Members Only Section on AzBilliards

corvette1340 said:
I don't think anyone meant any harm to Jam as I read through the thread. 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.
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Sorry if I misinterpreted the general intent. I just saw some things like her being referred to as coming across as a white supremicist, and this being the worst idea ever floated on this forum and that she has bombarded this forum with negativity (all quotes directly from this thread) And I felt the need to defend her. I think this is the reason there are so many people who are scared to post on here... fear of being attacked for no real reason. :(

And Corvette, I am part of your general concensus... I do not like the idea either... but there's just no need for JAM's character to be attacked because she threw it out there for the sake of discussion. (not that you did, but others said some harsh things)
 
corvette1340 said:
I don't think anyone meant any harm to Jam as I read through the thread. 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.
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I agree. I think most of us were just trying to share our opinions, as JAM had requested. If you don't share thoughts and ideas, how on earth do you make things happen in this world? If someone really runs onto what seems like a good idea, the best thing to do is run it by others to get feedback, so you can tweak it or toss it... whichever seems best, in the end. That's what JAM did. We replied. No harm meant in anyone's direction. Just sharing our thoughts and concerns.
 
????????????

I like the sound of it "AZB MEMBERS ONLY"!!!!!!!! To really make it elite I think a small membership fee like $1,000.00 or how about if it ain't broke don't fix it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lets call the first one A an the second B could be time for another Poll!!!!!!!!!!!
Pinocchio
 
Neil said:
Lodini: With all due respect, maybe you need to re-read some of the post. I am the one that said it was the worst idea. I also made it clear that it was the IDEA, not the person who posted it. , it isn't Jam's idea, as she even stated. The idea has been floating around for awhile.

Second, I think you were also referring to my post when you talked about her being antagonized. Again, re-read it. I clearly stated that I had no opinion one way or the other, but others do. And with her voting off idea, she might not like it too much. Enough people have gotten on her lately. Whether right or wrong, but they have. That is stating a fact, not being antagonistic.
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Actually Neil, not one thing I spoke of was in referrence to you at all... Please see VonRhett's post on page 5.

"Finally! I couldn't agree more. I can't faakin believe what I've been reading. JAM comes off as a white supremest half the time anyways, but the notion of intentionally designing a 2-tier class on an internet Forum? The haves and have-nots? on a FORUM?? WTF are you thinking??

It is, quite possibly, the worst idea ever floated on here --- and there's been some doozies."

Again, I am not bothered by the opinion... just the way it's said. It makes it difficult to post an opinion on here when people get so fired up in their responses.
 
Members Only reminds me of those spiffy eighties jackets:D:D

I'd say leave the forum as is. The lurking non-member today can very well end up being a productive contributor to this forum tomorrow:)
 
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Smorgass Bored said:
I guess that I just don't get it either (even though Randy offered to PAY FOR ME)...

If someone had a cue for sale or a Tournament announcement or anything else worth reading, they would post it in the Free forums, where it would be seen by the most readers. Memebers Only would have to come to the Free forums to read what's going on. What's the advantage/difference of a Member's ONLY section ?


If it's just paying money for benefits, why not just send in money if you like, in order to receive the benefits for Paid members ? Why a seperate Forum for the paying M.O. ?
Doug
( whatever is decided, I'm IN.... it's not that I'm 'against it', so much as I just don't get it.....) :)

Someone needs to splain it to me like I'm a dumb little baby....... imo
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Went over my head too.
Whats wrong with the way it is?
Justin Nuder
 
Neil said:
Well, I'm glad it wasn't me you were referring to. I try and not offend anybody here, but with so many posters, one can't help but offend some.
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I haven't had a negative thing to say about you yet!:D And just so everyone knows, I don't really get offended easily... I just think we could all be a little nicer around here. Maybe it's just my optimistic naivity? ;)
 
Pay to get a special forum? I don't like it at all for the reasons people already stated.

If there needs to be a small cash influx for hardware/bandwidth, I suggest that it be small...this is a message board. Optional $10-15 annual donations that simply yield a nifty badge of honor near the avatar: something that says "not a nit" or something.

I suppose free raffles could be incorporated for members only if someone volunteered to do the work involved. I don't like proposing ideas that puts more work on the administrators.
 
I don't like it at all for lots of reasons.

If I am going to pay $60-120 a year, I better get a heck of a lot more than the pleasure of reading peoples posts. Furthermore tiny discounts and monthly draws don't sweeten the deal.
 
Franky said:
Pay to get a special forum? I don't like it at all for the reasons people already stated.

If there needs to be a small cash influx for hardware/bandwidth, I suggest that it be small...this is a message board. Optional $10-15 annual donations that simply yield a nifty badge of honor near the avatar: something that says "not a nit" or something.

