Wanted: Site Host Provider

[TickleTheater]

Hey gang,

I talked to the rest of the staff awhile back about this but unfortunately none of us are exactly rich. I tried delaying the inevitable but it's come to this. I'm not going to be able to cover the cost of hosting for the site next month. I wish I could but I can't anymore on my own.

I want the site to remain running and I am open to ideas on how to keep it going. I just realized today that we have been a presence for over 5 years now. Starting from a small little site on a free host provider, to a Yahoo Group, and then to a fully fledged online community. I couldn't be happier with our progression! There are so many unique and wonderful people that I don't want to see it go away.

So to steal an overly used line from a certain movie... "Help me... help you!"

 

[F.L. Atlanta 10]

I wish I could, but with being a full-time student money is outta my reach and very tight. I hope the issue gets worked out soon, for I would hate to see this site disappear.

 

[juggernaut]

For those who don't know, what is the cost of the site per month?

 

[TickleTheater]

For those who don't know, what is the cost of the site per month?

$244 USD

 

[cyclypse]

Open a paypal account. It's free and anyone can use it. I'll make donations.

 

[TickleTheater]

Open a paypal account. It's free and anyone can use it. I'll make donations.

I have in the past but PayPAL shuts it down saying it doesn't support adult site transactions. Thanks for the offer though. 🙂

 

[nessonite1]

Hey I loved Jerry Mcguire which I probably spelled wrong ^^

I talked it over with 316 and we'd like to propose splitting the site up three ways between us. You, me, and him. I'll talk to HDS about it and see if maybe we can't make that four. How's that sound to you, bossman? I really want to keep the site running as well. When this issue came up last time I was perpared to take over the cost completely if it had come to that. ^^

 

[cyclypse]

Are you freakin' kidding me? Paypal needs a swift kick in the balls.!

But yeah, i talked it over with ness and i'm cool with a three way split (although 4 way is much more desireable).

 

[nessonite1]

Isn't a 4way always more desireable? LOL!

Yeah Paypal is a bitch when it comes to that sort of thing. We'd have no problem though using it to transfer monies privately for a sharing of the costage.

 

[F.L. Atlanta 10]

I wish I could help out, and PayPal is worthless.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

I think to create a group of exclusive benefactors, and/or upon creation of said group, selected commited individuals are allowed in, may have some adverse affect on this forum's admistrative authority and leadership (possibly even ownership). My only concern is TT being divided and ruled by benefactors.

That you are willing to assume the fianancial hardships of this website is honorable, but I think it would first be best to allow everyone else to pitch in without a "group" existing. If this fails, which is a likely possibility, then theres no reason not to allow you to try. I think what you're suggesting should be a last resort.

The only other concern is that placing the fianancial responsibility on three individuals is unstable at best. To make this site reliant on a few people is problematic since the future cannot be forseen. If anything, God forbid, were to happen to either of you where you would no longer be able to contribute or donate, or, you decide to opt out, that would elimate the site's income and it would collapse under it's own weight. You would then have to be replaced by other willing benefactors, and the support for this site would therefore be random and sporadic.

If, however, you can gurantee this stability into the foreseeable future, then your idea is not without merit, and should be given an honest review.

 

[nessonite1]

The site being dependant on donations would just not work. If I'm not mistaken donations have been tried already and it didn't really fly. That and it's extremely unreliable. Even if it worked one month there's no way it would work month after month.
I don't anticipate leadership issues. If it were, say, 316, TT, and I. I'm already a moderator and around here, lacking a constant admin presense, that's almost like an owner anyway. 316 runs the ATF extremely succesfully (where I am also a mod which tells you that we work well together already). if HDS were to be brought in as had been suggested the last time this issue was brought up (albiet in private) as a partner this obviously would not cause any issues as we already know that he works well with all involbed.
So yeah, I see no issues. If this were a more complex system of admins and moderators then perhaps. But as it is it's just a few of us running this place. We don't want to see the site die. An "unstable" arrangment will have to suffice in the absense of a singler person who can take over the full cost of the site, as our admin has done since inception. I'm sure we'll make certain that there are measures in place to keep the site afloat in case one person has to unexpectedly drop out.

