TheSmartMarks.com Donation Bucket

[admin 0]

Ok, where shall we start?

Everything in the world requires money. This site has ONLY remained around for so long because of great people like Dames who has a heart and a pocket for all of the users on this site. The time is here again, as it was a few years ago when we asked for money to purchase needed improvements and software. Currently the forums, ran on Invision Board v1.3.1, is no longer supported or developed and as server side software increases, the forums will lose more and more features. We are trying to raise money to purchase a "Perpetual license" of the forum software which will give us a life long license to run these forums with the latest software version legally. From donations(Popicks' for the most part) we were able to purchase the article manager software which cost $300 several years ago, this is one of many costs we had. The server it self recently was upgraded and moved to a co-location facility, and we won't experience as many slowdowns or outages at all compared to the old server.

Now that I have written an essay of why we need money and hopefully for what, any type of donation will be helpful. The simple, TEXT only based advertisements on this site have raised a few dollars and we are still debating rather to keep them or not, which mainly depends on the money we can raise through other methods. We ONLY make money on the ads when they are clicked, rather than by page views.

We have setup a PayPal donation fund, at the following e-mail address:

[email protected]

DO NOT send money to ANY other address advertised or seen, as this is the only official one.

 

The current PayPal fees for accepting a payment on a business account is 2.9% of the donation plus an additional $0.30. The fee is assessed for each and every payment accepted. Here's a chart of what this means:

 

Donation Tax Table

($) --- Fee ---- ($)Net ---- ($) %Lost

1 ----- 0.33 ----- 0.67 ----- 33.00%

2 ----- 0.36 ----- 1.64 ----- 18.00%

3 ----- 0.39 ----- 2.61 ----- 10.10%

5 ----- 0.45 ----- 4.55 ----- 9.00%

10 ---- 0.59 ----- 9.41 ----- 5.90%

15 ---- 0.74 ---- 14.26 ---- 4.93%

20 ---- 0.88 ---- 19.12 ---- 4.40%

25 ---- 1.03 ---- 23.97 ---- 4.12%

50 ---- 1.75 ---- 48.25 ---- 3.50%

75 ---- 2.48 ---- 72.52 ---- 3.31%

100 --- 3.20 ---- 96.80 ---- 3.20%

 

 

This means that if the site were to receive 1000 five dollar donations ($5000 total donated) through PayPal, it would cost the site $450 in "PayPal Tax" fees. On the other hand, if the site were to receive 50 one-hundred dollar donations ($5000 total donated), it would only cost the site $160 in fees. 5000 one dollar donations would cost a whopping $1650!!

 

So please consider making a donation. We are working on maybe offering an auction on eBay of something more worth while and physical for money.

Also the new server has PLENTY of bandwidth and space, waiting to be leased out, if you have ANY type of LEGAL hosting needs, please let us know via E-Mail or PM on the forums.

Yes, Porn sites are legal, as long as the appropriate disclaimers and copyrights are abided by.

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Please keep unneeded comments out of this topic and place them into the general "Site Feedback" folder. Yes, the unnecessary post so far has been removed and future ones will be too. There is no need to ramble on about things in here.

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Question by: MrRant

Answer: The forums as of right now will remain IPB based because of their features. PHPBB has been considered strongly, but the conversion to any other forums will never copy over everything (function wise) from these forums.

Also, you can only go so far with "free" stuff.

 

Question by: alfdogg

Answer: The Donation Bucket is currently ONLY going towards purchasing a life time license. Currently the monthly server cost is being taken care of by Dames and my self at this point, as well as a few websites which we have hosted on the same server. Every cent collected will go towards the purchase of the new forums software which comes with support.

 

Question by: The Max

Answer: I personally NEVER want to see a POP-Up AD on this site on ANY page, I hate them and I know forum readers would hate them even more. I think being that forceful and using holes in Internet Explorer or other browsers to advertise is just as bad as these Spam Bots which browse websites finding e-mails and adding them to a spam list. It’s outrageous and while I am here the member’s privacy and site it self will never stoop that low. As for those sport ads, I will check into them, I would prefer to even stay away from picture ads, however if revenue from the Goooooogle Text based ads don't increase then they may be next, but that’s the end of the road in advertising.

BTW. Let me or someone know when you find you PayPal address

 

Question by: Stephen Joseph

Answer: From what I recall a few years ago, through asking donations, we raised about $400 which bought the article manager (For life) & the first month on the server. Yes, I beleive $300 of that was your generous donation.

 

Question by: Some Guy

Answer: There is no need to close it because some people may have legitimate questions. Other comments, just extend the length of this topic and make it multiple pages, which is unneeded if valid questions or comments are left.

Edited May 21, 2005 by admin

[MrRant 0]

You could probably easily switch boards. I belive SMF can import Invision data...

[admin 0]

We have looked at and considered many alternatives, however due to the size of the database and size of the forums, converting would take around 12-16 hours, even on our new Xeon server. Also, we need to stick to something which is broadly used, stable, and well supported. In the long run, purchasing this license will offer the users of the forums many options which are in the new version such as "Lo-Fi" and more.

[MrRant 0]

Both SMF and phpBB are very well supported. I'm sure people could take the board being down for half a day if you started at like 10PM PST or so on a Sunday night or something.

