The Donate Banner

[anthony]

Now I have already read some disgruntled comments regarding the placement of this banner, however; I must add that members must take into account two things:
I will not sell out this forum to external sources for advertisement, and they have offered me a shitload of money already, though I have promised that I will not allow this to occur whilst I am running things; and
The majority of members here are not paying the ongoing costs of the forum, I am. The simple fact is that by placing this in-house banner within all threads, after the first post of each page, members and non-members view it, and thus people know they can donate to help the forum for helping them.Whilst I put a cost of US$4000 there, it usually costs me more than that in any given year simply because I buy new software, I am constantly looking for newer, more efficient means of which to help members communicate and get the desired help.

Whilst at first it was effective for me to help people, the numbers were low. Now the numbers are growing, and I can no longer help as many people, the posts are getting longer, the issues more in-depth, etc. For me to offer more to people, I need to look at how that can be done. Reading and typing a response is not it now, not for the growing numbers. The most effective means for me will be to simply watch a video or listen to an audio recording from a person, then respond in the same manner. What can be said in 10 minutes via video takes hours via typing.

This forum initially cost me under $2000 per annum to run (first year), now its expanding and members are more, members need systems in which to communicate effectively, quickly, and with all this comes the behind the scenes issues in order to achieve all these things. People use the web every day, but the majority will never comprehend the extent and cost behind the scenes to run the web. Small business, small sites, don't cost much money per annum (maybe US$150 to host and purchase domain). Interactive websites cost the most, have no doubt. Forums, social networking, video communities, interactive costs money, and lots of it. The users just never really know, but the costs exist, and this is why on most of these sites you see "advertisements", the same as TV works, being advertisements pay the costs.

I do not and will not allow advertisements here, thus I look for donations instead. If any person feels they can run it more cost effectively and give members the same functions, then please tell me and I am all ears. Otherwise, the banner serves a purpose, not only for members, but for all those browsing the forum, who read only, never join, and they still make donations. The little button at the top of the forum just doesn't do much I'm afraid, compared to putting something in peoples face.

I am all ears.

[veiled]

I am shocked anyone would complain. I have been here for a year and an editor, but I will be honest, I get so wrapped up in my own issues I totally over look the buttons and announcements so a flag letting us know "Hey, this costs money" is a hardly a problem. I know if I over look it so do others, and admittedly I am supposed to look for this as an editor.

I know that this place has taken me further than 30 grand on doctors has. Hell, I bet I could get some serious therapy over the last year if I gave it to you instead! Shit, I bet I could have been in Australia getting it, LOL!

I know a major issue with PTSD is finances and I know you don't expect it from us. That has been made more than clear if others read previous posts. If we can help we should though. That is just being a part of a community. Don't try to give what you do not have but don't knock you for wanting help from others who can. This is not a hobby; this is serious help you get here. I think we would all be lost without this place (I sure as hell would). You have made it clear before if you knew money came from those in a bind you would not accept it and bounce it back. So bitching about it, shame shame... You still make this work for all of us. We know with the time you invest here and actual costs we could never repay you.

Personally, I am glad you put the banner up. We need a nudge to remember this is not a major money making site and you pay for it.

[becvan]

I was definitely WTF?

It threw me right off. Mind you, it wasn't loading right till this morning (I'm having slow internet issues on my end.. get used to me being on and off of here.. as half my pages won't load) and I couldn't tell what it really was! LOL it was half wrapped around another's user name.. Looked pretty funky! All I could see was support/donate and this big yellow sac.. LMAO...

So ya I bitched.. LOL

I agree if it's not in our face, we tend not to notice. I am grateful you don't outsource for money. I'd never get pages loaded with all those ads!

And nope no fresh ideas for ya.. Won't even begin to hazard guess at that..

I would like to say though.. let us get used to it before jumping all over us. Yes some of us grumbled in our diaries.. it's a change and an unexpected one that just popped out of the blue. It will just take some of us a while to adjust to it.

bec

[batgirl]

I don't care if it's on the rest of the forum but I don't like it being in my diary.

[veiled]

Diaries are part of the forum. Better than some bogus site ad selling crap for a couple hundred bucks that you find out is not even half the info you find here freely (yes I have paid for some good online crap but most I paid for was just crap). And getting new things to load right are just growing pains. Do not forget which pocket this comes out of for us to be here. I am not going to complain!

