Donations

[redi]

Seeing that the donations of this month probably will not cover the expenses (again), I started wondering (again). Some time ago donations exceeded the expenses for one or two months after NG threatened to limit download bandwidth, but this all seems to be forgotten again.

I know, it probably has been argued a million times before. NG has more than 72,000 members. I'm sure not all of those are active anymore, but still if even just 10% of that number is regularly visiting NG, how can it be that NG has such trouble covering expenses through donations? I mean, we can't all be Dutchies who want to get everyhting for free, can we? ;) If everyone would just donate $0.50, NG would be out of trouble for a long time.

So fill in the poll, if you dare :) I would like to know what people think about donating, so if you have any thoughts you would like to share, post them.

[Jabba]

Seeing that the donations of this month probably will not cover the expenses (again), I started wondering (again). Some time ago donations exceeded the expenses for one or two months after NG threatened to limit download bandwidth, but this all seems to be forgotten again.

I know, it probably has been argued a million times before. NG has more than 72,000 members. I'm sure not all of those are active anymore, but still if even just 10% of that number is regularly visiting NG, how can it be that NG has such trouble covering expenses through donations? I mean, we can't all be Dutchies who want to get everyhting for free, can we? ;) If everyone would just donate $0.50, NG would be out of trouble for a long time.

So fill in the poll, if you dare :) I would like to know what people think about donating, so if you have any thoughts you would like to share, post them.

Thanks for trying to help out by making this post. The good news is that the donations always seem to pick up towards the very last few days of the month, as I am sure they will do this month.

There were also some months where the donations exceeded the server costs so we have those in reserve as well. While we are on the subject, Dan mentioned to me that the game server costs will increase by about $20 from next month, but I have decided to absorb the additional costs this time, rather than increase the sites running cost total (due to donations exceeding the site running costs in some months).

[dav_ral]

i have donated in november, and i will do the same again, probably another $25 to keep my orange name :p, some have reasons which mean they cannot donate, but to all those who can, i would advise it, because nogrip is a valuable resource for so many racing sims.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y57/k9fromhell/jeremyapprove2.png

[rasfigjohn]

For all the people who have Euros in their country, the exchange rates between euros and dollars make it cheaper than ever to donate to NoGrip. :D

http://ichart.finance.yahoo.com/1y?eurusd=x

[redi]

... nogrip is a valuable resource for so many racing sims.

Exactly my point. When a site like this is so easily accessible, it's easy to forget that nothing is free and that maintaining this great site costs time, effort and money. It would be a shame to lose this site with its great forums and huge download sections.

We all saw what stir it caused when DerDumeklemmer threatened to stop publishing his tracks here, can you imagine the upset when the site stops altogether? Let's not let that happen. Pretty please! :)

[greyhnd]

I made my first donation just this week. Will donate again in another month or so. I download when I find something I want. I try to stay a bit active in the forums, and I've uploaded a a couple skins I've made. I've learned some valuable things about GTR2 here, so for me it was worth the donation.

[Pizzaman]

Will try - but still stuck out for cash...
Hope next month will be better (and they will restore my credit-card...)

[rasfigjohn]

Will try - but still stuck out for cash...
Hope next month will be better (and they will restore my credit-card...)

I don't think it's reasonable to donate if you're short on cash. There are other ways to participate in noGrip community and seeing the number of posts you made in just one year, I think your donation in time and passion is more than enough...
Just don't forget NoGrip when you'll be a billionaire :p

[RKipker]

I believe in supporting this site. I've donated many times before the required D/L Limit. I did donate the 25 US and was going to donate much more. This is a great site but due to the improper regulating of people's post, I will not donate more than required.

I do not believe the boards should be a place to trash folks and certainly not modders. But this site takes some post/peoples disagreements and bans them. I do not agree with many posts, but agree even less with the banning and regulating of peoples discussions.

The biggest problem I have are the threats when donating folks ask questions and are threatened to be banned by simply asking another question. I think this hurts the giving sprint of many.

I may even get warned for this post.... :(

[rasfigjohn]

The biggest problem I have are the threats when donating folks ask questions and are threatened to be banned by simply asking another question. I think this hurts the giving sprint of many.

