How dare you compare OF and the ‘dink?!?

There still is editorial independence here... TOTAL independence, I would nearly say. (As long as you do not create a bar brawl in our house party!! )

 

I wouldn't worry until there is an Omega Forums Poloroid camera...

 

I think they have been pretty transparent- this endeavor has become too expensive to run out of the pockets of the creators, so they are trying to keep it afloat by practical means. Member donations (which is what it is, considering there is no “penalty” or loss of access without paying), and advertisements from entities not invested in the content of the forum keeps it impartial. If the mod’s were flagging or deleting content that spoke negatively of a sponsor (like us bashing google ads or eBay) I would see as a conflict of interest to the open nature of this place.

 

I think the answer presents itself easily and quickly (if you focus your mind towards what this is or is not):

-> Hosting this website costs time and money.
-> It has cost time and money for >10 years.
-> Those paying for it only now seek some monetary assistance, via use of google ads.
-> Forum members clamored to avoid ads by instead having an option to pay some cash.
-> Accommodating those requests, they have allowed members to opt to pay some cash instead of seeing ads.
-> Everyone else sees ads, and thereby supports OF, too.

Which taken together means that asking for "transparency" is (in fact) rather strange.

You need not donate cash. If you choose to, you're probably like me: certain it will never fully reimburse those who have spent the past 10 years running this place.

 

Well the only product recommendations or features are coming from other members, not from those who present themselves as independent authorities, so I'm not sure I see what the cause for concern is, here?

 

So the ads for the adult diapers, body hair creams and self help books were recommendations from other members....makes total sense now.

 

Thank you to @Trev to @dsio and the the entire staff for creating this site and for an ad-free way to offer my support.
It’s appreciated.
Greg.

 

Can I ask a really stupid question (well I’m about to anyway).

what’s a custom post title as that seems the only differential between level 1 and 2 membership (outside of the shame of only being a tier 1 member )

I will do a tier 2, just want to know that’s all....

 

Tier 1 is below 2? You guys like to do things upside down.

Being a gold nut, giving Tier 2 a gold box gets my vote.

So when do we get our bumper stickers? And pin badges?

 

Mad Dog has changed his a couple times. It's the text under the profile pic/username

 

Oh, I see. Well I’m in then....

 

Yes... BUT: --> paste shameless plug here

 

You don’t have your sticker yet.........

 

Please dont, I was a real dork in highschool

 

I'll see you and raise you




(Image lifted off google. I'm scared of needles)

 

Well, they are from “down under”… so it makes complete sense. As you know, everything is “relative!”

 

I need to work on my sarcasm

 

Many thanks to whichever generous soul gifted me a membership.

I've been feeling a bit out of love with this hobby over the last month or so, and it's lovely to be reminded that there are some wonderful folk who share an interest in things that tell the time... oh and you lot as well.

 

There is Tier 3

100,000 likes you make tier 3 life member.

 

I didn't realize until I saw my avatar in a frame that it was actually on a transparent background instead of a white one, so I had to convert it.