Another way of saying it - Nothing is impossible for the person who does NOT have to do it. Jared Still wrote: > Hmm, lemme try again. > > -------- > > S*u*b*s*c*r*i*p*t*i*o*n service is definitely not an option. > > Neither Bruce or I can manage something like that. > > Jared > > On Wednesday 29 August 2001 12:35, Jacques Kilchoer wrote: > > -----Original Message----- > > > > >Alex, that is an excellent idea! I second that notion. > > > > "doh.state.fl.us"? Does that University count Homere Simpson amongst its > > proud alumni? > > > > > > Please excuse the long e-mail, but since the suggestion has been made to > > make this a "subscription" list, I will share some of the issues that I am > > grappling with (along with others) as part of a volunteer moderator at an > > internet message board, where we are currently debating a fee-based message > > board instead of free membership. > > > > My personal opinion (though of course this would be Mr. Still and Mr. > > Bergman's decision) is that having a "subscription" list would be very hard > > to manage. If someone who has provided valuable responses (e.g. a Steve > > Adams) doesn't pay his fee, do you immediately unsubscribe him from the > > list? Do you prevent him from posting an answer? What's the grace period > > for non-payment of fees? Would there be a trial period, or would you have > > to pay before you can even see what the list is like? Paying before you can > > see the content would diminish new membership, and new membership is > > essential to the survival of a list such as this one. If you have a free > > introductory period, I could sign up with a different "free" e-mail (e.g. > > hotmail) every month and never pay. Only the "honest" people would pay, > > which would end up being the same as asking for voluntary donations. > > Another issue - how many people would go try out another "free" list? > > Charging a fee may mean the demise of this list. I think that the list is > > worth a modest fee, but what percentage of the membership will think so? > > What if a person has paid for membership, but is posting messages > > disruptive to the list (e.g. spam or insults.) Do you refund their fee when > > you remove them from the list? Do they have more rights as a "paying > > customer"? How about the archives? Would you have to pay to see them? What > > about people that always ask questions, but never answer any? Would they be > > charged more? Would some of our "experts" become resentful since they are > > paying Mr. Bergman and giving out more information than they are receiving? > > I can very well imagine a person thinking "why should I give out free > > answers when Mr. Bergman 'profits' from my expertise?" (Of course I realize > > that there is very little, if any, 'profit' involved, but some people may > > not be convinced of that.) > > > > These are all difficult questions that would be faced by the person > > maintaining the list. Without charging enough to make the list profitable, > > it might not be worth the headache. > > ---------------------------------------- > Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1"; name="Attachment: 1" > Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable > Content-Description: > ---------------------------------------- > ----- end returned message ----- > > ------------------------------------------------------- > -- > Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com > -- > Author: Jared Still > INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 > San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message > to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in > the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L > (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may > also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing). -- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com -- Author: Charlie Mengler INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists -------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).