I may even get warned for this post.... :(

I'm very sorry that you think that.
Donating does not give any right on breaking the sites rules. Myself I had an infraction by Dan 7 months ago and I was a donator. If you think about me giving an infraction in the RaceX thread this one was done after several warnings. If it's for the Legends Bros team, I just locked the thread because it was pointless on an inflamatory subject.

I'm not sure being shy on making rules being respected because it could bring less money is a good point. People who don't respect the rules don't care about community in the first place.

[Jabba]

There are other ways to participate in noGrip community and seeing the number of posts you made in just one year, I think your donation in time and passion is more than enough...


:up:

[Jabba]

I'm not sure being shy on making rules being respected because it could bring less money is a good point. People who don't respect the rules don't care about community in the first place.


:up::up:

[RKipker]

LOL... :D! Actually Ras, I posted this before I even went to the locked thread... Honestly!

I was referring to other people posting there comments and expressing there opinions completely separate from the two issues you mentioned above.

So let me clairfiy:

1) You know I like you and everyone here! I don’t argue much, though I'm very opinionated... :)

2) I do not believe in Censorship at all on a site such as this! I do agree folks can get out of hand, but it is only words and sometimes, if anything, it's entertainment.

3) I believe in donating to this site for the services rendered..... all should and it's a great site for some of the games I really enjoy.

4) I certainly believe in respectful debate and no matter what the debate should be allowed.

However, I was not referring to donating to the site for the service folks receive, I was referring to donating extra $$$ to a site that censors my comments or claims to have the right to regulate others comments based on the fact that they disagree.

site rules are fine... keep them to mod. stealing, credit stealing, illegal mods, etc... but let folks speak their minds.

But to confirm… what I found most offensive was when a site owner, of this site, stated that a certain member was banned on his excessive comments with respect to a real world issue.... and then stated the next person to comment will be banned…!

This was offensive to me as a member supporting a site and being told what I can say or can not say…. Before it was said. That Sir, IMHO is going to far with the power of the ownership authority. And I still feel the member was banned inappropriately. The thread should have simply been locked and removed as others have been.

Thanks for all who support this site…:D


I'm very sorry that you think that.
Donating does not give any right on breaking the sites rules. Myself I had an infraction by Dan 7 months ago and I was a donator. If you think about me giving an infraction in the RaceX thread this one was done after several warnings. If it's for the Legends Bros team, I just locked the thread because it was pointless on an inflamatory subject.

I'm not sure being shy on making rules being respected because it could bring less money is a good point. People who don't respect the rules don't care about community in the first place.

[Gaiajohan]

Well as a student I don't have that much money at the end of the month. So that's the reason for me. In fact atm I'm losing money. (About €100 a month). But once I have the money I'll donate...

[racer11]

I dont have any paypal account or anything but I did manage to get the adderess to mail money to. Now I just need to get some money to mail :( I will as soon as work picks up some!

[Mooz]

I've donated several times now by snail mail and will continue to. All I ask is Jabba to confirm he’s received the cash, by a PM to me and I’m happy.

[rasfigjohn]

2) I do not believe in Censorship at all on a site such as this!
[...]

This was offensive to me as a member supporting a site and being told what I can say or can not say…. Before it was said. That Sir, IMHO is going to far with the power of the ownership authority.

Of course it's not the place to discuss that specific case but I can hear your point.
The thing is there is a huge difference between censorship and site moderation. If you look at the site rules you'll realize most of them are not about what you can say but how you say it.
Censorship tells you what you can say, moderation is about how you say it to ensure no one feels hurt because it's a public forum.
As a moderator I can assure you I think almost everything can be discussed as far as I'm concerned... as long as it's done in a friendly and positive way.
People who feel they know everything and just have to keep on ranting over and over to explain you how to think are not welcomed.
You have threads here like the one about Youtube or F1 GPs that have been on the edge of being very explosive but finally always ended in friendly and funny posts... that's because people involved in the thread are smart enough to respect each other: I'm not sure it was the case in the example you give.
I respect your decision not to give "more than required", I just wish you'll keep on being an active member here. :up:

[velve]

As soon as I get a paypal account I will make a real effort to donate once in a while as this is one of my fav sites for racing sims,

[frankonia]

Hello,

I would like to tell my opinion about donations.

