The Fate of TRS

[rossshow]

For starters, the kitty is empty, and we'll need your support if it's to continue.

If we don't get enough donations to run it, I am just going to close it down, and that's it, poof, gone. Kris is of a mind to let sneaky dave take the archives, I am not really. I'd rather see it all go away

Kris wants to reduce her role here, I think, she has a life, and all that.

It will never be TRS of old, I think those days are finished.

So, it's once again up to the posters and lurkers to decide. Want to just let it poof away, don't help out, and that's where we're heading.

So, is it time for a good bye party? Or time to see what the future will hold? YOU decide, as you always have in the past.

[rossshow]

http://www.therossshow.com/payments.php

[rossshow]

krisinluck@gmail.com

That's the paypal email...

[tekobari]

I put my money where my mouth is, ross. Thanks for the tiers showing how much you'd be paying for. That really helped.

I hope all of those who want it to stay open contribute.

[bluekazoo]

I don't have paypal, but I got a snailmail addy from Kris and am sending her a contribution.

I have no problem pitching in, because I don't want to see this place disappear. If it goes away, ultimately it's a loss to many, even to those who no longer post here, but still read.

And thanks again to Kris for hanging in (and to Ross for pointing out that it's time once again to put our money where our typing fingers are).

[rossshow]

I put my money where my mouth is, ross. Thanks for the tiers showing how much you'd be paying for. That really helped.

I hope all of those who want it to stay open contribute. Thanks, Hoping we won't have to shut down TRS, really has been a big part of the OAI, and a big part of all our lives.

[rossshow]

I don't have paypal, but I got a snailmail addy from Kris and am sending her a contribution.

I have no problem pitching in, because I don't want to see this place disappear. If it goes away, ultimately it's a loss to many, even to those who no longer post here, but still read.

And thanks again to Kris for hanging in (and to Ross for pointing out that it's time once again to put our money where our typing fingers are).
Thank you.

[lakelady]

Ross, if it stays, will you be taking a more active role?

This is not a slam at kris. It is clear that she has a very full plate now.

I would like to see this place stay, maybe somewhere between what it used to be and what it has become. So yes, money will come.

[mivona]

Not a fucking chance.

I've been a consistent donor for several years now, but no longer. I'm sure the sterling posters that Kris obviously favours will step up.

And if not, will you be refunding unused donations, if there are insufficient funds to cover board costs? Or is this going to be a month to month existence?

As much as I mourned the loss of OTWA and its archives, I'd rather see TRS also completely disappear, rather than have the archives end up in Sneaky's hands. I have no doubt that view will be shared by some others here. There is way too much history there to enable some to feel comfortable with that choice.

[krisinluck]

Thank you to all the contributors so far. The next one to hit my PayPal after the timestamp on this post will receive a two cent refund, courtesy of Miv's generous donation sent via PayPal with a note that is posted by her above.

The funds that have already come in will take us through January. Each one that comes in will take us another month. And as long as there is enough for one more month, this place will remain for one more month.

If there is more than half a month left at the end, I'll pony up the rest and start planning the farewell party. If there is less than half a month's worth, I'll divide it up amongst those who donated and start planning the farewell party.

[mivona]

So, who's the lucky winner of my donation?

[Happy]

Ross, if it stays, will you be taking a more active role?

Ross, can you answer this question, please?

[krisinluck]

I don't have a user name attached to the payment, and I'm not posting the whole email addy here for obvious reasons. Here's an abbreviation of it: p4p (at) yahoo.

Have fun at Hep's, Miv. Now that RunFa has joined Heartland over there, LaGazza can't be far behind and it's going to be one hell of a party. No question of that!

Thanks for playing.

[krisinluck]

I'd like an answer to that one myself. I'd sure welcome the help!

[rossshow]

I'd like an answer to that one myself. I'd sure welcome the help!
YES, I will, lakelady, be taking a more active role in the board.

I have much on my plate, as well, but, I'll make every effort to be here more.

Sorry for the delay in answering, I went out to lunch. I'm going to be "in and out" today.

[la gazza ladra]

Have fun at Hep's, Miv. Now that RunFa has joined Heartland over there, LaGazza can't be far behind and it's going to be one hell of a party. No question of that!


It's this kind of statement that seals the deal for me. I was wondering. I suppose Happy is too, and Lakelady. Now I don't have to mull it over.


