"WP Supporters"/Donations?

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Note that I was arguing against the view that the websites finances are none of our business.

Excellent points, Greenturtle. I'll probably donate anyway, but that kind of info definitely makes me feel good about giving. And I'd like to echo those who said they would like to contribute via PayPal, but as a one-time thing, not ongoing. A link for that, or just the info on how to do it, would be great!

As noone has posted to say that I made a mistake using the "merchant address" given on the WP Supporters page, to "Send Money" to with Pay Pal, it would seem that it is alright.

I used my Pay Pal account to send a one-off payment to alex@wrongplanet.net

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Since Alex has made it obvious that he wants big donations from people who have a lot more money than I do, I have dropped my "WP Supporter" tag, and won't bother him again with my puny $15 donations.

I'm trying to remember what I felt/thought when I first saw the amounts on the ( gold silver and bronze ) "buttons" and found that the Pay Pal page only allowed monthly payments.

My main reaction was to think that it was very badly organised/poorly designed/not very well thought out.

It didn't occur to me to take it personally, or as a criticism of, or contempt for, smaller amounts.

But I am familiar with the idea that if something seems badly designed/badly organised then it is because are not seeing something's real purpose, ( eg. school; it's real purpose is not education ).

So maybe you're right, and the poor page design/rigid payment arrangements are reflecting an attitude at odds with the stated purpose.

Perhaps Alex feels uneasy asking for donations, and as leejosepho suggested, he has set the donation amounts high so as to discourage any but the most well-off from contributing financially.

It certainly is interesting, when something is so rebarbative, as if it isn't actually meant to be used.

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Alex used to take anything that was offered.
He has assessed his choices and options, and this is what he chose.
The moderation team has mentioned the issue of the donations starting too high, and for monthly donations, at that. The mod team has also asked how the banners will be distributed and who will keep track of the months and ranks, but no information has been given.

This is Alex's site, his decisions are his own. (I just keep it clear of spam and trolls.)

Merle

I imagine that must be rather frustrating.

And yet as you say it is his site to run as he feels fit. So the Supporters page is the way he wants it, it expresses his intentions perfectly.

I wish we knew what they were. Couldn't he/a mod put a little remark on the page somewhere to say why he doesn't want small and/or one-off donations? ( only if that is the case of course, which I hope it isn't seeing as I have now made two one-off donations ), and if it isn't the case reorganise the Supporters page to enable such donations.

The thing is, remembering/knowing how I can be/have been around money, I am wondering if the curiously rigid/rebarbative donation system is a reflection not of a hypothetical unease about asking for money, but of an inability to manage it, and therefore a preference for relatively big sums which he will have to take seriously, behave accountably with.

But maybe ed is right, and it reflects an impatience with, and disinterest in, small and/or irregular contributions, because they don't help him budget/plan the finances of the site. If he can't count on them they might aswell not exist; he won't be able to include them in his calculations. And if they do turn up he won't know what to do with them?

I am thinking maybe the term "supporters" is relevant data; he wants ongoing longterm support; sponsors, patrons, for WP. He is not in fact collecting donations. But why doesn't he have a $10/month button? ... What is wrong with a $10/month sponsorship?

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I have texted and emailed him the link to this thread three times since it started. He does get the emails from the Contact Us on every page. Perhaps a mass emailing of the link to this thread ?

Merle

I think we should *not* do that. As I have said from the very beginning here, Alex does not owe anybody any kind of explanation or an inventory of his pantry. He has made this site available for all of us, including himself, and we are the indebted ones owing him a sincere "Thank you!"

Thank you, Alex.

You are right about that, but it's also true that the mods invest massive amounts of time into this site.. How many hours every day does Merle spend keeping WP running smoothly? How about Mak, and Lau, and all the rest? In dollar amounts, what might an investment of that much time be worth? It seems as though Alex is busy and has a lot on his plate and may have so trouble managing such a huge community dependent on his website, and all that is understandable, but it's also quite understandable that someone who spends hours every day keeping that community together would get frustrated at not getting answers, especially because they have to deal with it when other members get frustrated about things.

Probably the best thing is to keep the polite comments and suggestions coming, so that he can see what people think and what people are willing to do.
The "mass e-mailing" thing really isn't all that crazy an idea... The phrasing makes it sound like spamming, but when someone is looking for donations, messages from from potential donors saying how much they would be willing to donate seem like something that might be welcome... (of course, I could be wrong, as usual..)

LOL

When I posted about 'mass mailing' I was only thinking of the 8 members that posted on this thread!

LOL

honest!

Merle

Here's a suggestion - do both.

If you appreciate what Alex has done to develop this place, then tell him. If you want more options for being able to support, tell him that as well - it isn't an either or proposition. It doesn't mean that the result will be exactly what is desired, but if it matters to you... why not speak up without being rude or aggressive?


M.

Hmm.. true.. but somehow I'd think that 50 people telling him they'd be willing to donate $5 a month might be more welcome than 8 people saying the same thing.. It's the term "mass e-mail" that just always sounds bad, no matter what. It's like "right-wing." Even if you're talking about part of a hummingbird, if you say "right-wing" people will think of Jerry Falwell.