Is the forum worth a reasonable monthly or yearly fee?

[doctorwho]

Re: Re: Very typical of 4A and Wanderer.... shame...

And i say "nice knowing you" to those who (despite this being about donations, so no one is obliged to give money) insist on pushing some sort of guilt feel upon those who didn't/won't pay for whatever reason.

And what does it matter whether frequent posters or lurkers donate? Besides, doesn't it make sense that if people have second thoughts now, they will be even less likely to stick around should this become a pay site?

I don't want to zoom in on you, U2girl, as I do like you. And I feel you are correct in all of your observations.

However, I stand by my earlier comments. And if people can't donate just a bit, all ll I can say is "BUH BYE! Don't let the door hit your *ss on the way out."

Seriously, we had this issue last year when Elvis - who has poured in tons of his own $$ to this site - asked for some donations. People balked then. Lo and behold, I see those same "balkers" dominating the forums (including those who claim that they now don't post as much...) a year later - and they still insist that they shouldn't/wouldn't/couldn't/won't donate. Odd that those who complain the loudest seem to post the most.

If someone truly has a financial concern, I empathize. These comments aren't directed to those people. But I know most do not have these extreme difficulties. And after seeing these people dominate the forums - forums that they refuse to financially support - all year, I am left with an even more acrid taste in my mouth than I had last year.

If Elvis was asking for $24/month - which many on-line sites charge (and I'm not talking about porn sites, you pervs , I've seen this on numerous sites, like movie sites) - then I can understand the situation. That is a lot of $$ for people and an added expense during a tough economy. Even I might have to pass. However, he's just asking for about $24 a year - that's just $2/month. For those of you with thousands of posts, if $2/month is something you refuse to pay (because of some bizarre principle) or you dislike people making you feel guilty, then leave.

Of course, most of this is moot. Elvis is not instituting a yearly fee, he is just asking for donations. If you do not want to donate, I think it would be best to shut your traps and enjoy the free ride. Don't berate Elvis's request or those who do donate.

Plus, I challenge you to find elsewhere on this world wide reticulation another U2 fan forum site as solid as Interference. If you can and do find one, I suggest you abscond from here and join their forces. We won't miss you.

 

[doctorwho]

Originally posted by Zoomerang96


as for doctorwho, your elitist attitude is nothing new, but the next time you want to take a jab at people who dont agree with you on this issue, particularly foray and wanderer, please make sure you include me too, so that i may feel your wrath as well.

truly even you, in hind-sight can realize the stupidity of putting down people who put their thoughts down for everyone to see? there was nothing arrogant or pushy with what they said, so what makes you act the way you do towards them?

and how exactly is the response "typical" of foray and wanderer?

do you even know foray AT ALL?



please, follow helloangel's lead and take the road of tact. thank you.

Actually, I thought I was quite tactful. And who are you, one of the most disgraceful and tactless people on this forum, to lecture me on how to post? You call me elitist, but I have seen nothing but this attitude from you and your cliquish friends here. I have often been offended by your words, but said nothing. The same is true for Wanderer and Foray. Funny how the people that dominate these boards become defensive and irate when they are actually challenged on the triviality of their posts.

Furthermore, based on the posts I have read, this was a VERY typical attitude from Wanderer and 4A (and you). Just because I haven't "attacked" their posts these past few years, doesn't mean I support them. I find that they are extremely obstinate and unyielding. Sure, at times they are funny, but even when they post something idiotic, they stand by their post as if it should win a Nobel Prize. Do I know them? The better question is, do I even want to know them based on their behavior here?

Last year we had this debate and some of the SAME people complained. Yet, as I wrote in another post, these people find nothing wrong with making hundreds, if not thousands of posts a year. If they cannot donate $2/month to something that clearly gives them hours of entertainment in order to help keep this site going, then I have no respect for them.

Plus, I repeatedly stated that if they are financially strained, then my words are not directed to them. However, it appears that this is not the situation. For the most part, the naysayers in this room refuse to donate based on some bizarre principle - one that I strongly oppose.

So therefore, BEAR, shut your mouth on this topic. Enjoy your free ride and post away with your thousands of monikers on all the usual banal issues you discuss. But don't chastise those who feel at least some moral obligation to help Joel, who has paid TONS of his own $$ for this site.

