Consider Helping out

[Synergy Forge]

appropionate" pid='82696' dateline='1582478293:

Synergy Forge" pid='82683' dateline='1582470932:

I also want to touch on a portion of your comment about bare-bones. We want more and I know more is coming, in fact it’s close from what I have been told. That costs money and if there’s no money then there aren’t any upgrades.

Let’s look at Meso: they’re huge and have a source donation setup and ads which should make for a decent income - yet their forum setup is pretty similar (except for having PM).

As for testing, there’s already independent labs (Janoshik and a couple others) covering that aspect. Spending money on features that other websites have already specialized in (reddits gear wiki/compound threads as an information resource for example) seems a waste - a sticky/compendium compiling all useful websites/resources would suffice I think.

So which necessary features are you thinking of precisely that would require an investment?

Not necessarily an investment but more increased costs. I don’t know a thing about the setup here but I’m pretty sure the ability to add pictures, graphs, spreadsheets and additional functionality such as messaging and embedded chat would require a server migration and increased storage capability. Maybe it’s a private server? Maybe it needs a fiber connection to accommodate traffic. We may never know, but I am trying to make sure they have options available to them.

This is the only board that I have ever heard of that doesn’t have an income stream. They are completely reliant upon donations and I have never seen them ask for one or suggest it. I chose to bring this to the forefront of people’s mind of my own volition. I’m going to continue to encourage it.

It is unclear to me if you are advocating against making a monetary donation or sharing your distaste for some aspects of SST. If it is the latter then that is what is trying to be done: increased functionality and such. If it is the former then that creates a dichotomy with your willingness to donate your time and experience here on SST. Help comes in many forms and isn’t exclusive to monetary decisions. I believe there are a lot of people that have benefited from your help and so has SST.

 

[appropionate]

Synergy Forge" pid='82706' dateline='1582485406:

It is unclear to me if you are advocating against making a monetary donation or sharing your distaste for some aspects of SST.

I’m saying none of that is needed and you’re the first one (or in a great minority of users) that are asking for any of these. for chatting there’s discord, for pictures there’s imgur, for anything you’re mentioning there are free websites available that have specialized in that thing.

If the admins need cash for hosting SST as it is, I’d think they’d ask for it and receive what they need very promptly from the community.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

appropionate" pid='82714' dateline='1582490506:

Synergy Forge" pid='82706' dateline='1582485406:

It is unclear to me if you are advocating against making a monetary donation or sharing your distaste for some aspects of SST.

I’m saying none of that is needed and you’re the first one (or in a great minority of users) that are asking for any of these. for chatting there’s discord, for pictures there’s imgur, for anything you’re mentioning there are free websites available that have specialized in that thing.

If the admins need cash for hosting SST as it is, I’d think they’d ask for it and receive what they need very promptly from the community.

While that may be true regarding other free websites, there has been feedback that it should be embedded here. I don’t want to become Meso-like in any sense. Let alone see SST with ads, etc.

And while we do need money to uphold the hosting and services we have that are required to maintain it, it’s a fine line we are walking to ask for it. And that is what is going on here. Are you opposed to this post only because it’s Synergy who posted it?

@“Synergy Forge” did this of his own accord after reaching out during the <30 minute outage because he was receiving emails from concerned users/customers. And he saw the need.

What are your concerns regarding this idea or post so that those can be precisely addressed? Again, it is only a donation and no one is being forced to do anything. So for efficiency, can you detail those concerns?

 

[Synergy Forge]

appropionate" pid='82714' dateline='1582490506:
I’m saying none of that is needed and you’re the first one (or in a great minority of users) that are asking for any of these. for chatting there’s discord, for pictures there’s imgur, for anything you’re mentioning there are free websites available that have specialized in that thing.

If the admins need cash for hosting SST as it is, I’d think they’d ask for it and receive what they need very promptly from the community.
[/quote]

Your position is much more clear now. You have developed this theory based on empirical evidence that it hasn’t happened yet therefore it must not be needed so we should just do what we have always done. That theory is a common thinking error called hasty generalization which is derived from insufficient evidence. I respect your opinion sir and perhaps you are correct. Like I said before, we don’t know and may never know but I do know that absolutely no harm could ever come out of giving a few bucks; yet there is a possibility that NOT giving some back would doom our board. If I was a gambling man I would put my money on option 2. Because there’s nothing to lose.

Again, I truly respect your opinion and am grateful that you are willing to share it. I have no doubt there are others that feel the same as you. I expected it from some people. But I also know that there are others that will stand up to give some back. I think just having the conversation is paramount to success. Thank you so much!

This will be my last response to you. This forum isn’t about me. So I don’t want to hijack it. I wish you the best and I look forward to talking to you again in another forum.

Syn

 

[appropionate]

CaptainAmerica" pid='82715' dateline='1582491561:

Are you opposed to this post only because it’s Synergy who posted it?

Kinda, I figured if you guys needed help/cash you’d post an official mod thread for it (before there’s an outage again, haha). I highly doubt you’d get criticized for asking btw, SST is the only gear board many use/know, so it’s pretty precious to those.

 

[faaaack]

ForgotMuhName" pid='82563' dateline='1582358455:

I don’t want to sound like a selfish prick but it’s gonna come off this way to some people who read my comment:

Why not have verified sources pitch in on this as well? It’s part of how some other forums stay afloat and even just 1% of sales donated to the site from each source would probably be more than the cumulative donations from end-users combined. I’m not trying to relieve users of footing the bill, but it would make a bit of sense if, on top of user donations, sources sent a bit of money toward the site as well.

