The Steamboating Forum

Hello everybody!

Just a brief not to say I have managed to negotiate the first hurdle of re-registering. Hope everybody comes too as this site is too interesting to lose.

Thinking about the effort and cost of running this site, made me wonder if the Song of the Paddle forum approach would be worth adopting. They have two classes of members (roughly!); those that register and post, and those that register, contribute, and post. I am not sure how much "contributions" are, but it does make sense as the site grows. The sweetener is that only contributing members can post items for sale!

Regards to everybody

Pete
(Changed my login since my ClassicFM e-mail has died...)

Hi Pete

The cost of the forum is bearly anything. £4 a month and £24 every 2 years = £5 a month. Hardly a bank breaker.

Its the time needed to set it up which is the killer. I have been on with it for a week now every night and all weekend. Learning most of it from scratch.

Know all about the learning curve. Doing several websites and a couple of commercial ones for others...

Your cost is in line with pricing now. Only three or four years ago it was several times that amount. Costs go down as equipment costs go down. Please don't charge. I've dropped out of several good forums because I refuse to pay... I know what it costs. And most of us know you can't make much money from hobby steamboaters - we're all still thinking about that engine we could've gotten twenty years ago for $ 250.
Ron Fossum

I also know how much time it takes to update and maintain a site. I agree with artemis on the free status and to be honest it seems to me that that is one of the beauties of forums like this. It's a place for people to share info out of good well. I am extremely greatful for all the work that Simon has put into this forum and all the knowledge members have been so gracious in sharing with a humble beginner like myself.

That being said... Maybe Simon could put a link for donations. I think more than a few of us would be happy to contribute a few $/Euros/Pounds to help cover costs if needed. Paypal is a great way to do that if you interested Simon.

-Mike

csonics wrote:I also know how much time it takes to update and maintain a site. I agree with artemis on the free status and to be honest it seems to me that that is one of the beauties of forums like this. It's a place for people to share info out of good well. I am extremely greatful for all the work that Simon has put into this forum and all the knowledge members have been so gracious in sharing with a humble beginner like myself.

That being said... Maybe Simon could put a link for donations. I think more than a few of us would be happy to contribute a few $/Euros/Pounds to help cover costs if needed. Paypal is a great way to do that if you interested Simon.

-Mike

Please do Simon. It still remains free to all, yet those of us who want to may contribute to general operating costs. PayPal is a good way to go. If you don't have anyone else to set it up, I can.

If you don't have anyone else to set it up, I can.

Thanks for the offer. I know more about the technicalities of computers than the average IT geek, I just hate using the sodding things!

My main problem with all this hosting and domain registering is I have no physical object to throw across the room when it don't go right.

My main problem with all this hosting and domain registering is I have no physical object to throw across the room when it don't go right.

That's what your computer monitor is for

csonics wrote:

My main problem with all this hosting and domain registering is I have no physical object to throw across the room when it don't go right.

That's what your computer monitor is for

Nah, that's why they make wireless mouses.

artemis wrote:

csonics wrote:

My main problem with all this hosting and domain registering is I have no physical object to throw across the room when it don't go right.

That's what your computer monitor is for

Nah, that's why they make wireless mouses.

Just not quite as satisfying as a monitor or tower though.

The quantity and mass of the broken pieces is equal to the satisfaction one achieves.

Just not quite as satisfying as a monitor or tower though.

The quantity and mass of the broken pieces is equal to the satisfaction one achieves.

I guess that would depend on if you have a crt or lcd monitors. CRTs have that gratifying implosion factor...