Subscription fascism

[markh]

I have not subscribed to this forum. I come here for casual chat and it kills a bit of time. I’ve had good conversation here, and from time to time I’ve found useful advice. But I’ve also given useful advice. I’ve bought stuff from the shop. In spite of this, I’ve seen my signature censored, my PM privileges revoked. And now, because someone wants spare parts and I offered to help, I’m under attack and censored once again.

Sort yourselves out.

MarkH
Second class citizen

[Cie]

Mark there's no need to be bitter. This place costs a rather lot of money to run, and the tiny amount that's asked for in subscription keeps it running.

Without subscriptions this place would cease to be I'm afraid.

Of course, all the valuable information is still passed without subscription, the banter, the friendliness and the community is also still here. Enjoy

[datsun fan]

Mark - as you can't receive private messages, could you please email me your email address - so I can share some views with you. Pat

happypatking@gmail.com

[AlanH]

I’ve had good conversation here, and from time to time I’ve found useful advice. But I’ve also given useful advice.

Sounds like a fair exchange. There are many people that use the site like this.

I’ve bought stuff from the shop. In spite of this, I’ve seen my signature censored, my PM privileges revoked. And now, because someone wants spare parts and I offered to help, I’m under attack and censored once again.

Now, I do not have any of the facts here other than your account of events. From what you say, you were responding to a request for parts. If that is the case I am surprised you were censored and it does seem overzealous and unfair. Normally it's the blatant speculative for sale posts that get stomped by the admins.

As regards the subscriptions, the way I see it is that dedicated servers cost money. Bandwidth costs money. Storage costs money. CPU time costs money. In order to keep the site running, the bills have to be paid and to make sure that happens and the site stays up, there is now a subscription model in place with clear benefits for members (as per your list).

If you think that the full functionality is worth a tenner then subscribe. If not then don't. However, if everyone felt the same way as you and didn't subscribe, there would be inadequate funds to keep the site running. The person funding the site based on goodwill donations and filling the shortfall out of their own personal funds would have pulled the plug and it would all be gone. That way you wouldn't be able to come here for casual chat, kill a bit of time or access the vast amount of technical info for free.

As for the "Sort yourselves out" - I think the subscription model is far from draconian unlike some other sites I've seen disappear over the last few years. If you have some suggestions as to how it could be sorted out to raise the amount of money needed to keep the site running on its dedicated server then feel free to make suggestions...

[Mervinh]

As everyone else says this site costs money to run, I contribute too 3 or more other sites one i get for nowt as I am a mod, the aircooled RD club
i am also a mod and pay £15 a year too south west bikers £10 a year all serve useful purposes, now if £10 is really so much too ask for all the wealth of info you get here and discounts etc,then well borrow a guitar and go out and sing on a street corner you will very likely soon have the tenner and then come back and join, and also if there are not benefits to contributing/restricted areas etc then the contributions would be pointless and the site very likely would sink without trace
merv

[StumpyFingers]

I pay the subs because like with the Honda Owners Club which is £20 per year I get discounts on other items,
My bike insurance I saved over £100 for being a member of the Honda Owners Club, so that £20 was worth it.
The discounts from Opie Oils and Busters, may only be 10 /15% but on a couple of purchases I have saved more than £10 so Subscription Membership has again been worth it. Also it helps keep the site running and advertisement free.

[Whealie]

I was the evil moderator who did it, so to be entirely fair and open here is exactly what I sent mark:

Looked to me like you were trying to sell something and only subscribers can sell, so I have hidden it from pubic view.

It is only a tenner to subscribe. Nobody makes any money out of it - we all moderate for free.

We charge no commission or anything like that, just the annual £10. Please subscribe.

Many of you will have noticed that the site recently moved server. It is faster (can cope with the chatter section) and more reliable. DaveS is adding new features all the time.

All that costs money. Join any other motorcycling group and it would cost a lot more than £10 a year.

The mods have removed posts from non-subscribers selling stuff. The vast majority have subsequently subscribed.

I am sorry if Mark feels we are ripping him off, censoring him and generally being nasty.

We're actually quite nice, you know?

[Mervinh]

well if he really short of a tenner he can go post his for sales on a faceless boring forum like visordown
merv

[j]

MarkH every one who registers on the forum gets censored to cut out rogue traders and spammers from using the site inappropriately. Buying things from the shop is good and helps fund the site because of the costs of running the servers. The site owner has spent thousands of his own money keeping the site going. your tenner will help keep this one of the largest multi bike rider biking forum on the Net going. it only cost 3 pints of beer.

[winxp-master]

Subscribe...or don't Subscribe...

If you choose the former then great, it's appreciated... If you choose the latter then thats you choice, just don't bleat on about it.