Wanted: Site Host Provider

[kopfhorer1]

Paypal sucks for a lot of reasons having nothing to do with "adult" web sites. It just has this coating of SLIME all over it. As for their needing a swift kick in the balls, well, they ain't got none.

This space is SO not like most other "adult" sites. I wish I were more flush, though a few buxx a month would be a small price to pay. Heck, you pay $30.00 a year for Suicidegirls.com, and they suck like a bucket of ticks.

 

[Kalamos]

Perhaps. I think that would have to be one of the "if we absolutely have to" things as going off-site (to upload as well as download) would just be a massive inconvenience for people.

I'd agree were it 1998.
Now we have several free hosting services, for the larger files.
We could lower the cap for split files, and have some stuff migrate over Rapidshare, Ultrashare and so on.

Having to close the forum down is what I'd call a massive inconvenience.
Learning to cope with technology isn't that bad.
Besides, we'd lick the problem with leechers who just grab the loot without saying thanks...

Sure, I love easy and free as anybody else.
But money being money, I wouldn't be partial on forking it out so complete strangers can keep up with their leeching habits.

Let's consider this: TMF got big with no hosting privileges to users. It just recently offered them, after several years without.
If people come to TTC *just* for the files, maybe it's time for a trim down.

Just my thought.

 

[nessonite1]

I see what you're saying, Kman. You definately have a good point.

 

[Kalamos]

I see what you're saying, Kman. You definately have a good point.

Thanks. 😉

After all, it was in Admin's original ideas.
When he added the rule of 10, he had in mind to create a community of contributing individuals.
Not to promote free sharing.

Maybe tweaking file cap and downloading privileges could help in keeping expenses down, without having to raise a fee.

Besides, if we actually asked for money, we'd probably lose the very same user traffic that is currently draining Admin's wallet, and we'll probably keep out people who are penny-less but willing to contribute with original contents and stuff.

It wouldn't be the fee itself, however small, but the hassle of sending money through the web - something I, for starters, would have probs with.

...

I would suggest checking the traffic charts and pin-pointing the kind of contents [demo clips, mainstream stuff, split archives, anime, messaging and so on] that take the largest chunk of global traffic, and then decide how to cope with it.

 

[Paradoxical]

I see what you're saying, Kman. You definately have a good point.

Wasn't it originally my point?

:-D

Just kidding.

 

[Kalamos]

Wasn't it originally my point?

Yes, but you probably scared people with the idea of hosting every single pic outside TTC.

That's the hard way.
The easy way would be to check traffic logs and see what's hogging the forum.
Then act accordingly.

We *think* the largest source of web traffic comes from split files.
They made sense a couple of years ago, when few ppl had DSL, and free adult hosts were scarce.

Now more ppl can tackle a full vid as a single file, and free hosts can handle files up to 100 megs or so, making the whole split file idea obsolete.

That's why I would suggest we started trimming the forum down *there*.
People are already familiar with youtube: they just advertise vids, without having them actually hosted over TTC.
Uploading vids to external hosts and advertise just the link might work and lessen server load.

...

I'm not really lecturing you on your own idea. 🙂
I'm just "typing" out aloud.

 

[BigNorm]

before we do anything as drastic as completely removing free content hosting, we could announce something like if the members can use another free content hosting service, please do. we might be surprised of how many people would do it to help out TT.

the main reason i switched back to TT from TMF, was the fact of the free hosting. the content hosting really makes people want to post more media to share, and attracts alotta new members. i think totally trimming the content hosting is a bad idea, and should be used as a very last resort.

on another note, if anyone can think of a safe and secure way of transfering money to TT, i'm all ears. i know pay pal sucks, hell, it screwed the pooch for me a couple times aswell, but it seems like the only option now.

 

[Kalamos]

before we do anything as drastic as completely removing free content hosting, we could announce something like if the members can use another free content hosting service, please do.

I'm just suggesting an alternative here. 😉
Stark measures are yet to be taken, but...

Does the split-files forum still make sense?
I would suggest a poll, and see what people think about it.

 

[cosquillero1]

I like to share big clips, is the first reason for what i did enter to this forum, because the TMF is only for talk about, not to share clips. But each his/her own.

 

[Kittamaru1]

How goes things for the moment?

