Three Towns Forum
Forum Central => The Three Towns Forum => Topic started by: martin on February 03, 2012, 09:54:21 am
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What s going on? We appear to have been sold out to big business. I have just done a post, and certain words are in GREEN and double underlined, these are hyperlinks that when clicked on, lead you to advertisements. We now have commercial breaks :o
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I was just about to comment on that Martin. The green lines are everywhere.
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me too, all linked to Government debt & bankruptcy :o :o
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Why are alot of words suddenly underlined this morning ?
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we've mentioned this in the Conwy topic, some sort of advertising links
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What s going on? We appear to have been sold out to big business. I have just done a post, and certain words are in GREEN and double underlined, these are hyperlinks that when clicked on, lead you to advertisements. We now have commercial breaks :o
Just put a post elsewhere about this, sorry , hadn't got to yours.
Have we been invaded by aliens?-- Green lines instead of men ?
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How odd !
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Its inline advertising but I dont think its settled down yet, as it seems to be underlining random words.
The idea is that a word like 'fridge' is underlined, then when you hover your mouse over that word, an advert for a store like Currys appears.
Oddly enough, when I looked at Fester's posts, the underlined words bring up adverts for Viagra Extra Strength?
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Its inline advertising but I dont think its settled down yet, as it seems to be underlining random words.
The idea is that a word like 'fridge' is underlined, then when you hover your mouse over that word, an advert for a store like Currys appears.
Oddly enough, when I looked at Fester's posts, the underlined words bring up adverts for Viagra Extra Strength?
_))* _))*
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me too, all linked to Government debt & bankruptcy :o :o
Snap!
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As members of the forum, what percentage of the advertising revenue do we each receive? :P
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Fridge, car, Cooker, holiday, flight, money, mortgage, loan, banking, slimming, breast reduction. I just want to see how many of these words will be underlined and turn green.
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As members of the forum, what percentage of the advertising revenue do we each receive? :P
Well, the Forum nowhere near covers its running costs, so perhaps the question is how big a bill I should send you? $thanx$
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Err! Not sure the advertising links are working at all well, the only word it turned green was "breast" and even then the two adverts it shows are for Bankruptcy and Government Debt Advise. I may be missing something here, but where does Breast fit into those categories? I am VERY confused. :'(
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As members of the forum, what percentage of the advertising revenue do we each receive? :P
Well, the Forum nowhere near covers its running costs, so perhaps the question is how big a bill I should send you? $thanx$
So we,the members, are not looking at the latest Dot Com success? $good$
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Err! Not sure the advertising links are working at all well, the only word it turned green was "breast" and even then the two adverts it shows are for Bankruptcy and Government Debt Advise. I may be missing something here, but where does Breast fit into those categories? I am VERY confused. :'(
You're confused? All mine are in a b****y foreign language! Until I get back to Blighty, I suppose!
How much do you want to clear this rubbish Dave? I'll toss in £5.00 a year from my pension.
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Can't say I am a fan of this-- it is a d********d nuisance.
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Can't say I am a fan of this-- it is a d********d nuisance.
I agree, it's like the difference between watching BBC without annoying ads, or ITV with annoying ads, one of the reasons I tend not to watch the commercial channels.
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Send me a cheque for £200 to cover the year's hosting costs and I'll gladly remove the adverts. 8)
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Posted August 1, 201 by DaveR:
I would like to thank everyone for their comments - if anyone else would like to comment, please feel free to do so. All views are welcome!
The cost of running the Forum is not really an issue - last year, the hosting costs were £167 and for that we do get a very good service from Heart Internet (we've used 118gb of bandwidth so far this year) .
Personally, I'd just like to see a few more of our members posting, so that we get some more varied opinions & ideas on whatever topic is being discussed.
There is also, perhaps, potential to expand into other areas - blogs, for example, such as Wordpress can easily be hosted on this website at no extra cost, so that members could have their own free blog here. Or maybe we could have one main blog and members could contribute their own posts as and when they felt the urge?
I've mentioned before about having more local news items on the front page - perhaps there is scope for local amateur journalists to contribute articles etc.
Perhaps a proper 'recommended businesses' section?
