$500 Donated and Issue With The Donor Badges

Hey! Where’s my donor badge? ;-)

A fair compromise.

-- Working at Woodworking http://www.VillageLaneFurniture.com

Martin,

I think the solution that you have come up with is a good one. I for one agreed with Thos. Angle as it related to the badge on the icon. I don’t believe that anyone who had the badge felt any better of themselves than anybody else on the site. I am glad that I was able to support the site in some fashion…

-- Max "Desperado", Salt Lake City, UT

How is anyone supposed to know I’m willing to donate any digits I accidentally chop off without my donor badge? Fine by me, but I still think you know who was being absolutely ridiculous.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

Personally, I think a little peer pressure doesn’t hurt if it’s unobtrusive. I flogged myself severely with wet noodles and some steamed vegetables when I started seeing the donor badges pop up under people’s names. I wanted to be one of the cool kids. What will make me do the right thing now that they’re gone? :)

Seriously, I would hope no mature person would really be offended if those who helped support the site got some credit for doing so. My donation isn’t in (yet) but I appreciate the extra effort those who have donated have gone to on my behalf, and will miss their donor badges. To me it was a reminder that, oh yeah, I still haven’t got my PayPal account fixed yet, and to hurry up and get it done.

-- --==[ Pappy ]==--

I agree with the peer pressure. Then again I think the solution is a good one. I buy magazines all the time and enjoy the read. I come to this site often and enjoy it as much if not more than the magazines, doesn’t hurt to pay a little to help out. No one forced me to donate I think we all understand it cost to run a site and some help to keep it alive is the least we can do.

-- Fred, Parker, Colorado

We had donor badges? :)

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

Yeah Mot;

There’s a line to get in, but they’ll only take a quart! Oh wait, that’s red cross. Never mind.

I really don’t think that anyone who has donated, did so to have a little badge under their name. I believe we all did it in the same spirit that had us agreeing we would like to help support , at least my favorite website.

I also believe that some of us will donate as it becomes possible, if we choose. It’s not a contest, it’s a cause.

I’m fine with whatever way it goes, regarding badges, my concern is that Martin be able to continue his devotion the site, which after all is to all our benifits.

I can’t imagine the amount of time he has donated to create this site, but I do feel he’s entitled to cover his costs, and ARE YOU READYFOR THIS, even make some money from his creation. None of us would go to work for free, but that is what he’s been doing.

Just my point of view.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

I’m with newguy – I pay for subscriptions to magazines and the FWW online features, that surely I’ve used and will continue to use, but probably not as much as this site.

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

I think it’s good to see them gone, so we can get back to what we all do best. This site has seen a few threads like the recent discussions, but by and large we’re still able to remain a friendly group and remain respectful of our differences and spend as little time as possible on our soapboxes. This is Martins party, and we are so lucky to have such an accomodating host. I’m so used to the comraderie here, that I’m occasionally shocked to see the responses at other sites from members as well as the site admins.

I think a Thank you page is fine – it’s more discreet, and there’s nothing wrong with giving a little credit where credit is due. Another alternative… another sort of graphic like the thermometers they’ll use at fundraising events so we can all see how the donations are coming in, and can look to ourselves when/if we can contribute.

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

Just let us know what you need to keep up the site Martin. I would have though little about there even being a controversy, and like Pappy, the donor designation motivated me scootch forward off my big butt and grab my wallet.

Scott’s idea is very savvy in terms of being a motivating agent, which I think is important.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

All I gotta say is, “I’m glad to be here and I’m not leavin’ unless you gimme the heave ho.” Thanks, Martin.

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

My heart is divided on this subject.

On one side I don’t think anybody should donate for the fear of being left behind and singled out. Methinks we all agree that we must pay for the services we are given and enjoy so thoroughly. I mean, let’s face it, we are all adults and more or less mature here and I ask the one who hasn’t get an “Eureka!” moment of inspiration thanks to this site to cast the first stone. Probably more than one has sold a beautiful piece for big bucks… and the inspiration came watching some other Jock’s work. Doesn’t this deserve to be paid for? Doesn’t Martin’s hundreds—if not thousands—of man-hours work deserve some kind of help (that doesn’t even cover costs)? Maybe he has a tattoo that reads “Mother Theresa” in his forefront and I haven’t seen it yet.

