P51FAN
SOH-CM-2024
I don't think this gets much clearer:
Which means it doesn't matter whether it is pay for access or donate for access, money still has to be transfered to receive access.
Deadline Is Getting Close
- Thread starter stovall
- Start date
I don't think this gets much clearer:
Which means it doesn't matter whether it is pay for access or donate for access, money still has to be transfered to receive access.
We have just over 8 days left, Administrators are working on a plan if we don't reach out goal. This could mean using old equipment or cutting some services. I will let everyone know as soon as any decision is made. Now is the time to step to the plate. Please keep SOH one of the best forums in the sim world. Thanks to those who have contributed and especially those who have contributed multiple times.
Felixthreeone
Charter Member
Just tossed donation #2 into the basket. Hopefully it helps.
Bjoern
worst developer ever
I'm really torn on the issue.
On one hand, covering hosting costs entirely by donations is a noble thing as it avoids spamming the page with advertisements and - nowadays - any pop-up windows complaining about adblocking browser plugins. There are forums for a lot of stuff and, in the rare case that I need it, there's a fast library available (once you figure out how to properly search it for stuff).
But...
Why can't I donate less than $10?
At the current exchange rate, $10 amounts to about three days worth of groceries for me. I'd chip in $5 as a symbolic goodwill contribution without any questions asked whatsoever, but $10? Sorry, no.
Maybe making the least possible contribution $5 might make other - non-regular - members donate as well.
Why do I have to pay for a lot of stuff that costs space and bandwidth, but which I don't use?
News forum, political forum, flight center for the CFS crowd, teamspeak server, file attachments in the forums, etc...
What would I get from a contribution? What will happen if the target amount can't be attained?
From what I read, this year's drive is mostly about server upgrades, so it's mostly a one-time cost, right?
Assuming that the target is met, will there be an effort to restructure and downsize as well so that next year's drive will, at best, only cover bandwidth costs and any emergency upgrades?
And what will happen if the goal isn't met? I know you guys are makeing plans for this case, but there hasn't been any announcement yet. Postponement of less necessary upgrades? Bandwidth restrictions for downloads? "Leech" user titles for non-donors? Banners and pop-up windows EVERYWHERE?
Enough questions. I'll now curl up in a corner and await a beating from the rest of you people.
On one hand, covering hosting costs entirely by donations is a noble thing as it avoids spamming the page with advertisements and - nowadays - any pop-up windows complaining about adblocking browser plugins. There are forums for a lot of stuff and, in the rare case that I need it, there's a fast library available (once you figure out how to properly search it for stuff).
But...
Why can't I donate less than $10?
At the current exchange rate, $10 amounts to about three days worth of groceries for me. I'd chip in $5 as a symbolic goodwill contribution without any questions asked whatsoever, but $10? Sorry, no.
Maybe making the least possible contribution $5 might make other - non-regular - members donate as well.
Why do I have to pay for a lot of stuff that costs space and bandwidth, but which I don't use?
News forum, political forum, flight center for the CFS crowd, teamspeak server, file attachments in the forums, etc...
What would I get from a contribution? What will happen if the target amount can't be attained?
From what I read, this year's drive is mostly about server upgrades, so it's mostly a one-time cost, right?
Assuming that the target is met, will there be an effort to restructure and downsize as well so that next year's drive will, at best, only cover bandwidth costs and any emergency upgrades?
And what will happen if the goal isn't met? I know you guys are makeing plans for this case, but there hasn't been any announcement yet. Postponement of less necessary upgrades? Bandwidth restrictions for downloads? "Leech" user titles for non-donors? Banners and pop-up windows EVERYWHERE?
Enough questions. I'll now curl up in a corner and await a beating from the rest of you people.
Here is the alternate donation path link
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php?91752-Alt-SOH-Donation-Methods
Simply mail Ickie the equivalent of $5 in your native currency and he will nail it to his wall and make you a charter member.
Everyone's donation goes to support the part of the site they frequent. As a collective whole we get more for everyone. Start segmenting it out and everything will end up failing.
peterwatkins2
Charter Member
Hmmm, so $10 equates to three days groceries! You obviously do not live in the UK. £6.50 will not even get me two beers lol.
