MsSnuzi said:
Maybe the poll should be titled, "Thank you PMLers for helping support a site that I enjoy but am not able to contribute to at this time" or "Thank you Steve for opening your site to all Disney lovers whether they are financially able to support it or not". Not to offend members that are not financially contributing, they may contribute in other ways. Just a thought . . . :lookaroun
It's interesting you mention this, it's something I have thought about recently.
In the old days (1996 - 1999), I used to recieve occasional emails saying things like "nice site, thanks for sharing all that info/photos with us" or "thanks for the efforts" or "how can i help" "can i send a donation to help keep the site going"
The last few years, all I get is emails either complaining or critisizing. I even had one last week telling me that I treat "customers" badly. People seem to be thinking that somehow if they post here (regardless of whether they financially contribute), they are my "customers". I would remind them, that this site is basically my hobby. It isn't a business, and makes a financial loss, not to mention the considerable time and effort it takes to produce WDWMAGIC. WDWMAGIC is ran by an individual, me. As members here, you are basically visiting my online house. Anyone who is able to be civil and abide by basic common sense rules is very welcome here, and I always try to give the feeling of an open house, where you are free to hang out and be a part of the community. It is dissapointing and frustrating when this concept get's lost. Unfortunately it must be a sign of the times and the way the internet is moving.
This isn't aimed at anyone particular here, just a general observation from things I have received via email, and posted around forums. It seems to me that some people take "hobby" type websites for granted. It is almost as though they think it is their right to use it, and it's their right to demand things, critisize everything, and it's just there when they need it.
People also seem to think that I am desperate for members and visitors, and that if I dont obey their demands, they will "tell people not to join", "contact my advertisers" etc. Frankly, it is almost the opposite. With every single user and visitor to the site, comes greater expense and complexity in managing the site. It isnt in my interest to have more traffic and members, as the end result is more expense and time required to run things.
The concept of the premium membership came from magazine or newspaper subscriptions, where you pay to utilise the services of the publication. Some members use WDWMAGIC (site, forums etc) a lot, which is great. However, when you have thousands of people doing this, costs increase rapdily. So the idea of Premium Memberhsip was for those people who were able to financially contribute, to do so, and help with the cost of running the site. I have said this many times, but without the Premium Membership, WDWMAGIC would not exist on financial grounds.
It is counter-productive to label a group of members, who happen to be part of the financial basis of the site, as being problematic. Feel free to have an objection to an individual, but not the entire group. As I have said many times before, if you have a problem with posts, or a member, notify me using the Report to Moderator link.
