Hi, I'm 200 posts behind already and not going to read them all. I presume y'all will come up with the best solution. Please post an annoucement when it's said and done and let me know what contribution I can make as an average employed person. If I can kick in more, I shall. Thanks to everyone for their wonderful work on this so very cool board.

If disagreements start being peppered with accusations of "freeloader" or "just cuz you gave money to the server doesn't mean you can run roughshod over everybody else"- then the culture rapidly will take a nosedive into unpleasant divisiveness.

I've been on a board where this happens. The little "site supporter" icon on people's profiles certainly doesn't help matters. As Allyson said, it's really nobody's business who gives how much. There are many Buffistas who seem to be in dire financial straits who I see as absolutely essential to the Buffista community in one way or another.

The little "site supporter" icon on people's profiles certainly doesn't help matters.

Eww.

I think it's fair to say we'd never, not so long as we're recognizably Buffistae, have such an icon here.

One more thing to Kristen, do you foresee yourself hating us, and/or leaving us with your hands in the air, if we stay with IH?

Eh. I appreciate the thought but I don't think that my feelings, whichever way you guys decide, is really germane to the discussion.

"For the next hour, your $120 donation will be worth $240 thanks to the dollar-for-dollar match offered by Mr. and Mrs. VeryRichBuffista. You'll also recieve a Buffista tote bag and our exclusive "Sounds of Buffistas" CD as a thank-you gift."

Who else would tell us what make up to buy??

The first 12 Buffistas who contribute will receive a free gift-sized Photo Finish and an autographed photograph of Joss trapped between two handcuffed women.

And yeah, unless Jesse decides to form an alliance against...well, everyone, I don't forsee a sudden shift in board culture over contributions.

To be honest, I've been places where the "tiered" support worked, and where it didn't.

The main difference started with the attitude of the site admin, and filtered to the rest of the membership-for good or ill.

From what I've seen of this community, I think we're going to be fine come what may.

I've been on a board where this happens. The little "site supporter" icon on people's profiles certainly doesn't help matters.

Good lord. That's terrible.

I agree that donation levels should be private.

This is just a random thought, but (expounding ont he eBay idea from upthread) we could have a Buffista Baked Goods, Books, & Bibelots Sale, so people who can't do a cash donation could help.

Adding my 2 cents, I'm all for letting the Geekies make the decision, and am ready to send money whenever and wherever it is needed for the board. As for the abruptness for the deadline, I'd just like to point out that at least they have come up with a proposal (no doubt due to the diligent efforts of Kristen and Monique), which is a better response than we have received in the past.

As usually happens in these kinds of cases, both sides of the issue have good points. Maybe it's a good thing there's a deadline.

Thanks to everyone (especially Kristen) for all of the effort that has already gone into this issue.

I've been on a board where this happens. The little "site supporter" icon on people's profiles certainly doesn't help matters.

Good lord. That's terrible.

Yup. The only reason I belong to that board is because it hosts the main fic archive for one of my main fandoms.

This is just a random thought, but (expounding ont he eBay idea from upthread) we could have a Buffista Baked Goods, Books, & Bibelots Sale, so people who can't do a cash donation could help.

I do like this idea quite a bit, since it does give people alternate ways to contribute.

I tend to think that if we would get more support/more access to root in terms of figuring out where the problem with the board is, the $2400/yr might be worth it, if we can spend that time nailing down the problem and researching other options. A year is not all that long, really.

If we instituted a virtual cuss jar we could make the money and put a down payment on the island within six months.