I'm also interested in building a 'Visitors Guide to Llandudno' mini-website, similar to the one that Noel Whalley did and which is sadly becoming a little out of date since his untimely death. There is a truly excellent guide to Chester at http://www.chesterwalls.info/ (http://www.chesterwalls.info/) Perhaps a Llandudno version could be constructed?
There's also potential for us to have a historical guide to Llandudno, making use of all of our knowledge and old photos to have a street by street guide, similar to an online version of the Ivor Wynne Jones guidebook.
A few ideas there...anyone have any others?
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The current adverts would not be neccessary had the Google ads rermained in place. However, it's becuse someone on the forum clicked through the ads repeatedly that Google delcined to allow us to use them. The forum should be self-sustaining; it's certainly attracting enough unique visitors and a significant core of regular users, but without paid advertising the only option is to charge a membership fee, to make it fair. Alternatively, we could charge for access to certain areas - such as the photo gallery. What we've been aiming for since its inception, however, is a forum using Google ads and generating enough income to help out local charities on a regular basis, as well as fund the operating costs.
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What we've been aiming for since its inception, however, is a forum using Google ads and generating enough income to help out local charities on a regular basis, as well as fund the operating costs.
Is it essential for yet another group, firm or whatever to link its operation with the "charity" attachment? I would imagine that many on the Forum already do a lot for local good causes; St. David's, Air Ambulance, Heart Foundation, Ty Gobarth etc. etc. I know that our family do, both with time and money. A cat only has one skin!
My offer of a fiver still stands and you now only need another 39 people, or some may be prepared to pay more than others.
I think that the banner ad on the opening page is worth a good £200 a year on its own. ;)
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I thought I had better write something seeing as the "banner advert" has been mentioned. As those who read Dave rs post on this subject some time ago will know, I do pay something for this add, but nothing like £200.
As with all advertising, it is difficult to judge what is successful and what is a complete waste. As a matter of interest, no one person has even mentioned my add to me.Never mind saying that is the reason they have come to play golf.
However, subliminal cuts etc play a part, perhaps the banner is at the back of some caravan park manager when he recommends to his visitor to come to me---I don't know.
Bearing in mind that a lot of readers login every day, and therefore don't even notice it, I think there must be a charge----but not a very large one. I would love to be mistaken, pay a high price and have a queue of potential new golfers, but I rather doubt it Mike
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I think that the banner ad on the opening page is worth a good £200 a year on its own. ;)
Yorkie, until recently I seem to think Caffe Nero had enjoyed that banner ad for some time.
However, I notice Great Orme Golf and Llandudno Emporium have suddenly reappeared or is it my imagination?
Have all the green lines now disappeared as well?
BTW, I will happily join Yorkie in donanting £5.
Where do I pay?
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Caffe Nero ad will be returning shortly. Mike's golf ad and the Emporium ad hadn't gone anywhere, they are in rotation with the other ads. Mike's golf ad has been displayed 456,847 times since it was set up. The inline advertising is operating as normal.
There's no point a couple of people paying £5, as we will lose far more than that in ad revenue over the year. If you can get pledges to the value of £200, I will gladly remove the ads.
EDIT: Having said that, it's just occurred to me that I can set each member's settings, so the ads can be hidden to them. Perhaps we should do that - pay £5 a year and you won't see any adverts?
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Caffe Nero ad will be returning shortly. Mike's golf ad and the Emporium ad hadn't gone anywhere, they are in rotation with the other ads. Mike's golf ad has been displayed 456,847 times since it was set up. The inline advertising is operating as normal.
There's no point a couple of people paying £5, as we will lose far more than that in ad revenue over the year. If you can get pledges to the value of £200, I will gladly remove the ads.
EDIT: Having said that, it's just occurred to me that I can set each member's settings, so the ads can be hidden to them. Perhaps we should do that - pay £5 a year and you won't see any adverts?
The EDIT addition you have done is a brilliant idea, so each member can decide if the adverts annoy them enough to pay the premium. I think that an annual charge to all members, would, over time, result in reduced member numbers, and the charge to view photos I really do not like at all. I tend to dip in and out of the photo galleries, often just looking at a few photos, if there was a "pay to view"charge, I would not bother. Anyway, those are my personal thoughts on charging. I must say, until you brought it up, I had not considered the cost of operating the site, in my ignorance, I thought the only investment was your time, something we should all be grateful for, without all of you at the helm, there would be no forum. $good$
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Ok, so here is the plan...