If you don't want to donate, don't. Enjoy the web site and thank those who do donate. And if Joel is forced to instate an annual charge, then you can quietly leave and find somewhere else to discuss your views. I'm sure the world awaits to here what you have to say... But I absolutely will not stand for anyone slamming me or Joel on this issue. He is making a request - that's it and that's all. If you don't like it, fine, but don't lecture me on why you shouldn't donate or how you will leave if Joel institutes this fee. You aren't operating this website and you have NO idea of the expenses he is currently paying on his own.

 

[Kieran McConville]

Is this the royal 'we'?

Seriously, I think people need to get a grip. Maybe all of us should donate some funds, however we don't all have the means (and I don't just mean the money, I mean the actual infrastructure to make the online kind of payment). And of course most people acknowledge this yadda yadda.

Um. Really. I think this forum could so easily become politically driven, if it isn't already. Arguments over money do not help. And I read enough to know it's not *just* about money, but rather some personal vendettas.

Still, one pleasant aside - am I the only person to notice that Lemonite seems to have disappeared from Interference? Now that's what I call Douche-Tastic!

And yes, that is hypocrisy of the rankest kind. That, Lemonite, is because I don't like jackboot libertarians.

 

[brettig]

I'd like to also say thanks to HelloAngel for her clarification, much appreciated!

Now doc, honestly...

If you attack wanderer, foray, and deathbear, why aren't you slamming everyone else who said no?
I don't think bear was even attacking you, rather he was defending himself and the others after you did refer to them in an ever so superior 'why am i not surprised' tone.
It's also lost on me as to how you can infer that people MUST donate if they have the money to do so. You say if they don't donate they should not berate those who do, but what about those who do not berating those who don't?
The generalisations you make about the behaviour of certain individuals on this board are just that- generalisations. If anything they're proof that you made up your mind about certain folks ages ago and haven't shifted or tried to shift from that point of view. Some things you said, about multiple monikers in particular, prove this beyond doubt.
As for 'bizarre principles', what on earth is bizarre about actually thinking that some money is better spent elsewhere? Not to criticise Elvis, but as with anything that is ambitiously increased in size, scope and coverage, costs will rise in direct relation to that size. To address certain members of this place as though its their responsibility to cover this cost whether they like it or not is a bit rich.

And this...

Plus, I challenge you to find elsewhere on this world wide reticulation another U2 fan forum site as solid as Interference. If you can and do find one, I suggest you abscond from here and join their forces. We won't miss you.

I learned a while ago (the hard way) that this kind of sabre rattling, brow beating 'its all a big website contest' rhetoric is pathetic, childish and tiresome. This is a fan website for crying out loud, not a border war.

Now I'm done with negatives, one positive...your Grammys quote signature is beaut!

 

[Salome]

Yet, as I wrote in another post, these people find nothing wrong with making hundreds, if not thousands of posts a year. If they cannot donate $2/month to something that clearly gives them hours of entertainment in order to help keep this site going, then I have no respect for them.

I do not agree with this
I don't see why I should lose respect for someone because they won't pay for something they don't want to pay for

And if Joel is forced to instate an annual charge, then you can quietly leave and find somewhere else to discuss your views.

I do agree with this

 

[KhanadaRhodes]

If you don't want to donate, don't. Enjoy the web site and thank those who do donate. And if Joel is forced to instate an annual charge, then you can quietly leave and find somewhere else to discuss your views. I'm sure the world awaits to here what you have to say... But I absolutely will not stand for anyone slamming me or Joel on this issue. He is making a request - that's it and that's all. If you don't like it, fine, but don't lecture me on why you shouldn't donate or how you will leave if Joel institutes this fee. You aren't operating this website and you have NO idea of the expenses he is currently paying on his own.

i agree. it's ironic that the financial crisis last year was brought up, as i was reading the thread about it just yesterday. i'd stopped coming to the forum (for personal reasons) and had missed all of this.

anyway, i dunno, maybe it's because the only other forum i go to is a pay-only forum, meaning you have to pay $10 to register, or maybe it's because i know how expensive it is to run this site (just from the posts elvis has made). i know people shouldn't be forced to pay for this site or even make donations, but is it really fair to just expect the same people to make donations over and over again?

i don't want to have to come up with a $50 or so donation every couple months to make up for the people who refuse to donate. it isn't fair. i know i haven't donated anything yet, but i have no job and literally no spare money. as soon as i get my first paycheck, i'll definitely donate. but it's not fair or right to expect others to pick up the non-donating's slack. i wouldn't subscribe to a magazine and pay $100 a year instead of the usual $20 because there are four people who refuse to pay for it.

