What would you pay per-month for an Ad-Free ATS?

a reply to: stargatetravels

It's something that the owners need to decide because it will ultimately make or break ATS.
This could be the beginning of the end.

Seems that way,

To generate new posters, they could offer a 30 day free plan, if it comes to that.

One site I read does that, then you are blocked from reading the full article, but I just find the same article I wanted to read posted somewhere else.

There is another site that gives you ten articles a month for free, but they are news sites.

I think we may be coming to the end of free access.

a reply to: SkepticOverlord

I'll say it AGAIN...in case you missed it 10 pages back....

I'd pay a monthly fee for the following services:

functional chat room
access to subscription-only forums
access to "chat meets" with various people (ATS and non-ATS 'celebs' alike)
no ads

ETA - by 'celebs' I mean well known people in the conspiracy theory world. Not necessarily Hollywood celebs (no use for most of those morons)

I guess.. nothing

can you define "nothing"

a reply to: Zen64

It's for the lack of adddsss. Not site access. My god, people, please, read the damn OP. T_T

originally posted by: Winstonian
a reply to: CharlieSpeirs

How can you afford to live with an "unlimited" schedule?

Just curious.

Mental health disability benefits keep me going.

a reply to: CharlieSpeirs

That seems like a sad existence. I hope you discover some way of improving thine situation.

originally posted by: zazzafrazz
New people will not pay.

I think you're right Zazzy.

But the ad-based site would still be available for those who want to go that route. I guess I'm not seeing the horror in this that everyone else is. Except S.O. is putting a hell of a lot of work on himself to accomplish and maintain both ad-based and subscription-based experiences. Hope he's up for it. That, and our emoticons back. Lol!

originally posted by: Eilasvaleleyn
a reply to: CharlieSpeirs

That seems like a sad existence. I hope you discover some way of improving thine situation.

It is, but over all I'm blessed.

I have food and water, and Internet connection, and kind ATS members like yourself wishing me well.

Some will never have those things.
I'm definitely blessed, despite the little curse.

originally posted by: Eilasvaleleyn
a reply to: Zen64

It's for the lack of adddsss. Not site access. My god, people, please, read the damn OP. T_T

a reply to: CharlieSpeirs

You're better than blessed brother!

originally posted by: and14263
a reply to: CharlieSpeirs

You're better than blessed brother!

Same to you my good fellow.

originally posted by: Eilasvaleleyn
a reply to: Zen64

It's for the lack of adddsss. Not site access. My god, people, please, read the damn OP. T_T

And I reiterate (because you ignored my reply previously)...why do you think it will stay this white and clean? The members of the site who are seeing the trends have a legitimate reason for raising this issue.

We've seen the creep of ads, we've been asked to donate, and now we're being gauged to see how much we might like to pay monthly, and next...

You're an ATS member, where is your skeptical foresight?


Also, I have yet to see SkepticO either confirm or deny anything. I just re-read the OP, and there is no definite clue what his intentions are, other than to poll. All I see is a survey on how much we would pay for a monthly subscription, whose primary feature is to be more streamlined and ad-free.

This says nothing about whether this is for site access, or whether it's just an ad-free option, or any grab-bag mix of options.

But still, members have a right to see where this is headed. Don't chastise them for something you, yourself are only speculating about. SkepticO calls the shots, and so far, we haven't been able to glean anything.

If you get banned, do you get your money back..?



I think for $5 a month I'd want Chat back...even though that is what would probably get me banned - the irony.

I'm in $5.

originally posted by: stargatetravels

originally posted by: bigfatfurrytexan
a reply to: Kitana

Thats not what i read....i read that you could opt out of ads by purchasing that. Or, alternately, you could continue with ads no problem

I think it's the segregation that is worrying some people.
SO's mention of a subscribers only forum etc, it's not good.

Ahem i submit into evidence exibit a....R.A.T.S forum. We already have a user forum that soem cannot access so whats the difference?

Skeptic THAT could be the pay spot for th e paid members and it wouldnt need tweaking or adding at all.

I raised this issue in the thread concerning ad-blockers, but never received any feedback. So I will ask in this thread.

Before I decide that ATS is worth a monthly subscription, can anyone tell me what the money from PayPal donations was used for? Are they still receiving funds from member donations?

Were the promises made by SO kept?

This money will be used to repay the loan that's keeping us running, and if enough is received, engage experts to begin research into the next big ATS project, a Collaborative Community Platform for Citizen Journalism. The goal is to significantly modernize the concept of forums, integrate collaborative tools, redefine the user experience, and release the results as Free Open Source Software to enable a new wave of content that matters.


If you can't contribute, don't.

If you're short on cash, don't contribute.

If you can contribute, thank you. I promise you won't regret it.

I'd like some more information on this issue before I pull out my wallet.

a reply to: ReadLeader

I WOULD pay ATS a fee to be able to block some members, and block some members posts on my threads

haha that sounds so hilarious...imagine how open to abuse that could become,

ATS 1: "We're not making enough this month, my son chipped another tooth and my first wife is asking for extra alimony"

response:

ATS 2: "no probs; I'll have 5 socks up in 5 minutes; should garner some "premium" subs, do i get a bonus next month? My mother in law wants some more dinero sent back home

* * * * * *

a reply to: butcherguy


Ummm...no...when the seller offers five...counter with three...


YouSir

a reply to: introvert

As far as I know donations went towards better server usage.

And aside from the hiccup of the DDOS attack a couple of months ago the servers seem to be fairing well against attacks.

a reply to: SkepticOverlord
Nothing i been here since 2002 sign up 2004. I see no reason why anyone should have to pay. If it comes to that ill just have to leave.

Well, whatever ATS decides to do, I will be here till the end.

If they go pay, with no adds and some added benefits, that would be cool.
I'd do a $30 a year payment if the benefits for being a paid member are worth it,
otherwise, I'd put up with some ads.
(if they do put a chatroom back in, for a paying member, it better be better than what they had, cause I didn't like it, maybe come up with a chatroom that looks like an ATS page instead of crappy java like chats)
But that is a question I am wondering.
What will change for those who do and do not pay?

I've been here for 11 years,
and have almost no ads on my page,
I take it that will change?