Any Member can elect to pay £5 a year to become an 'Ad Free Member'. This means that no adverts (banner ads or inline advertising) will be displayed to them. Adverts will continue to be displayed to Guests and other Members.
The £5 payment can be made by Paypal or Debit/Credit Card (via Paypal). Any Member interested in this can PM me with their email address and I will issue them with a PayPal Invoice for the £5. As previously mentioned, payment can then be made by Paypal or Debit/Credit Card (via Paypal).
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I must say, until you brought it up, I had not considered the cost of operating the site, in my ignorance, I thought the only investment was your time, something we should all be grateful for, without all of you at the helm, there would be no forum.
We don't mind putting the time in. In fact, as it stands now, it doesn't take a lot of time; most of that was at the outset. But it would be great if we could also give something to the various deserving community groups if for not other reason than we'd then be a true community forum.
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Have you thought about funding from Llandudno Town Council?
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Have you thought about funding from Llandudno Town Council?
I've a feeling that they may not be too keen ;)
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They could be if DaveR offered to help them out with their website.
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I don't think they would contribute in a million years.... :laugh:
I believe the Town Council website is provided by a local business at market rates. I wouldn't wish to deprive them of any work.
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Can I see more adverts and receive £5 a year? Every little helps! ;D
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This feels a bit like blackmail !
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I now think I can live with the adverts, but what drives me nuts is the green double underlined words. In some posts there are none, while in other's, there are many of the flipping things, which makes reading the post a pain in the $smack$
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This feels a bit like blackmail !
Not really! You either have adverts or not - an open choice. Just regard it as your £5 being a charity donation, even though we all know you do a lot already. ;)
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I've tweaked the plan slightly so, so that members who contribute on a regular basis will be rewarded by being made 'ad free' without the need to make a contribution. Thus, all members with more than 250 posts will not have to see any adverts in future. Of course, anyone who attempts to 'fiddle' it by making lots of meaningless posts will be wasting their time... :twoface:
Please note that the process is not automatic, so if you pass 250 posts, please PM me and I will make you 'ad free'.
Other members can still pay their £5 to have all adverts removed, if they wish.
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A reasonable compromise I think!
(Note to self: Must remember not to keep posting running total of my posts! Can't anyway as total posts per Member is not listed - as far as I can see.) :rage:
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I am now one of the prolific contributers to the forum, HOWEVER, as I have been a member for a relatively short time, (three and a half months), I will be penalised. Even counting this post, I will still be 60 posts short. Not happy at all.
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To me this smacks of the little gang looking after their own, OK if you are in that "been here since the forum started gang", but for newer members cannot be in our gang! (At least not for a year or so).
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Martin.....simmer down Sir!
There has never been any such 'forum gang' on here, far from it. Some of the fall outs have been legendary.
I too thought that the 'green lines' were annoying... but they were an attempt to fund the forum.
We live and learn don't we?
Martin, you are one of the most regular and interesting contributors on here, and you will pass 250 posts in no time at all.
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Martin, I can honestly say that would be the last intensions of Ian or DaveR , I'm sure it will all get sorted somehow D)
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Martin..... you could also attend any Forum meet up, or even arrange one... you will then realise that there is no mysterious 'forum gang' You can even bring the mop monster!
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Maybe the number of posts could be based on a Monthly average of (say) 20 posts, allowing new Members a couple of months to get sorted.
There are some Forums where unless you post a reasonable number in a certain time you get barred for a set period. Lots of avenues to explore. ZXZ
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Well I don't post a lot but I do follow the forum. The green lines are a bit annoying but I can live with them and in my case they are a bit counter productive as I wouldn't click on any advert like that that just popped up, to many nasty viruses can be hidden in them.
Why would google stop the adverts just cos someone clicked on them? I thought that was the idea.
I feel the way this is developing you could lose a lot of members.
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Post by Sara "I feel the way this is developing you could lose a lot of members" I couldn't agree more.
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Have you thought about funding from Llandudno Town Council?
I think the Town Council do have a Community Account out of which grants are made annually to local organisations, clubs, societies etc. so an enquiry to the Town Hall might be worthwhile.
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Why would google stop the adverts just cos someone clicked on them? I thought that was the idea.
