There is just something I absolutely don't understand about EF:
Why does EF need so much money to run (or at least what I imagine to be a lot of money as there doesn't seem to be much transparency about donations)???
If I understand correctly at the moment EF runs on its own server, is that right? But technology-wise it is just a forum (admittedly a very good forum ) programmed in PHP with a MySQL database?
IMO there is absolutely no need for EF to have its own server. It could be hosted perfectly adequatly on a shared server for 200 CHF a year.
When people arrange fundraisers etc for the forum they have the right to know where the money is going, you are right they don't need to know the details of how it will be deployed just where it's going.
With regards to everything else EVERYBODY has the right to ask the questions, it's up to those that have the info if they want to answer them or not.
Additionally everybody has the right to ask why the level of moderation went overkill, but in doing so should understand that again, nothing is forcing anybody to answer and at the end of the day they have no power to change things.
It's scary the amount of faith you put in unknown people on the internet.
I kind of assumed, reasonably I think, that the forum would be more or less left in the hands of those people who helped Mark to set it up, as they knew most about what his intentions were.
I also thought that eventually some kind of minimal advertising or would probably be required, to generate some revenue to keep the thing going.
It seems like things are far more complicated and difficult than this, which is a shame.
I can't help noticing that there's some fairly thinly disguised animosity towards the ex-mods from a handful of members, no doubt because they feel that some of their mates have been wronged by them. I'm sure the vast majority of EF'ers would rather just have had rid of those members than the mods, but it looks like now the mods have decided enough is enough, and who can blame them?
I'd imagine its pretty difficult to find people with the right temperament, who are willing, and have the time to become mods.
Look at the Forum and the list of threads- on the right hand side you will see the word "moderator", look down under it and you will see a list of names.
What has riled me is the notion that we, the members of EF, are "guests".
We are all members, most of us are contributors towards the value of the forum and as far as I know, many of us have also contributed financially in some way or form.
Granted, mods and admins have invested dramatically more time, money, sweat and tears into this place however don't deny the lesser contributors their right to the important top down information (changes in ownership, moderation team etc.)
Well not from me there is not. Endless threads about "thanks to the mods, this that and the other" are boring. The mods mod as a hobby, they don't get paid for it. Nobody has a gun to their head, they enjoy it to a certain degree or they are mad / wouldn't do it. When it becomes a pain in the ass they leave, as they have.
Be grateful for their efforts sure, but continuously blowing smoke up their collective arses is just embarrassing.
But you have hit the nail exactly on the head. We are indeed guests. There is no better term to describe us.
If you expect to be given a set of annual financial reports and a vote at an AGM before giving some small donation, then you are likely to be disappointed. If you give money to an animal hospital, i suppose you would expect a handwritten letter of thanks and a photo from the cat you saved? The money obviously obviously goes to the upkeep of the forum. If you arent willing to believe that, dont donate and what are you doing here? Once again.. a donation ... is exactly that.
Why do forum members need "important top down information"??? I see absolutely no requirement for this whatsoever. Its nice to have when it is offered, but why do you "expect" this? What other organisations do you expect this from?
Any registered charity or non-profit has a clear mission statement and clear guidelines for how they spend their money. This is what I expect and seems what Lynn was trying to achieve.
A forum needs guidelines, rules and transparancy. A friendship doens't necessarily need these things. It's quite possible that you are "friends" with the forum organisers however not everyone is (who are they by the way?)
I don't think so, a forum is a forum, anyone can set one up with sufficent knowhow, there are no legal requirements, nor should they be. Your posting here does not entitle you to extra priviliges, it's your choice to post here.
I agree with you in principle. there is too much back slapping and loving which adds no information to the forum and is therefore a waste of everyone's time.
I assume this is why you groan at Sada a lot.
HOWEVER , in some threads it is quite acceptable to say thanks.
The quote above was directed at caroline, one of the good guys on the forum, and she probably posted in the wrong thread by mistake.
That is not a problem.
Jumping up and down on her is not acceptable, and if I could figure out how to abuse my new found powers I'd probably give out some wrist slapping, bad ass stylie.
Post if your post
Adds to the argument
is funny
adds information not already in the thread.
Don't if you are going to attack someone or be fluffeh and dull.