Bosun Higgs
N/A
No I wouldn't pay. But I do wish they would make a charge for the forum - it would give me back at least half a day per week!
Would you pay for access to this site?
- Thread starter photodog
- Start date
mcframe
Well-Known Member
Remember Usenet?
I'd go back to uk.rec.sailing.....
20 quid a year to get the archives might be interesting.
(PBO subscriber)
I'd go back to uk.rec.sailing.....
20 quid a year to get the archives might be interesting.
(PBO subscriber)
GazzaUK
Well-Known Member
No way, never, not under any circumstance.
Blueboatman
Well-Known Member
No but yes
I am with the cheapskates. No.
Seriously, it is not the fiver or what-have-you, but as rightly flagged up, the spontaneity and quick incisive advice..With payment might also have to come forms of censorship???
Some fora have dire, really catatonic, negligeable levels of activity or value.
But I would spring say £40 for a years look at ALL the back copy, reviews etc.
It gets expensive buying individual reviews when thinking about buying a s/h boat
I am with the cheapskates. No.
Seriously, it is not the fiver or what-have-you, but as rightly flagged up, the spontaneity and quick incisive advice..With payment might also have to come forms of censorship???
Some fora have dire, really catatonic, negligeable levels of activity or value.
But I would spring say £40 for a years look at ALL the back copy, reviews etc.
It gets expensive buying individual reviews when thinking about buying a s/h boat
Last edited:
Cerddinen
Well-Known Member
No. I would miss the forum more than the magazine but would expect the same people to relocate to a new free forum which would appear somewhere else. The expectation on the internet is free access for the user and this site cannot go against that (nor can News International in my opinion).
robp
Well-Known Member
No as polled. But I can see some mileage in publishers supplying an E-Reader on contract, much like mobile phone providers do provide phones. Say £25 per month with for example five titles and wireless access at hotspots, with ability to download issues. Plus perhaps individually payable paperbacks.
Maybe it's already done somewhere? I only just discovered them.
Maybe it's already done somewhere? I only just discovered them.
antcollins
Active Member
Charging? For this.....
Yes in principle but the devil is in the detail.
All content from the boaty range, but I would want some filter/features so that I can select the type of articles I am interested in (e.g: cruising areas, equipment, yacht size, etc) and that way it would become a sailing mag specific to my interests. If the rumoured Apple tablet comes out at the end of this month then I would want a reader for that platform with auto downloading, then the audio versions of the YM content would be easier accessed with links to the text article.
I'm coming round to it after my initial grrrrrrrrr, but I totally agree with the free access to forums for all of the reasons given.
Yes in principle but the devil is in the detail.
All content from the boaty range, but I would want some filter/features so that I can select the type of articles I am interested in (e.g: cruising areas, equipment, yacht size, etc) and that way it would become a sailing mag specific to my interests. If the rumoured Apple tablet comes out at the end of this month then I would want a reader for that platform with auto downloading, then the audio versions of the YM content would be easier accessed with links to the text article.
I'm coming round to it after my initial grrrrrrrrr, but I totally agree with the free access to forums for all of the reasons given.
antcollins
Active Member
Steady on, old boy!
Blimey, that's outrageous! Of course it's worth something that is why people are here, but, it's the collective (free) views and time given over by the forum users, not the grubby technology that makes it valuable. YBW cannot claim they own the views or knowledge of those here and so cannot charge for its. This is a 'collective common' that has intrinsic value. Without the collective it has no value whatsoever.
I do have sympathy for the subscription content if I get something more than I get from just buying a couple of the mags though.
Blimey, that's outrageous! Of course it's worth something that is why people are here, but, it's the collective (free) views and time given over by the forum users, not the grubby technology that makes it valuable. YBW cannot claim they own the views or knowledge of those here and so cannot charge for its. This is a 'collective common' that has intrinsic value. Without the collective it has no value whatsoever.
I do have sympathy for the subscription content if I get something more than I get from just buying a couple of the mags though.
prv
Well-Known Member
I used to read that a few years ago; it was fairly busy. I went away for a while. Then when the idea that became Kindred Spirit started to emerge, I went back, and found a moribund group with half a dozen posters and maybe one or two posts a day. Sad.
I do still check in since I'm reading other Usenet groups anyway.
Pete
Squeaky
Well-Known Member
Good evening:
I voted "no" because if I am paying for something I want to be able to hold it in my hand and read anyplace. Additionally it is the quick interchange of information and advice I appreciate. I think a Google search would provide most of the "how to" advice if needed.