[becvan]

V not growing pains.. it's my connection. I only have DSL Lite and been having some REAL problems with it.. 99% of the time.. I can't get anything to load. Once I catch up on all my bills, I will be getting full DSL and this problem won't be an issue for me! Take me about a year though! LOL

bec

[veiled]

Hee hee less calories? Never heard of a "lite" version beyond Miller LOL. Sorry it is almost 7 AM and no sleep, can't help myself.

[Nicolette]

After reading comments to date I am wondering if some people are confusing dealing with something "new/different" rather than seeing the message for what it really is :think:

From what understand about PTSD I am aware that some suffers do not cope well with change and perhaps a reason for some of the negative reactions???

I sit here while Anthony pours hours, day after day, into the site and I listen to all the ideas he has of improving the site for the long term benefit of all the users - suffers and carers - so I am confused with some of the negativity. The message is not "lets shove something in people's faces" but, as I understand it, "lets pitch in to help maintain and support something which is valuable to all who use the site".

[becvan]

hehe mine was more along the lines of what is that, Nicolette!

yesterday, when I grumbled, it was wrapped around another's user name (the post was shoved way to the right side of the screen) and shy of the yellow bag and support/donate, I couldn't even make out what it was..

Otherwise not complaining. It looks normal today (for the moment) but now that I know what it is, it won't throw me off when it does that again. It's my connection.. it's warping my pages.. LOL

Other than that, I know I've jumped a few times at it today.. It just kinda startles me. I think you will find those of us in flare-ups of symptoms will react worse than the others.

trust me, I'm grateful for what Anthony does for us and how much he pours into it.

I can't wait for the day that I'm all caught up on bills and can afford to donate (and Anthony you won't be allowed to bounce it back then! hehe)

bec

[veiled]

The message is not "lets shove something in people's faces" but, as I understand it, "lets pitch in to help maintain and support something which is valuable to all who use the site".


Again, someone else sums it up quite nicely!

[Nicolette]

Hey Bec

I totally understand what you are saying and I'm sure Anthony will agree that what is most important is that we look forward to the day you get better more than anything else.

Take care :)

[batgirl]

Well pardon me for saying how I felt about it. Apparently that makes me a bad selfish person. I didn't know I wasn't allowed to have an opinion.

[veiled]

Evie, you are stressed. You know no one said that. Take a step back, breath and reread. No hostility anywhere here.

[Jim]

After reading comments to date I am wondering if some people are confusing dealing with something "new/different" rather than seeing the message for what it really is :think: From what understand about PTSD I am aware that some suffers do not cope well with change and perhaps a reason for some of the negative reactions???

You hit the nail on the head Nicolette.

Jim.

[becvan]

hehe you know what is kinda cool? it has colour! Probably why it startles me LOL.

The colour kinda represents the growth of the forum, least in my mind. (was just staring at while scarfing down food.. LOL so if this all sounds crazy tis okay!)

bec

[Jim]

Aha! Thank you Bec. Was picking my brain here, trying to figure out why Evie became so upset. Ironically, she's spoken at length lately, about ways to help out the forum financially. Even wants to set aside part of her paycheque! So. Must say, was quite puzzled by her outburst. However. She does have trouble with certain colours. Yellow being one of them. Much appreciated for solving the mystery. ;-)

And yes Veiled she is stressed. Extremely. She's taking a break from the forum now.

Jim.

[Claire]

Yes, I agree with Nicolette too.

It makes you notice it. Which means (with my graphic designer hat on) that its done its job. Its a good ad. I found it a little disturbing at first because its new and us PTSD sufferers dont like change. I reckon we'll all get used to it very soon. Let's face it, its an excellent cause and not trying to sell us anything we dont want.

[She Cat]

Because I am a "New Member" of the forum, I read this post and thought that i should just leave well enough alone. Then I had a second thought. (You will all probably hope that i had never had the second thought) Freedom of speech is so nice.....

The way I see this....

Anthony pays for this site out of his own pocket, and from his heart. The help and encouragement that each one of us receive, and offer, is found NO WHERE ELSE!!!! Paying a shrink or therapist would put us all in the poor house in a matter of weeks. There is genuine care here. Respect for one another, and a need for nurturing that we all get from one an other.

The cost for Anthony is $4000.00 US dollars. There are 2000 + members..The last time I went to school that meant that if each of us donated $2.00..........Anthony would have the $4000.00 for one yr.

I am sending a check today for what I can afford right now. $25.00 Hopefully I can send more the next time.

