Ive seen it a thousand times....
and will probably see it a thousand more. Someone decides to start up a great free community. Many people lurk, many others post. The word gets out that this site is awesome. Many more lurk. The site starts to lose bandwidth so they shut down temporarily to "redo" the site so all can enjoy again. When the site resurfaces, you are faced with usually 3 options. 1) Pay us, or leave. 2) Post for us, or leave. 3)Just leave. The "new" community then goes through a certain understandable chaotic struggle as the lurkers (who are in the vast majority) start jones-ing for the awesome content they have been getting for free. The others who actually post, spend awhile trying to right the ship and will succeed for a little while with numerous posts/ads/money. Those who cant meet the demands of the board generators fall by the wayside. Site loses credibility on other websites that usually praised it, causing lurkers to leave. The site keeps a tight knit community for awhile and curses those lurkers...who needs them anyway right? Site starts hemorraging...need new rules! Makes the entire site (pics and otherwise) meet up to their new standards and starts pissing off the "faithfull". Evryone goes crazy and....well you see where this is going.
Kind of reminds me of a drug-dealer. Here ya go...free samples for everyone. Hooked? Great! Now dance through hoops for me or pay me if you want more.
I was a lurker.
I will still lurk at places that haven't gotten too busy that they are now a police state ro full of greed.
I will see the rest of you lurkers there as well...oh, yeah maybe I wont =)
PS: I really did enjoy your site for quite awhile. All of my above statements arent 100% aimed at you, just a nice warning for it does happen frequently. I have never spoken out at said sites before, so when I see this fine establishment nosediving in that direction, I had to speak out. Its a shame too...was a very nice site. Please, for the sake of those who decide to stay, dont start telling them they MUST do this or that. Guidelines are one thing, constantly having your "membership" threatened if you dont DO this or PAY that... will end in destruction. Remember, its a voluntary community, not Beirut.
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