 

[~LadyLemon~]

Just throwing my 2 cents in...

I helped last year with a contribution to interference, and I plan to make another contribution, but not until September. Right now, I have a whole $7 in my checking account (the lowest it's ever been) and I'll be getting my financial aid refund check then. So I plan on giving...but right now, I've got some serious money issues.

 

[U2girl]

Oi....

First, doctorwho, let me say i didn't vote. I probably would have donated, but:
- i don't have a credit card
- i'd rather not send money via snail mail because i'm afraid it might get lost on the way

Boo me if you want.

Still it confuses me that you say people who post the most should donate - that's what you're saying right? There's 7000+ members (ok, multiple handles or not) - so that means probably a lot more than the initial 20 people will donate.
And it really isn't likely, Khanada, that the same people would give the money all the time.

Could we stop throwing guilt around about these donations?
And i really think that no one needs to "earn" or "buy" himself/herself the right to be here.

 

[Lemon Meringue]

DON"T FIGHT ABOUT THIS!

I think we are turning this into something it is not. It's not personal. It's reality.

Elvis need $5,000.00 a year to keep the sight going. He either gets the money from us or we will have to deal with pop-up ads or something to pay for the sight.

If you can donate, then donate.

If you can't, then don't.

It's not that complicated.

 

[Zoomerang96]

Actually, I thought I was quite tactful. And who are you, one of the most disgraceful and tactless people on this forum, to lecture me on how to post? You call me elitist, but I have seen nothing but this attitude from you and your cliquish friends here. I have often been offended by your words, but said nothing. The same is true for Wanderer and Foray. Funny how the people that dominate these boards become defensive and irate when they are actually challenged on the triviality of their posts.

Furthermore, based on the posts I have read, this was a VERY typical attitude from Wanderer and 4A (and you). Just because I haven't "attacked" their posts these past few years, doesn't mean I support them. I find that they are extremely obstinate and unyielding. Sure, at times they are funny, but even when they post something idiotic, they stand by their post as if it should win a Nobel Prize. Do I know them? The better question is, do I even want to know them based on their behavior here?

Last year we had this debate and some of the SAME people complained. Yet, as I wrote in another post, these people find nothing wrong with making hundreds, if not thousands of posts a year. If they cannot donate $2/month to something that clearly gives them hours of entertainment in order to help keep this site going, then I have no respect for them.

Plus, I repeatedly stated that if they are financially strained, then my words are not directed to them. However, it appears that this is not the situation. For the most part, the naysayers in this room refuse to donate based on some bizarre principle - one that I strongly oppose.

So therefore, BEAR, shut your mouth on this topic. Enjoy your free ride and post away with your thousands of monikers on all the usual banal issues you discuss. But don't chastise those who feel at least some moral obligation to help Joel, who has paid TONS of his own $$ for this site.

If you don't want to donate, don't. Enjoy the web site and thank those who do donate. And if Joel is forced to instate an annual charge, then you can quietly leave and find somewhere else to discuss your views. I'm sure the world awaits to here what you have to say... But I absolutely will not stand for anyone slamming me or Joel on this issue. He is making a request - that's it and that's all. If you don't like it, fine, but don't lecture me on why you shouldn't donate or how you will leave if Joel institutes this fee. You aren't operating this website and you have NO idea of the expenses he is currently paying on his own.

thank you! your response solidified everything i said!

i didnt put down elvis, i support the idea of fundraising, and i have said so since the beginning. however, not all of us agree with actually donating ourselves. thanks for the guilt trip though. *claps

this does not make us less respectable, as you have said it does.
i rest my case, everyone can see for themselves how your generalizations fail miserably in the face of the truth.

 

[Elvis]

thank you! your response solidified everything i said!

i didnt put down elvis, i support the idea of fundraising, and i have said so since the beginning. however, not all of us agree with actually donating ourselves. thanks for the guilt trip though. *claps

this does not make us less respectable, as you have said it does.
i rest my case, everyone can see for themselves how your generalizations fail miserably in the face of the truth.

Oh... did you just donate your time to help brainstorm for fundraising ideas?

http://forum2.interference.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=62091

lol.

bear, don't worry (not that you would), I don't expect anything from you.

