Will you be able to afford 'flat-rate DU'?

[Occulus]

So, I guess DU3 will be $42 a year, or $18 more than that if you pay monthly for twelve months. Call us the Netflix of politics!

That said, how about it? Is this something you will be able to afford?

[sunwyn]

1. I keep getting an error when I vote...but I can't pay. I've been unemployed

4+ years.

[nc4bo]

2. Other. I can predictably afford what I pay now which sometime in the near future

will be completely and utterly meaningless and, I predict, I will have to spend some of my time stating that I am not a troll because I didn't purchase enough "rights" to post in opposition of something and not sufficiently dedicated to DU.

Same tendency as is done to those with less than a certain number of posts.

[Enrique]

3. DU3 will be free, actually n/t

[Occulus]

15. The ad-supported version, yes.

This poll is about seeing DU3 without the ads.

[backscatter712]

18. If all else fails, I can deal with a few ads.

I click on the ones from right-wing groups - it costs them money, it results in revenue for DU, everyone wins except the right-wingers who advertise here.

[aquart]

4. How many will donate $42 stars?

So that practice is over.

[Arkansas Granny]

7. You might be surprised. DUers are known for being generous, for the most part.

Those who donated stars in the past will probably continue to do so.

[aquart]

16. How nice of the rich to give to the poor.

Because that's no small amount of money. Unless, to you, it is.

[Wait Wut]

20. I can think of two that I will donate to, if things improve for me.

I know both are having rough times, they never complain about their personal lives or use themselves as examples of how tough it is for the unemployed. I'd miss them like hell if they left. So...yeah. Even some of us non-rich folk will probably pony-up a donation or two.

[Fumesucker]

5. You don't have an option for "Fuck No!"..n/t

[snooper2]

6. Where's the Option where "I can afford to pay it but like to see the ads?"

[Wait Wut]

22. You can find "those" ads....

...on other sites. Just watch out for viruses. ;)

[FarCenter]

8. I enjoy the Herman Cain ads, and thank him for his support of DU

[Paper Roses]

9. Without DU, I would be very ignorant of world affairs.

For financial reasons, I dropped my daily newspaper and I can't stand any television news. Since I have basic cable, I receive only the big 3 networks. I cannot afford the upper tier packages.
I appreciate the work of Skinner and the others who make this site possible, as I'm sure we all do.

Every quarter I have scraped up ten dollars for a donation. There are times when even that amount hurt but in the long run, I feel paying $42.00 will be better for me. Get it over at once and save 3 PayPal charges and a weeks worth of 'if you cannot donate or have already done so, click here'.

There are times when I have bought stars for others, have given hearts and bought stickies. It was just a small way to help. I have also be given hearts by others. Great fum with the hearts.

I will no longer be able to do that and feel badly about it. I'm sure this issue will resolve itself
but in the meanwhile, Thanks to DU and all my friends here.



.

[rocktivity]

10. What part of "NOBODY has to pay" do you not understand?

...AS ALWAYS, those who choose not to purchase a star will still be able to post and participate free of charge.

That's the way it's been, and apparently that's the way it will continue. So let's not turn this into the next big scandal!

Those who can't pay will continue to get stuck with extra ads -- that's "punishment" enough. But if everyone's going to continue to have equal access, maybe the solution is to get rid of the stars and stop designating who pays and who doesn't.

:headbang:
rocktivity

[aquart]

19. Okay. No one is discussing not being able to post.

We are discussing something else.

[SidDithers]

11. Will everyone still be able to post and read at the "flat-rate DU"?...nt

Sid

[Newest Reality]

12. It seems like there may be some

sort of cultural overflow here, judging by the often sensationalistic reactions.

Maybe we are seeing a reflection of the economic gestalt. Is this misunderstanding about pay versus free or an echo of the times?

I have not been able to donate here, but have had a free star in the past, which I really appreciated.

