I agree.

Really? I think it's a test of wills. It's not my place to get involved as all parties are adults, but like you, the whole situation makes me sad.

Sad, sad, sad.

I wanted to add that I'm not trying to take the moral high ground on this. I'm not looking down my nose at ANYONE with this - someone had mentioned a JU golden rule on a different thread so I thought I'd write an article about it.

Marcie: I don't think it's a test of wills. I think that Simon said what he felt, Brad countered with his opinion, Simon said some more and Brad had had enough and banned him. Brad felt disrespected, so he withdrew his offer of hospitality. That's really all it is.

The "free ice cream" is basically gold plated ice cream.  This site cost *a lot* of money.  Personally, I rather it was shut down and I was given the money instead    (Just joking, in case anyone didn't understand).

This is a hobby site.  There is absolutely no business justification for it in the least.  It's a ton of work and a lot of expense.  Both resources could be being used for core business instead.

It's not a test of wills at all.  This is Brad's house, not the corporate lobby.  If you attack the host, you'll see the door. 

I'm truly sad to see people leave over this, but it's a fact of running a site.  People leave when others are escorted out.  It's a risk that has to be taken.

The "free ice cream" is basically gold plated ice cream. This site cost *a lot* of money.

Oh, I know it is/does.  I hate to think about the time that goes into this place...it has to be huge.

This is a hobby site. There is absolutely no business justification for it in the least. It's a ton of work and a lot of expense. Both resources could be being used for core business instead.

I remember when there was talk about making JU more profitable by offering premium memberships for a price...is that going to happen sometime?  I'd be more than happy to pay for what I'm getting here.

I'm truly sad to see people leave over this, but it's a fact of running a site. People leave when others are escorted out. It's a risk that has to be taken.

I know that too, and I wish it hadn't happened.  It's all very sad......

nevermind, i found what i was looking for.

I remember when there was talk about making JU more profitable by offering premium memberships for a price...is that going to happen sometime?

Actually, Brad addressed this in a post of Gideon's regarding the issue. IIRC, the crux of the issue is that to make JU profitable would require far more people to subscribe for premium access than is realistic. I believe he said that, at least at this time, it is better off, in terms of the bottom line, to expend the resources in other areas. While I, too, would be willing to pay for premium services, I accept that it probably isn't going to happen any time soon.

I think there is a handful of us who really enjoy the service here enough to be willing to pay for it, but I can't imagine it being more than that: a handful.

For example, Wincustomize had a subscription drive there a while back, and it didn't go so well (sadly). There were a lot less who subscribed than was hoped. And it is important to realize that I recall Brad having said that the traffic that WC gets is an obscene amount higher than here, with subscriptions only being $19.95 for the year. Lots more traffic, pretty low sub price, and a number of premium services if you subscribe, and the numbers were still pretty disappointing.

For example, Wincustomize had a subscription drive there a while back, and it didn't go so well (sadly). There were a lot less who subscribed than was hoped. And it is important to realize that I recall Brad having said that the traffic that WC gets is an obscene amount higher than here, with subscriptions only being $19.95 for the year. Lots more traffic, pretty low sub price, and a number of premium services if you subscribe, and the numbers were still pretty disappointing.

Yeah, subscription sites are tough.  Of course, WC is justified as a place for customers to get info and skins for the products that  they purchased.  It's a site that supports core business.

JU could never be self funding.  It simply couldn't have enough paid members to support its costs.

IIRC, the crux of the issue is that to make JU profitable would require far more people to subscribe for premium access than is realistic. I believe he said that, at least at this time, it is better off, in terms of the bottom line, to expend the resources in other areas. While I, too, would be willing to pay for premium services, I accept that it probably isn't going to happen any time soon.

I saw how the WinCustomize subscription drive fell on it's face, and I understand that a JU subscription drive might be the same way.....and you're right, there are but a handful of people who would subscribe.  I was just wondering what happened to the idea; I hadn't read Gid's article.

nevermind, i found what i was looking for.

Yeah, I saw that!

Of course, WC is justified as a place for customers to get info and skins for the products that they purchased. It's a site that supports core business.

Yeah, that was sort of what I was trying to get at: Even on a site that has a lot more reason to have people subscribe, subs can be hard to get. I think it would be even that much more difficult to get more than a handful of people to subscribe here.

I'm not trying to take the moral high ground on this

By speaking about basic civility, appreciation and respect, you're not taking high ground. For what ever the social reason, far to many folks think that a place such as JU doesn't come with boundaries and consequences. It might be offered free to all regardless but when people reach the stage were they ignore civility, somebody will get their hands slapped, and rightfully so!

What the heck did I miss? I haven't tried logging back on since last week, mid week since JU was still down and I've been busy. Yikes!

Even on a site that has a lot more reason to have people subscribe, subs can be hard to get.

I think of it as sprinkles on the free ice cream.  It's awful hard to get people to pay for a little enhancement on the wonderful free product they're getting.

By speaking about basic civility, appreciation and respect, you're not taking high ground. For what ever the social reason, far to many folks think that a place such as JU doesn't come with boundaries and consequences

I see the same thing, and I don't understand why people can't follow the 'don't be a dick' rule.  I think that the problem might lie with the anonymity of the internet - people say things there that they'd never say if they were facing a person (for fear of getting their teeth shoved down their throat, I think).  We've talked before about how you should think about what you say here - if you wouldn't say it to someone's face, you shouldn't say it online.  

What the heck did I miss?

Oh man, some stuff went down and.....well, I don't know if you're going to be able to access Simon's blog or LW"s blog because they're being deleted.  TW has an article about it, as does Draginol.

 

For those who have been around long enough, this whole subject was hashed out well with the 'your blog is your home' type articles. Just as every blogger has the right to keep other bloggers out of their blog, Brad has the right to keep people off his site. He gives us the ability to blacklist people when we've had enough of them. He exercises the same right.

I think that the problem might lie with the anonymity of the internet - people say things there that they'd never say if they were facing a person

That is definitely a problem online.

???????????? sheeesh I am lost as usual. would someone be kind enough to explain?

???????????? sheeesh I am lost as usual. would someone be kind enough to explain?

MM - see thread at link: Link as it will explain what is going on....