Let’s be reasonable: Very few users here will donate anything. Most are probably barely even spending 500 bucks a year on this stuff and that may even be a stretch for them to budget. I’m sure we have some wealthy folks around here who can afford thousands a year in gear or more and to them a donation isn’t going to even budge their bank account but the majority of users aren’t running much and likely don’t want to or can’t spend anything additional.

To build upon the concept of sources handling the bulk of donations, it could easily be covered by simply increasing prices by a % equivalent to the % to be donated. So if you’re going to donate 1% of your sales, just increase prices by 1%. This will be barely noticeable to users and then that small amount they’re paying extra will end up going right to the servers thus unintentionally causing them to donate money to site upkeep.

Last alternative I could think of is having people pay to access the forum but that would be like a last resort in the event that nobody is donating anything at all and I would hope it doesn’t get to that point.

A paywall would keep idiots out if this place ever got big enough to attract the wrong attention. I’d be down with something like $1-5 a month to keep it going. Kinda like a patreon. I honestly never knew we could donate tho.

 

[Masterofron]

I support this whole donation thing, mainly because the sst website looks like it’s from the early 2000’s. I’d like to at least be able to use bold or italics every now and then, or maybe post a picture without using imgur lol.

@“faaaack” it’s impossible to keep idiots off of a steroid forum. Bostin loyds forum costs like $40 for 6 months or some shit and it’s all idiots.

 

[superawesomename]

appropionate" pid='82606' dateline='1582398722:

which nothing short of omniscience/future sight on behalf of the mods could realistically prevent.

I’ve noticed a steep decline in my fortune-telling side business since the release of this comment. I’m on to you.
appropionate" pid='82719' dateline='1582494387:

CaptainAmerica" pid='82715' dateline='1582491561:

Are you opposed to this post only because it’s Synergy who posted it?

Kinda, I figured if you guys needed help/cash you’d post an official mod thread for it (before there’s an outage again, haha). I highly doubt you’d get criticized for asking btw, SST is the only gear board many use/know, so it’s pretty precious to those.

I’d just like to mention that the short lapse in hosting was because of a package mistake with us getting the site rework ready. Our biggest concern is making sure all the content on the site currently remains intact.
Masterofron" pid='83183' dateline='1582951316:

I support this whole donation thing, mainly because the sst website looks like it’s from the early 2000’s. I’d like to at least be able to use bold or italics every now and then, or maybe post a picture without using imgur lol.

@“faaaack” it’s impossible to keep idiots off of a steroid forum. Bostin loyds forum costs like $40 for 6 months or some shit and it’s all idiots.

Yeah, we’ve had more than a handful of mentions of this and formatting in general and is one of the biggest things I’m excited about with the new website.

 

[appropionate]

I like the early 2000’s green/black ghost in the shell/cyberspace message board look. we do need a webchat though to complete the nostalgia, and a profile field for our ICQ number.

 

[Allesandro96]

I know Fusion Labs, Sparta, etc, used to do giveaways, promotions, and other various contents.

Like whoever had the best costume at the gym, if I remember correctly.

How about something along those lines, but more of a raffle ticket system? A ticket is 5 or 10 bucks for the drawing, for various gear that a source or sources can give away.

Let’s say 40 members bought one, that’s 400 bucks right there.

Just a stupid idea.

 

[tren_hard4_AZthetics]

I think this is a great idea. Just donated $10.

 

[implicitnewt]

Oh look if you scroll all the way down on the home page, there sits the donation address

 

[MrBombastic]

Just donated; very good idea.

 

[swollerblader]

Synergy Forge" pid='82537' dateline='1582336897:

Hello all, I don’t venture out of my thread much, preferring to keep a low profile, but I would like to ask all of the customers here if they would consider donating 5 dollars to the site every time they have a successful order. I realize that not everyone can do it and there are some that won’t do it, but the guys that run this site vet every source here rigorously for your protection. They also monitor continued behavior to continue those protections. So we all benefit in some way, is it worth 5 bucks a cycle?

Recently the site went down because of some fees that weren’t paid. It was only down about 30 minutes I believe but I got more than a few emails from customers making sure everything was OK. I spoke with @“CaptainAmerica” and found out that there was no funds for the site and that breaks my heart. So I have reached out to all the sources and asked them to give a little every month, just as I am asking the customers. No funds go in their pockets, it is 100% used for administrative purposes.

We are all a band of brothers and sisters here sharing a common benefit. Lets make sure the site stays up, as well as up to date and impervious of hackers> Please give a shout out below if you are willing. And the next time you make an order ask your source: Are you giving back to our community?

Sure. That’s a reasonable request.

 

[cmryan]

Excellent idea. I just donated as well.

 

[Biginsigfig]

New customer to Syn, and have used other sources. Just from having such a great experience with Syn thus far, I’d like to donate per request. Couldn’t of happened without this platform, gotta support that! Link to address to donate?

 

[Kirkland]

@Synergy-Forge

great call.

Sending now.

 

[Bumpygooch]

Can a “donate” button be added or have I missed that?

 

[Jack78]

I’ll definitely help out. I remember a post a while back like this. Thanks for reminding me because I forgot.

 

[Jack78]

@cmryan how do you donate exactly? Just ask the source while making a purchase?