$220 a month unlimited or $150 for 1TB a month?

[capnchronic]

I voted for the unlimited option, although at the time being I can't afford to donate. It's definitely something I plan to do as soon as I can afford to do so though, the amount of amazing stuff I've downloaded here is priceless.

I can honestly say, that while I've only been actively downloaded here since 2008 (although I joined before), I can't really think of a site that influenced my world view as much as ConCen.

[Naeem]

some of the things that get free streamed dont really need to be, just scale back the server seeding and let ppl seed whatever is interesting imo

[vasili69]

1st - i am all for the idea of getting members to 'donate' at least $12 per year. i don't think anyone can argue that $12/year is too expensive or it will leave them starving. i have, will continue to donate over that amount.

this should solve the monthly fee - keep in mind that as time goes by, the plans should (hopefully) drop in price..

2nd - with regards to which plan. it is a difficult choice.
unlimited is always preferable, it also means u don't have to keep an eye on usage.

However if there are a lot of docs which do not need constant seeding, (ie from other big sites, eg demonoid, mvgroup, etc), then they could be stopped, thus reducing the load, and u can implement a plan where u only seed when requested, and/or u only super-seed until you reach the 1TB limit, then stop for the rest of the month - which should not be a long time.

Also do u have any idea as to how long it takes for you to use up the 1TB ? I use up 1/2 T in just less than 1 month, but i don't have a high upload rate.

[heraclitus]

If all this bandwidth use is from seeding torrents, couldn't you just set up a European based seedbox account?

[FastTadpole]

As I think I mentioned upthread, or on another thread. Details to supplant your suggests lend more weight to the proposal. They can be relayed over the PM system.


@zapoper7 RE: deleted posts
No we don't delete posts except for spamtastic ads and accidental double posts, we sometimes merge posts too, there is also a facility within the MyBB program that auto-merges posts that are submitted within short time of eachother.

I think we did split this thread though (no deletes) to keep it all on topic and prevent a regression to cyclical flamage.


All well thought out well presented suggestions are considered for implementation so don't let a lack of mod feedback detract from anything creative and constructive you can bring to the table, the marketplace of ideas, to make ConCen better.

and while I'm @it I mean better on any level, technically, socially functionally, integrative. Maybe we should have vetted/polled for participation on the wiki (discussion) since that seems (so far) to have been rejected as a medium of informative expression.

[Rae2525]

I would like to see nothing change but that would be illogical because the site is faced with additional charges it'll be required to pay. I give what I can to support this site because I appreciate the opportunity to view books, videos, mp3s etc I wouldn't have otherwise been able to do. Thank you to the administration.

[nico23]

(05-23-2012 11:56 PM)heraclitus Wrote:  You said:
"It's been because of me seeding lots and lots of great stuff from the server."

DON'T DO IT!!!

Don't get me wrong, yeti. I apreciate anyone kicking in bandwidth, but just hosting this site is enough. Let the members do the seeding!!
I've kept a high ratio and it's been pretty easy.

agreed

(05-24-2012 12:03 AM)anarchy Wrote:  use advertising.

God forbid no! If its pissible to keep this up with donations then please do so.

[xiando]

$220 a month unlimited or $150 for 1TB a month? Neither.

You SHOULD be paying $40-50/month or so per server WITH UNLIMITED TRAFFIC.

Try something like http://www.server4you.com/

Your question is basically "Should I waste your donations by paying five or six times what I should be paying for bandwidth?" and this obvious waste of donations does not encourage donating.

I realize this is highly critical, but the simple fact is that you could get two seed-servers (one in the US, one in the EU) for far less than what you are paying now.

[ma2003rk]

A few ads couldn't hurt for items we'll buy anyway, like Propur or Berkey water filters, non GMO seeds, our own Tshirts & caps, Amazon clickthru for books etc., Not suggesting Monsanto, Goldman-Sachs or Obummer. It's not selling out for products we believe in. Less dependent on donations is good for everyone IMHO.

[h3rm35]

fuck ads. fuck amazon.

[FastTadpole]

Quote:..non GMO seeds, our own Tshirts & caps...

We do have a free seed trading thread that works it way into the ConCen dialogue annually.

ConCen gear is represented here. I don't think much of the purchase price goes to ConCen though as we try to keep costs down. Cafepress assumes a big chunk, alternative sites we can whore out some tees and hoodies on?

As much as I hate Amazon I think it's on the table, subject to debate. Amazon is a medium for ConCen to tentacle out to but in doing so we support them with their fees.

For comparison, PayPal is a more a process of convenience (for us and you, albeit at a cost), not a medium - and we do give a choice to use snail mail but then you are supporting the postal cartel. Most of our donations are done via PayPal, I wouldn't cut off that option, although I would encourage members to consider mailing a cheque or cash. There is also an option to email transfer .. not sure how that works but I've sent/received money over Interac Email Transfer.

Facebook provides further reach and another avenue of discussion, but at no cost for admission but I suppose information and attention is a commodity as well so it's not a hard line dissemination.

We could opt out of Google/Bing/Yahoo searches as well by blocking their bots (noindex, nofollow) but that's subject to the same evaluation.

We could implore deeper, but on a personal level to navigate the moral/economic/tyrannic tributary matrix. Where do we draw the line of being dubbed a sellout? We exist on the internet, there are expenses in admission to the medium. We have to use money .. unless a hosting provider would accept barter. Using money in of itself is a validation of its projection of power. We pay our ISPs and pay our power bills and buy computers that are made in China by (almost exclusively) slave labour with components made of materials mined by slaves to interact on this site + taxes. It's all a tradeoff and we're intelligent enough to be/make ourselves aware of our own cost/benefit analysis of having this living breathing online (and beyond) community versus the real price of collaborating here.

Personally I'm of the adage that, in a wide spectrum valuation, ConCen is a priceless little slice of the internet. That's not what's under debate in this thread though. The decision up for discussion is that we can make it cheaper or faster. The keyword here is discussion. Contrary to the poll aspect of this thread it is more an open ended no holds barred suggestion box, as well as a think tank and a sounding board. All contributions are taken into consideration proportional to their merit, philosophy and feasibility but the final decision is weighted heavily with those who have the most intimate relations with the site culturally and technically. I trust we trust that.

Thanks for the continued comprehensive feedback on this important decision. Much appreciated.

[topcat]

i've had a semidedicated seedbox with xirvik.com 4 over 6 months. 7TB/month 4 $49 or $46 if u pay quarterly. 900GB harddrive.

http://www.xirvik.com/essential_dedicated.html

[h3rm35]

[Anarchist]

While this is slightly off-topic, as far as donations go, perhaps BitCoin should be looked into. It is secure, free, and alternative. Best of all you can always redeem BitCoins for real world money. I know what I am using to transfer my money to another without taxes...

[ttsoares]

How one can be a donor if one do not have any credit cards ?