I wouldn't mind at all to donate some money now and again. But there is one big point that holds me back doing it. I don't like paying in internet with paypal or give any credit card numbers. As you know yourselves, there is a lot of damage done world wide every year, by misusing credit cards and even paypal payments by internet-transfering. I just don't trust enough these so-called modern methods of payments.

My suggestion would be, that you would put a bank account Number on the Donation-Section on this site, so that wherever wants to donate money can pay into this bank account.

So think about and give us your opinion.
Maybe alot of members of this community think the same like I do.

[Jabba]

Hello,

I would like to tell my opinion about donations.

I wouldn't mind at all to donate some money now and again. But there is one big point that holds me back doing it. I don't like paying in internet with paypal or give any credit card numbers. As you know yourselves, there is a lot of damage done world wide every year, by misusing credit cards and even paypal payments by internet-transfering. I just don't trust enough these so-called modern methods of payments.

My suggestion would be, that you would put a bank account Number on the Donation-Section on this site, so that wherever wants to donate money can pay into this bank account.

So think about and give us your opinion.
Maybe alot of members of this community think the same like I do.

Its a good idea, although unfortunately its even more dangerous to display a bank account number on a public website than use any of the other methods that you mention. Jeremy Clarkson did this recently and found someone taking £500 from his account each month (I wont mention how due to legal reasons). I would be happy to PM bank details to anyone that wishes to donate in this way though, providing that they are an established member etc. I will always PM anyone that donates cash through the mail to confirm safe receipt, and upgrade their accounts etc and I would do this for banks transfers in the same way.

[RKipker]

OK... point taken, and I agree the comments from the situation I mentioned were way out of control.... and maybe even other they posted. But to tell other members if they discuss it there banned is what discouraged me.

Anyway, enough of that.... thanks for taking the time to answer my concerns. Ras you are a fair moderator, I've seen your post since you've started moderating, and there very polite, respectful, and fair.

Now, as I mentioned, I've donated before and suggest everyone that D/L from this site do so as well. Nothing good in this world is FREE and if we abuse this site or take it for granted, it will not survive.

To the gentlmen stating PayPal and other forms of credit cards payment as a concern, I think an option could be to use your credit card, as most offer a "One-Time" payment code. Simply log into your CC account and most all offer special payment transaction number.

With that being said, I've used my card wisely and feel the internet is safer than placing any order over the phone.... or whenever numbers are physically recorded.

[redi]

OK, so in the first 1.5 days exactly 20 people filled in the poll, which must be the regulars who come in and put in most postings every day. Now how about the other 72,526? :)

[redi]

To the gentlmen stating PayPal and other forms of credit cards payment as a concern, I think an option could be to use your credit card, as most offer a "One-Time" payment code. Simply log into your CC account and most all offer special payment transaction number.
Personally my feeling is that sending money by mail is much more unsafe than using a PayPal account.
I've been using PayPal and CC on the internet for several years, doing a couple of hundred payments in that time. Never a single problem. And the good thing with CCs is that when something goes awry, it's very easy to undo the transaction. Try that with a normal bank account (at least here in NL)! :)

[hdswriter]

I am actually surprised when looking at the list of names that are online how few donate. I have only started to donate recently because I finally got my head out of my butt. I kept saying I was going to in my head, but had just never done it. Now I donate to several sites because it is the right thing to do and it's not a problem for me. I will also continue to donate in the future.

I do have to side with Rkipker with the fact that I feel that some threads are closed prematurely and sometimes with threats attached to them. I don't feel that it is necessary to threaten members... "if anyone else brings this up prepare to be banned" kind of stuff. It really seems petty.

Regardless, I will continue to donate since I have met (virtually) a lot of great people, learned a lot, and been given the opportunity to download tons of great stuff. For that, I am most grateful. ;)

[nerd]

I just donated. I've exceeded my download quota twice in the last day. Also I've been downloading all my mods/skins/tracks from here for a long time and felt I could at least contribute a little, so I just donated a minute ago. FIRST time I've ever donated anything to a site :)

[gtr2_race_pro]

I would like to donate but me have no paypal or credit card :( also aussie $ isnt that good so :(

[steve 81]

I have donated and I will continue to do so regularly. And, I have never met my download limit. I also rarely download anything at all, just the stuff for NoGrip league is about all I download. Donate because otherwise you will be forced to in the future.