Reading the new funding changes for DU

[fadedrose]

Makes me wonder, has DU been taken over by the DLC and its favorite candidates?

Most progressives, or at least a lot of them, can't afford the new contributions, and they will have lost a key place to express their views...

Gee I hope not. Makes me feel so sad . . .

[virgogal]

1. The way I read it is that you can still participate even w/o paying.

[boston bean]

2. you won't have the same viewing pleasure, unless you can pay.

I am wondering if people will still be able to donate to others?

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. The way I read it, some forums are not open unless you pay?

The ads are no problem, with Ad Block.
tho I click on them in bursts, to help fund the site also.

[gkhouston]

21. That's true now, apparently won't be in DU3.

The only differences I'm seeing are the ability to block ads (without using Ad Block) and the ability to use the search function.

[Turbineguy]

3. Righthaven is paying up?

A giant ad contract with Rush Limbaugh? Hannity? Or? Oh... wait.... don't tell me.... you guys hacked into the Koch Brothers' mattress!

[SidDithers]

4. Perhaps you can start your own free discussion board...nt

Sid

[boston bean]

5. I'll use a line similar to one Elizabeth Warren uses. DU/Skinner/Elad etc

did not make DU all by themselves. The members here have had a mighty hand in its success. In fact, it wouldn't exist without members.

[fadedrose]

Without as many progressives, it won't be as good a board

What's to argue about. One opinion.... Sounds boring...

We all know that "progressives" is a euphemism for those low and middle income people who put sparks in the posts.

[MineralMan]

24. Yes. Both donating and non-donating members have contributed

to the success of DU. I have no doubt that will continue. Not donating does not mean not participating, Ms. Bean. I have to say that I don't look to see if the poster has a star to determine the value of a post. I read the post. I can't see where those who donate will be unable to post. Perhaps I've missed something?

Whether you donate or not will not determine how much you contribute to DU by posting and discussing.

[boston bean]

25. Mr. Man, not donating does limit some of the use of DU.

Prior it was what you could afford, or maybe a donated star to have full functionality.

Now, not so much. It is a set fee. It is more money for those who can't afford $42 upfront, and it also makes it much more financially difficult to buy someone that same access.

[MineralMan]

27. I'm aware of the additional access for donors.

Here's what I think. If you are a valuable contributor to DU in terms of content, someone will donate a star for you. I know of several DUers who donate stars all the time, based on merit. Some of those donors are very generous, indeed. If what you seek is a place where you can make your case by posting and discussing, DU will continue to be that place. I think that very few people look to see if a poster has a star when considering what was posted.

Those who donate will continue to help DU stay active with their donations. Those who cannot donate money will continue to contribute with their posts. Both are valuable. Both are DUers. Access will actually increase with DU3, since Groups will not be closed to non-donor posters any longer. What difference that will make is hard to predict, since most of the groups are pretty slim in content now.

The additional features available for donors have nothing to do with the ability to make your case in posts here. Everyone has that ability, and will continue to have that ability.

[boston bean]

28. What are the other bells and whistle of the new DU that won't be available to non "donors"??

Do you know. If not, then you can't really speak with any authority on the subject.

Fact is, there will be a difference. It separates people, and it makes it less likely for others to be able to buy others a "subscription" for a year.

This is a huge change.

And you don't have any idea of what my financial situation is or if someone donated a star to me or if I bought it myself and donated for others.

See how it works, all those assumptions. You make judgments based on my postings and you really don't have a clue. and it's really insulting.

It was better when people could easily afford to buy stars for others. Now due to the cost, it is prohibitive. You must be able to at least admit that.

[MineralMan]

30. They have not been announced, so I do not know.

I do know that groups will no longer be closed to non-donors, though, since Skinner has said so several times. That will be an improvement in access for non-donors. Finally, when I use "you" in my sentence about donated stars, I was speaking generally. Those who contribute to DU with well-reasoned content get donations if they don't have stars. I have no idea what your financial situation is, and don't really care. I pay no attention to people's donor status when I read their posts. It's irrelevant.