[d_r]

13. I'm glad that there's a free option

I've donated before and I'd like to now but I'm on a pay day loan right now. I hope the drive lasts long enough for me to get some scratch together.

[Marrah_G]

14. I'm on a tight budget so I'll have to do the 5 buck a month thing

It's kinda fucked up that the people most able to afford it get to pay 42 bucks instead of 60 bucks. If my hours get cut anymore, I will just deal with the ads and stuff.

[L0oniX]

17. Ad Blocker is your friend.

[randome]

21. There IS no flat-rate DU.

That's a ridiculous assertion since DU is FREE and you can choose to contribute if you want.

[Javaman]

23. I guess you didn't read the post by Skinner, yes? nt

[randome]

24. Is there a new post?

Is DU no longer free? Guess I missed that one in the 15-20 threads started on this subject.

[Javaman]

27. It's concerning DU3. Not the current situation. nt

[Occulus]

26. IF YOU DON'T WANT ADS

IF YOU DON'T WANT ADS
IF YOU DON'T WANT ADS

Jesus. Jesus Christ.

[randome]

28. The poll question says nothing about that.

The words 'don't want ads' do not appear.

What's the big deal about ignoring adds, anyways?

[Occulus]

29. Well, for one thing, since it's that way NOW, I didn't think I needed to specify that

There are a couple reasons, practical ones, some people may not want to see ads on DU. One I can think of and often experience myself is that many ads are flash-based, and sometimes those damned things lock up the page load, particularly if the ads provider's site is having issues.

Another good reason is that some of us don't want to see right-wing ads on this site, even though it costs those wingers money. I think that's a perfectly reasonable position to take.

The part that truly irks me- and the only part I really have a problem with- is the price difference between a yearly subscription and a monthly one. I know other sites do the same thing; I just don't think it's particularly appropriate on this site.

[michreject]

25. I can't even afford to extend the one I have.

I've been looking for a job for 2 years.

A messy divorce wiped me out. You know the tune, "She got the gold mine, I got the shaft?"

[AntiFascist]

30. Whatever happened to austerity?

Oh, I get it.

[Divine Discontent]

31. certainly is a different approach than the fund drive.

Get it now, or one of a million other designs! http://www.zazzle.com/republicans_2012_keeping_millions_out_of_work_bumper_sticker-128659602907896843?rf=238107662556833486

[Atman]

32. The proposed fee structure is not the "Netflix of politics." No similarities.

This type of fee structure is very common. I have had Cafe Press and SiriusXM accounts for years. Both of them have always done it this way; pay one rate monthly, a cheaper rate quarterly, and and even cheaper rate annually. My domain name registrar charges one rate for an annual renewal, and a much cheaper rate if I prepay for several years, It's called business. It helps offset the merchant fees for processing payments, provides an incentive for users to lock in memberships for longer terms (this is good when approaching investors and/or advertisers), and it helps manage cash flow. Stop getting hysterical over otherwise standard practices,

[Occulus]

35. Hulu would be a better comparison

That was unimportant snark anyway.

What I do have a problem with is the difference between the yearly and monthly price. I don't think it's appropriate. It may be common practice elsewhere, but for this site, I just don't think it's in keeping with our purpose.

[Codeine]

33. Wait. Netflix is free?!

Who knew I could use Netflix for free with a few ads?

[Occulus]

34. Consider your nit picked

Actually, Netflix is more "fair" than DU's proposed pricing structure because it costs the same monthly as it does for a whole year.

I suppose the difference between Hulu and Hulu Plus would be a better comparison, but it's too late to edit the OP and it was unimportant snark anyway. Oh well.

The difference between the yearly and monthly pricing here does bother me, though, because it does smack of making people who can't scrape together the yearly price pay extra when they can pay. Personally, I can pay for and will purchase a year of ad-free DU, just as I do now, but I sympathize with the other group I'm talking about, having been there myself and possibly facing joblessness in the near future.