Topic for Discussion / Micro-Poll...

[dsli_jon]

...and not force members to pay.

I think 'force' is the wrong-idea.. again, I see it more as 'many hands make the load...' well, you get it - if everyone does a little, the burden falls-on no-one (...including the Administrator / is not left up-to the generosity of just 'the few, the proud', that do actually hit the Donate button....

..Maybe all existing-members, with 6-months, or more of PL-life, get 'grandfathered' for the 1st year?? Gives everyone a whole-year to work on saving that 12-bux...

Why not establish a monthly goal and show the progress towards this each month? It would be nice to understand when the lean months are happening....

An 'OhShitometer!'...Excellent idea! ...I'll bring it up to the Captain...

Maybe some other options? I'd buy a PL shirt in support of the forum

PL Merch! Love it! ...Another brilliant idea... maybe we can even get some 'Retardoface Masks', made-up, like the 'Guy Fawkes', so we can join Anonymous in picketing the Satantologists!

sorry but that is his decision...

Sorry, but - how, exactly, does that lessen the tangible-value of the fact that he does?? I'm pretty-sure your beautifully-crafted 5W RGB thanks PL / him, everynight, while you sleep, no?...

I just don't feel bad for him

And I'm sure he appreciates that But - He / His value-added is only one (near-field) facet to the consideration of the proposal - remember what I said about 'establishing a foundation for a guaranteed-baseline of support'? Think - who is gonna do all the cybermopping / upkeep / take-on whatever financial-burden it is, in both money & time - if he ever decides to say '...Later, Taco'? ...'We'll figure that out if/when that happens'?... Yeah - yet-another classic-entry in the Encyclopedia of Famous Last Words...

..K, I've gotta put down the rally-mic and go to werk, so, keep up the great 'food for thought / counterpoints / discussions' / ideas...

ciao..
j

[LaNeK779]

PL merchandise is a neat idea... mainly small, light stuff that do not cost much to get or to ship
ideas:

an annual photo contest, where the best 12 pics would be printed in next year's PL calendar
t-shirts (of course), shirts, hoodies
hats
or our very own laser safety goggles

just imagine how many people would buy PL goodies



or some PL approved 1w 445 laser pointers (hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!)

[White-Light]

Why not key rings?

Stickers are another cheap easy to post option.

Both are small and light and cheap to produce.

The big problem with merchandise is getting it produced in small enough quantities unless someone on here has a company that makes it. The last thing Rob will want is to have large amounts of money tied up in customised merchandise sat on a shelf waiting to be sold.

[LaNeK779]

the only party-spoiler with merchandice is the taxman.
an entsusiast forum is one thing, a profit making entity is something else. but maybe these goodies could be routed through existing merchants to make thinigs simpler

the way to minimise overstocking is to operate as a group-buy. have a thread were everyone lists item - quantity - size (if applicable), have them prepay and then place the order with the manufacturer. then, when there is enough interest, you run another "group buy".

so, no money tied up and no odd sizes - items left over here and there

[Doc]

or some PL approved 1w 445 laser pointers (hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!)

Hey, what about my PL approved 5 Watt blue pointer?

[discothefunkyhippo]

I think 'force' is the wrong-idea.. again, I see it more as 'many hands make the load...

That kinda sounds like the rhetoric used by the soviet communist party yeah, they were able to pull together and industrialize(and by pull together I mean people were imprisoned for sneezing and breaking bootlaces and were essentially used for slave labour, while the organizers reaped the benefits)

I enter this argument knowing its obscenely fallacious know that I kid Jon.

But in all seriousness, force is force no matter the ends. This raises the age old question... Do the ends justify the means?

I have given this topic a lot of thought(probably too much) and have talked to a lot of people. I would much rather prefer tastefully placed advertising then reg fees. My concern is that reg fees wills change the nature of the community and the community is what makes PL.

[dsli_jon]

...Do the ends justify the means?

I think I've sufficiently repeated my (imo) compelling-arguments as-to why it does, yeah? Any-more, and I'll be a skip ..ip.. ip.. ip.. ip.. ip..

My concern is that reg fees wills change the nature of the community

..and yet, I see that there are Zero-votes for the 'NO!.. I'd leave PL...'-sentiment... and, looks like the '..yeah, I'd do it's are ahead, so...
I really don't see how $12-bux a year, from everyone, is gonna 'change PL' - sure, some of those 650+ might 'leave' - but...do we hear from them much, anyway??
If they're just 'skimmers', and not content-contributors - will the community really 'suffer' cause they didn't want to support it / Admin, in this way, either?

..Percolate-on...
j

[polishedball]

I know a small quantity printer that will give a very good price off normal retail, for SELEM we all got a coaster and a couple got mouse pads.

[LaNeK779]

jon, my only concern is that this poll has been running for a couple of days and only 21 people have taken the time to vote...
maybe this is an indication by itself?

[norty303]

I really don't see how $12-bux a year, from everyone, is gonna 'change PL'

It's not. Give me a link where I can pay my one-off £10 and we're done

OH, hang on, I'll need to go to the bank and get it changed into $... be right back!