Donating to LPF

I agree with Dave & Jayrob. What Avery does with ANY of the money that comes into the Forum, whether by Donation, Ads, or whatever, it shouldn't make a bit of difference to ANY of us. I'm happy to have a site so dedicated & well maintained that whenever I have a question about lasers, want to comment about them, or just read for the pure joy of obtaining information for my own use, I know I can come here & use the site whenever I wish. Do I donate, betcher ass I donate. I WANT this Forum to STAY up & running for mine & anyone elses usage whenever they or I feel like using it. Donations are PURELY that, "DONATIONS" ! Nobody twists your arm to donate, or to use the Forum for that matter. As has been said already, if Avery can quit working anywhere else, & just survive off of any profits the Forum makes, I say HOORAY for Avery, but I really doubt that this is how it really is. Nobody, save Avery, knows just what ALL the expenses are that go into running, & KEEPING running the Forum are. Personally I don't give a hoot. None of my business anyway. Does anyone who posts here get questioned about how much money they gross, clear, & how & where it's spent each month ? I don't think so. I also think that Avery should be afforded that same privacy. He didn't force anyone to join this Forum, nor does he force anyone to donate. He graciously provides this Forum for us to use, free of charge, so I don't think that ANYONE has ANY bitch coming. We ALL CHOSE to join &/or donate, & I think that if you can't be happy to just use the Forum for what it is, (FREE), without complaining, or questioning where ANY of the money goes, then I say go find another FREE FORUM of this caliber (if you can) & take your questions, posts, or search for information, elsewhere. RANT OVER !!!!!! PLEASE DONATE rob

Tech_Junkie said:

Just to throw my pennies in.

I see Dave's, and Jay's points. They use the forum for a business. This is understandable why they make monthly donations.

On the other hand you have the basic user. I've been on piles of forums, and they dont ask you to help. No one helps pay for a forum. But then you have these crusades like Rob, and others have been on for donations, which make it sound like the forum is near bankrupt, and the forum needs these donation to keep going. When the truth is, it does not.

I dig making a profit. I also dig helping people that have helped me out. Maybe the "the donation committee" needs to give it a rest, and stop putting pressure on people to donate. Only then will this thread revert back to what it was intended for.

IMO I think this whole thread should be deleted. For one, people are still buying point because they get repped from other people. Two, Avery is/was still handing point for donations, and 3, the donation bar should be good enough to solicit donations to the people who want to donate. Evey time someone posts here, it queues the email notification. So whenever "the committee" chimes in, we are all pressured, and I dont think that's right. Unless the forum is truly in trouble.

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I think based on what you said, we should move to a donation button, and not have a donation goal meter. The monthly goal adds a sense of urgency (and like you said, the forum's not exactly risking bankruptcy) and encourages what "the donation committee" does.

-Trevor

EDIT: I really hope you guys realize that we're making Avery money just by browsing; that ads pay him per view. Just being here is a donation.

No arm-twisting? Then pray tell, what was this post for?

phoenix77 said:

DONORS NEEDED NOW !!!!!!
Attention: All LPF Members The month is now half over & the donations bar graph hasn't moved at all in the last WEEK !!!! WTF !!! We started out the month doing so well, then all of a sudden, donations just fizzled away to NOTHING !!!
I hate to keep beating a dead horse, but we NEED those donations to continue to pour in. There are enough Members of this Forum to easily meet or exceed the monthly donation goal each month, if everyone would just donate ONE DOLLAR each. A BIG THANKS goes out to those who have donated already & continue to do so without fail, EVERY MONTH. For those Members that have NOT donated yet, (& you know who you are), PLEASE, open up your wallet, dust off one of the singles that reside there, & make a donation to the Forum. It will make you feel good that you have contributed something to a good cause, & might even put a smile on your face. PLEASE HELP THE FORUM MEET ITS MONTHLY EXPENSES !! We REALLY need your help, EVERYONE.............. Thank You, The Donation Committee.......

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Dont take it personal Rob. I dont think you should be pressuring people to donate, thats all. I can quote tons pf posts where you make it sound like the forum is going down if we don't donate. Avery can do what he wants with the money, for me that wasn't what was in question. This thread has totally morphed from his original post. And I do think the thread should be dumped. The bar is OK with me.

donated 2$! thanks for making such a great site avery!

i know it's small but ill try and chip in every month.

thanks,
stuart

i also agree that what he does with his money is no one's business. if you don't want to donate just don't donate.

BUT i also agree that the context in which donations were asked for were misleading. it's like if i told you, "i need money for food can you spare some?" when really i can afford food i just want hand outs if i can get it, if not then i will spend my own money. i just bust out my wallet filled with cash in front of you... can you imagine how your heart would feel? i'd be a bit like "wtf" as well.

i too think the context in which this thread and other posts in here were made was that there was an urgent need for donations, or that donations are fundamentally needed to run this site, but the fact of the matter is it isn't.

At the very least I think we should leave the solicitations to Avery, and dissolve the donation committee.

it is a donation to him to cover costs of lpf..it is also a donation to himself to do whatever he wants.....i hope he is satisfied with what he makes so he keeps on keeping on!!!!! we need to leave it at that......

I think we already did.

I like the Donations Bar and the Donate button is right beside it.. easy
to find...
I think that even this Thread is not really required today... It may have
been in 2007... but that is not my choice nor does it bother me.

It see that it is confusing to some members when the Donations Committee
is constantly pushing for Donations and some times in large font
CAPITALS... to not think the Forum will go under without their
donations...

I agree that the 1st post should perhaps be updated to reflect today's
requirements for donations... then be locked.. We don't need to toot our
horns that we donated... (I'm guilty of that as as well)

Members that make donations here do so because they want to give back
for the privilege of being allowed here and the Free access to all the Info
here...
But I don't see it as a requirement even though the committee rings the bell
a bit too loud for my tastes....at times..

Just though I'd chime in...


Jerry

Always there with words of wisdom.

As we all know, there isn't & never has been an actual "donations committee" & if you guys want me to stop with the fund raising efforts, I will. I was just trying to help the Forum attain its monthly goal. rob

Not to worry Rob... I know your trying to help...
I was just putting out my thoughts..

Jerry

All is cool Jerry. No problems here. rob

PS, I DO find it puzzling though, that after there is some debate about the "donations committee", that donations have taken a sharp UPWARD curve:thinking:

phoenix77 said:

As we all know, there isn't & never has been an actual "donations committee" & if you guys want me to stop with the fund raising efforts, I will. I was just trying to help the Forum attain its monthly goal. rob

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Yeah do that. Stop.

Don't ever change because someone else doesn't like you.

You just be who you are, Rob.

Peace,
dave

Thanks for the advice Dave. It's nice to know that the most senior, & most revered Member, of this hallowed Forum is on my side. However, in the future, I WILL watch the wording of anything I post here, & for Jerry's sake, will watch my use of caps, j/k Jerry. @ Crazy Jay :na: rob