[Oni]

I considered lowering the prices early on, but that wouldn't be fair to people that have already upgraded.

sure thing brother of course

It's a mixture. The prices were set higher to encourage people to earn it. If you actually knew me, you'd know I'm not in need of cash and I love this forum a lot.

What Cressi said. Even if it's too expensive, you can get upgraded anyway, by contributing content and activity to SL. I have a feeling though, that everything will be adjusted, when the time SL becomes bigger and more active.

Maybe, if I can get everyone to agree with it. People that already upgraded and worked hard to earn it wouldn't appreciate it. Especially if a new member can work half as hard and get the same upgrade.

[Oni]

Wanna buy more things for your home Oni? Because we all know that them upgrades don't go back into Sinisterly like you claim.

I'm not going to get specific on numbers (mainly because they are sort of large), but I've invested a lot into this forum. I don't get paid for administrative duties or my labor, which is fine. Running this forum is one of my hobbies. Once in a blue moon I might withdraw some of the funds. I've never wasted the site's funds on anything dumb, like stuff for my apartment. The amount I have invested greatly exceeds the amounts I've withdrawn, too.

I'm not in need of cash and I love this forum a lot.

In reality, most of the money goes towards upkeep of the site. Donations/upgrades were only created to help pay for part of the site. On a really nice month, the site covers its own hosting/advertising/improvements. When it comes to outsourcing (i.e. theme/plugin design), I generally have to dip inside my pockets.

[mothered]

In reality, most of the money goes towards upkeep of the site. Donations/upgrades were only created to help pay for part of the site. On a really nice month, the site covers its own hosting/advertising/improvements. When it comes to outsourcing (i.e. theme/plugin design), I generally have to dip inside my pockets.

Precisely this.

I've owned a forum many years ago of a similar magnitude, and It's not easy and certainly not cheap to run. Funding varies from one month to the next, there's simply no definite Indication of what to expect until the month draws closer to an end.

[Oni]

Precisely this.

I've owned a forum many years ago of a similar magnitude, and It's not easy and certainly not cheap to run. Funding varies from one month to the next, there's simply no definite Indication of what to expect until the month draws closer to an end.

To be honest, there are plenty of administrators that keep the majority of their site's profits. I don't think that's awful, but I'm not one of them.

[Soap]

so... how much do you approx. need each month to keep the site online?

[XFL]

so... how much do you approx. need each month to keep the site online?

It doesn't cost that much to have a website up, even with really good hosting. At least not much when comparing it to how much people demand for theme designs and the like. Mybb is free forum software but I'm sure this theme wasn't cheap to create but @Oni would know more about that..

[Soap]

well i have a good example of how i think a site should ask for donations or whatever

there is this private niche tracker with 100k+ torrents and 20k+ members. it asks for only 5£ and then you get all the perks of being a donator.

it needs 100£ per month to stay online and that isn't really much imo. that community is quite bigger and the site itself is also bigger than this, so i'm sure it doesn't cost as much to run this site. im sure people would be more encouraged to donate if it was 5£ instead of the current prices.

[Nyx]

To be honest, there are plenty of administrators that keep the majority of their site's profits. I don't think that's awful, but I'm not one of them.

*ahem*Wonders*ahem*

well i have a good example of how i think a site should ask for donations or whatever

there is this private niche tracker with 100k+ torrents and 20k+ members. it asks for only 5£ and then you get all the perks of being a donator.

it needs 100£ per month to stay online and that isn't really much imo. that community is quite bigger and the site itself is also bigger than this, so i'm sure it doesn't cost as much to run this site. im sure people would be more encouraged to donate if it was 5£ instead of the current prices.

Userbars, theme changes, Cloudflare, etc.. all adds up.

[mothered]

To be honest, there are plenty of administrators that keep the majority of their site's profits. I don't think that's awful, but I'm not one of them.

Provided the site Is running at It's optimal state and members are looked after, at the end of the day, the owner can do as he/she pleases with the money.

What I'm saying Is, If the funds are used towards the overall healthiness of the site and fulfills It's requirements, then anything left over Is a bonus to the owner to utilize for personal Interests. Although at times, seldom Is there money to spare.

[Oni]

Provided the site Is running at It's optimal state and members are looked after, at the end of the day, the owner can do as he/she pleases with the money.

What I'm saying Is, If the funds are used towards the overall healthiness of the site and fulfills It's requirements, then anything left over Is a bonus to the owner to utilize for personal Interests. Although at times, seldom Is there money to spare.

The majority of funds should be used for improvement. People donate/upgrade, because they love the site. Any money received is generally used to improve it. I've also invested more than just a couple grand into Sinisterly. However, when I've invested a large amount of money, I expect at least a fraction of it back. Occasionally I will withdraw a couple hundred bucks, but that's because I have invested so much more.

Don't misunderstand me. I'm all in favor of capitalism and making money off of forums. I just see Sinisterly as more of a hobby than a business venture. I'm willing to invest time and money into Sinisterly because I love running it. I'm pretty sure this isn't the case for many administrators, as profit is their motivator. In the end, they will sell their forum if presented with a lump sum of cash. I won't.

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It doesn't cost that much to have a website up, even with really good hosting. At least not much when comparing it to how much people demand for theme designs and the like. Mybb is free forum software but I'm sure this theme wasn't cheap to create but @Oni would know more about that..

Jessie hasn't actually been working on the theme as much. I've actually done a large portion of the design, as he hasn't been easy to coordinate with. We've only paid the deposit and I have plans to improve the theme myself, unless he contacts me back.