The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

I have just read the post announcing Avalon's change to subscription, and like many here I will no longer be able to post when that change goes into effect. I understand the decision, and thank the Avalon PTB for the brief, yet worthwhile opportunity to engage others on the important issues that concern us all.

I started this thread to say goodbye to some of the good people here - friends I hope I see eventually on the other side - and for others who cannot subscribe to post their own fare-the-wells.

It has been fun, and you all be good.

Cheers :cheers:

Re: The Goodbye Thread
 

If you cannot afford the minimal option of $1 per month, there will be other options available. Some members will gift in those who cannot pay. You could help out the project in some way. Just let us know ... post a Private Message to me or post here if you would like to find an option to stay.

The only limit is the lack of imagination to pursue solutions. We will do what is possible for those who want to stay.

For those who are leaving based on philosophical objections, without some income, Bill and Kerry will not be able to continue their work. This subscription fee is just one of many ideas, but others will take more time to implement.

Brainstorming ideas is encouraged. Please do not be disparaged or disparaging.

Karen

Re: The Goodbye Thread
 

I propose PC be kept entirely separate form PA forum.
If you need money for your interviews/traveling and such then state that on PC.
If people don't give money for PC Interviews etc. support...then it shall stop.
Don’t make PA pay for PC’s lack of income.

This forum should remain, in my personal opinion, free and open to all.

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

can someone post a link to where they have announced they are now charging to belong to the site?

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

Well I'm sorry that some members do not feel that the information here on this forum is not worthy of $60 per year. I am on a small government pension but I would be happy to forgo a small luxury to obtain information that will only be available to me through a forum such as this because our government will be imposing strict access to any controversial websites. So I will be relying on the members here to inform me of info that I will not be able to obtain after January 09.

Perhaps if all those who can afford to subscribe paid an additional $12 per year they could pay for one more member that is not able to pay for themselves. I for one would be happy to do so.

Blessings to All

Love and friendship

firefly

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

I don't work and go to school full time, supported by my parents. I walk everywhere and try to survive on a meal a day. My only money goes to food, and food alone. I treat myself to the occasional drink out at a bar or coffee shop when it comes to discussing philosophy. So unless someone 'gifts' me membership or this subscription does not come to manifestation, I shall leave. I am very adamant about all knowledge being open source and free, even though our current economical structure begs to differ. I understand Bill and Kerry are working out of their own pockets, however, in reference to times like these, I would put freedom of access [to information] over support of more and new information. I think Avalon alone has divulged more information than Bill and Kerry [with Project Camelot] have this fall alone (and I say that in the most positive respects) in terms of the information and networking I have gained from Project Avalon.

As I said in an earlier post, action and physical networking has surpassed that of the amassing of knowledge. We must begin to act versus standing and watching.

As with the ancient Chinese proverb, "To know and not to do, is not to know." This is the era that has recently falling upon us [with the sixth day of the Mayan calendar].

I honestly feel Bill and Kerry should stress donations and maybe have some kind of fundraiser. I think there are better options out there than this.

I feel I have gained sufficient ground with networking already, and can easily be on my way. However, I feel I will lose out on the sharing of my research and theoretical concepts. Hopefully, I can get someone to host me a website (as I recently did not renew mine due to finances, and something else that seemed more of a luxury than a necessity), which I might try to get through my university.

Namaste.

Re: The Goodbye Thread
 

Dito.

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

Gregor, I will put you on the list for a donated membership. I think everyone that wants to be included here can still have posting access. And yes, we will consider other options. Your ideas are noted, as will be the ideas that everyone here presents. Who wants
to organize a fund raiser?

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

I too will be leaving when the subscription service is introduced in a weeks time as per Kerry's announcement. It has nothing to do with the affordability but on the principle of restricting free speech to be heard through monetary means. Now we don't have a choice to network and exchange resources amongst ourselves unless we pay with $$$ to conform with the owners idealogy saddens me.

