User fee for this forum

There are a good number of members of this forum who already pay a fee for its use. They pay with their time, advice, and expertise that the rest of us depend on so heavily. I personally find their advice and assistance invaluable and worth a lot. Given that, where do you draw the line of who pays a monetary fee and who doesn't?

The same idea has been played with on a few forums and I have seen how political it can get on forums that charge their members as the members think they can now tell the forum owner how to run the show as THEY are now paying for the forum.

Naah, keep it free and if people don't like it than they should depart quietly without causing ripples.

I see the Internet the same as visiting someones house, it is his place and if I don't like his rules than I am free not to go there but if I do than I need to abide by the rules the site-owner has established.

Well said by both Model Museum and Music City!

If I am a jerk I would be willing to pay to harrass people... the only people outside of this would be kids who would get on just to cause problems...

Personally I have never had a problem swallowing my pride... and in some cases after doing so I have reread what the person who has offended me said and realized beneath the callous veneer is someone with at least something worth reading...

It's all good! I would find it had to pay for the mag AND the forum!!! not monetarily but in principal! That would cut into my modelling fund! I think if people learned to put up with, or better yet just dont reply to nitwits it would go a lot better... if you aim to harrass and no one gets offended, it gets pretty boring so you leave!

The same advice could be given here that I gave on a couple of "what happened to?" posts.
When they found out what happened they just kept on harping on the subject. I posted that if the members would just stop replying to the post, it would eventually fade away never to be seen again.
Well! Guess what? The 2 posts I am referring to have faded away.
The same can hold true to the ones "doing a good job of making this forum less enjoyable". Ignore 'em and go on with what the subject matter was originally about. But, there are some who can't let it be. They have to try and outdo the perpetrator. Thus, making them no better than the one who started it.
As far as a fee goes? I think you might find that a lot more than just the so called "trouble makers" would drop out of sight. A whole lot more!!!!

Randie's right. It's not just a few annoying people who would drop off. We'd lose lots of valuable members too.

I'd say that it's a good way to drive away lots of valued members. And it would stop alot of new members (who can be just as helpful, even though they don't have thousands of posts).

I've never had any trouble on this forum, where are these jerks that you refer to? Just ignore them and they'll dissappear.

Just enjoy the forum for what it is, the best source of modelling info on the net. And one of the best internet communities I've been a part of. Don't let a few jerks spoil it for the rest of us.

I don't think a fee is a good idea for a commercially sponsored site such as this. There are private sites that ask for donations to offset costs & that's fine. As far as Trolls go, FSM is relatively free compared to other sites I visit now & then. Some of the flare ups I've seen here naven't really been Troll activity, just conflicts between hot heads or big egos. Bound to happen now & then & will happen again in the future. Bothers me a little, but the good things on these Forums far out-weigh the occasional bad.

Regards, Rick

i dont like it. im a teen, and im already a memeber of a modeling club in my area. things are getting tight as it is where i am, taxes and all, and im not old enuff, nor do i have the time to have a job. i woulndt be able to pay for this thing.

besides, if we had to start payin to talk to other modelers who love the hobby, then its just another one of the ever increasing expenses we have to pay to take part in this hobby. if there are people who are ticking others off, then A.) just ignore them; B.) other members should help out in either settling the dispute, or getting the annoyance out; or C.) the forum should set up some more rules, and allow memebers to report anyone who's becoming a pest and a punk. but really, paying for membership here, id just get out and join somewhere else thats free. and i have a feeling others would do the same.....

I agree with the majority of leaving this site free to all to use it. But at the same time maybe we can show the troublemakers a thing or two. I propose to post a big red "x" to mark an inflammatory post to mark it for future readers. Maybe we can clean up our own house and get rid of the silly stuff that goes on here.

Dan

QUOTE: Originally posted by boybuddho I agree with the majority of leaving this site free to all to use it. But at the same time maybe we can show the troublemakers a thing or two. I propose to post a big red "x" to mark an inflammatory post to mark it for future readers. Maybe we can clean up our own house and get rid of the silly stuff that goes on here. Dan

The old Scarlet Letter technique, eh, Dan? I'm in agreement with the majority of the posts in this thread. No fees. Ignore the chronic complainers and the more volatile responses will simply evaporate from lack of interest. Keep it civil, folks, and things tend to self-correct.

I think the only real way that access to the forum could be controled would be restricting access to subcribers of the magazine only, whihc I think would defeat the object of the forum.

No offense, but I think that fees for this forum is a pretty bad suggestion. Face it, there are many other forums out there, and this one is not different enough, nor does it offer any significant advantage to warrant payment.
And as said before, I do pay, through my time spent here. Also, lets not forget that many of us actually READ this publication, and well I'd say a purchase, one time or subscription, should warrant every user the right to use this forum.

I find that adding fees won't deter a-holes, it somehow attracts them.

I'm pretty far down the ladder when it comes to planning and where the company is headed, but I don't see user fees in the future.

If there is anything you think is inappropriate on the forums, please contact Lawrence, Michael Ellis, or even myself about it. On the left is a "Contact Us" section with Editorial & Customer Service links. Use them. :)

If someone is trolling or looking to stir things up, ignore them. Don't feed the trolls. Once the realize they're not getting any attention here, they'll lose interest and leave. If someone posts something you don't like, take a couple minutes to think about it before posting back a reply.

I remember (as other forum members do ) a recent row between two forum members which got very personal and acrimonious. Consequently, both members were 'evicted' from the forum, and haven't been back since. One was a well-respected individual indeed, and his contributions were sadly missed. Just goes to show that the system for dealing with disruptive elements works.

I say keep it free. I have been fortunate that i've ever been to any of the Forums where this kind of bickering has gone on, so it feels to me that this is not a problem. Definitely not a problem that would warrent implementing fees! Obviously most of the members have been doing exactly what Dave said: they are starving the Trolls so most of us never see them since they fade away before we can.

QUOTE: agree with the majority of leaving this site free to all to use it. But at the same time maybe we can show the troublemakers a thing or two. I propose to post a big red "x" to mark an inflammatory post to mark it for future readers. Maybe we can clean up our own house and get rid of the silly stuff that goes on here.

I think that is a VERY good idea.

like many people who posted in this thread, i've got no problem at all with 'trouble makers'. This is by far the best forum i've been to. other forums just don't seem to have the welcome atmosphere that we have here. so what we have a few pains in the neck? ignore them and talk about what really matters: modeling.

So far I have not had the pleasure of reading the threads of those individuals who bickering and complaining. However I do not see how user fees will stop someone from being unpleasant. Keeping this forum free is essential in keeping those individuals with the most experience here. The best thing to do is, do not get tangled up in the unpleastries, do not be easily offended, and stick to modeling.

I have been using this forum for over a year, and it is just fine the way it is. I am sick and tired of this trend going around that when people do not agree with a thought are considerd incorrect. We get enough of that from the media. I have never seen any of this fighting and such. What we have here is a few thin skinned individuals who may create problems out of a opinion that does not agree with theirs. A forum in itself in an exchange of ideas. If you don't like what you find you can always go someplace else. Don't expect everybody else to line up and goose step to one common idea. Well That is my two cents worth on this subject. Free OF Charge!!!!

Would the charge be in Euro's, Dollars, Pesos, Pounds Sterling, or Lira?
Keep it free!
The reason we may have some bickering is the amount of nationalities on this forum. What one says(writes) may unintentionaly inflame others. AND what one says (writes) in jest may be taken the wrong way. Sure we may have some that like to incite a feud, but hey you don't have to reply. Instead of bitting my lip I sit on my hands.

Don