What is it with you that you have to slam Heartland or whomever? People post on other boards. That's the way it is. Is there some sort of loyalty oath I don't know about? Heartland is one of the best posters there ever was on this board. Assuredly the best writer out of all of us, and probably the fastest typist.


Very petty and immature you are. PR is not your forte.

[rossshow]

Thanks, a very special thanks to Chopsbuster for giving this subscription drive a plug over at the carwash:

http://thecarwashlive.com/forums/showpost.php?p=159216&postcount=80

Very nice of him to give us the airtime.

[lakelady]

So, who's the lucky winner of my donation?

:toodlepip:

[krisinluck]

I'm not doing PR for you, LaGazza.

LMAO...that so doesn't look right, does it? Sorry, PR. You aren't the PR I'm referring to. Swear to God.

I'm off to the movies with my kid.

[lakelady]

I don't have a user name attached to the payment, and I'm not posting the whole email addy here for obvious reasons. Here's an abbreviation of it: p4p (at) yahoo.

Have fun at Hep's, Miv. Now that RunFa has joined Heartland over there, LaGazza can't be far behind and it's going to be one hell of a party. No question of that!

Thanks for playing.



I hardly know what to do with the windfall! Sorry kris, it occured to me to include my user name after I hit send.

[Doofy]

I wish I had done this when our dollar was worth more.

Kris drop me a note before you close the doors.

[kim]

- that was nice of chops (waves hello to chops)...

p.s. i won't go on a "i won't pay" rant again cuz i'd really like to see this board stay however i'm broke right now (need to come up with about $1500 bucks real quick so i can visit my grandkids and also buy myself some teeth / darn dental ins. considers them a "luxury" and will only pay half / i guess eating is a "luxury" too grrr)...

p.p.s. good luck / and i'd pitch in some now if i able / maybe later...

:)

[kim]

edit: missing - if i..."was" or "were" (um i couldn't decide which lol)...

[rossshow]

I wish I had done this when our dollar was worth more.

Kris drop me a note before you close the doors.
Doofy, thanks to posters like you, MAYBE we won't have to close. Thanks for your donation.

Lakelady, thanks for your donation. Hope you will be able to figure out what to do with Miv's two cents.

The community has always come through for this board, and from the looks of things the donations are slowly coming in. Once again the community is speaking up.

[paleryder]

The real question is.......

What would YOU do if TRS closed?


Would that trigger an accelerated exodus from other OAI boards?

[Rawbunzel]

So how much does it cost monthly to run this place? At your link, Ross, every amount says for 100 days.Is it a dollar a day? More , less??

I would hate to see this place go if only because of all the history and old friends. Ido read regularly but have little inclination to post anywhere...not just here.Yet, I do know that is what keeps a place going.I would suspect I am not the only one that does this...reads,lurks and does not post.

[lakelady]

So how much does it cost monthly to run this place? At your link, Ross, every amount says for 100 days.Is it a dollar a day? More , less??

I would hate to see this place go if only because of all the history and old friends. Ido read regularly but have little inclination to post anywhere...not just here.Yet, I do know that is what keeps a place going.I would suspect I am not the only one that does this...reads,lurks and does not post.

Bunz, I think that there probably are many lurkers that were posters in the past. Every so often I recognize a name or remember someone who we haven't seen forever.

So. What would it take to get you to post more?

[rossshow]

So how much does it cost monthly to run this place? At your link, Ross, every amount says for 100 days.Is it a dollar a day? More , less??

I would hate to see this place go if only because of all the history and old friends. Ido read regularly but have little inclination to post anywhere...not just here.Yet, I do know that is what keeps a place going.I would suspect I am not the only one that does this...reads,lurks and does not post.
It costs 40 bucks a month in hosting fees.

That's why there's an option to pay for a full month's hosting, valued at 40 bucks.

The 100 day figure is how long the subscription lasts, it's just an arbitrary number, plugged in where a number is needed. Just figuring we'll pull in at least enough to run us until Feb 09, when we will need to go through this all over again.

Maybe we'll pull in more, maybe less. But, that's just a number.

[Rawbunzel]

Thank you Ross.

Lakelady, I have no idea what would make me post more. Really. I am just not the same person I was a few years ago.Too many RL issues and though I like to keep up with old friends I feel like I have nothing to contribute anymore.It is a me issue rather than a board one.
I'll see if I can do better.:)

[lakelady]

Bunz (may I call you Bunz?), I know you've had some junk in RL and I wish you peace and healing.