*crowns bear with a 10cent yellow sponge

 

[Sicy]

 

[z edge]

hmmm... well I haven't voted over in PLEBA, I'll have to look into that, but one really can't put a price on porn

SO if this thing becomes a pay sight, then does that mean I can post my porn pics???

__

 

[missmacphisto]

Only if we can bring back the Elevated threads!!!

 

[The Wanderer]

*is still waiting for an answer as to how 7,000 x $24 = $5,000*

and doctorwho, it's a shame there are U2 fans like you who have such a spiteful and elitist attitude, that's the one downside to being a U2 fan I guess, that sometimes there are fans with this type of attitude and agenda; you've obviously gone out of your way yet again to go on the offensive against certain people you don't like, what wretched behaviour, I thought you were above all this? oh wait, you are *above* us, or we're beneath you, that's why you're pointing it out

 

[ABEL]

are they pics of you?

SO if this thing becomes a pay sight, then does that mean I can post my porn pics???

__

 

[JaraU2]

Wow... tough room.

Actually, I don't think DoctorWho is being an elitist. Nothing I've seen posted by him suggests that. I just think he saw it in others and was annoyed by it. I wasn't a member here last year, but I did read Interference and I recall several people speaking against Joel then regarding last year's fund-raiser. It seems the same people are once again doing this and creating negative energy. I think this is part of what is upsetting DoctorWho.

As for the rest... I think this is a good place. Definitely worth funds.

 

[doctorwho]

I thought with my head but not my heart. I ask your forgiveness. I wish you love and joy. I assure you, my harsh words are at an end.

 

[The Wanderer]

wow, you're such a good guy doctorwho, even though I'm beneath you, you still manage to find it in your heart to accept me and maybe someday assimilate me, that's almost Christ-like!

God Bless!

 

[diamond]

Wow... tough room.

Actually, I don't think DoctorWho is being an elitist. Nothing I've seen posted by him suggests that. I just think he saw it in others and was annoyed by it. I wasn't a member here last year, but I did read Interference and I recall several people speaking against Joel then regarding last year's fund-raiser. It seems the same people are once again doing this and creating negative energy. I think this is part of what is upsetting DoctorWho.

As for the rest... I think this is a good place. Definitely worth funds.

Im with Dr Who on this.
You folks that think youre 'entitled' to come here..and camp out w/your little esoteric little cliques and berate ppl here in the forums and chat w your smugness need a slap

Wanderer I like you. If I didnt like you I would say nothing.
Youre a cool cat. Dont be so ANAL about the friggin money
.Im sure if Joel got an overage of cash from dues paid he-would divvy it back accordingly. It will never come to this however.

The man's honest. To keep the money for profit is Anti-U2 Joels not this way.
Hes fair even if he dont like you...LOOK AT ME! Im still here


Bear nevermind, only this for f@ck's sakes , do you realize Joel even threw up that stupid ass RadioHead Forum Sucking On A Lemon. Go collect alumin cans for feck sakes. Get off your ass fellow. Donate or shut up.

Foray hello.

Im promise you Im saying what Joel is thinking.:

And for feck sakes I do not wanna hear who donated and who didnt.
When you go to church do you raise your friggin hands when the DONATION PLATE comes down the aisle and say "LOOK AT ME I just DONATED! ARENT I JUST A PEACH OF A FELLOW?!
Shut up about it!

Lastly-
This place is a privilge..not an entitlment, and plez RESPECT the elder fans/Mods/Administrators..dont kiss ass or join their cliques either!

thank you
I think I need a Valium now
Out-db9


hey god damn it I need more friggin smilies for this post!:

 

[doctorwho]

wow, you're such a good guy doctorwho, even though I'm beneath you, you still manage to find it in your heart to accept me and maybe someday assimilate me, that's almost Christ-like!

God Bless!

You are a sweety Wanderer, even if you are a sarcastic b*stard.

I truly apologize to you and everyone else here I've offended. I stand by the pure heart of my words, but not how I wrote them.

I can offer excuses to perhaps partially account for the severity of my words (like the fact that I recently learned a very dear friend - a person my age - is now spending her last days on earth as she slowly succumbs to cancer... sigh... at times we all question God...), but that is no reason to have been so harsh to you or anyone else. To endure challenging times, I often retreat to a place where I cannot feel the pain as much. I tend to only think with my head, not my heart. Sadly, in this instance, I caused even more pain. I ask you all for your forgiveness.

