Blank Page Issue Is Intolerable - Let's Talk

[Bob Russell]

Deal me in . Check will be in the mail. As arank amature this site is invaluable. We need BILL gates to kick in

[Steve Clardy]

I've been around here for quite some time, and have always tried to support the place.
I supported the pen project till I got exausted on it.
I am still willing to support the creek with a yearly donation.

But I draw the line at supporting it if it becomes an ad sponsored site.
I has been gone over and over, stated a lot of times that this site will be sponsor free. And I expect it to stay that way if I am to hang around here.
Once it becomes a sponsor supported site with ads, I am outa here.

I know things change, and sometimes have to change, but I am slowly seeing changes here that I do not agree with.
[In reference to the idea of sponsor paid ads.]

[glenn bradley]

Count me in. I don't trust Pay Pal so snail mail it is!

[Chris Padilla]

Count me in. I don't trust Pay Pal so snail mail it is!

Pay Pal rules! I love it!

[tod evans]

Tod, Google's "Ad-Sense" system uses the context of what is on the pages being served to post text-based ads to vendors offering products and services related to the subject matter at hand. In one respect, it answers your concern about any particular vendor or vendors having any "control" over the site since the vendors, themselves, have no real ability to control what we talk about. As you visit various sites, you'll see often see "boxes" on the site that have text ads and they also are captioned Google Ad-Sense.

While I'm not "for" adding any advertising to SMC, if it ever got to that, this would be a good way to do it without risking the situation you and most others have concerns about.

I really would like to see more manufacturers/vendors sponsor their own private forums here at SMC. Dino, Craig, John and Keith seem to get some very interesting conversations and threads going in their forums and "promotional" is allowed in those spaces. It's a great way to keep our general forums "clean" while allowing vendors, especially small ones like those folks, to have some voluntary access to well over 8000 folks with an interest in woodworking at this point.

jim, even the manufacturers forums can become a snakepit. it`s not that long ago that tempers flared and threads where locked when folks who choose to reside in one of those forums jumped into the general forum making unsubstantiated claims. granted things generally remain benign but i`ve got this gut feeling and i`ve learned to listen to my gut. so i`ll stand fast with " if there`s advertising, i`m outta here."
there`s lots more folks than myself here so ya`ll do what you feel is best i`ve made my position clear...02 tod

[Steve Clardy]

Paypal sent.






Side note again. No sponsored ad's

[Jim Becker]

Tod, I do understand your stance and frankly support it--I really don't want ads, either. I was just describing how the Google Ad-Sense works for anyone not familiar with it. If the "sky were to fall", it would at least be the least unobtrusive way to generate income with little risk of "influence".

[Jesse Cloud]

sent you a paypal payment a few minutes ago. Good luck and thanks.

[glenn bradley]

No offense to Pay Pal. I'm a network engineer and security specialist and I see poor Pay Pal just get pounded by hack and spoofing engines too consistantly. It's not their fault; they're just a desireable target.

[jonathan snyder]

Hi Folks,

I am very new here, but have already learned a-lot. I enjoy visititing. I have checked out some of the other forums, but find the creek to be the best one. Everyone is nice to each other! I especially like to see folks complementing others on their work. I never stopped to think how the bills are paid. Now that I know, I want to contribute also.

The check is in the mail, snail mail that is!

Thanks
Jonathan

[George Robin]

I don't post much. However, I'm on here all the time......learning.
I have already contirbuted and will again.

One suggestion/question

Is it possible to sned/post a reminder to all once a year?

Thanks for a great site.
George

[Roger Los]

I sent in my $20,000. Er...OK, somewhat less than that.

The biggest problem with adsense ads is that they're both intrusive and not all that lucrative unless you get a LOT of click-through and you get high-paying ads. A friend runs a forum--to be fair, one less trafficked than this one--and he makes about ten cents per day.

I run a couple of non-forum hobby sites and I've toyed with the idea of ads to try and make some money (and my expenses are only around $1,000 per year for the sites, not counting my time, of course), but the hassles have always outshone the meager income that would come in. Every time I'm threatened with a lawsuit by someone using the sites I think about it, though.

I used to visit a board regularly (old cars) where the owner decided that he could make his living via advertisements. Man, that place went downhill in a hurry as the guy in question essentially turned the focus from "how can I help our users" to "how can I help our advertisers--even at the expense of our users."

Finally, thanks for everyone's hard work and I hope things work out for Sawmill Creek!

[Michael Fross]

I was thinking about shirts and hats and decided to just send along $25. I really don't need another shirt and hat and might as well maximize the donation.

Michael

[Jeff Sudmeier]

My $.02 on the advertising issue...

I belong to two forums that have advertising on them. One uses google adsense ads and really these are not all that intrusive. I do have to admit that I was a little shocked to seem them the first time they went up, but I pretty much ignore them now, although I have bought some neat products from them. There would be no biting the hand that feeds you unless we bash google and while some might want to, I think we could all not do that.

That said, I think it is great that the donations are pouring in! The creek is a great place and if we can keep it the way it is with zero ads that is great!

[Larry James]

The Non-contributer may have problems that you haven't thought about.
I've had heart attacks, heart problems, by-pass surgery and haven't worked since Feb. 2005, and have zero income, duh.

My apologies Von, thoughtless of me, I was thinking of members buying all those great tools I would love to have, and not willing to donate 6 bucks.

As a reasonably healthy 64 year old, you have remined me to count my blessing. I'll send you a PM.

With apologies, Larry