Let me preface this thread with a disclaimer: I'm not trying to be a smartass (it comes naturally).

That said, I think limiting your G of the month voting to premier members only is a bit bogus. Nominating only premier members, fine, but to alienate those who choose not to directly support the site financially (because just being here helps you sell ad space, so they DO support it indirectly) isn't really fair to the folks who get nominated, either.

To suggest that only the opinions of your premier members are valid in voting for what they think is the nicest G does a disservice to the folks who are nominated. The number of members who do not subscribe far outweighs the number who do... so the nominees are losing out on a lot of potential votes.

I'd go into detail about the "return on investment" to become a premier member, but I think that horse has been beaten enough.

Just my $.02 on the G of the Month subject.

 

Couldn't agree more.

 

But then everyone will go Premier and IB will makes lots and lots of money because the contest is so super awesome.

Oh...wait...sorry, my mistake. I must have been daydreaming in a world where IB cares about more than just the $

 

Having a G of the month itself is silly, despite any of the silly rules used to determine the G of the month in the first place. I just ignore that threads myself...

 

I think the site traffic from us users are generating much more money than premier membership costs. I never understood the justification for charging for premium membership.

 

every forum charges a premium membership its your choice to join or not..to chage yearly though is just to much.i am a memebr of a number of forums and the ones i have joined for a premium membership is lifelong

 

No, every forum does not charge a membership. I am a member of a few myself and NONE of them charge.

 

well said

 

there is a G of the month poll? ;-P

 

Other forums I've participated in Free up benefits, without charging as one reaches milstones, like for instance days joined, post count etc.....

 

I've thought about doing that but unfortunately it's not entirely our decision these days.. Still working on reducing PM pricing for a temporary period.

 

I think it's easy to forget that the owners of this forum aren't enthusiasts, it's a corporation with a lot of other forums. Stuff that doesn't make sense to us is done because it affects their bottom line.

 

there's no return on investment. you should be a lifetime member without having to dish out money every year or give a t-shirt/license plate frame/key chain or something every year if you're being charged $30 annually.

 

and your point is??

 

Agreed.

Also, not to let the cat out of the bag, but anyone who pays to advertise here (banners on top or bottom of the page) is an idiot. Tell me the last time anyone clicked one of these ads? Some of them are for shat I have already looked up online. Thanks, I looked it up, I know about it already.