 

[The Wanderer]

Brother Diamond, as always the vocie of reason!

though let me clarify a few things: I don't go to chat and I don't subscribe to the jello-of-the-month club either; elvis put up that Radiohead forum, (though it's technically not) because they wanted to get it out of the way, push it into a little *esoteric* corner of interference (in its right place); now I just so happen to like the mods (except salome, because he said U2 is a diminishing live act and I won't tolerate that), but I can't justify spending the money, if it comes to that, it will be incentive for me to move on and spend less time on the internet, and I won't be badgered into *donating* under such sketchy circumstances as these, and that's not an accusation, it's just that I've had enough stuff happen in my life in the last year to forever banish from me any trust I may have ever had of people and money (as a combination that is, I still trust some people, but not when money is involved, sorry, nothing personal)

 

[The Wanderer]

I'm very sorry to hear that, doctorwho. Everything discussed here in this thread seems quite ridiculous and inisignificant in light of that. Please accept my sincerest apology for being so trivial (though not for being a sarcastic bastard, I can't do anything about that!), I've had people in my life afflicted with cancer in the last couple of years, though no one of such a youthful disposition... but you never really inflicted me with any pain, it's all about egos in here anyway, isn't it? well we try to get away from it, but when we are confronted, it always creeps in...

I'm very sorry for this cruel twist of fate for your friend

take care, and God Bless

 

[doctorwho]

Brother Diamond, as always the vocie of reason!

though let me clarify a few things: I don't go to chat and I don't subscribe to the jello-of-the-month club either; elvis put up that Radiohead forum, (though it's technically not) because they wanted to get it out of the way, push it into a little *esoteric* corner of interference (in its right place); now I just so happen to like the mods (except salome, because he said U2 is a diminishing live act and I won't tolerate that), but I can't justify spending the money, if it comes to that, it will be incentive for me to move on and spend less time on the internet, and I won't be badgered into *donating* under such sketchy circumstances as these, and that's not an accusation, it's just that I've had enough stuff happen in my life in the last year to forever banish from me any trust I may have ever had of people and money (as a combination that is, I still trust some people, but not when money is involved, sorry, nothing personal)

Well gee... had you written this first, I think this whole thread would have died on page 1.

Sorry Wanderer - I see you now in a new light. I still don't agree with your views and I do feel you need to trust people more. Not everyone is an ass who cheats people. Just today, I had a cashier give me $10 too much - I returned it to her. And I'm hardly "Jesus" here. We aren't all as evil as we may seem here on Interference. Nonetheless, at least I know a bit more of why you have this attitude.

As such, Joel, it may be time you open your accounting vaults and tell people just how much it costs to keep this site running. With the Enron and Worldcom scandals, people now need more proof of where their $$ is going. I know you don't want to do this, but I think it can only help. You have spent a lot of your own money on this site. It's time for that to end.

 

[doctorwho]

I'm very sorry to hear that, doctorwho. Everything discussed here in this thread seems quite ridiculous and inisignificant in light of that. Please accept my sincerest apology for being so trivial (though not for being a sarcastic bastard, I can't do anything about that!), I've had people in my life afflicted with cancer in the last couple of years, though no one of such a youthful disposition... but you never really inflicted me with any pain, it's all about egos in here anyway, isn't it? well we try to get away from it, but when we are confronted, it always creeps in...

I'm very sorry for this cruel twist of fate for your friend

take care, and God Bless

Thank you Wanderer. Aww... group hug time. O.K.... who grabbed my ass?

I didn't write the above post to elicit sympathy or to rationalize away my actions. It's just that the sad event I mentioned, combined with like 5000 other things (one of those "when it rains it pours" scenarios) has made this a challenging time in my life. I also recently lost two family members, one to cancer. This is why I will only work for companies pursuing cancer research of some kind. I want to see if I can ease the pain of at least a few people.

Nonetheless, thanks to a "wake up call" from a few good people (bless you Calluna and Zooropamanda) who informed me that I was being, well, a jerk, I took a good look at what I was doing. Here I am, thinking I'm all noble by doing cancer research, yet those two brilliant ladies called me on my words - they let me know that I was causing pain. Quite the hypocrite, aren't I? Sigh... we all have our bad sides... It was then I realized I was over-reacting. As I wrote, I stand by the heart of my words, but not how I wrote them. Egos are fun, and I think we all had a bit of fun arguing this topic, but there comes a time when words can hurt. Even if I personally didn't offend you Wanderer, it became clear to me that I did offend others. And that is inexcusable.