But, please don't think you have nothing to contribute. I have always enjoyed your posts and I know others have, too. Who cares what you post? You are unique and I'd like to see whatever you feel like posting.

As you can see from my astronomical post count, I don't usually think I have anything to contribute either. But, now that things are calmer here, maybe this place can be reinvented yet again. I'm not looking for a sunshine and rainbows all fluff all the time place. But there must be a place between that and bash lets bring up old wars sock crap. With Ross around a little more I would expect a bit of an edge - which would be a good thing. Again......not blasting kris.

Just thinking out loud.......

[krisinluck]

Bunz...damn! I've been thinking about you all day long!

Why, you ask? Because each kid in the fifth grade was assigned a type of animal to do a project on (read: poster) and my daughter has amphibians. An entire area of her poster is devoted to...

NEWTS!

I was telling her about that in the car on the way to Rice Lake today when she got on a roll telling me that salimanders and newts are the same anatomically and she didn't want to duplicate anything on her project. (She's second in her class for grades right now, and determined to overtake the lead this quarter.) So she's droning on and on about how they are exactly the same but different colors(?) and I finally just started laughing and told her about Newt and Bunz and the wild time we all had with that little character.

She looked at me like "whaaat?"

But that's okay. During the movie, towards the end, there was a shot that surprised me. I leaned over to her and said "now that's pretty cool" at the exact same second that she leaned towards me and said "now that's pretty cool" in the exact same inflections.

She may not understand why newts make me smile right now, but I have a feeling it will make sense to her someday.

[krisinluck]

But, now that things are calmer here, maybe this place can be reinvented yet again. I'm not looking for a sunshine and rainbows all fluff all the time place. But there must be a place between that and bash lets bring up old wars sock crap. With Ross around a little more I would expect a bit of an edge - which would be a good thing. Again......not blasting kris.

Just thinking out loud.......Didn't take it as blasting. Again, it's all in the delivery.

It has to change. Period.

All our lives are different now than they were even three or four years ago. People change and grow and become something more than they were in the past. That's exactly why the board needs to change as well. I have some specifics, and some abstracts, and Ross and I are talking about it.

When I got home, I found that there is enough to take us into spring already. Even with the LakeLady's windfall coming out of it!

Thank you to everyone who has pitched in, as well as those who have PM'd me for a snail mail addy because they don't use PayPal for whatever reason. I'll be sure to let you know when I get your mail.

[bluekazoo]

The real question is.......

What would YOU do if TRS closed?


Would that trigger an accelerated exodus from other OAI boards?


It most likely would for me. This is the last public board I belong to. I'd probably just walk away from the community (such as it is) at that point, keeping in touch with the few friends I've made over the years and just let. the. rest. go.

Or, who knows??? Maybe I'd join TCW and learn to cuss!!!

Guess we won't know until it's really over, and it doesn't sound like that's going to happen for awhile ...

:1evil3:

[VocalVixen]

I can't donate until my repairs are done. I guess that means no Christmas card for me. :0072:




Can I still donate after my house is fixed...like after Christmas probably?

[krisinluck]

We have enough right now to take us into spring. So yes VV, that's fine.

PM me your snail mail addy, and I'll send you a Christmas card. I'm not an artist, so it will be just a boring card, but I'll gladly send it your way to brighten up your post-Ike holiday.

[Doofy]

You may want to post a reminder after Christmas.

I didn't contribute as much as I could, as I didn't want to be one of just a few.

Plus I wanted to know where we are going.

Thats why I said drop me a line before you close the doors.

Plus after Christmas people will have a better idea what their finances are.

Not just Vocal Vixen, it can be an expensive time for everyone.

[Maison Rustique]

I have always helped but simply can't this time. DH just had back surgery. We have no idea what our share of that will be, plus he hasn't been able to work for a month or so and it will still be a while before he can.

[tekobari]

Maison, Kim, et al., money is really tight for a lot of posters now. I don't know about you, but I think we're headed for a depression--or are already there and they're playing with the word "recession". With the health payments you guys have, there's no way you could donate. BTDT.

[rossshow]

Thanks to everyone who's donated so far.

[rossshow]

We could use a few more donations, to keep the doors open here. We only have enough to get us to about March, right now.

