promotion of S_E specific services - time to charge a fee?

[GregR]

If you did start up a business, say building walls, and on every topic we have where people state they're having terrible trouble with a new wall they've built, or looking for hints and tips for a new wall they're thinking about building (lets be honest, the forum is littered with these examples) and you are there in every one saying the right thing and being super keen - you've got super free promotion.

Lol!

So you think that people being helpful and giving advice for free should be charged for giving their time and knowledge to help others?

Interesting point of view!

Dan

I wondered how long it would take you to come along, think its all about you then cherry-pick a line that you think proves you right.

Deep breath...

Dan, if you read my posts, its not about levying a charge or some sort of penalty on yours or any other business. Its about raising money for either charity or for a S_E event (the proceeds of which normally go to charity). My point is that some businesses, yours included, probably do well out of referrals from this site. All I am suggesting is that such businesses would normally pay a fee for direct access to their customer base and tghey are not here. A good opportunity for us to .. hold on, I'm repeating myself again here. I think you should be able to get the message.

[roadboy]

I did not think this was about me at all. The quote I made was to illustrate my point. Which it did quite well. I made no mention of it being about me or any other company.

You are the only one who has made assumptions there.

If you have a major problem with people being helpful perhaps you could suggest that all advice is given by PM, therefore avoiding any "free publicity". I give probably 90% of my advice by PM as most of the time it is pretty specific to that individual. The problem with this of course is that then the information is not spread to help others in the future.

What are your thoughts on that? You're very good at avoiding questions, perhaps you should become an MP.

Dan

[BiggestNizzy]

See what I mean, it just causes arguments !!!

[roadboy]

See what I mean, it just causes arguments !!!

It is very obvious that Greg has issues with me but refuses to have a reasoned disucssion about it.

Dan

p.s. I still don't think this thread was about me but you can tell from Greg's reply to my post that he has a problem with me.

[GregR]

Now you're just getting personal Dan

[roadboy]

I wondered how long it would take you to come along, think its all about you then cherry-pick a line that you think proves you right.

Pot / Kettle / Black ???

Dan

[robin]

There's plenty of charity giving/receiving sites out there that can be used to do this sort of thing. Anybody on SE can "promote" any (legitimate) charity from time to time and ask people to consider making a donation. It already happens from time to time - Greg, feel free to make a similar appeal for your chosen charity.

If SE was to nominate a charity and ask that any business that actually benefits from SE presence considers making a donation to the nominated charity, who would decide what that charity is?

Who would work out whether or not a business had actually contributed?

What would be the result of a business making or not making a contribution?

Would there be any practical difference between an SE nominated charity and a personal appeal along the same lines?

I suspect you can achieve 9/10ths of what you want by just asking for some cash

Cheers,
Robin

[GregR]

If SE was to nominate a charity and ask that any business that actually benefits from SE presence considers making a donation to the nominated charity, who would decide what that charity is?

Who would work out whether or not a business had actually contributed?

What would be the result of a business making or not making a contribution?

Would there be any practical difference between an SE nominated charity and a personal appeal along the same lines?

Cheers,
Robin

Again - not trying to re-kindle the debate, but these points are easily addressed:-

Who decides? We have a thread where people suggest charities. The most popular go to a poll and the membership decides.

Who works it out? The fact that a business is prepared to contribute sets out the intention to benefit from the 'membership'

The result of not making a contribution, depending on moderators discretion, could be a small nudge that we have a policy of "donation for pofit", or alternatively that businesses with a presence on S_E normally give S_E discounts and perhaps they should think about it

Lastly - no - all appeals are good appeals for charity

[j2 lot]

I think its time to put this to bed, from the response its obvious that the majority are against charges for advertising - even suggesting that charges are levied has developed into a bunfight - and thats before any money starts changing hands !!

Greg, I don't know Dan ( or you for that matter) but I have to agree with Dan that it looks like you are having a bit of a dig at him.
Lets all chill folks - don't make SE into what we all dislike about other forums where public floggings are commonplace.

Maybe time to lock the thread ?

[GregR]

Maybe time to lock the thread ?

Why, as there's a disagreement? I thought this was a discussion forum, not an agreement forum?

Anyhoo - the thread has brought to light the fact that some members feel that there should be a way of highlighting those that are businesses in one form or another.

[BiggestNizzy]

Since I am currently getting payed for browsinging and before plugs get expensive/banned/whatever

Jigs and Fixtures, for all your sub-contract machine shop needs

[r055]

Since I am currently getting payed for browsinging and before plugs get expensive/banned/whatever

Jigs and Fixtures, for all your sub-contract machine shop needs

is that you in the photo Nizzy?
tell me something... why are you taking pictures of yourself with a roll of tinfoil...?
are you paranoid thinking that we dont think you do any work?

R

[Blaque]

Since I am currently getting payed WHILE browsinging and before plugs get expensive/banned/whatever

Jigs and Fixtures, for all your sub-contract machine shop needs

Fixed it for ya

HTH

[BiggestNizzy]

I like to think that one day a buyer for a big oil contractor will come online saying "Hi I have just bought a shiny new elise, arn't they great , oh and by the way I have a few million £'s worth of stuff I need manufactured can someone help ?"

and it's not tin foil it's some sort of inconel tube with holes in it. I have no idea what it's for I was just passing by and was roped into having a picture, apparently I am the best looking in the factory (so you can imagine I work with some right ugly/quasi modo types) and was asked to "inspect" said tube.

[steve_weegie]

While I commend any efforts to raise money for worthy causes, I don't believe that branding certain forum members is the way to do it.

Where do you draw the line? Everyone one here ( with a few exceptions...) Is in business, so the next time I help out with an IT related problem do I pay my money? Or is it just people in car related industries? How about machine shop owners who work on engines? Dutch parts or stickers distributors? Employees of murray motors?

Or is it really just Dan and Ali

Both of who are valuable forum members, just like everyone else here who offers their professional advice FOC from time to time