I think the fact of the matter is, no matter what we all say, Geoff is not going to offer us an ad free membership fee.

Lets look at the facts, HD DVD says "Hey Geoff, nice site you got there, how many users you have there?" Geoff says " oh, over 10 thousand " "Great Googly Moogly Mr Kleinman, how about we offer you $x + $.25 per click thru(Or however that works), and then Geoff can go "well, my user base has promised not to use Ad Block/Pop Up Block/anything like that, so howabout you give me $x and a bit more for a click thru, and we can talk." If he offers us a $30 annual fee for no ads, he's going to have to tell the advertisers "Yeah have 8,000 regular users, but 1500 won't see your ads. He's going to lose more in ad dollars then he will make up for in fees.

I'd also like to say I'm not knocking the site, or it making money. I just don't think that we will ever be allowed to block the advertisements. Too much revenue.

Well, that's what would determine the membership fee, right? Then each user can determine whether it's worth it to them for that price, or put up with the ads, and Geoff makes out fine either way. Obviously nobody wants Geoff to LOSE money due to memberships so the price would have to take that into consideration.

There are a lot of web sites where people complain when they start to charge a fee. Here Geoff has people BEGGING him to PLEASE charge them money. :lol: There are a lot of sites I frequent and all of them are free. This is the only place I would actually offer to pay a fee just to remove the ads. That's not because the ads are worse than anywhere else, it's because I feel like it's worth it given the improvement it would be to the experience and I would feel like I am genuinely contributing in some way. By ignoring a given number of ads like I do everywhere else on the internet, I don't feel like I'm helping, even if it gets him a few tenths of a cent per view in the long run.

I for one believe Geoff is doing just fine without the membership fees.

He's NO fool...No sir-ree!

http://www.disney-dreams.net/linkage/jimmycricket.gif

If my calculations are correct, he's making more mean green from keeping the ads than he ever would from paid membership, or he would have started charging LONG ago.

...and sure, there are all those who say they are willing to pay a fee (myself included), but I believe it's a little more complicated than that.

I mean, it's one thing to charge (those that say they will pay) and another to collect (from those who said they would, but actually, for one reason or another couldn't, or wouldn't).

I suppose if it came to that, he could always do it like some other sites where they offer one month, six months, or one year memberships, whereas you have to pay up-front to ensure the dues are paid, and that could be a way to weed out the fruits, nuts, & or flakes.

Wait a minute...

That would eliminate THE ENTIRE OTHER FORUM!!! :eek:

Oh, what do I know, anyway? :lol:

-THEEK! :eek:

Looking at the car thread now in Other, I saw ads in post #1, and then again in posts #25 and 26.

What's with that? I thought they were only in first posts, or at the tops of pages?

In general, ads within the body of posts is a bad, bad, bad thing to do.

They are in the first and last post of each page.

OK I think it's safe to say <b>The Forum Has Spoken</b>. With a very strong 89% of the vote against the change and an extremely vocal reaction against the change of ad positions in the forum I've decided to end the test and return the ads to their former position.

Don't say we never listen to you guys :p

I think I love you. *muah*

damn :(

Me too. http://www.fastlanehw.com/forums/ima...es/redface.gif

http://www.biography.com/biography/i...dy_320x240.jpg

Awesome :up:

Thank you very much. It's great to see that you actually listen to your users unlike a lot of sites.

thank you!!

:thumbsup:

Much thanks Geoff!

:banana:

Thanks Geoff!

http://digitalderek.typepad.com/sawx...wild_thing.jpg

Thanks Geoff.

-p

Thanks Geoff!! :thumbsup:

Thank god, our long national nightmare is over. Thanks, Geoff!

Damn, and I was just getting used to it! I miss 'em already :(

You've restored my faith in humanity.


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43...f?t=1177299918

THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!

:up::up:

Pro-B

Victory!!!!



Thank you!

Huzzah!

LOL at people who actually took time to put something about the ads in their sigs or posts. As if anyone actually thought you were endorsing any product.