Important: Free, Fee, or Gone --- Feedback!

[LarryMullen's POPAngel]

WOW Delete my posts...now there's censorship!!!

You're disrupting this thread with name calling and invalid arguments.

Please, let's get back to the subject at hand.


If Bono would be dissapointed with anything, it would be one fan calling another fan names.

 

[U2SavesTheWorld]

Holy shit what the hell happened in here?

Lemonator.....go somewhere else, SERIOUSLY!

After reading your posts I don't understand why Elvis even posted this poll. He asked for our opinion and he really didn't have to do that.

And as far as the U2 comparisons?? For the love of God, when was the last time you walked into a U2 show free of charge?

When was the last time that you walked into a music store and grabbed a U2 CD without paying??

I mean, your statements are ridiculous and I almost find it hard to believe you are being serious.

Elvis is simply asking for some help from us and if he doesn't get it then he has every right to shut this place down. People are donating because they want to help keep this place running.
Can you even understand the concept of $35,000??? If anything we should be taking up donations to pay him back.

If you don't like it here, get the hell out. If you don't want to pay, DON'T PAY. Its not a big deal. But, in the meantime, you've stated your piece, we all heard you.....now run along little doggy.

 

[Sicy]

Please stop reporting this thread.

I'm right here.

 

[martha]

*heavy sigh*




So, did anyone see that hilarious rerun of That 70s Show?

(Not to change the subject or anything.)

 

[U2SavesTheWorld]

*heavy sigh*



So, did anyone see that hilarious rerun of That 70s Show?

(Not to change the subject or anything.)

 

[Lemonator]

Which one was it? I love that 70's show.

 

[KhanadaRhodes]

hey , if i would donate 3000 $ , will it save freedom here , and for how long ?????

approx. 3/5 of a year.

Please stop reporting this thread.

for real. and before you yell at me for butting in or something, i am a mod and receive reported thread e-mails as well.

i really can't understand why ANYONE can't see why elvis is wanting to charge for the forums now. i'm not picking on you individually, lemonator, as others have said this in this thread as well. as it's been said before time and time again, people pay for magazine subscriptions, CDs, concerts, movie tickets, even some news websites (like salon.com), all of which can cost more for just a one time thing (one CD, etc.) than a whole year here.

but the catch is, you don't have to pay. you can either remain a free member and read the forums elvis enables you to (they may switch from time to time) or you could even ask someone to sponsor you. i know several mods and regular members were planning on sponsoring their friends who are either uneasy about sending money online or through the mail, or just plain can't afford it (yes, there are some here who really can't).

the fact that elvis has paid $35,000 in the past for the forums is astounding. that can buy a mustang mach 1, my dream car. it can buy two or three or any decently priced car (essentially meaning not a sports car, truck, or suv, lol). it can even put a huge down payment on a house. that's a lot of money. why should he have to continue paying for this? that's the thing. of all your posts in this thread so far, all i've heard is you arguing censorship (there never was freedom of speech in the first place anyway, others have had their posts deleted before, threads have been closed, etc.) but i've not heard you mention why you think elvis should continue paying for the site.

if you want to have rotating mods where anyone can be a mod if they want, fark.com auctions off their mod statuses.

 

[martha]

It was the one where Bart puts the microphone down the well.


No wait, wrong show.


It was the one where Kelso and Jackie are broken up and Kelso and Lori are going out and Eric and his dad work at the same place and his dad fires the guy, Earl, who is always late.


(We've been working on run-on sentences at school.)

 

[Lemonator]

that was a good show.

 

[Sicy]

I that 70's show.

 

[LarryMullen's POPAngel]

I love Fez. He rocks my world.

 

[OzAurora]

Wow- I cant believe this is happening, what a shock I got when I logged on tonight, what I may say here might of already have been said but I havnt read all of this thread as it is so long!!!!!


I understand that to have a site like this obviously costs money and all that and I really dont mind paying, however I dont want to pay and find that a lot is missed- like people's multiple handles (some of them are really funny and make this place to some degree) and I dont want to pay and see that a lot of people end up leaving because of the cost thing and the other thing is.....

I dont have a credit card and I live in Australia- so how will I pay- Elvis???????


but in all honesty, and I guess that this bit might just be a bit cheeky but maybe the good guys as Principle Management could allow for all of us to keep this site going as it is for free of charge, now I am sure that someone in the U2 hierarchy looks in here to see what us die hard fans think about all things U2, I dunno but in all honesty over the years I have given soooo much money to U2 and I dont mind but with the net, you already have to pay for your ISP and then the calls, so in essence I already feel like I am paying to some degree......so I think we all hit (or someone with a lot of pull and decent rationale- maybe a certain 'Elvis') PM up for a bit of a donation-----silly I know (dont burn me!!!) but just my 2 cents

 

[daisybean]

I'm a little late...but I did want to give my 2 cents.....