I hope you, bossman, consider our proposal. We were ready and willing to do this months ago when you needed help and we're still here for ya. =^_^=

 

[cyclypse]

If i couldn't garuntee my support in the forseeable future I wouldn't have made the offer in the first place. I'm ready to rock \m/

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

The site being dependant on donations would just not work. If I'm not mistaken donations have been tried already and it didn't really fly. That and it's extremely unreliable. Even if it worked one month there's no way it would work month after month.
I don't anticipate leadership issues. If it were, say, 316, TT, and I. I'm already a moderator and around here, lacking a constant admin presense, that's almost like an owner anyway. 316 runs the ATF extremely succesfully (where I am also a mod which tells you that we work well together already). if HDS were to be brought in as had been suggested the last time this issue was brought up (albiet in private) as a partner this obviously would not cause any issues as we already know that he works well with all involbed.
So yeah, I see no issues. If this were a more complex system of admins and moderators then perhaps. But as it is it's just a few of us running this place. We don't want to see the site die. An "unstable" arrangment will have to suffice in the absense of a singler person who can take over the full cost of the site, as our admin has done since inception. I'm sure we'll make certain that there are measures in place to keep the site afloat in case one person has to unexpectedly drop out.

I hope you, bossman, consider our proposal. We were ready and willing to do this months ago when you needed help and we're still here for ya. =^_^=

Very well then. You have me convinced.

However, I do strongly encourage you create some kind of countermeasure to prevent people aqquiring authority just because they've donated. Many owners can feel pressured to give "gifts" and "extras" to donators to encourage their support. A donator should not be looking for anything more than the satisfaction of keeping the site going.

If TickleTheater were to create such a countermeasure then there would be no loopholes, and who is in charge of this site would not be determined by whose donating the most at the time, or what groups of people are donating alone. Our leaders are people we should be able to respect by virtue of their individual talents, abilities, morals, and standards, not because they can deliver a pay-off.

If once you create this group of benefactors, you will need to seal it and not allow anyone else in afterwards unless it's absolutely necessary. However, that will force you into a contract of sorts that you will have to live up to.

All I can do is put faith into you two. You are essentially asking alot in a very concise way. I hope you can at least understand that concern. This is, inevitably, more than just about money; it's about influence.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

If i couldn't garuntee my support in the forseeable future I wouldn't have made the offer in the first place. I'm ready to rock \m/

I would have said the same thing; I was testing you.

 

[nessonite1]

Well yeah...that's another reason why the site needs to be payed for by either one person or a small close-knot group who will work well together. Leaving it up to random donations is not only unreliable but also opens the door to all sorts of ugly messes.

And I second what 316 said. I know for certain that it'd take a catasrophic turn of events to leave me unable to do what I commit to. I too am ready to rock. =^_^=

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Another alternative is that no one would gain anything by donating, including you three (two). That may seem rude to not award such generousity but it would allow TickleTheater's current staff and ownership structure to remain as is, without any modifications or exceptions. It would not bend or sway, and that is ideal.

I think there is an integrity that is very subtle here, yet, needs to be maintained.

This isn't some business merger, and it doesn't have to be.

 

[cyclypse]

Where the hell did you even get the idea that someone would gain power by donating? Are your eally that insecure and paranoid? I'm merely offering this to give back to the community that has given me so much. It's a debt that I owe. Nothing more.

I neither require nor desire your "testing me" and to be honest you have no right to. Also your untrusting paranoid feeling that just because someone donates to this site that they'll become "leaders" of the forum is not only childish but extremely annoying (As you usually tend to be). I've had enough of it. Get a life Vlad and leave me the hell alone. This isn't a request.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

I neither require nor desire your "testing me" and to be honest you have no right to. Also your untrusting paranoid feeling that just because someone donates to this site that they'll become "leaders" of the forum is not only childish but extremely annoying (As you usually tend to be). I've had enough of it. Get a life Vlad and leave me the hell alone. This isn't a request.

