Why doesen't this site have a donation link?

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MikePGS

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I mentioned this briefly in another thread, but its something i've thought about for some time. I frequent maybe half a dozen or so websites, but this one by far is the most useful and at times most visited. That being said, why on earth doesen't this site have a donation page? I'm sure bandwith isn't cheap for such a large site and i know at times that there appear to be dozens of people on it. I can only imagine the fees required to maintain it monthly. That being said, another site i visit has at the least the option to donate money to help with the fees. I really appreciate the sentiment of not requiring any money to join this site but could we please at least get the option to help if we want? :p
 
There have been rare requests for donations from the members in the past. Most of the time mods and the folks that run it pay for things. That shoestring that the place runs on gets mighty thin at times.
 
When the hamster that runs in the little wheel dies.
They'll have a little fundraiser to get the next one.
I think the whole ball of wax runs on 2 hamsters.
 
I would suspect that the fact THR is rather tightly moderated to keep it restricted to firearms and relevant political/civil liberty topics helps keep the activity and bandwidth usage to a reasonable level. (or at least not breaking the "shoestring") And that in turn helps keep a cap on the costs. Also note that THR does not support avatars, the automadted "post with quote", and has a limited number of other graphics and emoticons or "smileys".

If you look at other gun forums that have "general discussion" and "fluff" sub-forums, you'll often find these contain thread counts and posting activity greater than any other three or four of the firearms/political sub forums combined. And these sites are often advertising, donation supported, or both, to cover the regular need for server costs, bandwidth, and general expansion.

There is nothing wrong with that. Humans naturally want to socialize and chat. Only the most maniacal of us could talk firearms and politics 24/7. However, the socializing can detract from the "serious topics" that were initially the reason for your discussion forum. One way isn't better than the other. It is simplay a matter of what the site owner's priorities are.

It is like comparing a Formula 1 racecar and a Hummer. Both are "cars", have engines, wheels, and drivers, but beyond that, they serve very different purposes. As such, so are the different Internet "gun forums".

As a result of the way it's moderated, THR is one of the most well behaved and "on topic" boards I think I've ever seen.

This of course, is just my personal theory of how and why THR is run the way it is, so someone "in the know" please correct me if I am wrong.
 
I love the THR, I haven't been around long enough to see a donation link but I would bee happy to do so if asked.
 
OK folks, I'm absolutely cool with donations. If it worked it would keep me from walking up to other moderators hat-in-hand a few times per year.

(And thanks to the gent who donated $60 last month. :) )

Would you prefer to mail a check, or use a paypal link, or enter credit card information, or ???
 
There are other ways to donate than just clicking a link and sending off a few bucks, though there's nothing wrong with that. If you see a need that you can address, PM an appropriate mod and discuss it.

Edit: Or just give Derek your money. ;)
 
Wow I'm really impressed that this site is financed solely by the admins and mods. Thank you!
I think Paypal is one of the easiest ways to donate money although it isn't free to receive money anymore but I don't know how significant this disadvantage would be for our purpose.
 
Philosophically, isn't there an alternative to the anti-gun Paypal system? I already donate an annual fee to several different interest sites, and this would certainly be one of them, especially if such helped to reduce the off line frequency.

Berettaforum, for one, will not set up a Paypal donation box due to the latter's politics.
 
Derek if you could please post or PM me a paypal link it would be appreciated.
Thank you

NukemJim
 
I would be up for a designated week of the year like a telethon where there was a window opened up to donate. :)

We could have challenges like every M1A, 1911, glock or 642 owner would match a $20 donation or something like that. :D

I'd bet right now that 642's would donate the most based on thread participation.:p

Make it fun. Also special events or raffels where some firearm could be won. I had fun with the contest where, I forget his name, offered a prize for guessing his ammo count.
 
<drums fingers>
<idea fermenting>
<concept bubbles to the surface>

Slide v Revolver funding drive
Small-n-Fast v Big-n-Slow funding drive
Metal v Tupperware

Smith & Wesson month
Kimber month
Springfield month

Just thinkin' out loud.
 
Snail mail, or even PayPal to make it easy on me. I don't like everything the government does either, but I still drive on their roads if it gets me where I'm going.

John
 
I'd be fine with paypal provided that it allows you to do so for a gunrelated site. If that doesen't work just give me a way to use a credit card and i'm more than fine with that. This is really the only site i'd want to give money to, and knowing that the moderators are the ones footing the bill just makes me want to donate even more so:)
 
I'd be fine with an address. I spend more time on here monthly than actual shooting anyway, so I'd be more than happy to mail a check to help fund the coffers.
 
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