I see no problem with any of it. Just my opinion....

Wendy

[anthony]

Wendy, thank you for your kind words and support. Much appreciated. As the donation page outlines, it is by no means my intent for members to donate more than it costs the forum to run, as I pay the costs regardless, though its simply getting to a point where the forum is growing, technology allows me to speed things up, though technology comes with a cost. I have no doubt at all that within two years, this forum will cost around the US$6000 - $8000 mark because of the throughput, bandwidth, in a nutshell, the higher demand and usage.

PTSD is becoming more wide known worldwide, and as it has been pointed out here, and we are all aware, there is no place upon the web that is this focused nor indepth in relation to PTSD. Sure, lots of information, other forums that bitch and whinge at one another, promote fighting and arguments, become little clicky groups, etc, none of which I want here, and I will personally do my best to ensure this forum always remains nothing more than PTSD focused, never type of trauma or the like focused.

Evie, opinions are always warranted, and I must agree with veiled, in that nobody here had a dig at you, nor another for your opinions. I wokeup this morning actually coming in here just for this thread, to ensure that your opinion was heard in relation to being against it within your diary. Objection is noted. Yes, I can control where the banner is shown by forum, not by thread, though doing that, I cannot eliminate forums, more it works the other way, where I have to then code the forum numbers in for where it should be shown. Sitewide is a simple, effective solution for my aim.

Jim, thanks for pointing out the yellow. That is easy enough to fix, and bec also mentioned it that the colour was what jumped out. I will quickly render it in black and white, then reupload. Refresh your browser and you will have the black and white version.

I truly thank all members for your support, either way you feel, it is appreciated to know your thoughts. Those who donate, thank you for helping the community overall. As veiled and bec have pointed out before in their posts, I have stated that I DO NOT want donations from those who cannot afford to donate. The person donating sets the amount, and using paypal you simply input what amount you want to donate, then submit it and pay, very easy to do. As stated, if I know people who donate that are struggling for money, you will find the money back in your pocket, not mine, as i am doing ok financially. Whilst that is the case, I certainly want and am asking for support from those who can help. This is a community, one that belongs to all members, as i have always stated. As such, all help is appreciated. Some become editors and help with the day to day running of the forum, some donate, some just participate, all of which is helping the community, and for that I thank you all and appreciate your efforts.

[becvan]

Wow Anthony, the colour change is huge! I didn't notice it this time (as in no jumping out of my skin!) Unreal that just a simple colour did that.

Thank you. I appreciate it. (I did like it though.. lol just made me jump)

bec

[hodge]

Anthony, thanks very much. I appreciate no color, too. I did like Bec's symbolism of it, but I had the same kind of reaction, so it's much easier on me this way.

Um, were you going to post a snail mail address for checks?

Thanks again.

[Nicolette]

Hi Hodge

Anthony did post an address for snail mail. If you click on the donate post (advertisement) on any of the pages of the forum it will take you into the details for donating.

[hodge]

Hi Nicolette,

Oh, I guess I had the impression it would appear on the banner itself - didn't even try clicking on it. Thanks for the heads up :)

[pandora]

I Love this site and wish i could donate...mayde one day. If I ever get back to work!!! No.When I get back to work.....think positive, think positive............. Damn it is like having two voices in my head all of the time.positive/negative, i guess that is better than just negative. LOL

[anthony]

Thats were your life begins beyond PTSD pandora, mental strength. Well done.

[Kathy]

Just wanted to report, Evie appreciates the lack of colour as well, so much thanks for changing it Anthony. It seems Jim was correct, that was the reason for her upset, merely the colour, not the banner itself nor its purpose.

[batgirl]

I want to apologize for how I overreacted to this whole thing. My family is right, it was the colour that got to me, but I should have just said that instead of throwing a tantrum over it and blaming it on a bunch of other stuff. Thank you for changing the colour Anthony, that was very generous of you, and it seems I'm not the only one who appreciated it so that's good to know. It really makes a big difference for me without the colour. I appreciate everything you and everyone does here, honestly I do!

[Awakening]

I'm surprised you don't have outside ads - why is that? Obviously you want to be selective but no-one should have to be out of pocket, I didn't realise Anthony was.

Batgirl, I don't know you, but anything I've seen from you makes me think you are very sweet & brave :-)

[anthony]

Advertising ruins websites IMHO... and whilst it has a purpose on some, I don't want it messing up this one, so i won't allow it, thus cater the costs myself and now with donations.