I want to say a big thanks and goodbye to all the friends I have manifested over the last months and will be sticking to the Mass Consciousness Coalition schedule. Friends start networking face to face in your local area today as the main goal here was to share and exchange information to direct our energy towards a positive future together without limited constraints ie being controlled by money.

Money will dictate and hold souls in restraint as long as the corrupt system is in place.

I think not listening to 77% of their supporters suggesting other means to generate an income is career suicide, in saying that I wish Bill & Kerry all the best of luck in the future.

A warm thank you to all the mods who have invested alot of time and energy into the forum with no pay, you guys are truely gems in disguise.

See you on the other side :original:

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

Karen, please put me on a list for donated membership.

I too am unable to pay for a subscription albeit a small one. I am out of work and my husband, my daughter, and I are struggling and we have no assets to sell. We have been behind on utility bills and have yet to come up with the money to fix our car so we can have it smogged and registered, among other things etc. etc. I won't go on. I'm not trying to get sympathy, it just is what it is.

Goodbye project avalon
 

Well seeing as I wont be paying for the new forum. Which makes sense by the way I do think you should charge for it if you cant afford it, im not a hater. I just wanted to say GoodBye To Avalon its was pretty rad! When exactly does the forum start charging by the way and if I suddenly change my mind and become a paying member will you guys still edit as many posts as you already have or will there be more freedom due to the fact that one is a paying member?

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

As much as I hate to say it, advertising is probably the more lucrative way to go.

With a subscription forum you will probably make ~$2000/yr if you are lucky.

With advertising on a site that has ~1M page views a month you can expect >$3K/month in revenue.

You also don't severely limit the amount of content on the site.

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

Bill Hicks on Marketing, from his 1990's standup routine Revelations. Transcripts from here and here, reformatted to my taste. Official Bill Hicks site here.

-----

By the way if anyone here is in advertising or marketing... kill yourself.

No, no, no it's just a little thought. I'm just trying to plant seeds. Maybe one day, they'll take root - I don't know. You try, you do what you can. Kill yourself.

Seriously though, if you are, do.

Aaah, no really, there's no rationalization for what you do and you are Satan's little helpers. Okay - kill yourself - seriously. You are the ruiner of all things good, seriously. No this is not a joke, you're going, "there's going to be a joke coming," there's no ******* joke coming. You are Satan's spawn filling the world with bile and garbage. You are ****** and you are ******* us. Kill yourself. It's the only way to save your ******* soul, kill yourself.

Planting seeds. I know all the marketing people are going, "he's doing a joke..." there's no joke here whatsoever. Suck a tail-pipe, ******* hang yourself, borrow a gun from a Yank friend - I don't care how you do it. Rid the world of your evil ******* makinations. Machi... Whatever, you know what I mean.

I know what all the marketing people are thinking right now too, "Oh, you know what Bill's doing, he's going for that anti-marketing dollar. That's a good market, he's very smart."

Oh man, I am not doing that. You ******* evil scumbags!

"Ooh, you know what Bill's doing now, he's going for the righteous indignation dollar. That's a big dollar. A lot of people are feeling that indignation. We've done research - huge market. He's doing a good thing."

Godammit, I'm not doing that, you scum-bags! Quit putting a godamm dollar sign on every ******* thing on this planet!

"Ooh, the anger dollar. Huge. Huge in times of recession. Giant market, Bill's very bright to do that."

God, I'm just caught in a ******* web.

"Ooh the trapped dollar, big dollar, huge dollar. Good market - look at our research. We see that many people feel trapped. If we play to that and then separate them into the trapped dollar..."

How do you live like that? And I bet you sleep like ******* babies at night, don't you?

"What didya do today honey?"

"Oh, we made ah, we made ah arsenic a childhood food now, goodnight." [snores] "Yeah we just said you know is your baby really too loud? You know?" [snores] "Yeah, you know the mums will love it." [snores]

Sleep like ******* children, don't ya, this is your world isn't it?

