A circle is generally not a spell, but if the point is to do protective magic rather than learn a component of ritual, I can see the line blurring a bit more, and it's still begging magical instruction.)

Still not against it, just poking at the idea to see what's there.

[harzgeist]

How about free readings? There is already some ad flying around this place about a numerology reading - and those sort of things can go by email as easy as by post.

I like the idea a lot.

[Star]

How about free readings? There is already some ad flying around this place about a numerology reading - and those sort of things can go by email as easy as by post.

Again, though--we'd have to make some kind of rule about not giving out free readings on the board in order for this to really be effective. Which would stifle some of the activity in the Divination SIG.  Or maybe we wouldn't have to go that far, but...  If we do this, we do need to come up with some way to set the giveaway readings apart from what can be had on the board.  Otherwise, I suppose they'd be a nice thank-you to someone who was going to donate anyway whether they got a giveaway or not, but they aren't much incentive for someone who hasn't already made that decision.

[stardancer]

Again, though--we'd have to make some kind of rule about not giving out free readings on the board in order for this to really be effective. Which would stifle some of the activity in the Divination SIG.  Or maybe we wouldn't have to go that far, but...  If we do this, we do need to come up with some way to set the giveaway readings apart from what can be had on the board.  Otherwise, I suppose they'd be a nice thank-you to someone who was going to donate anyway whether they got a giveaway or not, but they aren't much incentive for someone who hasn't already made that decision.

Let's say I donate an astrological reading as a donation prize - it would be simple enough that I'd be willing to do it for free, but complex enough that I won't do it for everyone who requests it in the SIG. My normal ca 20$ reading involves a short paragraph on the planets in the signs (pluss a sentence about the house if the querent knows the time/date of birth). I'd be willing to do this for _one_ person in a month - but not everyone.

[RandallS]

Would we then institute a rule against spell-begging anywhere else on the board? 

That would probably make a lot of people happy. I suspect the only reason we don't have one is because I'm against it. I think people who want a spell for reasonable purpose X should be able to get one instead of lectured on why they really should create their own or the like -- but a lot of people disagree with me. However, a spell-begging board may not be the best idea (even with donations required) as that will just encourage even the silliest requests.

[RandallS]

Again, though--we'd have to make some kind of rule about not giving out free readings on the board in order for this to really be effective.

It would not affect free readings at all, or at least adding a free numerology reading to certain donation levels would not. Nothing like that is done on the board -- and definitely not in the detail the software I have provides.

What Stardancer suggested could be used as a monthly drawing for donors as well as email would work for delivery.

[Inca]

But what could the non-US citizens choose, then?

Apart from that, even the payment itself for non-US citizens is a bit more complex (and in the end a bit more expensive when the rate is converted.)
(I am not too convinced about paypal yet, because of the lack of two-factor authorisation and nothing on the judicial status of the whole organisation outside the US, and also this: http://tortoisesvn.net/howpaypalscrewsopensourceprojects.html )

[RandallS]

(I am not too convinced about paypal yet, because of the lack of two-factor authorisation and nothing on the judicial status of the whole organisation outside the US, and also this: http://tortoisesvn.net/howpaypalscrewsopensourceprojects.html )

Unfortunately, while paypal has its problems, it's the only generally accepted (by people willing to pay) game in town -- unless you have a large budget so you can afford to accept credit cards directly.

[Tana]

That would probably make a lot of people happy. I suspect the only reason we don't have one is because I'm against it. I think people who want a spell for reasonable purpose X should be able to get one instead of lectured on why they really should create their own or the like -- but a lot of people disagree with me. However, a spell-begging board may not be the best idea (even with donations required) as that will just encourage even the silliest requests.

I've read through everything now and gave it a thought or two.

Fact: to keep TC up and running money is needed.
Members donate when they can. Still more would be... well more, no?

What can TC offer?

A huge community with an exceptional quality standard.
A ton of people who are real experts in their field/s.
Discussion and debate.

The above are the reasons TC is so attractive.
So, why not put these things before the cart (TC) to pull itself?

I mean it works already.
People donate because they want to keep their TC.

I am with you there Randall.
There is not a reason why there shouldn't be a kind of a spell forum.
Not even a begging forum, it's not begging if you pay for it.

I wouldn't mind to create a spell once in a while for somebody whose subscription will keep TC running.
Like with readings. Of course we have the free readings in the DIV SIG and they should stay.
But why not offer to request a reading in the subscription board via mail or pm - more in depth?

Tho' we would have to discuss this at some length.
But I think I'd be more than happy to put some of my workforce in to help keeping TC alive.

[Lunamoth42]

I suspect the only reason we don't have one is because I'm against it. I think people who want a spell for reasonable purpose X should be able to get one instead of lectured on why they really should create their own or the like -- but a lot of people disagree with me. However, a spell-begging board may not be the best idea (even with donations required) as that will just encourage even the silliest requests.

A spell-begging forum wouldn't be an impetus for me to donate, nor readings of any sort. But I could see where it could be of value to others. Which made me have these thoughts:

Perhaps it would be useful to consider, if you're to do this thing, to structure various levels of access. For instance, 1 month access to the hypothetical spell board costs X amount, and 3 months costs a little more and a year costs a bit more. What this could do is 1) encourage people to participate who may feel like they don't really need a spell board in general, but okay maybe just this once... 2) provide more than one "price point" so those who don't have like $25 right this minute could still contribute *something* and 3) implement the principle of volume which encourages repeat "customers" and a more continuous monetary flow. Because maybe someone needs a spell a couple times a year, but they can only afford to throw $3 in this month and could maybe do it again a couple months down the line.

Know what I mean?

[catherine]

However, a spell-begging board may not be the best idea (even with donations required) as that will just encourage even the silliest requests.

The other possible problems I can see with this are, complaints and demands for refunds. What if the spell doesn't work, or not in the way they'd hoped. You might have people wanting their money back. Or someone wants a certain kind of spell that no one wants to create for ethical reasons. I can see the potential for people to feel like they should get what they're "paying for". It could cause some headaches.

However, if you do go that route, I'd be willing to donate my time to create spells. I'm one of those people who only donates money when I can afford it, but I've got lots of time.

[scoutyote]

I think people may be taking "Subscriber Area" too literally. Think "ideas for more donor benefits". They need not involve a walled off area of the board. For example, Jenett had an interesting one with the giveaway. That could be done without walling off part of the board -- an idea I'm not immediately fond of either. It's too much like spirituality is only for people with lots of spare cash for me. (However, I might be willing to consider a walled off "spell begging" forum where who want to demand to have spells designed for them have to pay.)

Also, even if we did wall off part of the board, it could be a transparent wall like the "Full Member" wall we had for our first 18 months to 2 years on SMF. Everyone could read the Full Member areas, but only those who had made 10 posts and applied for full membership successfully could post in them. While I don't think I'd be interested in a completely private area for subscribers, I would have less immediate objection to something like this. I'm not saying it would be an idea we should jump on, just that I'd have far less objection to it.

I like the idea of a raffle/giveaway and love the idea of a paid "spell begging" section. The former is a cool way for folk here to showcase their crafting and the latter.. well, let's just say that I've seen way too many "I need a loooooove spell for a guy who doesn't know I exist" posts. ;-)

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