Vote***financing Fauna***vote

[WebSlave]

Although I'm not paying for server costs I researched how much it does cost and just about choked.... From what I saw its nearly 350 dollars... I don't know how much Rich pays but I remember owning a website and I didn't like it all to well when I got the bill...

Rich.... ever thought about buying a Server???? If we would all band together and help pay for the cost of one you wouldn't need to worry about the huge bill.... only from your high speed ISP

I have done alot of thinking and thought that 25 bucks is gonna come out anyways so I might as well pay it... Anything to help...

Just a Thought,
-Jacob

No man. You cannot run a server from your home through your ISP. Not unless you have a direct connection through a T1 or better. This site alone uses up over 100 gigabyte of bandwidth per month. There is no way you can get that kind of throughput through an ISP. Any such attempt would leave you with a site that would be so slow it would be terminal.

And buying a server is not really effective. Buying means you are locked into that box until you buy a new one. Technology is advancing so quickly that you can expect to want to upgrade about every year. So with an owned box, you need to sell it (which has lost nearly all of it's value) or set it aside and buy a new one. With a leased server, you just tell the tech guys to move you to the newer and faster box. Sometimes for the same price as the old one.

Then there are hardware failures on the owned equipment. Something breaks on the owned box, too bad. On a leased box, THEY fix or replace it, for free. On top of that, there is the server admin functions that the owner (me) would have to do. That takes time to learn and time to DO once you know what you are doing. LOTS of time. Time that I just don't have. I've been puttering around with server admin voodoo for going on 3 years now, and there is much more to learn then I will ever be able to make time to do so.

Sorry to have to shoot you down, but I have researched these options thoroughly and believe I am doing it the best way I can.

 

[Milwaukee Reptiles]

I know about my lack of purchasing a banner ad.... and it's something that I definitly will consider when I get some hatchlings later this season (Don't feel bad, I cancelled my KS account and have no plans to renew).

As for the highlighting, the system I proposed would be slightly different in that EVERY classified ad posted would get you $1 or $2. You can still keep the highlighting at an extra $1 (I've used it on my more expensive item out of 2 or three). You've got almost 15,000 classified ads posted currently (I'm not sure on the age of some of them), but at $2 a piece that would certainly help the costs, even if it doesn't cover it (I have no idea what the monthly costs are for a site this large).

Say that they $2 got you a 14 day ad, and you can repost the exact same ad for another $1 until the item sells.

Again, I'm no professional but these are just my thoughts.

 

[robin d.]

Oh, and as I posted in another thread, I am quite prepared for this site to go down the tubes if the alternative is that I work myself to death for free to keep it alive. That is no longer an option.

it seems like you want it to fail... if that is the case quit
if you want it to grow and you make money off of it you are going to have to do allot more than just charge for the BOI... you are going to have to make it more professional looking with an easier site to navigate... charge classifieds as well as picture galleries plus banner ads and what not... shat or get off the pot with new classifieds and old one as well as new photo galleries and old ones... stop wasting space and bandwidth on faunabooks, herpwantads, faunaart and faunanet(maybe not faunanet) and maybe think of integrating your cornsnake.com forums into here(more trafic)... bring the trafic to you as opposed to sending it out to various sites you own and maintain. i think monte said it best. before you decide to go any further, whether you want to quite or continuue... contact a personal consulting firm and get a general business plan and maybe ask for suggestions on web site colutions to make it easier and more appealing but if you do not want to put the effort into it... just turn off your server and quit... it will be easier that way

 

[WebSlave]

Well Robin, if you know better how to do this then I do, go make your own site and run with it. You are welcome to express your opinions, but I see no reason to get irritated when they don't automatically become written in stone. The range of opninons on this matter is all over the map here. Just what is it about you that makes you think that YOUR opinion should carry greater weight then anyone else's? Perhaps I missed something somewhere....

But in any event, don't believe for an instant that you can TELL me what to do with my site and I have to comply. Just because you have no need for some of the other sites I run does not mean that the entire rest of the world is exactly like you are.

 

[JAOA49]

ON one hand there is the option of a T1 which I was just thinking that I forgot about in my post... my bad .... heh the cost of that might be the same though I didn't research on the cost of those...