Payment for Google adverts are based on the number of "clicks" registered for each advert. Some unscrupulous Forum owners will spend lots of time just clicking on adverts just to build up revenue. Google, quite rightly, only want to pay (and charge their clients) for genuine "clicks" from people who wish to read the adverts. In this case some foolish person (possibly with a grudge)decided to do it and the Forum lost out.
I hope that answers the question. ;D
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Mine have gone----- OMG must be my age ! _))*
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Thanks Yorkie.
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Mine have gone----- OMG must be my age ! _))*
Mine have not, and that's what I am unhappy about, although I have in the last month or so been one of the most prolific contributors to the forum, I fall outside outside the required number of posts to have the advertising crap removed for my posts. It is just the members of the clique that have sufficient posts to have the ads removed. I fined that with the green underlined words it make trying to read a post difficult.
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Post by Sara "I feel the way this is developing you could lose a lot of members" I couldn't agree more.
So, if I've got this clear... what you're saying is you don't want to contribute towards the running costs of the Forum...but you don't want to see any adverts that would pay for the running costs of the Forum either?
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Oh Martin-- don't get us wrong, we aren't a clique, it just happens that some of us have been around an awful long time. I was actually the very first member back in Craig Ollerton's day, but don't expect any privileges, I just grumble when I feel it is necessary and enjoy everyone's activities when it isn't.
Yes-- I have met a few members, at a couple of meet ups, but that's where it ends-- It's just nice to put faces to names.
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Whilst you may be technically correct Dave - one has to remember that YOU started the Forum without any preconditions for contributors and as such much of the present situation falls within your own backyard. It is now a bit late to start moving the goalposts.
The adverts don't bother me as I never click on them or pass my cursor over the inline ads. Good luck!
££$
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I'm afraid you're incorrect, Yorkie. This Forum, and the various other ones before it, have always had adverts on them. All I have done is offer the members, following their feedback, the opportunity to have them removed.
I thought you were on holiday anyway?
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Post by Sara "I feel the way this is developing you could lose a lot of members" I couldn't agree more.
So, if I've got this clear... what you're saying is you don't want to contribute towards the running costs of the Forum...but you don't want to see any adverts that would pay for the running costs of the Forum either?
No, what I am saying is that if we must contribute, which is OK with me, it should be on a level playing field where we ALL contribute, and not a system that has been decided on the hoof which favours those who have been members for a long time. IF we had been given some information BEFORE the adverts and green things appeared, we would not be having this conversation. It seems that today three of you have come up with different ideas regarding the adverts/green things, it should have been sorted before, not on the live board. I will be happy to pay whatever it costs, but it should be everyone who pays. I think whatever route you choose, it will, in the long term result in fewer members on the forum. Additionally, what is annoying is the fact that in the vast majority of cases the green words appear at random and have little or no relevance to the adverts attached to the link. Some posts have none, while other posts containing the same words, are riddled with them.
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Annoying though they are I can live with the ads if it helps finance the forum but I also appreciate the efforts of Dave R & Ian as well and wouldn't mind making a small contribution either. Some sites have a Donate button where those willing can contribute anonymously without any pressure being put on those who don't want to. Maybe this would create a happy medium and stop the bickering every time a membership fee is mentioned?
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Anyway, I am signing out of here for good, I have enough problems in my life, without this, I came on here to relax and pass a bit of time, and hopefully make a few virtual friends, but it appears to have gone sour.
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Annoying though they are I can live with the ads if it helps finance the forum but I also appreciate the efforts of Dave R & Ian as well and wouldn't mind making a small contribution either. Some sites have a Donate button where those willing can contribute anonymously without any pressure being put on those who don't want to. Maybe this would create a happy medium and stop the bickering every time a membership fee is mentioned?
I agree 100% with the donation button, but I could not be Ar**d mentioning it.
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No, what I am saying is that if we must contribute, which is OK with me, it should be on a level playing field where we ALL contribute, and not a system that has been decided on the hoof which favours those who have been members for a long time. IF we had been given some information BEFORE the adverts and green things appeared, we would not be having this conversation. It seems that today three of you have come up with different ideas regarding the adverts/green things, it should have been sorted before, not on the live board. I will be happy to pay whatever it costs, but it should be everyone who pays. I think whatever route you choose, it will, in the long term result in fewer members on the forum. Additionally, what is annoying is the fact that in the vast majority of cases the green words appear at random and have little or no relevance to the adverts attached to the link. Some posts have none, while other posts containing the same words, are riddled with them.
