Members Only Section on AzBilliards

[John Barton]

Has anyone here ever thought that one of the biggest benefits to the section could be that you're helping keep AZBilliards alive, and insuring that it stays up?

Um, yeah a few of us have proposed a few different ideas beyond a paid section.

AZB isn't going anywhere though. I can pretty much guarantee that if Mike Howerton doesn't want to run AZB anymore that there are other interested parties who do.

 

[TATE]

The general concensus, I think, feels the same as I do in that a members only section would create a class system which probably would not benefit the forum as a whole.

I predict it would be the thing I fear most in the world ... BORING.

What makes AZ exciting is the people and up and coming players, members of the industry, and personalities who pop in here from time to time.

All the old regulars talking to each other would have no catalyst for conversation. I think the membership itself and mods do an excellent job of weeding out the troublemakers and getting them banned.

What would I pay extra for? There are lots of things but a private board is not one of them.

Chris

 

[Snapshot9]

I think

I enjoy most of JAM's post and suggestions, but this is just a detour because she just kept running into too many bumps in the road that she couldn't avoid, and she is just looking for a smoother road, not that I blame her, but this isn't the answer.

 

[yobagua]

Whats to prevent it eventually from becoming into divisions like a regular membership, than GOLD, Then PLATINUM, ETC. AND WHO WOULD BE IN CHARGE AND REGULATE. Would you elect a president/moderator? Americans are basically free and democratic when it comes to opinions. I say keep it wide open.
Now if we can have a members group that does pay to do something good like send money to guys like Bugs and older pros who are having a tough time or sending a young player to the US Open or WPC tournament in Manila than I could get behind that.
I'm so proud that AZ'ers once sent a young man to the US Open and also raised enough money to get a room at the DCC. Then maybe something like that would be of interest. But I would cut out MEMBERSHIP fee and just say the lowest level one could contribute to whatever amount you can afford but all monies go to the designated pool player and a so called member can vote on who and what they want to do with the monies.

 

[Southpaw]

Creating classes and then saying "the main forum would remain the same" is IMPOSSIBLE. Right now there are some of the best pros in the world (older and younger) that everyone gets to benefit from hearing their stories, perspective on pool, etc. In a "members only" section, the pros would most definitely move away from the main forum and that knowledge they share would be lost for the "little people". Im sorry, but this sounds like to me a suggestion by someone that cant stand when others disagree with them and they want a place to go where they feel a membership would matter. Well, guess what......it wouldnt. There are ALWAYS gonna be a difference of opinions, thats what makes the world go 'round. JMHO.

Southpaw

 

[Patrick Johnson]

Good Riddance

So we send all the wannabe snobs to their room and make them pay? Sounds good to me! Where do we nominate members?

pj
chgo

 

[vagabond]

Americans are basically free and democratic when it comes to opinions.

Are you sure my friend? I am NOT allowed to PAINT my own home in the COLOR I want.

 

[JAM]

...Im sorry, but this sounds like to me a suggestion by someone that cant stand when others disagree with them and they want a place to go where they feel a membership would matter....

Pardon me for mentioning this, but the "suggestion" was originally made by Mike Howerton, the webmaster of this site, on another thread sometime ago.

I initiated this thread in an effort to learn of the pros and cons of such a members-only section. I did encourage posters to give their opinions, pro or con, and add any suggestions, if any.

I do not understand why the suggestion of a hypothetical members-only section has been offensive to some.

If I had known that initiating this thread would have attracted any negativity to this forum, I would never have posted it.

I apologize to this forum for starting the thread about a hypothetical members-only forum. Moderator and/or Webmaster, please delete this thread, as I do not want to provide a mechanism for future negativity on the forum. I guess that is one good thing about a moderated forum. Bad threads can be done away with!

Thank you to all who took the time to post their thoughts.

JAM

 

[yobagua]

Are you sure my friend? I am NOT allowed to PAINT my own home in the COLOR I want.

The optimum word is OPINIONS. You might want a certain color for your house and think it nice but wether you can do it is another matter. Up to a degree we can voice any opinion wether we can carry out the actions of that opinion thats another thing.

 

[JoeyA]

How about members only by invitation. After a sufficient number of "good" posts the person is invited to the nice quiet room. Any disruptions results in immediate removal of the invitation.

Don't know if I would like it but it might be worth a try.

One downside to a separate "members only" room is that it would dilute the Main Forum. While the Main Forum often results in discourse and dissension, infrequent posters often offer unique insights into subjects of interest.

I personally don't mind some of the disagreement and like to hear everyone's perspective as long as it doesn't get personal and vindictive.

It seems that some people have a problem with offering their opinion without adding a slice of malice. I don't know if that way of interacting was learned at home or on the road. Either way, I hold no love for it either way and wouldn't mind seeing even more stringent controls put on shit stirrers and name callers. Sometimes it is difficult not to get down in the mud and wrestle with the pigs.

JoeyA

 

[JoeyA]

Gang Of Ten

So we send all the wannabe snobs to their room and make them pay? Sounds good to me! Where do we nominate members?

pj
chgo

A new GANG OF TEN would need to be organized. Those elite ten would be chosen by secret ballot and by paid members in good standing. I think by the time all of the weeding out was done, there would be but a few people mumering to themselves, "It sure is lonely around here."