[mewsicmama]

Usually we are totally OK with our financial situation, but this year animal illnessesand getting our car repaired has drained 6K out of the bank account, so I am counting every penny. Hope it does get better. We had been saving the money so we could get our roof replaced (many, many leaks) but our kids/critters come first, so.....

I think I will be investing in some heavy duty plastic and tarping our roof in all the leaky places with double thickness. I don't have enough buckets and pots/pans to cover all the leaky places any more.

[Kandi]

OMG. I know about the pet thing. We've been offered pet insurance through Mr. Blues' workplace as long as the pet is signed up before it reaches 8 years of age. I'm weighing the benefits right now, but not sure about pre-existing conditions clause. Waiting on a call back to find out about that for Drago.

In one weekend we spent well over $1,000 to keep Drago here with us. For kicks, I added up all his vet bills, medications, etc. that I keep in a file (I'm a paper person). He has approached the $9,000 plus mark. We're not ready to let him go yet either. As long as he has some quality of life, we'll do whatever it takes. Cold weather is making him a lot slower though. I can relate.

I guess I should feel very, very blessed.

[mivona]

We could use a few more donations, to keep the doors open here. We only have enough to get us to about March, right now.

So, how does that compare to previous years' fund-raising efforts?

Last year you had 6 donors and needed another 30 to cover the 50 dollar a month outlay.

http://www.therossshow.com/showthread.php?t=8654

By near Christmas time you had 6 months worth of donations:

http://www.therossshow.com/showthread.php?t=8722

So, is it a goer, or is a goner?

[tekobari]

Miv, instead of being gleeful at the thought of TRS' demise, why don't you come back and post? You're not only very much missed, imo, you're needed.

[mivona]

Teko,

I got the clear impression that abusive one-liners to lengthy rebuttal rages is the stuff that is valued here. The bitchy back-bite stuff. I'm just practising the genre here, but it is not really my cup of tea.

For political discussion and more general chit-chat, I am best found at New Crossfire - http://newcrossfire.com/ - a rather slow board but with some interesting and companionable refugees from OTWA. I also sporadically post at Hep's latest board incarnation and at The Usual Suspects yuku board.

I'm just curious how many former donors have no intention of donating this time round, due to the way the board is being managed rather than due to a lack of disposable funds.

[tekobari]

Thanks for the tip on thenewcrossfire. While I don't like a slow board much, I'll lurk for a while to see what goes on. Politics interest me.

[tekobari]

I still think you should come back.

[bluekazoo]

I'm just curious how many former donors have no intention of donating this time round, due to the way the board is being managed rather than due to a lack of disposable funds.


Why?

[mivona]

To find out if I am alone in my action (or inaction), or not.

So many have expressed their concerns about the board, so I just am curious as to whether this has translated into a lack of the tangible support that had previously been given.

So many appear to have left, not posting here at all any longer, so presumably they are not even in the pool of possible donors.

Subtract out those who had stayed, but are definitely not ponying up this time round and you are left with......?


(Remember all the flack I got for raising the issue of fundraising last year?...)

[Doofy]

Mivona is this what you are?

Are you going to poke and prod until Kris has to get rid of you?

I would expect that from Jamie, I thought you had more going for you.

If your leaving, why not go with a little class?

Why are you taking this so hugely personal?

As a poster your obviously wanted, as you still can.

As a poster you have the ability to be an asset to the board.

I didn't see anywhere that it said we like white owl more than you.

Do you think people are going to make fun of you because you are no longer a moderator here? I haven't seen it.

You tried something and it didn't workout, happens all the time.

Like at Kashtins you are turning it into a huge conspiracy.

If you are doing this to be a hero at TF I truly feel sorry for you.

Right now you've got an open door. Is this desperate need to say "I told you so" worth closing it?

[mivona]

Doofy, take your sanctimonious trollishness and give it to someone who thinks you are worth reading.

[Doofy]

But Mivona you obviously read it, so I did send it to someone who thought it was worth reading.

I think this whole thing has you terribly confused.

PS please don't call me a troll, you know how it hurts my delicate feelings.

[Kandi]

I like White Owl more than Mivona.:1chirol_k

[bluekazoo]

Subtract out those who had stayed, but are definitely not ponying up this time round and you are left with......?


I'd say you're left with people who

a) want the board to remain, whether they post or not (TRS has always had far more lurkers than posters - heck, there are members here that have never ever posted, but they still show up on the lurkline regularly)

b) are able and/or willing to contribute financially this time around


I guess I see it this way: whoever chooses to contribute and whoever doesn't -- or how much money Ross and Kris collect or how much they don't -- or why anybody doesn't contribute this time (financially unable??? mad at Kris???) --- none of it is anybody's business except that person, and Kris of course since she collects the money and makes the payment.