But I'm afraid 99% of our 550+ membership will never contribute financially. That's a fact. Craig Ollerton used to have a PayPal Donate button on here back in the 'Llandudno Local' days - he told me that he never received a single donation through it...
I'm a member of many Forums but don't pay to be a member of any of them. Most of them have adverts, including inline ones. To be honest, I don't even notice they are there. I think most people realise that viewing adverts is a valid substitute for any sort of membership fee. All websites have domain and hosting costs that must be paid for, one way or the other.
Anyone can become 'ad free' by contributing on a regular basis - it really doesn't take that long. The people who already have 250+ posts are the ones that we must thank for this Forum being here at all - they were here at the start and helped to build it up. They've earned it, in my opinion...and anyone can join their ranks. It's not a closed shop!
So..to summarise...members can opt to view the adverts, contribute £5 to have them removed early or contribute to the Forum by means of regular posting and have them removed that way.
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Quite ironic that a post moaning about advertising has got to more pages much quicker than most of the actual topics!
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Oh, GOD!!
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I thought you were on holiday anyway?
Not exactly a holiday, more an escape from the freezing weather! Have free IT facilities so making use of them. $good$
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Does this mean lots of Portuguese quiz questions on the way soon? :laugh:
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That question attracts a most definite "NO!" Some Zambian one maybe! ZXZ
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No, what I am saying is that if we must contribute, which is OK with me, it should be on a level playing field where we ALL contribute, and not a system that has been decided on the hoof which favours those who have been members for a long time. IF we had been given some information BEFORE the adverts and green things appeared, we would not be having this conversation. It seems that today three of you have come up with different ideas regarding the adverts/green things, it should have been sorted before, not on the live board. I will be happy to pay whatever it costs, but it should be everyone who pays. I think whatever route you choose, it will, in the long term result in fewer members on the forum. Additionally, what is annoying is the fact that in the vast majority of cases the green words appear at random and have little or no relevance to the adverts attached to the link. Some posts have none, while other posts containing the same words, are riddled with them.
But I'm afraid 99% of our 550+ membership will never contribute financially. That's a fact. Craig Ollerton used to have a PayPal Donate button on here back in the 'Llandudno Local' days - he told me that he never received a single donation through it...
I'm a member of many Forums but don't pay to be a member of any of them. Most of them have adverts, including inline ones. To be honest, I don't even notice they are there. I think most people realise that viewing adverts is a valid substitute for any sort of membership fee. All websites have domain and hosting costs that must be paid for, one way or the other.
Anyone can become 'ad free' by contributing on a regular basis - it really doesn't take that long. The people who already have 250+ posts are the ones that we must thank for this Forum being here at all - they were here at the start and helped to build it up. They've earned it, in my opinion...and anyone can join their ranks. It's not a closed shop!
So..to summarise...members can opt to view the adverts, contribute £5 to have them removed early or contribute to the Forum by means of regular posting and have them removed that way.
I have 470 posts shouldn't I be an ad free member by now? :rage:
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I have 470 posts shouldn't I be an ad free member by now? :rage:
Of course you should. Which Admin did you ask to upgrade you to Ad Free member? ???
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I have 470 posts shouldn't I be an ad free member by now? :rage:
Of course you should. Which Admin did you ask to upgrade you to Ad Free member? ???
Fester Z** ££$
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I shall have him summoned to a special meeting of the Forum Executive Committee for a dressing down. In the meantime, you now have Ad Free status. Z**
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I have 470 posts shouldn't I be an ad free member by now? :rage:
Of course you should. Which Admin did you ask to upgrade you to Ad Free member? ???
Fester Z** ££$
Fester Darts Treasurer,
Fester not Forum Admin
B2R = Crap Darts Player and pseudo Irishman.
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I have 470 posts shouldn't I be an ad free member by now? :rage:
Of course you should. Which Admin did you ask to upgrade you to Ad Free member? ???
Fester Z** ££$
Fester Corrupt Darts Treasurer,
Fester Drunken Forum Admin
B2R = Fantastic darts player and all round good chap.
Z**Totally agree