If this site lost a large number of participates it would die - it is the large number of members that makes it useful and reliable as any B...L S....T replies/advice is quickly shot down and corrected by the knowledgeable membership.
There have been several comments about the cost of running this forum. I would be happy to create and run another forum to replace this if they decide to make it a paying site.
What would it cost - £10 for the domain name, £24 a year for the server and a bit of time as most of this site is automatic - when one clicks on "submit reply" for example it happens without any human intervention.
The basic platform/program can be downloaded for nothing and needs only a bit of fiddling to get set up.
Cheers
Squeaky
I voted "no" because if I am paying for something I want to be able to hold it in my hand and read anyplace. Additionally it is the quick interchange of information and advice I appreciate. I think a Google search would provide most of the "how to" advice if needed.
If this site lost a large number of participates it would die - it is the large number of members that makes it useful and reliable as any B...L S....T replies/advice is quickly shot down and corrected by the knowledgeable membership.
There have been several comments about the cost of running this forum. I would be happy to create and run another forum to replace this if they decide to make it a paying site.
What would it cost - £10 for the domain name, £24 a year for the server and a bit of time as most of this site is automatic - when one clicks on "submit reply" for example it happens without any human intervention.
The basic platform/program can be downloaded for nothing and needs only a bit of fiddling to get set up.
Cheers
Squeaky
photodog
Lord High Commander of Upper Broughton and Gunthor
Just to make it clear..... I know of no plan by IPC to make any charge for this facility.
It hasnt been hinted to me...nor have I found out any inside information.
I am simply intersted as to how much value people place on the facility.
It hasnt been hinted to me...nor have I found out any inside information.
I am simply intersted as to how much value people place on the facility.
Ubergeekian
Well-Known Member
It's worth my time.
If the forums were paid for, how much would IPC pay those who generate the content for them? You know, the content to read which those who have not accidentally installed AdBlock Plus read the adverts from which IPC make money.
jetwake
Well-Known Member
I voted NO because these forums are part of the free speech of the world.
I WOULD subscribe to the mag IF they put the e-version on line for me AS WELL. I enjoy the physical paper version, but having the e-version would sometimes be a boon, if I could read it on my iphone. As it stands, I buy most months but not every (and have for years) but I would not subscribe as the one off up front payment is too high to swallow.
I also, like others hereon, get a tad fed up when all the usual mags run the same, or sometimes very very similar, articles in a given month. I know they are in it for the money, and who can blame them, its their business, but it does get my goat, limit what I spend, and make the chances of a YES vote in the poll most unlikely.
D
I WOULD subscribe to the mag IF they put the e-version on line for me AS WELL. I enjoy the physical paper version, but having the e-version would sometimes be a boon, if I could read it on my iphone. As it stands, I buy most months but not every (and have for years) but I would not subscribe as the one off up front payment is too high to swallow.
I also, like others hereon, get a tad fed up when all the usual mags run the same, or sometimes very very similar, articles in a given month. I know they are in it for the money, and who can blame them, its their business, but it does get my goat, limit what I spend, and make the chances of a YES vote in the poll most unlikely.
D
webcraft
Well-Known Member
There are already plenty of other sailing fora running - it is the number and quality of posters on here that make it what it is, but they would soon migrate elsewhere if IPC started charging. They won't though - especially after reading this thread
- W
Jack @ Bosun's Locker
Member
Quick answer.... HECK NO!
Monetising this forum by applying old fashioned print media models would ensure that it died a death. In the parlance of our times it would be an EPIC fail or *facepalm*.
The forum community isn't a taxable commodity and it's only able to be the vibrant melting pot of clashing opinions, expertise and knowledge that it is because it's free.
Though I would never expect to see it happen, ICP Media, in a just and fair parallel universe, WOULD pay top forum contributors. Ahh, the problems and dilemma's of UGC.
And as for £20/month OR MORE... pull the other one sweetheart, it's got bells on.
£20/month can buy you a heck of a lot. £20 Per Annum, for access to the entire back catalogue... Maybe. Just as long as a Pay-per-Article service was available as well.
And EVERYTHING would have to be PayPal led - no other online payment method is as easy or as widely adopted.
Sorry about the rant, the topic just managed to really push my buttons. Hope the entire exercise was a hypothetical one, not a flexing of IPC Media's arrogance (whereas in fact as we all know they should be humble).
Peace & Love.
Jack.
photodog
Lord High Commander of Upper Broughton and Gunthor
Thanks everyone... I think its time to close the poll and get back to boaty things.