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[fadedrose]

7. I don't want it free . . .

I have another post somewhere around here - I like the quarterly method best where they were happy with $10/month...

With so many posters, that ain' hay either.

What it seems to do is put too much stress on those of us who can barely afford the $44.00 (a buck for handling), paid either monthly or one payment.

[sarcasmo]

10. If they want a monthly payment I will be gone.

[fadedrose]

12. I'll meetcha at the corner...nt

[lbrtbell]

40. Perhaps you can donate for the people who can't afford to

Put your money where your mouth is, and you might be taken more seriously.

[A HERETIC I AM]

6. Hmmmmmm....

Progressive = broke.


Got it.

[Fumesucker]

16. More like..

broke = progressive

broke + no job = time to post on DU

[NYC_SKP]

8. You don't need to donate to be able to participate on DU, you can post and read...

...for absolutely free.

[SidDithers]

31. An important fact that is being sadly ignored in all this...nt

Sid

[midnight]

9. This does seem to come at the worst possible time... Lot's of unemployed and underemployed

living on tight incomes. Makes me feel sad too...

[sarcasmo]

11. Corporate D/U has arrived.

[Fumesucker]

14. I remember when Salon's Table Talk went to full pay..

They lost about 90% of their best posters.

[sarcasmo]

15. That is what will happen here, my guess will be 70%.

[Fumesucker]

17. I've been posting on other boards right along..

I prefer the format here but I don't even have a bank card or Paypal, no way to pay for a membership even if I could afford it.

I'll just have to move elsewhere full time instead of just occasionally as I do now.

Maybe I'll go give FDL a whirl, I haven't tried that one yet.

[fadedrose]

20. I have never posted on another Dem board...

Can you share whatever Dem sites you know?

[Fumesucker]

22. PM sent..

[grasswire]

23. yep

I left salon then, along with many many people.

[Tx4obama]

18. It was bad enough knowing that DU was changing it's format and now ....

knowing that folks that can't afford $45/60 a year won't be able to get a star makes it even worse.

As the old saying goes: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[sarcasmo]

19. Running D/U just like a bank, screwing the poor one buck at a time.

[Codeine]

37. Oh Jesus Friggin' Christ.

DU is being lumped with banksters and corporate criminals now?

Get a grip, folks.

[fadedrose]

26. Can this be something

akin to revenge. Maybe the DLC is mad at some of us for our many criticisms and since they have the big bucks, they are doing something about it. The more you pay, the more privileges you get. The less you pay, the more popups you get.

Maybe I'm wrong. Not always right, so I wouldn't be surprised. It's not logical that a democratic (small d) site would favor the wealthy.

[SidDithers]

29. I fail to see how not being a donor will affect your ability to read and post at DU3...

Plenty of non-donors manage just fine at DU2, and DU3 will have even more features for non-donors.

Sid

[MineralMan]

32. It won't, of course. That's not really what this discussion is

about, I think. It's more of a philosophical issue than a real one. It's interesting to see what people are writing, to be sure.

[Wait Wut]

34. I'll stay.

Depending on what my financial situation is, I'll even pay the fee. If it improves to where it was last fall, I'll give someone else a hand. It's cheaper than buying a new computer. I can't access my favorite sites at work. Hell...I'm not even confident I'll be able to access DU3.

I don't complain about paying people for their work.

[Desertrose]

35. Progressives have been "disappearing" on this board for years...

I agree...it is sad.

This seems an easy way of getting rid of the people who can't afford the extra goodies.

A far cry from the humble beginnings of this place back in Jan '01. SO many good progressive people gone...some by choice but just as many not by their choice.


Looks like just another way to make DU fit into a specific box.

[Codeine]

38. Yeah, I'm sure that's PRECISELY what Skinner wants.

He's just figuring out how to purge his board of progressives by allowing them free access to read and post and extending free access to parts of DU previously limited by a paywall.

Good grief.

[Desertrose]

39. If you really believe that, you haven't been paying attention.

Good grief yourself.

[Codeine]

36. Most progressives?

Let us not assume all progressives are unemployed and in penury.