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Post by Admin on Aug 15, 2017 17:13:08 GMT -5
I have given lots of thought to the potential risk of this forum being closed for posting content from other sites. While I try to give credit to all originators of content ... author, photograpers, website, etc it is still possible that a major site complains to this board's operator (ProBoards) about copyright infringement even though we function as a free site with members the only viewers having to turn off their ad-blockers for the few banner ads posted for the benefit of the operator.
These few/small ads, even though only exposed to a viewing membership that seldom exceeds 20 at one time, could be construed by the content provider/s as a commercial operation run for a profit even though I/we don't get any benefit from the ads other than free use of this space.
To protect the forum and the membership from potentially losing our free space to discuss the Celtics as well as other Boston based sports teams, I will no longer provide content from other sites (other than links or quotes) effective come September or October.
If we get donations however, that allow us to opt out of the operator provided ads, then I will continue to provide the same content as usual for each month that we have ad-free space. To accomplish this, members/viewer/readers will need to buy free time for approximately $5-10/month and can do so by clicking the "remove banner ads from this forum" found at the bottom of each page.
If you are inclined to donate to the cause, please be careful when buying time as you can buy 1 month or a full years subscription which fluctuates in cost based on the number of page views we have each month. When things heat up (playoffs, draft, free agency) our page views increase exponentially with the content from those events and increased chatter so please be careful not to inadvertently spend more than intended.
It would only take about $75-120 for a full year of ad-free time so if 4-6 members stepped forward with $10 donations we'd be off to a great start and the content would remain unchanged.
Thanks for your consideration and feel free to PM me or leave a message here if you have any ideas or comments regarding this post.
If others contribute, I assure you, I will follow through and make a contribution as well. I just don't want to be the only one supporting the forum posting content and spending $ to do so.
Regards, Admin
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Post by cole on Aug 15, 2017 23:59:06 GMT -5
I'm down... How to donate?
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Post by Admin on Aug 16, 2017 1:00:02 GMT -5
I'm down... How to donate? There are three drop-down selections and then payment info at this link > www.proboards.com/store/checkout/service1st Dropdown: Select Type A) Subscription at 25-55% dsct (about $6/mo no timeframe indicated but assumed to be for 1 yr) or B) a one time payment for a monthly rate of $8 given 50K pageviews per month (we currently do about 51-52K views per month) 2nd Dropdown: Select number of pageviews needed > 50K pageviews should cover an entire month except for a day or two 3rd Dropdown: If you have selected a " subscription" in dropdown #1 you will have an option to cover any monthly shortfalls with an "overdraft" or additional charge as needed to cover the shortfall. Your choices are Yes or No. orIf you selected " one time payment" then your option will be " when to apply" with the following selections; A) Remaining month (8/16-8/31) B) 9/1-9/30 C) Don't Apply - Let the staff decide Thereafter it is standard payment info ... I'd recommend the "one time payment" for 50K pageviews @ $8 to provide ad-free time for 1 month. To add additional months w/o selecting the "subscription" option you can add 50K views for each additional month (EX: 100K for 2 months, 150K for 3 months at $8/50K or $16/2 months - $24/3months, etc) I suggest you wait until camp or preseason games start for "when to apply" but you could start with Sept or leave it to Admin if you want to begin processing now and have me decide when to start ad-free time, otherwise just wait until you want to start the application for now. I greatly appreciate your interest in donating to the cause, helping to assure that our forum can continue as usual w/o any fear of reprisal from Freeboards for posting content that helps generate interest and conversation on a regular basis. Making this forum ad-free should alleviate any risk of this forum being considered a "commercial" operation (for profit) by the content providers we use who could file a complaint and thus put us in violation of Freeboards rules regarding copyright infringement. For the months we cover with donations I will continue to post content from other sources and when we have a shortfall I will refrain as necessary as it's more important to protect the forum at this point than risk having to start over again somewhere else. Again, many thanks for your support ... Admin (E8) |
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Post by cole on Aug 16, 2017 1:59:23 GMT -5
So am I just paying for myself to not see adds, or am I donating toward an add free board for everybody?
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Post by Admin on Aug 16, 2017 10:51:43 GMT -5
So am I just paying for myself to not see adds, or am I donating toward an add for board for everybody? The entire forum will be banner free for the time purchased therefore ad blockers won't matter. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2017 22:40:04 GMT -5
OK, I will chip in.
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Post by cole on Aug 17, 2017 9:21:37 GMT -5
I can't make it work on my phone. I'll have to try from laptop
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2017 21:09:46 GMT -5
Just seen this . Im ok with that .
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2017 3:22:40 GMT -5
Clicking on the link gives this error message:
Shopping cart not found. Please navigate back to the forum from which you came.
