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This is just for those familiar with the site I Am Haunted. It has finally run its course and the owner has stated it will shut down at the end of the month. I am not comparing sites as they are different. I has been around for a few years and was touted as the best site out there. Albeit mostly by the owner. It did have its strong points but mismanagement lead to its pushing people away and that has taken its toll.
The sad part is that it's not the management (no offense to the management here) but the people who make a social site a success. When you push them away the end result is… Well, you know.
I personally have been spreading the word for some of those people to check out this site as it is a cut above IAH and I just thought, for those of you that know of people that were there. You may want to suggest this site as the benefits are greater.
So R.I.P. IAH.
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Never visited the site but sad that it is leaving then.
I spread the word of this site where ever I can. I know some people from the TAPS forums have come over here from it. Hearing that another site is going down makes me really happy and feeling fortunate that we have this site.
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I feel fortunate to have come here too.
I also recruit people as often as I can.
I hope the people from that board do
find there way over.
ps: keep count, if 10 come you get a cookie /biggrin.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />
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Thanks, guys. It is too bad about IAH. Sad to see that when a site is a good one and presents the paranormal well, it struggles or doesn't make it. There is a lot of work involved in maintaining a site that has dynamic content and a social aspect to it. The days of putting up a site with static content and just leaving it there with no management are really long gone if you want a site to thrive.
Are there aspects of IAH that you liked a lot that we can incorporate here to make our site better?
I promise that we will do everything we can to keep the lights on at PUG, and we appreciate everyone's support. It is all of you who make our community better and stronger.
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Thanks, guys. It is too bad about IAH. Sad to see that when a site is a good one and presents the paranormal well, it struggles or doesn't make it. There is a lot of work involved in maintaining a site that has dynamic content and a social aspect to it. The days of putting up a site with static content and just leaving it there with no management are really long gone if you want a site to thrive.
Are there aspects of IAH that you liked a lot that we can incorporate here to make our site better?
I promise that we will do everything we can to keep the lights on at PUG, and we appreciate everyone's support. It is all of you who make our community better and stronger.
I was on IAH since the beginning. What I found that people there liked was the day to day contact of being able to post a blog on the home page. Sometimes they were just little personal things but mostly paranormal in nature. The had about 5 or so blogs that showed on the home page and they rotated as more people blogged. If a person wanted a longer exposure they would put it in the forums.
The only other thing was people liked their own personal page that they could customize with their own background and personal items. That might be an idea for contributing members.
One big turn off there was that they began pushing people to become paid members and literally whining about how hard it was to maintain. I believe them but what people were saying was that if you are going to start a site like that you have to be prepared. Apparently they weren't and people began leaving. There were other management issues but there is no reason to air their dirty laundry in public. Their subscriptions were $5 a month. A lot more than here which is another good point for becoming a contributing member here.
Well, that's just a couple things to ponder
.
I was apart of IAH from the beginning, I remember when there were only seven of us on there. However, as stated, it wasn't just the management. There were some people who thrived on causing problems, and at that time, our team and myself were prone to vicious attacks. Management didn't step in, other than to side with those who "contributed".. financially. I refused to contribute finacially, as I wanted to be read for my knowledge and discussion contributions rather than my "status" on the site.
With that said, I feel the same about the contributions now on this site. There's a "special" locked down section for those who contribute financially. I understand the necessity to grow financially as the site itself grows. I just feel it segregate people who cannot afford thus putting them into another category all together.
I personally feel, good riddance to IAH.
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These boards are quite costly to run. I never realized how much until
a friend started one. I belong to several Forums that I contribute to
financially. Not everyone does, and that's fine too. Each person can
make their own choice on that.
For me personally I dont ever look at it badly when the people
running the forums look for help to keep the place running, but
that's just my opinion.
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Thanks Heidi, Glad you understand why we started our Website Membership option. Those who see value in what we do here and can contribute because they are in a position to pay the $10/$20 per year or $30 for two years for the subscription, thank you! Those who can't afford it, we understand and value your contributions in others ways.
Also, we provide a first-class online magazine and podcast FOR FREE and always have. And now we have a purchase on demand option for those who want a paper copy. The requests were so high for a paper copy of the magazine that we spent a lot of time to make it happen.
The amount of money and time we spend on the magazine, website, forum, podcast, etc. is huge and something that we took on knowing full well what we were getting into. However, as such, we have the right to offer subscriptions to our Website. Did we take away anything from the existing membership. Not one darn thing. We added a service to those who wanted to pay for a subscription, including a private forum.
I'm very curious why people would be upset with us when we took NOTHING away from our existing membership, but offered more with a Website subscription. If you can't afford it then stick with the free membership. Nothing has been taken away from you.
