Deadline Is Getting Close

[Dangerousdave26]

I'm really torn on the issue.

On one hand, covering hosting costs entirely by donations is a noble thing as it avoids spamming the page with advertisements and - nowadays - any pop-up windows complaining about adblocking browser plugins. There are forums for a lot of stuff and, in the rare case that I need it, there's a fast library available (once you figure out how to properly search it for stuff).

But...

Why can't I donate less than $10?
At the current exchange rate, $10 amounts to about three days worth of groceries for me. I'd chip in $5 as a symbolic goodwill contribution without any questions asked whatsoever, but $10? Sorry, no.
Maybe making the least possible contribution $5 might make other - non-regular - members donate as well.

Why do I have to pay for a lot of stuff that costs space and bandwidth, but which I don't use?
News forum, political forum, flight center for the CFS crowd, teamspeak server, file attachments in the forums, etc...

What would I get from a contribution? What will happen if the target amount can't be attained?
From what I read, this year's drive is mostly about server upgrades, so it's mostly a one-time cost, right?
Assuming that the target is met, will there be an effort to restructure and downsize as well so that next year's drive will, at best, only cover bandwidth costs and any emergency upgrades?
And what will happen if the goal isn't met? I know you guys are makeing plans for this case, but there hasn't been any announcement yet. Postponement of less necessary upgrades? Bandwidth restrictions for downloads? "Leech" user titles for non-donors? Banners and pop-up windows EVERYWHERE?


Enough questions. I'll now curl up in a corner and await a beating from the rest of you people.

Here is the alternate donation path link

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforum...nation-Methods

Simply mail Ickie the equivalent of $5 in your native currency and he will nail it to his wall and make you a charter member.

Everyone's donation goes to support the part of the site they frequent. As a collective whole we get more for everyone. Start segmenting it out and everything will end up failing.

[peterwatkins2]

I'm really torn on the issue.

On one hand, covering hosting costs entirely by donations is a noble thing as it avoids spamming the page with advertisements and - nowadays - any pop-up windows complaining about adblocking browser plugins. There are forums for a lot of stuff and, in the rare case that I need it, there's a fast library available (once you figure out how to properly search it for stuff).

But...

Why can't I donate less than $10?
At the current exchange rate, $10 amounts to about three days worth of groceries for me. I'd chip in $5 as a symbolic goodwill contribution without any questions asked whatsoever, but $10? Sorry, no.
Maybe making the least possible contribution $5 might make other - non-regular - members donate as well.

Why do I have to pay for a lot of stuff that costs space and bandwidth, but which I don't use?
News forum, political forum, flight center for the CFS crowd, teamspeak server, file attachments in the forums, etc...

What would I get from a contribution? What will happen if the target amount can't be attained?
From what I read, this year's drive is mostly about server upgrades, so it's mostly a one-time cost, right?
Assuming that the target is met, will there be an effort to restructure and downsize as well so that next year's drive will, at best, only cover bandwidth costs and any emergency upgrades?
And what will happen if the goal isn't met? I know you guys are makeing plans for this case, but there hasn't been any announcement yet. Postponement of less necessary upgrades? Bandwidth restrictions for downloads? "Leech" user titles for non-donors? Banners and pop-up windows EVERYWHERE?


Enough questions. I'll now curl up in a corner and await a beating from the rest of you people.

Hmmm, so $10 equates to three days groceries! You obviously do not live in the UK. £6.50 will not even get me two beers lol.

Have just made my second donation of $20 although I do not know how much would take me to the exalted rank of 'Charter Member 2015' instead of 'SOH-CM-2015'!

I spend on average about $20 when I buy a payware sim product so this cause is worth at least that to me.

[Blackbird686]

Actually 'SOH-CM-2015' is just an abbreviation for 'Charter Member 2015'... means the same. At any rate, thanks for your contribution to SOH. There is no such thing as an insignificant contribution... every little bit helps. If others would pitch in and give as much as you have, the SOH would be in "fat city"! lol...

BB686

[TheGrunt]

Threw in a small second donation. I hope we can reach the goal or at least get very close to it

[Bjoern]

Hm, quote function seems to be broken for me...

You're seriously a downer dude lol. Do you ever look at the upside of anything?

My shrink tried to make me. With lukewarm success when in the outside world.
Flight Simulation, however...

Here is the alternate donation path link

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforum...nation-Methods

Simply mail Ickie the equivalent of $5 in your native currency and he will nail it to his wall and make you a charter member.

Nothing Paypal-based?

Hmmm, so $10 equates to three days groceries! You obviously do not live in the UK. £6.50 will not even get me two beers lol.

I'm neither talking organic "Fair Trade" kind of groceries nor 24/7 ramen, but discount groceries. ALDI, etc...

[Dangerousdave26]

Just found this out

PayPal charges us $2 on a $5 dollar donation where as they only charge 10% on a $10 donation.

$10 is the point of diminishing returns.

[peterwatkins2]

Just found this out

PayPal charges us $2 on a $5 dollar donation where as they only charge 10% on a $10 donation.

$10 is the point of diminishing returns.