Interference, even when I'm angry as ever with it (or the people here ), has been a constant for me these past few years. When two dear friends lost a child last year, Interference was here. When I changed jobs, Interference was here. When I needed to laugh, Interference was here. Even now, when you and I had harsh words with each other, Wanderer, as soon as I discussed my friend, there you were - supporting me. This is what makes this community so strong and powerful.

Interference, for these past two years, has been here to inspire me and even shake me up. Yes, it's just a "silly U2 forum" and perhaps I/we shouldn't take it so seriously. But when I started to think about how much I rely on this site, I realized how important it is to me. As such, this is why I feel this site is so crucial - if it closed, it would feel like I lost yet another dear friend.


Besides, if Joel is forced to close Interference, how on earth could we readily tease Diamond?

 

[foray]

I had tried posting a reply to doctorwho et al before this but something went wrong. brettig, I guess you can forget about assisting me with it, the problem's over now, thanks though I have forgotten completely what I wrote earlier.

doctorwho and everyone else whom I have repulsed, I'm not angry or indignant or anything like that. Merely surprised that I provoked such strong reactions from people. I also did not know that I came across as more trivial than serious or worthwhile -- well, that is what I gather from doc's post. Finally, I did not know that I come across as stubborn as a mule.

In any case, I don't really attach strong emotions to this board and have done this deliberately because I try to keep my perspective and priorities in check on a daily basis. That means I don't get too bugged when someone's post/attitude bugs me.

But let me add, I do have much affection for the people here, and I have tried in my own way to show it. I would be sad to leave but I can let it go. Hey, I've lived without the internet before, even.

This is not to say that I think you guys have your perspectives all wrong. I respect that you have made the decision to make your internet lives integrated with your 'real' lives, more fully than I have done for myself. I respect that you guys treat faceless people as family but I prefer to keep my distance.

I am like Wanderer in that if I have to leave Interference cos I'm "too stingy" (I would say careful with my money but I guess some folks would rather call me stingy), it is because it will be an incentive for me to get on with other things in life.

Trusting the powers-that-be of Interference is also hard for me, as it is with Wanderer, because in the past, the powers-that-be have toyed with our minds and trust. You do know what I'm talking about right?

doctorwho, I'm sorry about your friend. I had a friend younger than you (he was 32) who was my soulmate and was gonna die young, too. I'm sorry you are feeling that pain.

foray

 

[diamond]

Where the hell are my tranquilzers?!

 

[Zoomerang96]

well this appears to be quite the rollercoaster, but im very happy to be here now when everything seems to be on the upswing.

money issues are never easy.

dr.who, thank you for your apology. i will forget this whole thing happened, and i hope you do to, and hopefully we can simply move past this.

oh, and dr.who, i sincerely wish you the best for your friend. i have little to offer in means of support other than my words.

take care.

 

[Angela Harlem]

Well isn't it lovely this is returning to normal. I was hoping this wouldn't be closed. Elvis just wanted ideas. I personally hope no one else feels the need to discuss their personal financial situation anymore. It is not our business at all. In the same vein I dont really believe Elvis needs to divulge how much this site costs him. It is HIS personal finances keeping this place alive for the most part.

Perhaps we could all show a little faith and trust that he has only the best intentions with donations, and will only ask us to spare what we can AND he needs.

Good things will likely come from the group being formed to get ideas on other money raising stunts. Donations I think are great. I have always believed in them as it still leaves you with total control. Do or dont, donate $1 or $100.

What doesn't cost a cent is speaking nicely to people. Elvis doesn't charge for that.

 

[zoomerang II]

Has there been any consideration given to turning this place into a "public domain" forum as opposed to being run privately?

I am certainly not saying its not a great place now or being run badly at all, obviously Elvis has spent a lot of his own cash on this place. But there may be certain advantages, such as becoming a registered charity or having a "board of trustees" manage the site on behalf of members. This may in turn assist people in feeling more willing or comfortable about donating, or the approaching of alternative or additional sources for financial assistance.

Also, i dont think a specific amount of cash should be specified wrt donations - for example US$24 may be next to nothing for a westerner who has cable modem but may be a hell of a lot for someone in asia with a crappy connection. I think interference could do with more members from non anglo-western countries to be honest and i worry that charging may drive the ones we already have away. Just my 2c.