at stake with the proposition I put forth.
The argument that you can't afford it doesn't wash, as what you are actually saying is "I won't spend the money on this instead of on something else." (Whether that be food or whatever)
Let's face it, we're talking about (Over the course of a year!) a couple pizzas, a good night's tab for two at the pub, a dinner out, a little extra something for lunches or dinner, a handful of video rentals, a carton of cigarettes, or any number of other things you care to name.
Unless you are on welfare (in which case I'd like to know how you afford net access) you have some discretionary income, and considering that the $36 is for a year, it simply doesn't wash for 99% of the people here. On a monthly basis it is even less likely that someone couldn't afford $4 Actually, welfare recipients usually have even more discretionary income.
It is your decision to not spend the money in almost every case.
On the other hand, I am sure that if this _were_ ever enacted, (But see my next paragraph first!) there would be hardship relief, especially for people who had been active posters as long as you have, ma.
Regardless of that, I stated some very serious drawbacks to the proposition, and no one has addressed any of them, so I do not think it likely that it is going to be adopted any time soon.
I was not trying to create some kind of elite community, and my biggest concerns revolved around making sure that everyone had access (esp. regarding my comment about non US/Canada residents) and that newbies not be discouraged from posting or joining.
Without resolving those concerns, this proposition would be a bad thing indeed.
While UF is not necessarily a political animal, the community embraces the Open Source concept, and making it an elitist camp would fly directly in the face of that.
On a more practical basis, without resolving the newbie issue, the funds acquired from posting UFies would decline regularly. Just look at the board today, and compare it with even 6 months ago. Half the people posting these days were not posting then, and if you go back a year, it is an even smaller core group that lasted all that time.
The issues I raised were much more significant than whether or not 2 or 3 people couldn't afford it.
This brings up an alternate idea which I will post elsewhere. :) |
