I'm not sure if it helps or hinders your point, but playing the devil's advocate: both Boston Commons and the town square have a revenue model. They both require revenue to sustain themselves (keep the grounds clean, sponsor and host events, etc), and typically collect that revenue not from ads, but through local or state taxes.
I'd assume the folks responsible for managing those public spaces are pretty keenly aware of their value, and what's required to keep them from being turned into parking lots. Perhaps there should be room for "public spaces for the greater good" on the Internet, which rise above the need for ad-based or other revenue. Until that's available, though, the revenue-potential of a site goes directly to the heart of its value, today. If a company can't find a way to stay in business, without any other external support (charity, donations), why should any but the most innovative folks invest the time to build a community there, when the site could disappear in six months? - Bryan Christine said: What if the whole idea of a "revenue model" is the wrong question? Coming in from left field here, but does anyone ask, "What is the revenue model of the Boston Commons? The town square?" [snip] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=33019 ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