I think some people like to think that since this is an internet site it is somehow a free for all. That may have been true in 1996...before big business took over, it's archaic to think that everything is free on the net. Even friggin Yahoo is slowly adding charges to a once free service. Truth of the matter is, if this was run by a corporation we'd probably have to pay double or triple for use of the service...which essentially this board is just that, a service. Like many have said before Elvis has been more than generous with his time and money, is it so wrong for him to ask for a little back? Is it so wrong to help someone out when they need it?

As for the dictator thing.....no one ever said this was a democracy...it's Elvis' house, his rules, which when you think about are not unreasonable---Be kind to other people, don't call each other vulgar/offensive names, ya know the basic stuff you learn in kindergarten.

Oz...there is a snail mail addy if you click on the subscribe button.

and finally...I've never seen that 70's show

 

[follower]

Re: hola martha..i have 2000 miles in mind WA, but u have to start somewhere

I'm glad you are staying too follower and martha tell folower about Jackson Browne and she can tell me. I hope is is as good as I am hoping for you. I hope he plays Brown and Agile Child.
the pair of you

That?s my dear friend cass, ladies and gentlemen. Thanks girl

And U2 martha

 

[follower]

I think some people like to think that since this is an internet site it is somehow a free for all. That may have been true in 1996...before big business took over, it's archaic to think that everything is free on the net. Even friggin Yahoo is slowly adding charges to a once free service. Truth of the matter is, if this was run by a corporation we'd probably have to pay double or triple for use of the service...which essentially this board is just that, a service. Like many have said before Elvis has been more than generous with his time and money, is it so wrong for him to ask for a little back? Is it so wrong to help someone out when they need it?

As for the dictator thing.....no one ever said this was a democracy...it's Elvis' house, his rules, which when you think about are not unreasonable---Be kind to other people, don't call each other vulgar/offensive names, ya know the basic stuff you learn in kindergarten.

Exactly. Some friends and I used to have a U2 fan site as well, from early 2000 to the middle of 2001. It was linked to a yahoogroups mailing list we?re still running. We asked for donations, only a few colaborated. As a result we had to shut it down, because costs were increasing really fast. Elvis has done an awesome work for so long. I believe it?s out of his love for the band, no matter what other people say. He asked for donations, he asked for opinions, he exposed the problem clearly. He could not have bothered at all. And that?s a fact. Besides the small donation I made I decided I?m going to subscribe as soon as I can because I think is valuable. Dice are rolling. I suggest you all think about that and just decide the next step you?ll take.

 

[HelloAngel]

but in all honesty, and I guess that this bit might just be a bit cheeky but maybe the good guys as Principle Management could allow for all of us to keep this site going as it is for free of charge, now I am sure that someone in the U2 hierarchy looks in here to see what us die hard fans think about all things U2, I dunno but in all honesty over the years I have given soooo much money to U2 and I dont mind but with the net, you already have to pay for your ISP and then the calls, so in essence I already feel like I am paying to some degree......so I think we all hit (or someone with a lot of pull and decent rationale- maybe a certain 'Elvis') PM up for a bit of a donation-----silly I know (dont burn me!!!) but just my 2 cents

Oz -

Please visit: http://forum.interference.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=67107&perpage=15&pagenumber=23
for an explanation on the issue you've mentioned above. I have written out a detailed response for you.

 

[Desire4Bono]

Lemonator:

Unfortunately, it's not that easy. U2 and U2.com have not reacted to letters we have sent them. Publications such as HotPress and the like will not do it for a myriad of reasons.

Things aren't that cut and dry. You can't just ask or approach and organization asking for money. U2 and their camp know we are having money/bandwidth problems. We have sent professional letters detailing the problem. No response. Bands such as U2 actually hire an online entertainment firm ( U2's is called ElectricArtists) to manage fans online and monitor trends, information, rumors, what have you. They will then analyze this data and make the necessary changes to U2.com and Zootopia.

If U2 and their ilk won't put money into keeping Propaganda in print form, why would they put money into a fan site? Believe me, those of us who are involved with Interference behind the scenes have attempted all avenues necessary to get in contact with the appropriate parties. Again, no response. Short of getting members of Interference to launch a letter-writing campaign to Principal Management in Dublin & New York, I am nearly out of ideas. We rack our brains daily... it's like looking at a mortgage bill that has yet to be paid, and not having the money anymore without taking on another loan.

I wish it was that easy; I wish we could just ask for money from U2 or Interscope or Principal Management. We've done what is professionally appropriate in order to inqure about such a situation. It's hard to press on with that when you are talking to the same silent mailbox. If what you do is perceived as solicitous and harrassing, then you get put on a Watch List and you then *really* don't get help ever.