JoeyA

 

[DaveK]

In this sense there is a kind of elitism: If you are not strong enough to take the rough and tumble world of the forums then stay out. Because the forums are "free" these people dominate with their own form of elitism that controls the forum.

This applies to a lot more than just pool forums Joe. AND, creating a paid area on AZ will not make these people more thick skinned. Timid is timid, for free or for fee will make no difference.

And Mike, don't take this thread down, there is absolutely no reason to, imo.

Dave

 

[TorranceChris]

Don't like the idea at all. I value the inputs from all walks of life, and I don't like excluding people from some subsets of the forum as I don't do the same with the people in my life.

 

[skins]

I predict it would be the thing I fear most in the world ... BORING.

What makes AZ exciting is the people and up and coming players, members of the industry, and personalities who pop in here from time to time.

All the old regulars talking to each other would have no catalyst for conversation. I think the membership itself and mods do an excellent job of weeding out the troublemakers and getting them banned.

What would I pay extra for? There are lots of things but a private board is not one of them.

Chris

my thoughts as well......

 

[Nick B]

I would not advocate restricting lurkers or free accounts or any kind of "Members Only" section.

Though I would suggest a small fee to support AZB without limiting free members access.

Members Features:
AVATAR
Rep Points (useless but some like these)
Yearly Vbookie Top off
Extended E-Mail rights (size and number)
Unlimited Wanted/Forsale Posts (Threads Started)


Free Members:
No Avatar or REP points
Limited Mailbox and smaller PM feature (100 character messages?)
1 New Thread in For Sale section per month

This would allow Mike to make a couple of $ without making a class society.


Nick

 

[NYC cue dude]

personally, I have no problem with this forum becoming a paid site. A nominal fee of perhaps a $100 per year for EVERYONE would at the very least assure other members and advertisers that all the participants really want to be here and for the right reasons. Immediately, it would, for the most part, reduce drastically the troll posters (and the multiple identity posters), and the scam artists in the wanted/for sale sections.

All of this and it would ensure the financial viability of az. Personally, for all the work past and present, i think mike deserves proper monetary compensation.

Rg

 

[ribdoner]

personally, I have no problem with this forum becoming a paid site. A nominal fee of perhaps a $100 per year for EVERYONE would at the very least assure other members and advertisers that all the participants really want to be here and for the right reasons. Immediately, it would, for the most part, reduce drastically the troll posters (and the multiple identity posters), and the scam artists in the wanted/for sale sections.

All of this and it would ensure the financial viability of az. Personally, for all the work past and present, i think mike deserves proper monetary compensation.

Rg

IMHO $100 p/annum is STEEP.

I would consider somewhere between $9.99 and 10.01 which would yield in excess of $100k if membership was kept intact.

 

[JoeW]

Nice idea Nick B. Let me extend a little.

Level 1. Log on by screen name is accepted but restricted to 250 characters posting. No PM, no avatar. After x number of posts the person can request or be assigned level 2 by a moderator.

Level 2. After some period of good conduct or reasonable posts the moderator upgrades to free / open member as is now. However, rude conduct results in automatic reduction to level 1. Two instances of reduction and your banned.

Level 3. Paid membership to support the board as you indicate for those who are interested.

Level 4 would be people requested to participate on the board and or people thought to be particulalry distingushed for whatever reason. This recognition as an expert would send a message to others (by the mods) or voters that these are important people to the board.

Something like freshman, sophomore, junior. We all went through that. As you learn how the board runs you make progress with the appropriate recognition.

Before anyone jumps - there are people on this board (and other boards) who act childishly.

Aside fromthe obvious benefis, level one posters are less likely to be taken seriously until they have demonstrated some level of responsibility. This might help some people discount rude postings as the ranting of immature people.

On the other end distinguished posters might be more likely to contribute because they are more aware of the idea that we want them here and do listen to their ideas.

 

[mantis99]

If you did that, you would drastically reduce the number of memberships here. Look at the number of posters here that are trying to scrape together enough money for a used pool table, or a base level cue. Do you really think they would pay $100 to post on a web site?

This is a great site, but one of the reasons it flourishes is because it is free. Make it a fee based, and things will certainly change. Some for the better, and some for the worse. You will end up with only very serious players, and some eliteist types. What will that do for pool? We often talk about pool's lack of popularity, yet we do not want to "deal with" newbie questions asked over and over again. Granted, multiple personality types can be annpying, but not bad enough to change the landscape of the site by becoming a fee based site.

AZ is THE pool forum right now. Making fee based will change that. Even if only part of it is. Why would I want to post where only the newbies and people who do not know a lot hang out. If you make it fee based, many people will just go the billiards digest's forum, or another decent pool forum.

 

[JAM]

A new GANG OF TEN would need to be organized. Those elite ten would be chosen by secret ballot and by paid members in good standing. I think by the time all of the weeding out was done, there would be but a few people mumering to themselves, "It sure is lonely around here."

Psst. Hey, Joey A. I hate to break it to you, but the GANG OF TEN is already here in full force, though their identities are unknown.

They travel through all threads, 24/7, taking copious notes. Communication is made via some sort of secret letter-scrambling code, only known to them, camouflaged in their posts.

I think I know who two of them are, but I'm not sure.

JAM