Question re DU groups

[Christa]

Can anyone tell me why only donors are allowed to post in the DU groups forums?

[wryter2000]

1. It's a reward for membership

Same thing with the search function. You don't have to pay much to join, and during fundraisers, lots of DUers sponsor folks who don't have the extra money to join. So, it's never a financial burden to get a star.

[Christa]

2. I have a website

where anyone can join and post, not donation necessary.

I am sure DU makes enough from the Ads?

[Ohio Joe]

3. Well, one of the other rewards is...

You do not have to see the ads :)

[wryter2000]

5. Anyone can join and post

They just can't participate in groups.

[Orsino]

14. Providing and administering the many useful and fun DU groups...

...takes money and resources, and DU handles a lot of traffic. You'll note that DU depends heavily on volunteer moderators; the owners are not exactly rolling in dough.

DU makes "enough" to get by from ad revenues, member donations, and the regular fundraising drives to make up shortfalls. It seems entirely reasonable to me that members who take advantage of more functionality on the site are those who pay for the privilege...or who are welcomed aboard with a proxy donation. Congratulations!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. Have a look by your username...

Welcome aboard!

:hi:

[wryter2000]

6. Good for you Peggy

:applause: That's DU generosity.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. My dear wryter2000!

Aw, thanks! This is something I can afford to do, and I love doing it...

I really like sharing what I have so others can have some fun too...

:hi:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

8. That was so nice of you, C-Peggy.

This just goes to prove that the members are what make DU so special. :)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

11. My dear Lone_Star_Dem!

Thanks, sweetie...

I know what it means to have someone help you...I really enjoy being able to do this!

This IS a special place, and I enjoy helping others get the most out of it...

:hi:

[Christa]

13. Oh Peggy - I am so touched now

:cry: :pals:

It is the sweetest thing :grouphug: :yourock: :loveya:

Thank you so much!!

Hey peeps! I have a golden star :woohoo: :applause:

[wryter2000]

22. That's a very pretty star, indeed n/t

:bounce:

[City Lights]

24. You wear it well!

:bounce:

Congrats!

CaliforniaPeggy (:yourock:) is one of our finest!

[backtoblue]

19. You are an angel Cal Peg!!!!!

Someone did that for me, too and it meant so much that someone actually cared enough to donate for ME!!! You are such a good person and I'm glad you're on "our" side!!!!!!! :hug:

[wryter2000]

7. Peggy's donated for you

You have a star. You can join the groups now.

[plcdude]

10. My dear Peggy

once again you have shown the true heart and "star" quality of DU'ers. Welcome Christa and enjoy.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. My dear plcdude...

Aw...you are too kind!

It makes me happy to be able to help my fellow DUers...

Thank you!

:hi:

[dogsmycopilot]

15. Can anyone tell me why only donors are allowed to post in the DU groups forums?

As a new member I would very much like to look around get a feel for things before committing with money. I mean it's a free country, I'm not saying you can't charge. I am saying it discourages me from committing because I have no idea how much it would take and what I get for that. A donation is not the same as membership fee. A donation is something I give like to Obama's campaign because I feel good about supporting that. That's not what is really being asked for here. What's being asked for here is more like a membership fee and should be stated up front like any other. I had no questions when I joined Netflicks for example, or Barnes and Noble. They state x number of dollars in return for x privileges. I am going to hang around and give it a go here, but the sneakiness does not make a good impression, I assure you. I am happy to donate to forums I love and have offered before to forums I am a member of, it's the way it's done here that is off-putting. I also notice there are less postings, less often in those areas that require that donation. Which brings me to another point. Posters are not customers, they are contributors. DU wouldn't be what it is without the people, in a way each person who takes the time to write on a forum is contributing to it. That should not be taken for granted.

[merh]

16. You can donate what you can afford and get a gold star.

The star has perks. You don't see the ads, you get to run searches and you can participate in the groups. (And I think you still get a bumpersticker, not sure though.)

Edit: Welcome to DU. :hi:

[dogsmycopilot]

17. Thank you for the Welcome

Thank you for the Welcome. :toast:
Like I say, I don't mind the actual giving up of money for something I enjoy, and if I see I like it here I will donate. I believe in putting your money where your mouth is, so to speak. I don't think it's done in the best manner here though. Consider my thoughts a suggestion, or a comment. Doesn't mean you have to change the way it's done, but just think about being more honest about it. It's a membership fee. (Donations are tax deductible.) Call it what it is.

[merh]

18. It is a gift, a contribution.

Not all donations are tax deductible.

If you have issues with the place don't give anything and don't stick around.

If you have suggestions about the place, send an email to the admins.

[Strong Atheist]

20. Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[wryter2000]

21. You can get a very good feel for DU without donating

You can read all the forums without donating.

The groups are more for personal interests than political discussions. My favorite is Cooking and Baking, but there are things from Weight Loss, Dealing with Loss, Do It Yourself, to Writers' Group, Classic Movies, Atheists/Agnostics and Liberal Faith groups of different denominations.

If you donate, you can use the search function, which is extremely helpful. Plus, you can turn off the ads. I wasn't able to find the answer, but I believe you can donate as little as $10. It's really not much of an investment, and if you want, you get a DU bumper sticker. It's definitely worth the money.

And let me add my welcome to DU. :hi:

[dogsmycopilot]

23. Thank you again

Thank you too for the Welcome, wryter2000! You too Strong Atheist! Thanks!

I am reading around, because I have friends that have been here for quite sometime and seem to have enjoyed it. If I stay I absolutely will contribute. As I said I understand the costs, I have offered to donate on the other forum I am on and they just haven't quite gotten to that point yet, apparently.

As for merh's comment:
If you have issues with the place don't give anything and don't stick around.

If you have suggestions about the place, send an email to the admins.

Well, that's true. But I was just responding to an already posted thread. I apparently can't use the PM thing yet, as I have not donated. So snarky comments aside, it was just the suggestion I said it was. I can leave over a slight issue, by why not give it a shot to see if I like the place in spite of the rule I commented upon. Do you think that only people who are in absolute 100% agreement with all rules have anything to contribute? Does one have to have only nice things to say to contribute?

[City Lights]

25. You don't have enough posts to use the PM feature.

It has nothing to do with donating.

You may contact skinner using this address: [e-mail]

:hi: Welcome to DU, BTW.

[Quantess]

26. To answer your question,

Do you think that only people who are in absolute 100% agreement with all rules have anything to contribute?

Literally, yes, people who follow DU's rules are the only ones who are allowed to continue have anything to contribute! You may be surprised at the huge number of trolls and disruptors who join DU and are banned all the time. People come and go all the time, and this is to be expected for a political message board. I hope you stick around.

You don't have to donate, but if you visit DU often it really helps to use some of the benefits of donating, such as being able to search, having a buddy list, not seeing all the ads, etc.

[dogsmycopilot]

27. Underestimation

Perhaps I do indeed underestimate the number of trolls, Quantess.
As I said though, it's not a terribly strong disagreement. I just saw the thread and figured I'd throw my .02 in as a newbie. I hope to stick around. I must admit the size of the place is intimidating. There seem to be some interesting groups, though.