Corporate sponsorship is not always a desirable option because it then puts up parameters on content. For such a wide-ranging forum as Interference, that would significantly reduce what we can say or post about. Actually, if we "sold" this place to a company.. wouldn't that be "Commercialism?" Isn't that what you're saying U2 are against? Yet, they play the SuperBowl and allow MTV/VH1 to sponsor their tours?


FWIW, Joel and I have worked in the music industry. We know the breaks. We know how musicians and record labels operate with this type of thing. I've worked with record label/official band sites in the past.. and NONE of them sponsored a fan site. They'll give them verbal kudos, but NOT sponsor it. Besides, U2.com has Zootopia, which is their forum.

Maybe they saw that about half the threads here are bashing/nagging/picking on the band and we fight too much. I wonder if they even take us seriously. Most of the people who post here are of some strong willed opinion or another and keep saying the same things over and over. If I were them and I was asked for money to keep this site up, I'd have to laugh. (No offense to the site, just certain individuals and attitudes around here ) No wonder they ignored it. I hope we would never annoy them with a letter writing campaign, how embarrassing that would be. They already have Zootopia and they don't want to start a precedent of paying for an independent fan site. It was better to ignore it than to write a rejection letter I suppose. Maybe if some of us had been more 'civilized' it would have been different but I still can't see them dishing out money like that to unofficial sites.

Next topic- since so many of the overseas members would have to pay a lot more and have trouble paying maybe we can work something out, like an American pays their membership in exchange for something? Or would that be just as high?

 

[bonosloveslave]

Paypal question

Joel,
I subscribed via Paypal, I also did a secret subscription for someone. I guess I don't want them to know it was me, but will they be notified somehow that they have been subscribed?

Also, before officially ok'ing the charge, a screen came up that said the subscription will automatically be renewed unless it is cancelled before the end of the billing period (or something to that effect). Not sure if I'll be able to be so 'generous' next year, so where do we go to say, 'don't automatically recharge me next year'? Is that somewhere here or on the Paypal site (I have very little experience with Paypal).

thanks

 

[pinkfloyd]

Future : this site slowly turns into , very closed and very small community , from one continent ( or even a country ) , where people can't critize or say a bad word about U2 , or other boys Larry , Adam , The Edge , Bono , where people speak about thier jackets , skin , talking about u2 as they talk about N'sync , backstreet boys , Motley crue , bonjovi , poison . yuck . i hope ,

it will be gone for good sooner or later , i don't want any other fan sites to follow your " generous " moves Elvis , Joel whoever you are .

it is a great forum , till it remains free , after that ..it's a death . slow or fast , who cares , maybe some people who spend 24 hours behind the computer , who has no social live , fanatism is always bad , and it really does not matter in which way .

 

[U2SavesTheWorld]

Future : this site slowly turns into , very closed and very small community

WOOO HOOOO!

ARRIVEDERCI! ADEUS! SEE YA LATA!!!

"fanatism is always bad , and it really does not matter in which way ."

HA HA HA HA! I like your name PINKFLOYD.

 

[dizzy]

I change my vote.

Originally voted for a mandatory charge of $1.50-$2.00 a month, but I think the Premium member thing is better.

 

[LarryMullen's POPAngel]

Future : this site slowly turns into , very closed and very small community , from one continent ( or even a country ) , where people can't critize or say a bad word about U2 , or other boys Larry , Adam , The Edge , Bono , where people speak about thier jackets , skin , talking about u2 as they talk about N'sync , backstreet boys , Motley crue , bonjovi , poison . yuck . i hope ,

it will be gone for good sooner or later , i don't want any other fan sites to follow your " generous " moves Elvis , Joel whoever you are .

it is a great forum , till it remains free , after that ..it's a death . slow or fast , who cares , maybe some people who spend 24 hours behind the computer , who has no social live , fanatism is always bad , and it really does not matter in which way .

Ok, you have made your point pinkfloyd. No need to post it over and over again. We've all read it, we know where you stand on this issue.


Buh-bye!

 

[Tip Top Prince]

Buh-bye!

A recurring, and ugly theme.



I'd be prepared to pay for this place if:

a) The bitching about the band threads were MODERATED (i.e: banned)
b) It hadn't turned into an extended "Friends" coffee shop sofa.
c) What little moderating that does occur, came with some amount of maturity and self control.

Maybe a) will happen.
b) is what the premium section will become.
c) - not likely

Do I get a sarcastic buh-bye now?

 

[Chrisedge]

A Question?

Why is it ok for a website owner to ask for money from his users and it's not ok for a taper to ask for money for his recordings? "Assuming both have spent plenty of money on equipment and such" Both are a "service" to fans. Both could "profit" from the connection to U2 and it's fans. Both could also be money losers for the person doing them. The Answer? It isn't any different and should be looked upon the same way. (You shouldn't charge)

Bottom line is I say shut it down if you can't rely on DONATIONS.