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

I don't really mind paying a small fee, but my issue is with how you pay, and then your anonymity has gone, and even though it will only goto PC/PA I don't like the idea of paypal having these details which can be passed onto third parties, such as those that may use this as a form of databasing.

So I will still read the posts here, but just not be able to post... which is ok I guess.

My thoughts anyway.

:)

wZn

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

There will be options other than paypal for payment. And there are options other than paying in the first place. PM me if interested. Karen

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

It's a pretty sad thing, I won't be able to afford to post anymore.
ah well, should be used to these kind of things happening by now

I think you should definatly consider having at least just one advertisement on the forum, that alone would make some money, most forums or any concept infact that changes to a subscription seems to fail inevitabley, route of all evil n all.
I obviously don't want bill to start hocking doritos but maybe advertisements are a good idea, we see them all the time anyway, I've learnt not to pay attention whatsoever.

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

Well it probably for the best.... soon enough I will shut down my internet anyhow, I have seen what I need to see. I know enough to survive.

Peace

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

Stepping back and viewing this situation with a wider lens shows me that I've seen this before;
watched this kind of creative arc span from pertinent to banal on many projects of many different flavors.

The time it's taken to go from brilliant to consummate has varied but the rearing of the monetary horse
has seemingly throw nearly all the riders time and again.

The word 'subscription' is heavily loaded in the sense that it implies content released on a set schedule.
To be a 'member' of the body of offerings that Camelot and Avalon hold sounds far better than being a mere 'subscriber'.

A stark reminder that our words create worlds; choose them with care.

Having already begun to pull away from Avalon after the first few weeks of golden threads and drifting away from Camelot gradually
over the last few moons has given me the space in which to digest the wonderful things I've learned in that not so distant past.

Whatever paths you choose, the best to you always.

Undooz

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

Well I hate to go, but I just can't pay anything right now. Good luck and God speed to Bill Ryan and Kerry Cassidy. Love ya!:sad:

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

asking for money is an error, period.

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

This might sound kind of, well, I guess it doesn't matter how it sounds, but don't we have any wealthy members here? Can't somebody just throw in a large donation to help out those less fortunate! I know I would if I could, and if times were different, as in any other time but now, I'd throw in a few grand just to help and get that"feel good" feeling of knowing I helped out several thousand people! It doesn't matter if you agree with the subscription or not, the time to help is NOW so nobody has to leave.

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

I am NOT in favour of a paid subscription. The magic of this forum is its openness, diversity, inclusiveness... It's helped me in many ways, so many interesting perspectives - if one went missing it would be a loss.

So, Kerry and Bill, I would rather you postpone a decision. Solicit donations on Camelot. See what happens. Given this stark choice today, I would donate at least an annual subscription or 2 there, right away.

If in a month you see that members here are all talk and no action (i.e. no money comes into Camelot), then so be it. We knew your realities and we made a choice about it, i.e. did nothing. I figure we can't complain, at that time.

As far as merchandising goes, I feel the world has enough of it already. The only exceptions for me are music and books, which can run rampant any time. I'll probably buy your eBook. Knowledge should be open source, a growth industry.

I repeat: I am NOT in favour of a paid subscription.

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

as far as i know someone did offer to pay a whole years worth for everyone
and obviously it was turned down.:shocked:

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

I am not going anywhere.


Spread the Love,

Not the fear.

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

My friend,
Please wait and see what options might be offered, in making it possible for you and others to remain. You have been very wise and insightful in your post. Too loss individuals (as yourself) would be truly sad. I hope this thread, will incite you to the importance of us staying together, as long as possible! I apologize and extend my belated but sincere friendship, My best gio

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

Hi, Folks:

Don't jump the gun here. We've been listening.

We're making options available for people to pay at various levels. The minimum subscription is $1 a month, - which is $12 per year, or the price of two hamburgers.

We're stating clearly that we would would prefer a payment of $5 (or more) per month, but this will be optional.