I might have a way to help out in a personall manner... but I need to look into it further to see if it's possible

 

[MacD]

I haven't read all the posts up to now, are the costs somewhere inside?
Let's assume ~ 1200 Members. If each of them gave $1 per year (!) you would have $100 per month to pay the server. There is webspace available for ~$4 (per month) so I guess the forum's traffic could easily be covered with an appropriate account, paid with that money?

I'd not have a problem with that price, would anybody else?
But it should be on a voluntary base, because otherwise the forum would loose members and thus become less attractive for those who actually would like to stay.
Maybe the paying members could have some slight advantage like access to special things. What about asking the companies for supporting you with dedicated pictures for them? Or what about limited downloads for free members?
There are possibilities to keep things running.

 

[MistressValerie1]

I recall that it was $244/month for dedicated hosting. We used to accept Paypal donations, but they changed their TOS to disallow adult-content related transactions. We would be interested in a voluntary donation system if we could find a payment processor that would accept adult websites and that would be less complicated than CCBill.

 

[MacD]

Ok now I know the whole story!
At paypal it says "send money to anyone with an email adress". I don't really know the complete backgrounds but do you need to signup with a description of what and why?

If content is "outsourced", it should not require members to register at countless free-image sites. Some posters are not aware of being logged in at a page and others can't see the content. Don't know if people want that... The same with sites like "this image already has been downloaded today, come back tomorrow".

The "pay by click" maybe could work. If everyone clicks. And if clicking does not start to suck.

Linking to the original sources would help, instead of uploading them to the board. Especially regarding the videos and large videos.
What about having to post descriptions and previews for clips, which prevents downloads just to look what it is?

Hey and one big thanks to you for keeping the forum running up to now! I think most of haven't thought about that all the time.

 

[MistressValerie1]

The problem with Paypal is that we had the donation link on the forum 🙁 Offsite image hosting could work if everyone used services that don't require registration (fapomatic, imagevenue, etc.), at least for larger files. I wish that members would post descriptions of clips as the rules require, for many reasons including the saving of wasted bandwidth, but we have had mixed success with that.

There are so many things to think about for the future of the community.

 

[LonelyKimiko]

Is there anywhere I can donate money to? I'm pretty broke, but I've got a little spare at the minute and I'll do whatever I can to help.

 

[cosquillero1]

I'd like to contribute with money, but i can't to send U.S. dollars, because in my country (Venezuela) to get Dollars/euros is only for huge companies or politician persons, so i only can to send Bolivares (Venezuelan money). I'm pretty sure than many people of other countries have this same trouble. If finally is chosen to get a fee payment (in U.S. Dollars or european money) then i'll be out (and many people of other countries too).

 

[MistressValerie1]

LK, thanks for your support 🙂 All I can suggest is to send a PM to TickleTheater and ask him if there is an address where you can send a cheque.

I understand the currency problem, Cos. Many credit cards exchange currencies automatically for a 1% fee, so if we can accept credit card donations it might not be a problem.

 

[cosquillero1]

LK, thanks for your support 🙂 All I can suggest is to send a PM to TickleTheater and ask him if there is an address where you can send a cheque.

I understand the currency problem, Cos. Many credit cards exchange currencies automatically for a 1% fee, so if we can accept credit card donations it might not be a problem.

Thanks you for the suggestion Val, but my Venezuelan credit card only allows me Venezuelan transactions, not international, i tried several years ago to get access in a webcam service and my credit card was rejected. The international currency trouble is a crap done by Venezuelan Government.

 

[kopfhorer1]

What's the status of the donation system now? Is it still in the works?

 

[MistressValerie1]

As far as I know, there has been no decision about a donation system yet.

 

[Low_Roads]

I'd be happy to start making modest monthly donations, as long as there's a PO address or some other sort of snail mail site where I could send money orders. At present I'm not set up to pay for anything over the internet and I have no prospect of becoming so. I do hope that a PO address is being considered as an option.

 

[vl500]

I don't know if it has been mentioned, but couldn't you implement ads ? With the (relatively) large popularity the site enjoys, you should be able to earn more than enough by pop-up or other types of ads. Well true, most would be porn but then - as they say - a guy has got to make a living... 🙂
If you believe this option is below your 'ethical' standards as an admin, think again: a lot of very serious and popular sites employ it, especially when they do not want other 'dependencies'.