But—and this is a big but (with a single “t”! ;o) )—not everybody has Martin as a buddy and receives his post notifications. I do and I acknowledged about all this in this way. Many others don’t (as I didn’t a month ago) and, if it wasn’t for the badges, they have no way to know what’s going on. Things happen fast here and, even if the last posts appear on the front page, if you are away from the computer for a few hours, that decisive post has already vanished when you are back on business. I actually saw the badges before the announcement post.

And yes, some may need a slight amount of peer pressure to grab their wallet but, if they eventually do it, I guess is that their inner self knows it must be done after all, so what’s wrong with this?

I would add a big bright button/badge on one of the top corners of the main page. Maybe even something like those “turn/peel off the page” corners you can see in some other sites that when you mouse over they curl down to “show the next page” with the promotion/offer/etc. Something that leads you to the donations page easier than the bar on the bottom.

Bottom line is you musn’t be ashamed to ask for what is fair—after all, nobody is forced to do it—and it sure will increase the knowledge. I, for one, rarely have time to go to the fora so I seldom drift down towards the bottom of the pages where the pulse resides and thus see the donations bar.

I am for giving the choice to each one to show or hide their status so everybody could reach the inner peace after having donated… or not.

-- Jojo, shopless in Kyoto · http://twitter.com/kagushokunin

Hey, I think I’ve found the right balance. I’ve added the Donor badge only to the profile pages. This way “it’s not in your face” on each page. But if you decide to use it, it is proudly displayed right on your personal LJ home page. Hope you like this.

-- Martin, http://lumberjocks.com | My Facebook: http://profile.to/msojka

That’s very nice of you, Martin, to respond so quickly to people’s perspective of things.
I agree, this is a nice balance/compromise.

people can choose to use it nor not and they shouldn’t feel that they are being reminded that they haven’t participated or feel that there is an elite group.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

I respect your honesty in reporting the amount you’ve received so far. I never anticipated that you’d have to do this.

I think the Thank You page is a good idea.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

This site has caused me to re-evaluate the way I spend my money as far as publications are concerned. My decision is this: after several years of numerous magazine subscriptions,I have discovered that there many repeatable things published in the same magazine, as well as all the others printing like material. It seems to be more difficult to glean new ideas and information from these publications, its almost like the same people put together all the magazines. I (like most of you) have visited many woodworking sites and I personally have never been compelled to donate to support any of them. However, the honest, professional, informative and interactive format of this site has enlightened and encouraged my attitude about my new found hobby. I will become a donating participant in the near future and what ever management and members decides about recognizing supporters is ok with me. I am not intimidated by recognition or the lack there of. Well enough about “I” (my high school english teacher is probably turning in her resting place as she grades my current composition)...but so be it. The site is very good and meets my needs.

-- Brad,--"The way to eat an eliphant is one bite at a time"

That’s the way Martin manages this site in all respects Debbie. I’ve never seen a webmaster so responsive and prone to listening to its public.

By the way, your solution seems a fair balance Martin (but I’d still put a badge redirecting to the donate page clearly visible).

-- Jojo, shopless in Kyoto · http://twitter.com/kagushokunin

Nice compromise, Martin, well done as usual!

-- --==[ Pappy ]==--

“Badges!!! We don’t need no stinking badges!!!” Good compromise, Martin. Keep up the good work. Thank you

-- Thos. Angle

Martin, I wish you had not had to go through all the rable, but I commend you on your response time. You do great things here for all of us and if others can’t appreciate that then shame on them.

A great site that lets learning, experience and wisdom abound through its core like no other. Thanks for all you do to keep it afloat and free.

Thanks Martin for all you do and have done. You have my support whatever you decide. You are one great person that has given a bunch of like minded folks a place of common ground to communicate. Pax. mike

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com