We will ALSO be adding an option for those members who are subscribing to sponsor (at $1 per month) any members they nominate who cannot afford it.

All the information will continue to be available on a read-only basis for those who prefer not to subscribe. (Two-thirds of the people who visit regularly to read the information on this forum are not members anyway.)

We've been using PayPal for two and a half years, and have never had one single security problem or any other difficulty. It does work very well. If it didn't, we would not use it.

The new structure will be in place fairly soon, but we don't yet know exactly when. We'll announce it as soon as we've implemented and tested the system so that we know it works.

What will happen is that on a certain day (probably sometime next week) members will come to log in and be directed to a new page where they have the option to register again and choose whether, how much, and how they want to pay - and if they want to nominate another person as well.

After a lot of thought (and reading everyone's comments and suggestions), this is absolutely the best system we can think of in order to be fair to all, ensure that everyone can benefit if they want to, and allow our work to continue.

We WILL be sorry to see anyone leave. At the cost of two hamburgers per year, we'd like to think that the scheme we've come up with is within the budget of almost everyone. It is of course entirely an individual decision whether or not this presents good value - but we suggest that it does!

Very best to all, Bill

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

Maybe you could consider selling T-shirts as advertising for the site.

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

Yes, we're going to do this too! We never realized quite how easy this was until one of the members (I'm afraid I can't remember who) recommended http://zazzle.com to us.

White and black, with these logos on them:

http://projectcamelot.org/cheetah_logo_red_sm.gif http://projectavalon.net/avalon_logo_sm.gif

Very best, Bill

Re: Goodbye project avalon
 

Should you go down this path, you will be able to see the moderating style for yourself.

Lurking will be free as I understand the announcement.

A..

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

I don't understand why you don't just put an advert at the top of the page?????
It would make good money and you wont lose the info that people are giving.
This site without the info input will be useless and people will go else where.
Maybe you will have a few people here posting but the majority will leave and move on to another forum which will then become more popular and draw even more people from here.
Please don't make it subscription I've seen forums die before :sad:
It's easy to ignore an advert but you can't ignore the lack of people input.
I'm self employed and my future is looking very grey at the moment, nothing booked in after this week so I need every penny I can get and definately can't afford $5 a month.

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

Hi, Swanny:

But can you afford $1 a month, which will be the minimum for those on low incomes?

That's $12 a year... or (as I said earlier) the price of two hamburgers. Or one movie ticket... or three Starbucks coffees. :)

Very best wishes, Bill

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

i personally agree money is needed. to run this site. Why not wait and see just how it works and who will contribute. I like what i see and will be staying. I do not have great expenses (appart from a mortgage), and no big vices so 60 bucks a year sounds OK.

One less coffee a week i can do without.:cup:

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

This is good, at least itll weed out all the nutcases who are making this site into a ***** heap. Unless they are willing to pay to spit nonsense... though I imagine if the agenda is big enough that they would pay to spread it.

I for one will join the lurkers... not that it matters. Im not one who contributes any profound knowledge. I just want to be within informations grasp when its time to act. I dont want to debate, I dont want to pat anyone on the back or have anyone pat me on the back. I already know that people with like minds exsist and thats good enough for me. All I have to do is open my eyes and look around at this point and all the answer will unfold. Besides Camelot is a good enough resource as it is. Playing "whos the mole" on this forum is pointless and tired.

See you... but you wont see me,
Roland K

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

two hamburgers from thousands of sheepeople is alot of hamburgers for you isnt it?

Cya all.

Good luck everyone

Kindest regards

Bobcat

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

Very few forums charge to post stuff. This will upset everything at the forum. Cut communication off with people. All that just for 30,000 extra a year. Doesn't seem worth it just give up the Australian Ark bunker or something.

Sell books or DVDs. T-shirts anything but charge people to communicate on here as communication is the most important thing.