Yes Server Tech is ever increasing but even if you buy the best kind you could get it wouldn't be far off 3-4 years from now.... even the 3-3.2Ghz computers now days are so fast they are scarry.... A fast processor speed is all you really need along with my well forgotten T1 - T3 connections (I ment ISP to be a T1... someone has to provide it lol)

Some servers have deals attached to em... like Free 1 year replacement... At which you could purchase longer... Tech support.... If your getting a programmer then he should easily know how to set one of these up.....

If you get the right server you will find you can keep it along time before the demand outgrows the server's output then is the time to get a new one... in the mean time you will save money... you can get a decent one for 2,000 to 3,000 and still save money in one year..... If you are paying more than 350 a month youd save money unless the T1's prices cost more than the price it costs to run the site

 

[WebSlave]

The last time I checked, the cost to get a T1 line to my house would have been $1,500 per month..............

 

[Milwaukee Reptiles]

I think there is usually a pretty large install charge too because they have to dig wires and run them to a central hub, ect. I think the last time I checked for my house install STARTED at $20K

 

[robin d.]

Well Robin, if you know better how to do this then I do, go make your own site and run with it.

i do not want to but if i did.... i would definately consult with a professional before
doing so

But in any event, don't believe for an instant that you can TELL me what to do with my site and I have to comply. Just because you have no need for some of the other sites I run does not mean that the entire rest of the world is exactly like you are.

i am not telling you to do jack.. just some suggestions, based on common sense and a little looking around as well as comments from others... isnt that what you have wanted? input? people are trying and you already have made up your mind regardless and its right in front of you

 

[bcfos]

The last time I checked, the cost to get a T1 line to my house would have been $1,500 per month..............

Remember sprint sucks Rich.. Just climb the pole like I did and. Nevermind..

 

[WebSlave]

Brian, I seriously doubt you were able to tie into a T1 connection on a pole.

I have the fastest service that Comcast provides, but it is nowhere near what is needed to run a web server on. Matter of fact, the download and upload speeds are exactly the opposite of what you would need for something like that. For a server, you would need the upload speeds much faster then the download speeds. This doesn't happen with ISP connections.

 

[Roger Jolly]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!

Webbie, tell ya what. If you were charging $50 to post here I would pay it in a blink just to be able to say what I am going to say right now.

Robin - put a sock in it, please!!!

Lost the taste for this didnt you Webbie??? You saw this coming back during the crap with Adam Block when Jeffie blocked you from ks didnt you? The writing was on the wall then. Hate to tell you I told you so, so I wont.

Anyone want to wager? I'll bet less then even 100 people go for the admission fee even if it is only $10. Take a look here at the BOI and notice how many people really are posting. Not all that many really. Just a small group that does all of the posting. So if you are expecting to bring some money to the table from this plan webster you are going to be darn disappointed with the results. And I also predict that posting ads in the classifieds will die overnight as the freeloaders bail on you.

Let me give you a hand to spell it out to some of the people here who just dont get it, ok???

People listen up. Webbie is telling you he is throwing in the towel. Kaput, Done. Fini. He has had enough of all of the bs you all throw his way and expect him to come along with the pooper scooper behind you. He is telling you that unless you give him enough reason to keep this site going, he is cutting it loose along with all of the people squealing here about what a monster he is for wanting some value returned for what he has put into it.

I cant believe I am reading such drivel here. Ticks trying to tell their host that they want him to stand still so they can continue sucking his blood. And crying foul when he tries to pluck them off and toss them aside.

WAH! WAH! WAH! FREAKING WAH!!!

You all know that sooner or later one of these bozos who got bounced out of here is going to sue webbie dont you??? What then? You all will just tsk tsk tsk and say 'we are behind you bub!' 'Hope everything works out!' 'If you need anything just holler!' And then go on like nothing happened leaving you holding the bag all by your lonesome.

Yeah you are right. Get some financial padding up front for it or if not enough people will give you the backing send them all packing. If they are not willing to show their support do you really want to lay your own neck on the chopping block for them sometime up the road??? For what??? For them??? Yeah place the cards on the table and call their hand.

If they arent willing to back you, and I mean really back you upfront, then bail. Really what do you have to lose??? A site that you give as much as you can to that slaps you in the face when you ask for a bit of compensation??? The headaches maybe??? How about the stress of the lawsuit threats and actual physical threats as well??? Gonna miss them??? When all is said and done what are you really getting out of this right now???