PayPal also rip off the donor by applying a exchange rate less than the current market rate. The current rate for £ Sterling is $1.53 however I was given £1.47 by PayPal.

[WarHorse47]

I see that we are now at 80% of the contribution goal.

Can someone translate that for me? How much more is needed and by when?

I'd do my own calculations, but I'd rather save that effort for flying.

[DaveB]

Maths has never been my strong point but I think it's short by $2600 (10400 raised)

ATB
DaveB

[srgalahad]

PayPal also rip off the donor by applying a exchange rate less than the current market rate. The current rate for £ Sterling is $1.53 however I was given £1.47 by PayPal.

You may see it as a rip-off but it's, in reality, the cost of doing business. First, the 'market rate' is/was $1.53 but here is what xe.com says by way of explanation:
"The rates in our free information services are neither "buy" nor "sell" rates. Instead, they are mid-market rates derived from the mid-point between the "buy" and "sell" rates from global currency markets. Our free information services always list the mid-market rate because it indicates the value of a currency that is not weighted towards buying or selling."Buy" and "sell" rates include overheads and profit margins that are independently set by foreign exchange providers; their rates can vary a lot and will differ from the mid-market rate, so we recommend you shop around."

All financial institutions will charge to cover costs and to make a profit (that's why they are in business). The credit card companies will charge a premium or surcharge for international purchases (1.5 - 3.5% in many cases) that shows when you get your statement. With the current increase in diligence, record keeping and reporting resulting from the Anti-Money Laundering & Anti-Terrorist Financing legislations we're lucky that there are still places that want the business (and there are many who gave up because of the costs and legal risks).
Paypal is not the be-all-and-end-all. There are other organizations that do the same but we have been inundated by their promotional skills. If someone finds a more secure option that is as easy (and cheaper?) I'm sure Ron et al would find a way to make it work.

The amounts we deal with here are miniscule and I agree, every penny seems like a small stab wound both at the donor's end and to SOH, but I would hope a few cents on a dollar wouldn't deter people from contributing, nor should we give people excuses for not making the effort.

We've also talked about comparing donations or a lack thereof to the amount simmers spend for add-ons and that's a valid discussion. What about the amount people spend on more and more expensive systems to run their preferred version of flight sim? I'd hazard a guess that if 5% of all those yearly expenditures by members was diverted to the donation drive we'd be well-funded for years to come. Oh yeah, those hardware bits (unless you live in the original country of manufacture) have currency exchange, taxes and duty attached long before the bits get into one's basement sim-pit. It may not feel great, but it's part and parcel of living in a global community.

[WarHorse47]

Maths has never been my strong point but I think it's short by $2600 (10400 raised)

ATB
DaveB

So... Stovall's post was on January 26th, which means we have to raise the additional $2600 by February 16th or thereabouts...

[Jafo]

My eyes glazed over 3 lines into post #60.....
....but it's Friday night....red wine and such...so it's not all the fault of economics....

All I know is the Aussie dollar is 4 fifths of bugger-all at the moment....or actually 4 fifths of a USD for that matter...

[Bjoern]

Just found this out

PayPal charges us $2 on a $5 dollar donation where as they only charge 10% on a $10 donation.

$10 is the point of diminishing returns.

I see. Thanks.

[Dumonceau]

Third donation made. But that is it from me.
Needless to say that the first time when I log into the site and I see banners and other commercial **********, I will be seething!

I've been following this thread regularly and have seen pensioners donating, retired servicemen and what not. Even unemployed people for crying out loud! Not exactly people who have enough money to throw out of the windows.

Sooooo.... people who do have the money to buy (expensive) addons, but don't see fit to donate deserve just one name: leeches! Sucking the life blood out of a community but not willing to contribute... Hell, they could be banksters!

*soapbox mode off*

Dumonceau

[dhazelgrove]

Third time for me, too.

Dave

[Roger]

All you fantastic members who have contributed, once, twice or even three times make us proud to be staff here at the Outhouse

We will continue somehow but we're not giving up hope that we may get closer to the goal amount.

[Jafo]

Contributed again...bloody exchange rate is a killer....

[limjack]

What the heck, I'll give some more!

CHEERS ALL!

Jim

[Anthin]

If it is still open i will contribute again on Thursday.

Anthin.

[Marvin Carter]

Will contribute again when I get paid next week also!!!

[roger-wilco-66]

I'm also in for a third round. Initially I wanted to spend the money on a new addon aircraft, but thought what the heck, spending the same amount for our cause here does more good.

Cheers,
Mark

[modelr]

Third round donation posted.

[jankees]

My third round brings me to 1% of the total, so all we need is another 99 idiots like me.....

[SpaceWeevil]

My third round brings me to 1% of the total, so all we need is another 99 idiots like me.....

Well here's one of them - third time lucky, I hope...

[jtrandttr]

My third round brings me to 1% of the total, so all we need is another 99 idiots like me.....

Well here's one of them - third time lucky, I hope...

"Idiot" sounds just fine to me, so count me in. Here's my #3 to top off at 1%. Thanks for the nudge.

Tom