Have just made my second donation of $20 although I do not know how much would take me to the exalted rank of 'Charter Member 2015' instead of 'SOH-CM-2015'!
I spend on average about $20 when I buy a payware sim product so this cause is worth at least that to me.
Blackbird686
SOH-CM-2025
Actually 'SOH-CM-2015' is just an abbreviation for 'Charter Member 2015'... means the same. At any rate, thanks for your contribution to SOH. There is no such thing as an insignificant contribution... every little bit helps. If others would pitch in and give as much as you have, the SOH would be in "fat city"! lol...
BB686
BB686
Bjoern
worst developer ever
Hm, quote function seems to be broken for me...
My shrink tried to make me. With lukewarm success when in the outside world.
Flight Simulation, however...
Nothing Paypal-based?
I'm neither talking organic "Fair Trade" kind of groceries nor 24/7 ramen, but discount groceries. ALDI, etc...
My shrink tried to make me. With lukewarm success when in the outside world.
Flight Simulation, however...
Nothing Paypal-based?
I'm neither talking organic "Fair Trade" kind of groceries nor 24/7 ramen, but discount groceries. ALDI, etc...
Just found this out
PayPal charges us $2 on a $5 dollar donation where as they only charge 10% on a $10 donation.
$10 is the point of diminishing returns.
PayPal charges us $2 on a $5 dollar donation where as they only charge 10% on a $10 donation.
$10 is the point of diminishing returns.
peterwatkins2
Charter Member
PayPal also rip off the donor by applying a exchange rate less than the current market rate. The current rate for £ Sterling is $1.53 however I was given £1.47 by PayPal.
WarHorse47
SOH-CM-2024
I see that we are now at 80% of the contribution goal.
Can someone translate that for me? How much more is needed and by when?
I'd do my own calculations, but I'd rather save that effort for flying.
Can someone translate that for me? How much more is needed and by when?
I'd do my own calculations, but I'd rather save that effort for flying.
srgalahad
Charter Member 2022
You may see it as a rip-off but it's, in reality, the cost of doing business. First, the 'market rate' is/was $1.53 but here is what xe.com says by way of explanation:
"The rates in our free information services are neither "buy" nor "sell" rates. Instead, they are mid-market rates derived from the mid-point between the "buy" and "sell" rates from global currency markets. Our free information services always list the mid-market rate because it indicates the value of a currency that is not weighted towards buying or selling."Buy" and "sell" rates include overheads and profit margins that are independently set by foreign exchange providers; their rates can vary a lot and will differ from the mid-market rate, so we recommend you shop around."
All financial institutions will charge to cover costs and to make a profit (that's why they are in business). The credit card companies will charge a premium or surcharge for international purchases (1.5 - 3.5% in many cases) that shows when you get your statement. With the current increase in diligence, record keeping and reporting resulting from the Anti-Money Laundering & Anti-Terrorist Financing legislations we're lucky that there are still places that want the business (and there are many who gave up because of the costs and legal risks).
Paypal is not the be-all-and-end-all. There are other organizations that do the same but we have been inundated by their promotional skills. If someone finds a more secure option that is as easy (and cheaper?) I'm sure Ron et al would find a way to make it work.
The amounts we deal with here are miniscule and I agree, every penny seems like a small stab wound both at the donor's end and to SOH, but I would hope a few cents on a dollar wouldn't deter people from contributing, nor should we give people excuses for not making the effort.
We've also talked about comparing donations or a lack thereof to the amount simmers spend for add-ons and that's a valid discussion. What about the amount people spend on more and more expensive systems to run their preferred version of flight sim? I'd hazard a guess that if 5% of all those yearly expenditures by members was diverted to the donation drive we'd be well-funded for years to come. Oh yeah, those hardware bits (unless you live in the original country of manufacture) have currency exchange, taxes and duty attached long before the bits get into one's basement sim-pit. It may not feel great, but it's part and parcel of living in a global community.