[alfdogg 0]

If we could get a board with the ignore feature, I'd donate money. Seriously.

[the max 0]

Once I can remember my paypal account info, I'll make a few donations.

 

 

I don't know how much this would help, but:

 

http://shop.nhl.com/affiliate/index.jsp

 

I'm sure that more popular sports (mlb, nfl) offer an affiliate program. And basically, you just slap up the banner and if people click from here and buy stuff from them, we get a cut of the sale.

[Stephen Joseph 0]

As we purchased the article manager software which cost $300 several years ago

What's this "We" Kemosabe?

Edited May 18, 2005 by Stephen Joseph

[admin 0]

What all places online do you guys purchase things from? Maybe I can sign up for an affiliate program with buy.com or amazon.com or whatever you all use for the most part to help generate money for this cause. So far I have not received one donation, and the Google ads still have not even hit $10 mark since the 5th.

[tominator89 0]

I'd probably be more willing to donate/contribute if things were a tad more reasonable here. Moderators can seemingly ban whoever they want for pleasure so I'm inclined to save my money for more democratic things in life. Sorry, just giving my honest opinion. I wouldn't be surprised if others felt this way as well.

[admin 0]

I understand your concern and after coming to these forums more often after the move since so far 100% of the costs have been out of my pockets, I am embarrassed to see things run this way. Others please feel free to add your complaints, as this section is the "Site Feedback". I have received numerous e-mails, PM's and a few IM's about the poor moderating decisions, please feel free to elaborate here, so the Mods themselves can see as well as I.

 

Thanks for your opinion,

 

Mike - TSM Server Admin

[MrRant 0]

Oooooh... they in trouble now.

[admin 0]

Here are some ideas for a new addition to the forum.

 

A blogging system.

 

http://www.invisionblog.com/

 

Every member would be allowed their own blog and so on, features are in the website above as well as pictures.

 

 

New Forum Features would include the following:

 

http://www.invisionboard.com/?features

[Guest]

How much money do you need?

[Carnival 0]

If i didn't think i would get banned for simply disagreeing with certain mods, I would donate some money.

 

The warning system sounds good.

 

edit: blogging system doesn't sound worth the money.

[admin 0]

The Perpetual license as of right now will cost $185, I am working on getting this down some because I use to know the creator and Financial guy @ IPB.

The blogging system is $50 & $20 per year after that I think, however the only reason to pay yearly is for updates.

 

The Perpetual license is the first thing which will be bought with this money.

[DrVenkman PhD 0]

Consider the funds $2.50 (Canadian, as per left-over money in my PayPal account) richer, good sirs.

[Mik 0]

I just donated $5.

 

Word.

[admin 0]

So far thanks for the donations!

Once the new forums are in place, we will have a page dedicated to our donors and contributors.

If you would like to remain an anonymous donor you can, if not everyone who donates over $5 will have their name on the page. For now it will be everyone who donates will be listed on the page and it will be broken into sections depending on your donation amounts.

 

 

Again, thanks to everyone who has made a donation and hopefully very soon we will see some major changes happening here. After the forum upgrade the Member Blogs will be added next.

[Tawren 0]

Admin, I donated $10 but it'll take a few days to clear because I'm from Canada and non-verified. I hate that.

 

The End.

[The Czech Republic 0]

So far thanks for the donations!

Once the new forums are in place, we will have a page dedicated to our donors and contributors.

If you would like to remain an anonymous donor you can, if not everyone who donates over $5 will have their name on the page. For now it will be everyone who donates will be listed on the page and it will be broken into sections depending on your donation amounts.

 

 

Again, thanks to everyone who has made a donation and hopefully very soon we will see some major changes happening here. After the forum upgrade the Member Blogs will be added next.

It'll be like those walls with the plaques at performing arts centers and YMCAs!

 

 

Also, if we have a blogging system, what happens to HD? We all consider that folder, our webistes.

[TheBostonStrangler 0]

I'll donate $5. Least I can do.

[DrVenkman PhD 0]

Sent another 3.50 Canadian to put me up to $6 Canadian (no skin off my back, I enjoy this forum for the most part, and part of that was money I had lying in PayPal from when I had to pay $2.50 to verify my account 5 months ago). That will also take care of that pesky .50 in the total.

[tpww7 0]

Donated $10.

[admin 0]

So far, as you can see the numbers are rolling quite nicely from at this point 9 separate contributors.

I hope by maybe next week at the latest we will be using the new software on the forums and have things working a bit smoother.

 

Thanks again!

[Nevermortal 0]

Yay for panhandling!

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

I think its funny that I spend $50 a year for TotalFark and I end up spending more time here than I do there.

 

I'll donate some money sometime soon.

 

Personally I dont see the sense in spending the money for member blogs when most people who do blogs already do them elsewhere.

[admin 0]

It’s not just for member Blogs. There is ALOT of new features & bugs which this will get us as well as life long upgrades.

One feature I think many will like is the blocking feature. You simply click a button to block a particular poster

 

If only friends and family were like a light switch too!

[Guest Robot Bastard]

$5 sent

[Carnival 0]

$20 coming your way.

 

I don't like this ignore feature....i have a feeling it will used against me quite often.

[DrVenkman PhD 0]

Edit: doing it differently