Yeah just like I thought. Nuthin. So what is the downside of whatever happens??? Except to the ticks of course.

 

[robin d.]

excuse me Mr. Jolly : snickers :
i dont see you contributing.. i see you post your mass of human waste here and there
who took a dump and made you Captin Stinkpickle?
oh words of the wise and all knowing. aint it grand to be sitting so high on your pile?
look honestly if i wanted to hear from you i would..... well you know they saying
your one large infesting tick which drains this site more than any costs of this and that
why should rich have to put up with people like you? i dont blame him if he wants to throw the towel in when it comes to dealing with the likes of you... at least i have a backbone enough to post my real name and my location is easy enough to find as well as a phone number and i am sure address oh and my IP, Mr. Joly : snickers:
i bet you get your *jollies* from being a troll...........
go back and dig down into the pile from which you came

 

[Lucille]

Roger:


I will take your bet. Your post was somewhat inelegant, but what you said, in essence, is that you thought most of the folks here would not go for the proposals for a fee system.

I think Fauna is very worthwhile, and I think you are wrong. There will be some who choose not to participate if fees are instituted; but this is a good place, a great one, and in the end, quality tells.

 

[DAND]

Anyone want to wager? I'll bet less then even 100 people go for the admission fee even if it is only $10.

I'll gladly take your money. How much are we talking about? I believe you are underestimating this site and it's members.

 

[wcreptiles]

I think the BOI, viewing the classifieds and all other forums should remain free, but there should definitely be a charge for classifieds, nothing outrageous, 1% of the listed price maybe or $30 a year. The cost could be worked out, anyone that makes money-using Fauna should pay for its upkeep. Keep the banner ads expand them if you can. Keep the fines in place. Keep the ability to become a FC Official Contributor and perhaps, as someone mentioned, expand it to include different levels i.e. bronze, silver and gold for those that wish to contribute more. You must keep viewing free because it takes time for someone to realize the value of Fauna.

 

[Monte]

hmmm . . .

I hate to admit is - but I wonder if JR has a point.

I wonder how many unique individuals have contributed money to fauna? I would be pleasantly surprised if it came to 100. But I'm just guessing.

 

[DAND]

A little wager then?

I hate to admit is - but I wonder if JR has a point.

I wonder how many unique individuals have contributed money to fauna? I would be pleasantly surprised if it came to 100. But I'm just guessing.

Since Roger brought up the wager idea and what Monte just said, do either of you two (or anyone else for that matter) want to make a wager that there is currently more than 100 Contributing Members? I'll bet there are more than 100. If there is less I'll donate $10 for every person under 100, if you will bet $10 per person over 100. Any takers? Anybody want to put their money where their mouth is?

 

[Hachita]

financing fauna

I think the that access and posting on the BOI and forums should remain free, but there should be a charge for classified ads. -Derek

 

[Bill_Leverton]

Since Roger brought up the wager idea and what Monte just said, do either of you two (or anyone else for that matter) want to make a wager that there is currently more than 100 Contributing Members? I'll bet there are more than 100. If there is less I'll donate $10 for every person under 100, if you will bet $10 per person over 100. Any takers? Anybody want to put their money where their mouth is?

David I'll split the cost with you if you lose

 

[Monte]

That's not the point . . .

I don't need to place a bet with you in order to donate to fauna. I've contributed money on a couple of occasions, my financial and verbal support for Rich and this site is on record.

I'm just wondering - out loud - how many individual contributers there are? Personally, I don't think this topic should have ever been brought up in the public, because this is Rich's decision alone. I still wish this site had either grown slower or that there would have been a business plan to guide him with this growth. With Rich asking for everybody's advice - I assume there was no business plan, and I fear that the contribution model won't be very well received.

I have a sad feeling that there are a lot of people on Fauna who suffer from "Alligator Mouth - Hummingbird Butt Synodrome" - and are not willing to put their money wear their mouth is. I will continue to contribute, because I like the site and enjoy the company of several people on the forums. I just don't assume that everybody feels the way i do.

I'm all for this site to be a great alternative to KS. But get a business plan that works.