As far as I know the ad system on this site was installed later than the subscription system. So I think many or most subscribers paid their money not to not see ads, but simply because they see the value in supporting a fantastic resource. At least in our household every year, by the info and advice offered on AW we save easily 20x as much as the $12 subscription fee. It's stupid to not help support it, regardless of the ad system.
Upgraded Membership no ads option = Pointless?
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Thank you Sandy! The Netherlands is indeed a real country. Not a big one, but a real one.
Real spelled-out words must take too long to read
Perhaps the OP quickly and mistakenly concluded that upgraded members lose access to classified ads, even though there isn't a forum dedicated to in-house classifieds here.
I can't believe we've all been suckered in to his "discuss" command, O-Mat notwithstanding.
Perhaps the OP quickly and mistakenly concluded that upgraded members lose access to classified ads, even though there isn't a forum dedicated to in-house classifieds here.
I can't believe we've all been suckered in to his "discuss" command, O-Mat notwithstanding.
For a while, I never bothered with paid memberships on forums on the inter-web.
However, this changed with AW.org. You get advanced editing features, edit posted posts, delete posts, "notification" of un-read posts on threads, My/Latest Posts, Access to 2 forums and of course, advanced searching and the site feels like it used to without the ads. I use an AdBlocker, since they annoy the crap out of me everywhere else on the internet, and some a malicious if you click on them (NOT HERE).
I pay for the added features, not so much the extra forums. Besides, it supports Robert and his tireless efforts to keep this great place growing, improving and staying enjoyable (for lack of better terms).
As for your profile, I won't comment on that. That's your business and Robert will do whatever he feels necessary, if needed on that regard.
That is all.
[this post was last edited: 1/27/2014-05:17]
However, this changed with AW.org. You get advanced editing features, edit posted posts, delete posts, "notification" of un-read posts on threads, My/Latest Posts, Access to 2 forums and of course, advanced searching and the site feels like it used to without the ads. I use an AdBlocker, since they annoy the crap out of me everywhere else on the internet, and some a malicious if you click on them (NOT HERE).
I pay for the added features, not so much the extra forums. Besides, it supports Robert and his tireless efforts to keep this great place growing, improving and staying enjoyable (for lack of better terms).
As for your profile, I won't comment on that. That's your business and Robert will do whatever he feels necessary, if needed on that regard.
That is all.
[this post was last edited: 1/27/2014-05:17]
Why does this always happen when we are traveling...
With the exception of the OP (original poster), thank you everyone for your kind words and support of the site. The advertising helps offset the ever increasing costs of running such a popular and bandwidth heavy website. Without the upgrade donations and ad revenue I would have no choice but to close all three websites down. I, as most other webmasters, see those ad blockers as just another form of stealing. The ads are 100% harmless and help greatly with offsetting costs. I suspect the OP simply has a sense of internet entitlement that is common in this digital age.
As for his "This is not a real country", I find that offensive to our other members who are from the Netherlands, and I have removed it. Do anything like that again and I will ban you from the site.
With the exception of the OP (original poster), thank you everyone for your kind words and support of the site. The advertising helps offset the ever increasing costs of running such a popular and bandwidth heavy website. Without the upgrade donations and ad revenue I would have no choice but to close all three websites down. I, as most other webmasters, see those ad blockers as just another form of stealing. The ads are 100% harmless and help greatly with offsetting costs. I suspect the OP simply has a sense of internet entitlement that is common in this digital age.
As for his "This is not a real country", I find that offensive to our other members who are from the Netherlands, and I have removed it. Do anything like that again and I will ban you from the site.
I pay
Because I want to support this wonderful website and enjoy the additional forums. I could care less about the adds. Robert, thanks again for all you do. T5-R you may want to consider inquiring about the site in a less offensive manner.
WK78
Because I want to support this wonderful website and enjoy the additional forums. I could care less about the adds. Robert, thanks again for all you do. T5-R you may want to consider inquiring about the site in a less offensive manner.
