Donations vs Ads

[iissmart]

When (if) one donates, do the ads disappear but still leave space or will the forum take the whole screen again, with no spaces between posts where the ads used to be?

[Joel]

It will fill the whole screen again, with no spaces between posts, just as if the ads never existed.

[iissmart]

ooo...I might donate soon :D

What is this "new donation/privileges system"?

[Joel]

What is this "new donation/privileges system"?It's vapor at the moment. :) One of these days I'll be introducing a system where everyone starts out with the most basic of privileges and permissions, and based on how much they donate, they will have more pernissions/privileges. Each level of donation will have its own higher level of permissions.

The trick is to keep such a system fair in that it doesn't take away from what the Founding Members already enjoy, compared to what a donor will enjoy. There will be a certain imbalance after a certain level, but that's going to be hard to avoid. In the end, though, Founding Members will still benefit greatly if things go as planned in the coming year(s).

[iissmart]

'Soon', as in monday the 19th, two mondays ago? ;) (referring to 4th post in the Gooooooogle ads (http://www.technutopia.com/forum/showthread.php?t=908) thread)

So should I wait to donate and see what level I would get into?

[Joel]

Yeah, well, this month I was seriously blindsided by a personal problem, and everything else was put on hold while I sorted it out. Still feeling some effects of it, but coming around.

Below is the proposed ladder of donations, but the permissions haven't been worked out yet. You can roughly guesstimate what you'll have at each level if you remember that the lowest level means no avatar, no sig, no WYSIWYG editor, small PM storage, basically just being allowed to post - with very few other privileges. The highest level will include everything you have now and a little bit more.


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Level of membership: Registered
Donation amount: None
Privileges: Ads, basic forum privileges

Level of membership: Contributor
Donation amount: Any amount of $100 or less, either as a one-time donation or sporadic (every so often).
Privileges: No ads, increased privileges (to be determined)

Level of membership: Friend
Donation amount: $1/mo subscription or $10 yearly.
Privileges: No ads, increased privileges (to be determined)

Level of membership: Supporter
Donation amount: $2/mo subscription or $20 yearly.
Privileges: No ads, increased privileges (to be determined)

Level of membership: Sustainer
Donation amount: $4/month subscription or $40 yearly.
Privileges: No ads, increased privileges (to be determined)

Level of membership: Sponsor
Donation amount: $8/mo subscription or $80 yearly.
Privileges: No ads, increased privileges (to be determined)

Level of membership: Benefactor
Donation amount: $16/mo subscription or $160 yearly.
Privileges: No ads, increased privileges (to be determined)

Level of membership: Patron
Donation amount: $32/mo subscription or $320 yearly.
Privileges: No ads, increased privileges (to be determined)

Level of membership: Visionary
Donation amount: $64/mo subscription or $640 yearly.
Privileges: No ads, increased privileges (to be determined)
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