A big announcement from Dave, Part 2

wallaby1 wrote (among the other good points and reiteration of this one);

"The way I see it, the site has been opened to advertisers who will be funding it to a point, and now will be providing even more funding. To be able to switch off the advertising is, as I see it, the only reason to be paying a subscription now. In my opinion if NameMedia is so good at connecting consumers with companies then they should be able to rely more on that and either keep the subscription as it is, lower it, or make every user pay."


If advertisers are putting in all that ca$h, why doesn't the cost of subscribing remain the same, instead of going up by 60%? I love Dave's and that's why I gladly paid the $15.00 US so I could enjoy all the benefits.

But as has been pointed out, there are other free forum sites out there that I might be inclined to give the $25.00 to. Or spend that on plants, which is why I garden in the first place. I love sharing pix, advice, and receiving the same and making new friends as I already have done here and I would feel a great loss as I have when I have "de-listed" from simple free email groups. I kept the friends and missed reading the list, but I went on. I didn't like it, but I survived.

I haven't worked (been employed) for over 2 years and if I had to choose, I think I would spend the $ on adding to my plants collection and read and write about it elsewhere. The money is an issue with me. I hope it never comes to that kind of decision, but one never knows what tomorrow will bring. I could very well have to give up the plant buying, too.

I would never ask anyone to foot the bill for me and might just be a little too proud to accept a gift membership from anyone reading this. I rely upon "the kindness of strangers" enough as it is and owe most my present situation to my family.

For all that have new jobs and such due to the changeover, congratulations! You deserve it and that is sincere! Hopefully Dave's Garden will only continue to become a better place.

Robert.

If I haven't answered any questions, it's because there have now been over 500 replies to these two threads and I've answered most of the questions at least 3 times.

Start a new thread with your specific question if I didn't answer it.

Dave (who is a little grumpy for having to repeat himself)

But you're getting paid to be grumpy & repeat yourself, aren't you? =) (comment made in humor, only, so please don't flood me with d-mail about my insensitivity)

I have no questions, just a "congratulations" and "I don't know if I'll renew or not at a higher rate."

Good humor. :)

I'm suddenly reminded of people I see sometimes in restaurants who mistreat their waitress and justify is because "they get paid to put up with my bull"

Dave

LOL... cute answer...

Please don't even get started on the "how to treat a waitress"....
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/684136/

See?! Now doesn't all that cheer you up?? (Again, sarcasm meant in the entirety of my comments)

Quote
dmc,
I really don't mean to flame, but I have read your thoughts on several threads. I understand your hesitation. I'm glad I came to these threads first and had a clue as to what you were referring. Dave and Terry had already calmed my fears and I did think everything was going to be all right. Now back to something you posted... NameMedia will now own everything we say here and all of our pictures.
Now that bugs me... some of the members have beautiful pics. Does this disqualify them from entering any into outside contests because they no longer own them? Will we find our gorgeous photos in a nursery magazine because it has been sold to them as a stock photo. Not to mention folks write some of their coolest thoughts on these forums, they would make great stories, some even movies of the week (lol) does this mean they are no longer our quotes but now belong to NameMedia.

Dave - Terry, please make me feel better.

Well if you go to the new site you can already see that some material posted by members here is being used there. Now when an experienced gardener gives advice it can be used to stimulate new gardeners to make purchases from the advertisers on the new site, slick.The picture thing is worrying also.

Anybody with any questions, please start a new thread

Well, the truth is we've had Google's ads on the site for about three years (maybe a little longer.) Subscribers typically don't see them, although some consciously elect to see them. They are shown to non-subscribing members and visitors.

In the last three years, the Watchdog has received just under 15,000 comments. That represents about half of the comments it has received in its entire 13-year history. Those comments have always run about 70% positive, 10% neutral and 20% negative, and that ratio hasn't significantly fluctuated in all those years.

So if you trusted the Watchdog before Dave made this announcement because you weren't aware of the advertising elsewhere on DG, I think it's fair to say you can continue to trust it.