OT: financial problems with fatcity.com

Another way of saying it -

Nothing is impossible for the person who does NOT have to do it.

Jared Still wrote:

> Hmm, lemme try again.
>
> --------
>
> S*u*b*s*c*r*i*p*t*i*o*n service is definitely not an option.
>
> Neither Bruce or I can manage something like that.
>
> Jared
>
> On Wednesday 29 August 2001 12:35, Jacques Kilchoer wrote:
> > -----Original Message-----
> >
> > >Alex, that is an excellent idea! I second that notion.
> >
> > "doh.state.fl.us"? Does that University count Homere Simpson amongst its
> > proud alumni?
> >
> >
> > Please excuse the long e-mail, but since the suggestion has been made to
> > make this a "subscription" list, I will share some of the issues that I am
> > grappling with (along with others) as part of a volunteer moderator at an
> > internet message board, where we are currently debating a fee-based message
> > board instead of free membership.
> >
> > My personal opinion (though of course this would be Mr. Still and Mr.
> > Bergman's decision) is that having a "subscription" list would be very hard
> > to manage. If someone who has provided valuable responses (e.g. a Steve
> > Adams) doesn't pay his fee, do you immediately unsubscribe him from the
> > list? Do you prevent him from posting an answer? What's the grace period
> > for non-payment of fees? Would there be a trial period, or would you have
> > to pay before you can even see what the list is like? Paying before you can
> > see the content would diminish new membership, and new membership is
> > essential to the survival of a list such as this one. If you have a free
> > introductory period, I could sign up with a different "free" e-mail (e.g.
> > hotmail) every month and never pay. Only the "honest" people would pay,
> > which would end up being the same as asking for voluntary donations.
> > Another issue - how many people would go try out another "free" list?
> > Charging a fee may mean the demise of this list. I think that the list is
> > worth a modest fee, but what percentage of the membership will think so?
> > What if a person has paid for membership, but is posting messages
> > disruptive to the list (e.g. spam or insults.) Do you refund their fee when
> > you remove them from the list? Do they have more rights as a "paying
> > customer"? How about the archives? Would you have to pay to see them? What
> > about people that always ask questions, but never answer any? Would they be
> > charged more? Would some of our "experts" become resentful since they are
> > paying Mr. Bergman and giving out more information than they are receiving?
> > I can very well imagine a person thinking "why should I give out free
> > answers when Mr. Bergman 'profits' from my expertise?" (Of course I realize
> > that there is very little, if any, 'profit' involved, but some people may
> > not be convinced of that.)
> >
> > These are all difficult questions that would be faced by the person
> > maintaining the list. Without charging enough to make the list profitable,
> > it might not be worth the headache.
>
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> -------------------------------------------------------
> --
> Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
> --
> Author: Jared Still
> INET: jkstill_at_cybcon.com
>
> Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051
> San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists
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-- 
Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
-- 
Author: Charlie Mengler
  INET: charliem_at_mwh.com

Fat City Network Services    -- (858) 538-5051  FAX: (858) 538-5051
San Diego, California        -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists
--------------------------------------------------------------------
To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message
to: ListGuru_at_fatcity.com (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in
the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L
(or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from).  You may
also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).