WK78
Ads
I am happy to turn off the ads, but I was a paying member from the first instant it was suggested, regardless of the additional features. There are tons of info on my hobby here, tons of advice and reading and learning, nice folks, good times, Well worth the inexpensive fee.
I am happy to turn off the ads, but I was a paying member from the first instant it was suggested, regardless of the additional features. There are tons of info on my hobby here, tons of advice and reading and learning, nice folks, good times, Well worth the inexpensive fee.
I also choose an upgraded membership to help out with the cost of maintaining and running the site. The information, advice, leads on appliances, and friendships that I have made here have a value far greater than any membership fee!
And your point is?
Per all of the responses to your orginal question....get the point .....get on the train or stay on the platform. Many members have made inquiry into your inquiry, maybe this site is not for you.
Per all of the responses to your orginal question....get the point .....get on the train or stay on the platform. Many members have made inquiry into your inquiry, maybe this site is not for you.
Personally, I think he's long gone and has already forgotten about this site altogether.
These kids today . . .
These kids today . . .
DirectDriveDave
Well-known member
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Personally, I think the thread deserve's a close, but that's up to Robert.
That thought crossed my mind, but there's really nothing truly offensive happening here, and Robert is on vacation anyway.
I'm going to start ignoring this thread in hopes that it will quickly slide off the board and into the virtual dust bin.
I'm going to start ignoring this thread in hopes that it will quickly slide off the board and into the virtual dust bin.
To support the site...
.... I have made some really good friends on this site as well as found a resource for a hobby that some might consider to be odd or unusual.
When I was a kid I wouldn't have dreamed of talking with someone about being gay because I thought I was the only person on earth who felt that way. Finding this site was kind of the same thing. When I would mention my hobby of vintage dishwashers they would kind of look a little funny and say "well that's interesting!". So I guess finding AW.ORG was a second "Coming Out" for me. LOL
.... I have made some really good friends on this site as well as found a resource for a hobby that some might consider to be odd or unusual.
When I was a kid I wouldn't have dreamed of talking with someone about being gay because I thought I was the only person on earth who felt that way. Finding this site was kind of the same thing. When I would mention my hobby of vintage dishwashers they would kind of look a little funny and say "well that's interesting!". So I guess finding AW.ORG was a second "Coming Out" for me. LOL
arbilab
Well-known member
With jvascrpt disabled for loadtime efficiency I didn't see ads anyway. But since OP mentioned it, I switched to paying user.
Some of you will recall my grumbling about this govt geezer poorhouse I moved to after every utility threatened to cut me off in my freemarket rentalry. But one thing it DOES do is leave me with some discretionary spending so I discretionarily spent some of it here. Surely I use a dollar a month of bandwidth, only fair that I pay since I can.
I bet you can too, T5. Discuss.
Some of you will recall my grumbling about this govt geezer poorhouse I moved to after every utility threatened to cut me off in my freemarket rentalry. But one thing it DOES do is leave me with some discretionary spending so I discretionarily spent some of it here. Surely I use a dollar a month of bandwidth, only fair that I pay since I can.
I bet you can too, T5. Discuss.
Well...
I don't know why, but it seems to me that every time the matter is mentioned, there is a sort of over-reaction.
Yes, maybe the original question was not expressed in the nicest possible form, but it seemed to me a legitimate question, and sometimes the replies have not been much nicer than the question.
The original question sounds to me like "What an upgraded memebership entails?". Shouldn't the answer be simply something like "Upgraded members make a small donation to support the website; they have access to two reserved forums and don't see the ads"? What's wrong with that?
What am I missing?
I don't know why, but it seems to me that every time the matter is mentioned, there is a sort of over-reaction.
Yes, maybe the original question was not expressed in the nicest possible form, but it seemed to me a legitimate question, and sometimes the replies have not been much nicer than the question.