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Post by Admin on Aug 18, 2017 9:17:24 GMT -5
Clicking on the link gives this error message: Shopping cart not found. Please navigate back to the forum from which you came. Try the direct link at the page bottom just under the banner ad ... PS: Make sure you are logged in and have your ad-blocker off |
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Post by cole on Aug 19, 2017 15:56:32 GMT -5
Clicking on the link gives this error message: Shopping cart not found. Please navigate back to the forum from which you came. Try the direct link at the page bottom just under the banner ad ... PS: Make sure you are logged in and have your ad-blocker off That link below the banner worked. |
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Post by Admin on Aug 19, 2017 17:54:21 GMT -5
Try the direct link at the page bottom just under the banner ad ... PS: Make sure you are logged in and have your ad-blocker off That link below the banner worked. Indeed ... I got notice of the donation for two lots of 50K page views (good for 2 months). Many Thnx! |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2017 11:05:07 GMT -5
Done ill check my bank account to make sure it posted. I paid in Peso's that's what you pay me with. Fair enough?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2017 11:24:36 GMT -5
It did post someetime my virus protection blocks web sites here but no problem with this one. 278.4 PESOS with the current exchange rate. I suppose i will need to re up in November remind me if i forget.
The list still sucks and that includes me.
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Post by Admin on Aug 20, 2017 11:31:24 GMT -5
Done ill check my bank account to make sure it posted. I paid in Peso's that's what you pay me with. Fair enough? Came through on this end ... peso's worked! Many thnx "D!" PS: Just watched "Naked & Afraid" in the Nicaraguan Cloud Forest from 2016 when there was a drought. Not as inviting as the Tourist Promo video you posted or Mexico for that matter. Hope you have found it more like the promo than the jungle nightmare I just viewed. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2017 14:02:11 GMT -5
Yes the interior is scarry and so is Managua especially at night. The drought caused problems in parts of the country not so much where im going. I have a support team all lined up mostly third generation Germans and Brits.
What i don't have is a necked partner but i expect ill find one in a couple days. I have watched all the necked and afraid including the one in Nic.
I have tried to get on the show can't pass the medical test and i can't take my cigs and pot. Three strikes.
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Post by Admin on Sept 6, 2017 19:04:00 GMT -5
Thanks to contributions from Cole, Odin & Prakash with a match by yours truly, we will be ad-free until May or June.
Any future contributions s/b purchased for use by the Admin as all the current months available for purchase are filled and donators won't be able to buy time far enough out into 2018.
This serves two purposes ... 1) cleans up the forum from ads while allowing viewing w/o use of ad-blockers and 2) makes this forum a private non-profit operation. The content provided from other sources is no longer in violation of most provider rules that prohibit use at commercial sites operating for a profit. This forum is now operating as a private forum with no intent to raise $ from ads or dues driven by the content we post.
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Post by Admin on Nov 13, 2017 20:48:49 GMT -5
Update: The ad-free time has been a success and as the Celtics improve and continue to win, this forum gains more viewers just as the broadcast ratings show the Celtics gaining huge ratings shares and now ahead of the Bruins in New England.
We have not used all our 50K page views provided for 1 month since we started the ad-free basis but the current month could be the game changer as we have already used almost 26K page views and it's only Nov 13th!
That means we could actually run out of page views before month end but with the holiday coming we may be alright. If the trend continues, we will be getting quite a bit of traffic and there will be two ways to confront this increase in traffic ...
1) Add more page views per month
or
2) Reduce the number of days that "guests" can view the forum. We can eliminate weekends or 1-2 days a week that is/are slow ... generally Fridays or Mondays.
I hope that the increase in guests viewing will generate new members and more posts but it seems that most forums have their hard core posters and a large number of guests or members that prefer to lurk only.
If we get more activity from lurkers who decide to speak up (by posting) then it's a fair exchange for the deteriorating ad-free time to the active members, but if not, it makes sense to limit free days to lurkers while retaining free time the entire month for our active members.
Feel free to add your comments and/or suggestions if you have any ...
Regards, Admin
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Post by Admin on Feb 2, 2018 0:56:07 GMT -5
I just want to remind users that a donation of $8 is always welcomed and can best serve the forum by allowing the staff to allocate the time purchased.
To do so select "one time payment" then your option will be "when to apply" with the following selections;
A) Remaining month
B) Next month and so on
C) Don't Apply - Let the staff decide < Select this option
We just exercised page views for the month of February and have time for March, April & May ... any donations banked will be used for the playoffs and free agent signing period this season. Just a few 50K increments (at $8 each) will keep the forum operating as usual. Thanks for your continuing support and as always I hope you enjoy the content posted and continue to engage fellow posters in civil, friendly, thought provoking and challenging commentary.
Admin
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