Debate #2 Open Thread

[DraftBoy]

I think it would push them away.

They would donate $1 and see the in the No-TOS and probably not donate.

Then again, it would make the site an extra $1 that it wouldn't have had before.

I do think the median price would push people out though. The 2.50 is a nice option and if the price is changed to go higher some people might stop donating.

See I disagree here I think the dollar one time donation is a great idea, especially if we find a way to make the No-Tos less of a juvenile playground and more of a place that people can come and talk about whatever. I think the debate topics are a good idea because it allows that want to debate to do so, and others can watch and comment and vote on the issue. It seems like a fun idea to me, but I love to debate. Especially if we make it about a wide range of topics life, politics, money, Bills, Sabres...I think that will drive to more donations, instead of just posting the latest porn site and being able to swear without a filter.

By the way this discussion is great!

[BlackMetalNinja]

The point is not to price people out of donating, it is to encourage more people to donate. If you discover and set a median price point of donations it can actually increase revenues by encoraging more people to donate.

Also, with the proposal for first time donors can check out the benefits of donating for $1 for the first month, it could be an easy transition to becoming a regular donor.

I'm not getting the logic here... It's not to price people out, it's to get more people to donate... by raising prices? I think you'll find the mass majority of donators currently are in the Silver range, with a handful of platinums thrown in. Other than multiple donors such as Lt, I see very few people use the gold option. $2.50/month seems very affordable to most for checking out a website. Go much beyond that and I think you lose a lot of your donors.

[BlackMetalNinja]

See I disagree here I think the dollar one time donation is a great idea, especially if we find a way to make the No-Tos less of a juvenile playground and more of a place that people can come and talk about whatever. I think the debate topics are a good idea because it allows that want to debate to do so, and others can watch and comment and vote on the issue. It seems like a fun idea to me, but I love to debate. Especially if we make it about a wide range of topics life, politics, money, Bills, Sabres...I think that will drive to more donations, instead of just posting the latest porn site and being able to swear without a filter.

By the way this discussion is great!

We already have forums for most of those things though where there are always debates going on... perhaps not in such an organized form. Didn't you already say that further subdividing things and pulling things out of one forum to another similar platform just dilutes the posting in the original forum?

[L.A. Playa]

You're not a math major are you?

Current donations: $2.50/month, $25.00/year, $5/month, $50/year, $10/month, $100/year... aka 12 months for the price of 10! Playa's plan would actually decrease the current discount.

Something I did not know, glad to see the Zone has this plan in effect already, thank you for pointing that out to me.

[RockStar36]

Hmmm...I guess so. That is news to me.

[DraftBoy]

He is ambitious no doubt, and he has the best intentions.
I think having a temporary MOD walking in and looking at the books is just a bit much. The zone has had a team in place that handles this sort of thing. I think having the new guy in off the street looking at the books is just a bit much.

As I have mentioned I truly think the Presidential Position is going to be highly monitored. I am fine with that I just want to get in the ring and throw around ideas with the Big Dogs.

I think you're taking his answer the wrong way and if you look at the Zone staff as of now it makes sense to lend his expertise to a specific area. For instance I handle a lot of the draft things here at the BZ and have since I got here in one capacity or another. Clump and Eb have done the cap stuff from the beginning too. If Playa's expertise is in examining financial trends AND the admins dont have an issue with it then I see no reason as to why he shouldn't be allowed to do so. Just because I or Rockstar dont know jack about accounting or financials doesnt mean if another members to the team that was added they shouldn't take a crack at it if thats what they do in real life. Of course nobody is going to win this election and all the sudden demand to do this or that and I dont think Playa was suggesting that, he was simply throwing an idea out there as something he could do to chip in and maybe discover an untapped revenue stream.

[casdhf]

How about a lifetime membership?

[DraftBoy]

We already have forums for most of those things though where there are always debates going on... perhaps not in such an organized form. Didn't you already say that further subdividing things and pulling things out of one forum to another similar platform just dilutes the posting in the original forum?