I suppose free raffles could be incorporated for members only if someone volunteered to do the work involved. I don't like proposing ideas that puts more work on the administrators.
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Now, that is something good after over 90 post. Some greenies your way.
 
let me think

JoeW said:
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.
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hmmmm let me see......seems like someone here, or use to post here, thinks that the word "INVITATION" is a bad word.. ME TOO. People shouldnt think like they are better then anyone else.
 
Cuaba said:
I've the background & the money to be a member of the local country club, but I prefer to hang out at the local pool room.

Why? Because the characters at the pool room are far more enjoyable than the snobs at the country club that wouldn't let these characters in.
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Tap Tap and another emphatic TAP.

I don't think I want a members only section.

I'm reminded of a few weeks back when Sailor was in town. He's a big fan of Abraham Lincoln so I took him to see the Lincloln Douglas debate site at Knox College and then we went to the birthplace of Carl Sandburg, the famous poet, author and Lincoln aficianado

In a film about Sandburg he was shown being interviewed by Edward R. Murrow. Murrow asked the crusty old Sandburg "what is the worst word in the english language?"

Immediatedly Sandburg fired back "exclusive!!".

I jumped out of my seat.... DO NOT EXCLUDE.....

There ya go.
 
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Franky said:
Pay to get a special forum? I don't like it at all for the reasons people already stated.

If there needs to be a small cash influx for hardware/bandwidth, I suggest that it be small...this is a message board. Optional $10-15 annual donations that simply yield a nifty badge of honor near the avatar: something that says "not a nit" or something.

I suppose free raffles could be incorporated for members only if someone volunteered to do the work involved. I don't like proposing ideas that puts more work on the administrators.
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I like the idea of donations. Several boards I post to have that system and it seems to work well. I pay out probably about $50 a year in donations via PayPal to boards and services that I use. If AZB had such a thing setup I would definitely contribute.

I don't like the idea of a paid section. For one thing it is restrictive and "exclusive". The value of AZ as a whole and as it is now is the vast amount of good content. If we create another section that is walled off then a lot of good content won't be available or seemingly unavailable. It will create a digital divide.

It would help if all the pros and industry folks remember that this IS a public forum. We don't qualify for special protection in a public forum and we have to live with the fact that there are going to be hecklers and people who disagree with us. Although I have found that most of the time it's how we respond to challenge that sets the tone. If we meet negativity with negative responses then all gloves are off. If we meet negativity with rational and measured responses then very often the other side backs down and apologizes or is admonished severely by the rest of the community. In this forum though we are all equals no matter what our stature is outside of it.

I prefer the idea of self-moderation though. Each post can be voted on and when it gets enough negative votes it's gone. When a poster gets enough negative votes they are gone.

I do not like the idea that a few people are responsible for trying to moderate every word written on AZB. It's a big job for one and a thankless job as well. On top of that the mods are humans with their own opinions and beliefs that can cloud their judgement. Let it be a community decision. It works in other places and can work here as well.
 
Smorgass Bored said:
Well, I know that I speak for myself when I say that I'm all FOR Early Bird Specials and 2 for 1 coupons.
Doug
( and Happy Hour )


*Scantily Clad: adjective: inadequately clothed.
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SCANTILY CLAD---2 FOR 1

YEP---nooners are gr8:D

ON TOPIC:

If $ are required I also would support the concept of donations or a flat, across the board fee.
 
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As Groucho Marx said, I wouldn't join any club that would have me as a member.

I think of all the fascinating and off-the-wall war stories I've been lucky to read from players and hangers-on from every strata of society in this "free and open forum" as another "member" put it ... and then I think how much would be lost if a would-be poster got hit with a pay screen, or worse, a snooty invitation requirement.

A pat on the back for the occasional donation should be plenty, if that's what is needed here.
 
I guess that one way to do it would be for someone to open one of those free forums and invite people from here and other places to visit. If the invitation is accepted send them the password. Oh -- maybe that has been done already

Elitism is a word that is thrown around like some sort of anti-american knee jerk reaction. In many ways everyone is an elitist. I will bet there are some people that you just don't hang out with. Skin heads, racists, child molesters, wife beaters, drug addicts, to name a few.

People join country clubs for a reason, not necessarily because they are elitist. They can afford it, they prefer to hang out with like minded people, etc, etc. Throughout life we make distinctions; apprentice, journeyman, freshman, seniors, and the list goes on. I'll bet most of the adults here do not hang out with teenagers. Their conversation is too trite for most of us.

No one has addressed the idea that many who are registered do not post and many who could make valuable contributions do not. How can this be addressed. I suppose that we could ask the obnoxious not to be ugly. But that does not seem to work.

Is there any constructive criticism on how to address these issues?
 
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