The original question sounds to me like "What an upgraded memebership entails?". Shouldn't the answer be simply something like "Upgraded members make a small donation to support the website; they have access to two reserved forums and don't see the ads"? What's wrong with that?
What am I missing?
danemodsandy
Well-known member
donprohel:
The poster's thread title was part of the problem: "Upgraded Membership no ads option = Pointless?"
Saying that "Upgraded equals pointless" was a bit uncool, particularly on someone's eleventh post.
If the member had asked "Can someone explain the point behind offering upgraded membership? Why do people here choose that option?" I think the outcome would have been different.
The little comment (since deleted by Robert) about the Netherlands didn't help. I think reaction to the OP has been pretty mild, with no personal attacks against the poster; people have simply outlined their reasons for choosing upgraded membership, and have also commented on what the poster said, which is vastly different than attacking the poster himself or herself.
The poster's thread title was part of the problem: "Upgraded Membership no ads option = Pointless?"
Saying that "Upgraded equals pointless" was a bit uncool, particularly on someone's eleventh post.
If the member had asked "Can someone explain the point behind offering upgraded membership? Why do people here choose that option?" I think the outcome would have been different.
The little comment (since deleted by Robert) about the Netherlands didn't help. I think reaction to the OP has been pretty mild, with no personal attacks against the poster; people have simply outlined their reasons for choosing upgraded membership, and have also commented on what the poster said, which is vastly different than attacking the poster himself or herself.
@danemodsandy
I completely agree with you that «saying that "Upgraded equals pointless" [would be] a bit uncool», but instead I read the original post as "Doesn't it seem pointless to upgrade just not to see the ads?" which does not mean that upgrading is pointless, but that it WOULD SEEM pointless IF it were ONLY not to see the ads. This is also the content of the post which states "Why exactly do people pay to not see ads here on AW.org?" and please note that this is a question, not a statement.
Consider also that when the upgraded membership was introduced, it was first discussed in a thread, where the reasons were explained, and we agreed. Probably the original poster has never seen that thread, hence his request for clarifications.
Incidentally, being a non-native speaker as (I suppose) the original poster, I sympathize with him.
Finally, about his comment on the Netherlands, I have seen other members saying worse things about their own countries, and no one minded (me included): why in this case a relatively harmless comment (in my opinion, "not a real country" means just "a very small country that does not make the news") has been considered so offensive?[this post was last edited: 1/28/2014-08:00]
I completely agree with you that «saying that "Upgraded equals pointless" [would be] a bit uncool», but instead I read the original post as "Doesn't it seem pointless to upgrade just not to see the ads?" which does not mean that upgrading is pointless, but that it WOULD SEEM pointless IF it were ONLY not to see the ads. This is also the content of the post which states "Why exactly do people pay to not see ads here on AW.org?" and please note that this is a question, not a statement.
Consider also that when the upgraded membership was introduced, it was first discussed in a thread, where the reasons were explained, and we agreed. Probably the original poster has never seen that thread, hence his request for clarifications.
Incidentally, being a non-native speaker as (I suppose) the original poster, I sympathize with him.
Finally, about his comment on the Netherlands, I have seen other members saying worse things about their own countries, and no one minded (me included): why in this case a relatively harmless comment (in my opinion, "not a real country" means just "a very small country that does not make the news") has been considered so offensive?[this post was last edited: 1/28/2014-08:00]
arbilab
Well-known member
Netherland is just that, nether land. At high tide it scarcely exists at all. It's just 12 western European provinces and 3 Caribbean islands, without even saying which 3.
So it's an in-joke. A lot like the US constitution. I mean, there is some underlying formal structure but nobody really believes it or operates upon it.
It's like New Orleans, except with tulips.
So it's an in-joke. A lot like the US constitution. I mean, there is some underlying formal structure but nobody really believes it or operates upon it.
It's like New Orleans, except with tulips.
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