2. Realy liked the idea that I was able to lurk, read and learn, prior to joining and subscribing to mag(as much out of guilt for info I was recieving as anything-Subscrition and back issues which I have enjoyed)
For this reason i don't think a trial membership then force to pay is the way to go. Most people will want to lurk for a while. a long while in some cases. I still say that if restrictions have to be put into place, the "premium forum" idea is the best. Let the amateurs like me banter and bicker all they want, it doesn't hurt anything, and in my case and lamar's, it convinces us to sign up.
3. Those of you based in Texas will never benefit monetarily from any direct connection with me and my lake in Georgia except through this forum and the PB mag.
4. Through this forum I have been in contact with Greg Grimes in my area and has helped me immensibly, and have supported him in products I needed and a beneficial consultation, would this be possible if it were a pay site for ads and posts????
another good point, those of you on the site who stand to profit from people coming on and posting, will lose this if there is a reason to discourage people coming and posting. Now, this doesn't solve the problem for Bob et al, I understand, but it is a reason for pond consultants like G. Grimes to continue to support the forum, and a reason for more pond consultants to join. Also, this reinforces the need for the "geographic referral" page, which only presents itself as another source of income for Bob et al. People like G. Grimes (i'm not trying to pick on you in particular, just the above example) could pay a small fee for the ad, or commission to pondboss for business that came from the site.
5, Have been to # of sites online where they say X # of experts online to answer your questions, and once you go through all the info required they want a credit card to converse with me som I just log off and never go back.
6. Once you get to "pay for everything", do you get to if X get paid to answer A question, why don't I as Y get paid to answer Question B ????
Again, this is the general attitude of people on the web. They see these "pay to play" sites and think they are all generally scams, whether it is an honest venture or not. I can think of a few forums I signed up for hoping to get the answer to a question, then got jerked around and cancelled my subscription. After this experience, I doubt i would ever bother to find out if it was legitimate or not.
8. For me, if I had found when 1st finding this site that I had to pay, don't know if I would have continued, probably not. But after discovering what was available more than happy to participate financially.
most people will feel this way
I'm fortunate enough that $50-$75 annually to do something I want is not going to interfere with my life, health or living, but realize there a lots of good people that that's not the case.
I am one of these people, and came to this forum because i needed to know how to help a lake on a strict budget. I think alienating people in similar situations would be a detriment to all involved.
Ok, I think i have probably blathered on about my point enough.
like i said, longwinded, sorry.
-skinny