How long the board will be around is also a moot point, because we've already been told it's good 'til Spring and what will happen when and if the funds dry up.

So the way I see it, there's nothing more any of us need to know.

I've been a member at TRB/TRS since the beginning, and I've never seen anybody ask who's going to chip in or who's NOT going to chip in - and certainly not 'why' they're doing so or not doing so (except maybe Ross, who had a right to ask, and even badger a little bit once in awhile, cuz that was his way of doing things, heh ... but that doesn't seem to be Kris' way of doing things - heck, knowing Kris, she probably would have just kept paying the fees herself if she hadn't made such big life changes this year - but clearly it's not a financial burden she should be carrying, least of all when she's rearranging her entire life) ...

I don't know, Miv ... I realize you feel you were stripped of your mod powers unfairly, and that you were acting in good faith that night - I really do understand that. You may not be alone in that opinion (personally, I wish the whole thing hadn't happened at all, because I miss your provocative political posts).

I won't second-guess Kris' decision, however, because I have nothing to do with the running of the board. I don't think I've ever questioned the decisions she's made, I haven't even asked her about them after the fact. Because it's not my board. And it's none of my business.

I think that you asking about this, when you have no intention of participating OR contributing, well, it seems kind of low. I mean, you made your point with the two-cent donation.

What do you want to have happen? Do you want your moderator powers back? Do you want an apology? Do you want people to demand that Kris reinstate you?

I think that if you keep going on about it all, people are just going to start ignoring you, and that would be a shame, because you have much to contribute - at any board space you occupy.

Maybe you could just let it lie?


Just my opinion, of course, YMMV.

[Doofy]

BK thats 2

I don't know if I should like you for your obvious writing talent, or hate you for making me look bad.

Again well said.

[krisinluck]

I should have peeked in at this thread before I started paperwork.

Thanks to everyone who spoke up and tried to talk sense to her. She remains welcome here, within the same parameters as any other poster.

[toys-to-treasures]

PS please don't call me a troll, you know how it hurts my delicate feelings.

Just be glad you're not a Christian. Or worse yet a Christian troll! ;)

[lakelady]

Thank you, bluekazoo, for saying what I was trying to type.

Except for the being here since the beginning, I feel the same way. I've been here a long time, but did miss the beginning.

Miv, I think you have a lot to contribute and I'd like to see you post here again. This stuff gets dragged on way too long - what happened is over, everyone has had their say, end of story.

[Kandi]

Bluekazoo...you sounded like an Alabama diplomat in that post. Where you can tell someone to go to hell and have them smiling on the way.

[tekobari]

Blues, I don't believe Kazoo was trying in any way to tell miv to "go to hell." Quite the contrary. We all sincerely want her to stay. Her voice is beautiful and she's super intelligent. Someone like that adds immensely to whatever board she's on.

Sure she's sharp and opinionated, but that's the most attractive thing about her.

IMO, of course.

[krisinluck]

Blues, I don't believe Kazoo was trying in any way to tell miv to "go to hell." Quite the contrary. We all sincerely want her to stay. Her voice is beautiful and she's super intelligent. Someone like that adds immensely to whatever board she's on.

Sure she's sharp and opinionated, but that's the most attractive thing about her.

IMO, of course.Mine too.

I didn't want her to leave. I just couldn't have her moderating. Simple as that.

[Doofy]

Ross would you consider moving to a cheaper board?

I honestly don't know what your choices are, I just wondered if thats any kind of option.

[rossshow]

This is as cheap as it comes. I wish more people would donate, Thanks to those who are taking us into Spring, but I'd love to get further into 09...

[krisinluck]

Ross, I suspect people want to see what's going to happen. Patience, dammit. Right now! lol

[kim]

lakelady i've not yet (entirely) had my say...

yet... :D

- i'm still thinking...

[lakelady]

Sorry kim, I didn't mean to speak for everyone. It just seems that the whole thing has gone on for a long time. But, then again, I realize that time is different on the boards. :irollers4

Speak, please.

[Kandi]

Yeah, patience Ross. Things will be just fine.

[kim]

aw that's alright lakelady... :)

- i'm still thinking tho / not ready to speak yet...