Nobody said anything about subdividing anything else. He simply mentions a topic a day debate, or a week or whatever. Let me ask you a question how often do you go into the Spin Zone to debate a topic at hand? Im not being a dick about this either, Im being serious.

[RockStar36]

There should be a top donor list as well. I think if someone like Lt donated as much as he did his efforts should be better recognized. Maybe people wouldn't jump on his **** as much if they saw he donated X amount compared to everyone else.

[L.A. Playa]

I'm not getting the logic here... It's not to price people out, it's to get more people to donate... by raising prices? I think you'll find the mass majority of donators currently are in the Silver range, with a handful of platinums thrown in. Other than multiple donors such as Lt, I see very few people use the gold option. $2.50/month seems very affordable to most for checking out a website. Go much beyond that and I think you lose a lot of your donors.

So you are saying that if based on historical trends and actual amount of donors based on each level if there was one set price point of lets say $3.50 which was the median donation per doner per month, that would price you out of donating to the site in the future ?

[L.A. Playa]

There should be a top donor list as well. I think if someone like Lt donated as much as he did his efforts should be better recognized. Maybe people wouldn't jump on his **** as much if they saw he donated X amount compared to everyone else.

this is a great idea

[BlackMetalNinja]

Nobody said anything about subdividing anything else. He simply mentions a topic a day debate, or a week or whatever. Let me ask you a question how often do you go into the Spin Zone to debate a topic at hand? Im not being a dick about this either, Im being serious.

I never used to step foot in the Spin Zone... in the past 6 months, I'm in there a few times a day generally. I post a couple times a week, unless it's something that especially peaks my interest, then it's more.

[YardRat]

I'm not going to comment on the candidates individual responses, but I must say the posts in this thread to this point are a commendable display of bi-partisanship and I applaud everyone's contributions.

[DraftBoy]

I never used to step foot in the Spin Zone... in the past 6 months, I'm in there a few times a day generally. I post a couple times a week, unless it's something that especially peaks my interest, then it's more.

Ok and would you say thats because you're just not that interested in politics or more because of the personalities that traditionally post there?

[BlackMetalNinja]

So you are saying that if based on historical trends and actual amount of donors based on each level if there was one set price point of lets say $3.50 which was the median donation per doner per month, that would price you out of donating to the site in the future ?

Potentially. Believe it or not, sometimes I really have to stop and think about $2.50 a month. I know it may not sound like much to you, and it's usually not for me either. However, I'm reaching a point in my life where expenses are about to skyrocket and I have to look at every means possible of saving extra cash. Donating here month in and month out adds up eventually.

Moreso, I think there is a certain group out there of people who will donate but only up to a point. There are those that donate simply because they know the site needs it. But those that donate for "content" purposes are probably only willing to spend a small amount of money on being able to view bonus parts of a website.

Just my opinion though man, I could certainly be off base on this.

[The King]

There should be a top donor list as well. I think if someone like Lt donated as much as he did his efforts should be better recognized. Maybe people wouldn't jump on his **** as much if they saw he donated X amount compared to everyone else.

This is a great idea! So good you should've given it to me before I made my response!!!

[DraftBoy]

This is a great idea! So good you should've given it to me before I made my response!!!

[BlackMetalNinja]

Ok and would you say thats because you're just not that interested in politics or more because of the personalities that traditionally post there?

A bit of both... but the personalities that trouble me the most in there are also donors... so that point becomes moot.

[RockStar36]

This is a great idea! So good you should've given it to me before I made my response!!!

I just thought of it. Actually, I've been thinking of stuff all morning. Too little too late I guess.

[DraftBoy]

Chimp isnt a donor and he's one of the biggest trouble makers in that area and lets also keep in mind that its a not a free for all debate. Rather its a topic chosen and people volunteer to debate one another on the debate. Two debaters are chosen and they alone debate each other everybody else is essentially a peanut gallery who just comment and later vote on the winner.