 

[CampbellMSU]

sensing bitterness...

if there's one thing i've noticed from reading this forum since i joined, it's the divisiveness of the diehards versus the newbies, in every post in every respect. i'd be willing to pay for a site/forum about u2, but this has turned into a u2 fans lifestyles website, and i think i'm going to go try and find a u2 forum. i'm not saying that joel hasn't done a bang up, smash up job on this whole page, i'm just saying, there's so much topic and postage that doesn't relate at all to the band u2. maybe pay for that, leave out the necesary u2 posts?

i'd pay, but all the diehard forum junkies and even the mods like sicy revel in being sarcastic to newbies who have opinions. other forums, one i found that is about pop (www.bevnet.com) sticks to pop and pop related items. there's a couple rant columns, but the moderator has placed those in a different area and people got over them. it seems that this forum has become bitter and arrogant, i'm not willing to pay for that. even if it is a lowly $10, some of us do have better things to spend it on.

i respect people who have formed what we now call an "online community." i think it's great that people meet all over the world for one main cause, that of u2. i'd love to make some friends in michigan and elsewhere to say, "yeah i know that girl that bono yanked up on stage," but people, can we leave the bitterness, angst, defensive and divisive behavior out of here? shove it in one forum, and angst junkies can pay extra for that one.

tom

 

[Sicy]

Re: sensing bitterness...

i'd pay, but all the diehard forum junkies and even the mods like sicy revel in being sarcastic to newbies who have opinions.

What? I am more than welcoming to newbies. And I'm sarcastic with everyone.. newbie or not. It's my way of joking around. I dont think I'm rude to anyone, as long as they're following the rules. I've done plenty for newbies, including help them with my ftp and help them get posting and trying to make them feel welcome.

 

[Blue Room]

A Question?

Why is it ok for a website owner to ask for money from his users and it's not ok for a taper to ask for money for his recordings? "Assuming both have spent plenty of money on equipment and such" Both are a "service" to fans. Both could "profit" from the connection to U2 and it's fans. Both could also be money losers for the person doing them. The Answer? It isn't any different and should be looked upon the same way. (You shouldn't charge)

Bottom line is I say shut it down if you can't rely on DONATIONS.

I can think of a major difference between the two. A taper can purchase the equipment, record a show AND enjoy it on their own. No one is saying they have to share it, or sell it to get enjoyment out of it. It is their choice to put the money out and they dont need other people to enjoy that product. A forum on the other hand is something that obviously needs alot of people in order for it to be enjoyable. So many people benefit from it while one person is stuck with the bill.

Another major difference is that selling unofficial recordings is illegal. I dont believe charging for membership to view a website is illegal.

 

[Sicy]

I'd be prepared to pay for this place if:

a) The bitching about the band threads were MODERATED (i.e: banned)
b) It hadn't turned into an extended "Friends" coffee shop sofa.
c) What little moderating that does occur, came with some amount of maturity and self control.

a) what do you mean? The fact that all the U2 fans here bitch at one point or another about which albums they hate etc.. that usually end up in out of control arguments? Those threads are moderated and do get closed.

b) Whats wrong with U2 fans that have become friends because of something we all love? There's over 20 forums.. not all the forums are like coffee shops.

c) I think the majority of the mods are very mature, which is why they were chosen to be mods. They can laugh and joke around like everyone else, yet be stern and forceful when necessary. They are human just like everyone else.

 

[Chrisedge]

I can think of a major difference between the two. A taper can purchase the equipment, record a show AND enjoy it on their own. No one is saying they have to share it, or sell it to get enjoyment out of it. It is their choice to put the money out and they dont need other people to enjoy that product. A forum on the other hand is something that obviously needs alot of people in order for it to be enjoyable. So many people benefit from it while one person is stuck with the bill.

Another major difference is that selling unofficial recordings is illegal. I dont believe charging for membership to view a website is illegal.

I shoulda known Blue Room would post

I actually agree with most your post though!
(However quite a bit of stuff is copyrighted that is used here. Pictures, Logos and such are all copyrighted and that is how many bands shutdown fan sites.)

I do think it should be shut down however if it can't be paid for through donations. Offering people perks above normal vBulletin stuff for donating would be OK, but to limit where someone can post or read is stupid. (Offer avatars, special titles, attachments and such to donators)

Elvis, can you post some specific usage reports? Hits/GB transfered/Forum activity?

Edited to add:
re-reading this, one can derive enjoyment out of paying for a website. I pay for a forum website (which is lower cost than this) that does receive donations but not anywhere near what it takes to run it. My enjoyment is based on the fact that I run it and moderate it.

 

[pinkfloyd]

I agree to subscribe for premium year , but i have a few questions

1) How many members will be here after dec 1 ??????
How many people paid thier part , and will be here ?????