packsaddle said:
According to the banner at the top of the page, you have to donate money to "keep this forum free for everyone".I'm no financial analyst, but if you donate money to this forum then, technically, it is no longer "free".
Also, you have to donate money to view "private areas".......similar to prostitution.
I cannot support this website by myself financially or technically. There is no fee to join or maintain active registration. If you want to post, you will have to register. If you don't want to post then you can always visit as a guest and still read the forums. If you want to donate money to this site to offset the financial burden that I have undertaken then you will get a perk by being allowed access to a newly created part of this site that is private and not public. It is a perk, a bonus. You don't have to donate money to use this forum at all but you will not get the same perk as those that do.
The amount of work that gets put into this forum is growing on a daily basis and I have to spend a lot of time doing it for free. I get lots of private messages and lots of emails that require my attention when people lose their password, have a problem with someone elses post, are having a technical difficulty, etc, etc, etc. I am not going to work for free then pay thousands of dollars per year to maintain a website for the benefit of the world. I will work for free for this site but I am not independently wealthy. The server is the single largest expense followed by backup space, routine maintenance costs for an IT company to perform tasks beyond my capabilities such as upgrades and ad ons that are routinely requested. I get a lot of email and messages asking for website changes and try to accommodate as much as I can.
You are right, you don't have to be a financial analyst but the site is free for those that use it. For those that have voluntarily donated money in support of this site, it may not be free but they are making a choice. No one is forcing anyone to send money. In your case, you are using this for free but I will not allow you the same perks as those that have selflessly donated money. They deserve something for their support.
Don't know what has your panties in a bunch, but this site does not cost you anything. It costs me thousands of dollars that I pony'd up front so I appreciate those that have voluntarily donated. Without those donations, you would be seeing banner ads all over this site because in order for this free site to exist, someone has to pay for it.
I can always take my ball and go home too but I choose to maintain this site as a commitment I made to the members from day 1 when the ICC boned everyone else.