And I take high offense with this part of your post Regan:
"With that said, I feel the same about the contributions now on this site. There's a "special" locked down section for those who contribute financially. I understand the necessity to grow financially as the site itself grows. I just feel it segregate people who cannot afford thus putting them into another category all together."
Seriously? You equate us offering a Website subscription to segregating people?
Then why lock down a section? If it's not meant to seperate those who have contributed to those who havent. /dry.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' />
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Then why lock down a section? If it's not meant to seperate those who have contributed to those who havent.
/dry.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
Because the forum is for Contributing Members. It is a part of the Website subscription package. Surely you can figure that out. /dry.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='<_<' />
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Regan, i'm trying to understand your point of view, I really am, but I'm having a hard time.
Had the Admins locked down existing boards and made them for Contributing Members only,
then I could see people getting uspet, but this is a whole new board. I know of forums that
have private boards that only the friends of the Admin/Owners are invited to be a part of.
At least here everyone has the opportunity to become a Contributing member.
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I'm very curious why people would be upset with us when we took NOTHING away from our existing membership, but offered more with a Website subscription. If you can't afford it then stick with the free membership. Nothing has been taken away from you.
There is no comparison to the other site and this one. This one is by far better. So what if you offer an forum specifically for contributors. Like I said before the option for those who choose it is much cheaper than other sites. Heck, I spend more on coffee in one day than it cost per month.
I would have to agree that I don't get why people would be upset. How do the other contributors feel? Now unless my math is way off. I got a 2 year membership for $30. Divide that by 24 months? Seems like a little more than a buck a month and I get information, ideas and knowledge worth far more than that.
Don't let it worry you MK. Some people complain about everything and you can't argue that. People can become a contributor or not so no need to get stressed over it. I wasn't recruiting in my post. All I did was mention it above in the context of praise of this site.
I was a paid member over there too for a lot more money and a lot less perks. I like it here and I can afford a $1.25 a month for what I gain. If people can't afford it that's ok and no one argues that point like they did at the other site.
See, now because of one comment it has gotten off topic. I know, let’s talk about this over at the contributors forum so we don't have to offend those who can't afford it?
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I have to agree, It is an option and an inexpensive one at that. The forums runners dont make anyone contribute and if they do they get some extras, there is also the donation link for those who do want to help and not contribute. I think this is the greatest site on the net, it's fun, informative, and very fair letting people say what they want, nothing is free in this world. /biggrin.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' />
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You get out of a website what you put into it. If you don't pay for anything, don't expect much. Except here you still get a lot for nothing. I don't pay the yearly subscription but it's on my agenda to. Just because someone pays to get a little section that only paid membership entitles doesn't mean much.
I personally don't see a reason to complain about it, like MK said, nothing was taken away from anyone to begin with. Now if something had been then I can a reason then. Besides new sections are still being added all the time. Heck, I've had Chad add at least three or four sections for something I've thought of that we needed here.
Like I said in the beginning, you get out of a website what you put into it.
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nothing was taken away from anyone to begin with.
Exactly! Well put. Nothing taken away. Something added and only for those who want it.
I didn't contribute at first. I just don't blindly support anything. However, after being here a few months, I realized it was worth it and I like the idea of a few little perks too. Besides I find it a good diversion if a discussion or debate gets heated. You can always continue in private. But that's just me.
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Sorry to hear about IAH, I never used the site.
I gave here for one reason, in hopes the lights would stay on.
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Thanks for your support Heidi, Movieman, Kim, Ryan, and Sympathy. I greatly appreciate it!
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Thanks for your support Heidi, Movieman, Kim, Ryan, and Sympathy. I greatly appreciate it!
no, thank you for having such a wonderful place that we can all come *hug*
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no, thank you for having such a wonderful place that we can all come *hug*
DITTO!
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I love this place because it restores my faith that there are indeed like-minded and disciplined individuals still on the interwebs. From the time Ryan first introduced me to PUG, I knew I had found "a home" to freely express my ideas and thoughts without things turning into flame wars. There is something special here.
BTW, I am also a member of another paranormal "social networking" site. Not hard to figure out which one remains, lol. They do have some occasionally stimulating discussions, but they have their site on lock down. I uploaded some photos taken with my FS camera, and got a little message that I violated TOS by not changing the name of the photos (format from camera, and they also offered to do it but needed my pw). I had contributed a lot of time to reviewing stuff and helping out folks there and it just kinda ticked me off. Their photo upload TOS is a page long, and plain silly. An honest mistake, but handled poorly on their part to the point I am wrestling just cancelling my membership there. Too much iron-fisted ruling for my taste…
I mention that to once again express my gratitude for this place and the mixture of folks and mutual respect that is present here.
thanks
Andy
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