Important News!!

me too

Firstly, thank you for the update and transparency Mike.

Honestly, I can't say I'm surprised that the site has gotten to this point. I'm surprised it hasn't happened already!

I've no problem with the idea of potentially paying a sub towards the costs (ads are not a concern for me as I don't generally see them anyway on almost all sites I use).

I am more concerned about the idea of rolling back on the customisation of the Vanilla platform - something that was put in place in the first instance because out of box Vanilla was wholly unsuitable for the site and user expectations and experience.

Going back to that would suggest to me that it'll only hasten the end as even the users who remain get fed up with it?

However, I do have an important question... If indeed the end comes, will there be any consideration of handing it entirely to the community? There are plenty of business minded folks here, technical and project management experts, marketing people etc who even now would probably jump at the chance to contribute in a practical meaningful way beyond mere cash contributions.

Yep I saw that on a refresh. Edited accordingly.

Still happy to support

One other suggestion...

I wouldn't rely on people seeing this as a banner notification.

I would suggest making it a top line sticky in the busiest forums as well - After Hours, CA Etc.

The more eyes are on this thread, the better chance of hitting the goals.

I only actually saw this due to a fellow poster sticking up a link in a thread that's relatively busy - might it be an idea to make the announcement link bigger, bolder and a bit more urgent?

There needs to be an fair and equitable approach to moderation and how people are dealt with. A paid subscriber shouldn't be free to flout the rules and be abusive, and a non paying member shouldn't be treated harshly in comparison to a paid subscriber.

We've accepted a level of what you see is what you get in relation to how moderation is handled in recent times, and while moderation will remain voluntary and unpaid those undertaking it will now be dealing with customers as well as standard users, some adjustments are going to be needed particularly in additude, the status quo of mods and admins lambasting users can't really remain if the site wants to continue to exist.

You're asking for members to contribute to the ongoing viability of the site, and I like most people are happy to engage with that but there needs to be some acknowledgement of that from the front line troops in the moderation space. Some of what's been accepted here for the last few years will need to change as well.

Asking people to contribute financially and continuing with some of the carry on that's been observed here in recent times isn't going work.

Otherwise here's hoping boards continues to exist long into the future.

I'm 20 years on Boards next month, and one of the geriatric members 😁, I would miss it if it disappeared. I reckon I get €50's worth of use out of the site even though I don't find it as easy to explore as the old site was so I tend to stick to a couple of forums. Agree the notification needs to be a bit more splashy.

Apart from the great discussion I need the bargains forum. Just got a great smart watch x 3 for £27.93 each discounted from £199. Sim racing kits discounted by £100 for Christmas for my son. Help with getting a PS5 on launch day. Remington shavers discounted to £5. 9 litres of minty shower gel for £9, projectors, 4 pairs puma trainers for 48 euro, batteries, dashcams, mobile phones, memory cards, toolkits, samsung jet 85 vacuum with 150 euro cashback and on and on it goes. I can't afford for Boards to disappear. I'll pay a membership.