I know you don't require or desire it, but you're looking too far into how I said it and why.

The rest of what you said is irrelevant, due to that. You feel slighted, and I understand that, but resorting to an attack is not only unnecessary and uncalled for, but extremely rude. I have done nothing to you.

If I may so, your remarks are rather selfish and I believe you only made them to protect yourself from an attack that was never present.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Oh, and editting your post to include your love for this forum, site, etc, and how thats merely all you want isn't helping, dude. I saw and quoted what you said before you changed it, so theres no taking it back, from my point of view.

You attacked me in anger. Trying to divert that fact by including your goodwill when it wasn't a part of the uneditted post didn't help.

 

[cyclypse]

Perhaps, but I simply don't see the point in even making remarks regarding the leadership of this forum when the only thing being discussed here is how it's going to be funded. I did feel attacked and I was defending myself, but that doesn't mean everything else i said is irrelevant. You still haven't answered my question. Why even bring it up? Where did you even get the idea that leadership would change because of something as simple as a 3 way split on the monthly cost?

 

[nessonite1]

Vlad, you said your piece. We already know your...concerns. Thanks for your input. I'm sure the admin will take in into account when deciding what to do. For now I see no point in continuing this.
If there is to be any changes in the power structure (as has already been discussed at length in private and does not in any way need to be brought up for public debate) it will be done for the good of the site and all it serves.

This thread is for input and you've given yours. We need no lengthy continuation of this particular line of discussion to clutter things up.

 

[nessonite1]

Ive asked already that this not be a forum for further debate. This is getting out of hand. Want to discuss this more? Do it in private. AIM, Yahoo, PMs whatever. Any further replies by 316 or Vlad bickering back and forth will be shot on sight.

EDIT: Vlad you had to stick in a reply after I said this discussion was over here. You may have not seen my warning before posting but it makes sense to remove it so it doesnt look like you ignored a warning like that.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Ive asked already that this not be a forum for further debate. This is getting out of hand. Want to discuss this more? Do it in private. AIM, Yahoo, PMs whatever. Any further replies by 316 or Vlad bickering back and forth will be shot on sight.

EDIT: Vlad you had to stick in a reply after I said this discussion was over here. You may have not seen my warning before posting but it makes sense to remove it so it doesnt look like you ignored a warning like that.

I was already in the process of posting that messege. You posted yours right before I posted mine. Please do note assume to know that I disobeyed you. The problem was time sensitive, and that cannot be helped. Delete his and my posts toward eachother if you wish, but I could care less how it looks because I was not in the wrong here.

 

[juggernaut]

I think the three or four of you taking it on would make it more stable, not less.

This whole "what if" situation is playing out right here in this thread. TT is one guy - "What if something happens and he can't handle it..."? Well, he gives everyone a month's notice as to what's going on and the options present themselves. Just like what's happening here now.

TT has been gracious enough to foot the whole bill this entire time. If, for example, four of you split it, that's $61 each. If someone, for whatever reason, couldn't swing that and had to get out, their $61 portion would then be spread across three other people. That means another $20.33. That's certainly a softer blow than asking someone to absorb $244 per month. Hell, that's a car payment to some people and you're not as likely to find as many people who take that on. Isn't the average age here something like 22? Regardless, you have a few core people that are veterans and volunteered to keep it going at any cost to them alone, so I see nothing but the strength in numbers. Instead of fearing it may go away if the admin bolts, you have the security of knowing that there are multiple people with the means and the desire to maintain it. I think it eliminates the "eggs in one basket" scenario and I was surprised to learn TT was going solo all this time anyway. Kudos to him.

I think it's great you're all willing and made the offer. I also agree that involving more people would be a challenge. People handle things at different times of the month. Some don't pay bills till the last few calendar days. You'd get random things coming in and it'd be a round the clock task just collecting money.