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

Bill, Kerry & Moderators,

There is a deeper problem with paying that you may not have considered its that people will no longer know what they are buying, if, and I don't believe you can, guarantee that the amount of information and exchange on the forum will remain the same then I think its our first lesson in pulling together and helping others who cannot pay. I will pay for myself and 2 others. I have just lost my job but I can still afford that amount of money once a year. If I find I can't I'm in way bigger trouble and have a lot more problems than being able to post on an important forum :-)

So how will you solve the problem of people knowing what they are now buying, if you introduce this fee and I come on the forum to see one that only 1 person has posted that day what value will I get? Not being an oracle myself I can only offer my ideas but not mathematical genius, or years of scholarship on the bible, or insider information of UFO etc...... Do you follow?

Why don't you try the t-shirts first because not only is it a money maker but think what if I see someone I know or even don't know wearing one, I would go straight up to them and have a chat about what's going on. I would actually know that at the very least, whether we agree or not that we are both seekers and it could have a huge bi-product effect of enabling relationships. I am however not a person who is afraid for my life or anything so annonimity is not an issue, they know who I am or they don't, what will be will be..........

Any thoughts?

PS I will stand by the above mentioned offer for myself and 2 others.

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

Yes I'd noticed it too but I'm not going to get flustered about it. Well not yet anyway.

What I do want to stress is this:

When this forum splits into posters and lurkers it will effectively become a one-way channel. For one thing, local networking will be handicapped. On the 'good' side, with less and narrow banded posters it will become a quicker and easier read here.

I'd appreciate it greatly if the people who 'stay' would adjust their language and methods to compensate for the one sided nature of the Avalon experience. There will be a lot of people who may want to check and clarify things but they won't be able to. Heck, even the BBC has a website with two way com's now!

If I was in B&K's position I would be well freaked out about what I was going to do about money (other than get jobs). I understand their problem. I'm not sure this subscription idea is going to do much to solve it though. If it was a political party we'd probably complain about large donations. It's a tough call.

If I don't 'stay', and it looks like I won't, I'll be looking for you all on other forums. These wacky ID's and avatars that people use make it harder to do that but hopefully we can establish 2 way coms by supplementary means.

We've got a few more days yet so it's probably too soon to be saying goodbye.

:sad:

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...s_balloons.gif

subscription fees won`t bring lots of money, selling t-shirts also not.
advertising sounds good but...(projectavalon powered by ??? monsanto? might not look good to some); or wouldn`t a merger with some other community do the trick - what is with St. Clair?
:zip:

Re: The Goodbye Thread / Options To stay
 

Hello there,I'm just 'subscribing' to this thread-to show my state of play in affairs-i shall have to leave the forum as i am unemployed like a few have already mentioned-i can't afford my own website to try and make some living from my photography as i'm unable to market my work through the net-i suppose my work's not good enough to sell anyway;that's another issue but i am stretched with finances here-i look after my mum at home who's unwell,this is why i spend alot of time on here!!lol.I have been trying to get out and get some more shots but it is difficult in not leaving my mum for too long-so it's ver y hard and now i find i will have to leave the forum,one of my only links with like minders-i realise i haven't posted much good stuff but have contributed from the outset,I'm even doing a wedding this weekend and not charging for this as the couple who are marrying are skint as i am but i look at it as helping them to start off in life and is better for my conscience in the long term-this you cannot put a price on!!
I don't wish to be subsidised or appear to scounge,and in my humble opinion this move to subscription is akin to showing who can and who can't afford to pay for free thinking.i am aware that Bill and Kerry need an income as we all do but i'm really struggling i hate to say but 'tis true-i still give what i an able-i could tell you some situations that i've been in!
Anyhow i don't wish to be put in a position of charity and thankyou for the flexibility but i don't think it right-if i can't be self sufficient then i am forced to leave-i may find somewhere else to call home;i wish to thank everyone for the support and criticism i have received it's all been processed in the development factory of my soul,
Cheers,Wayne,.A.t.
P.S. i forgot to say thankyou Bill and Kerry for starting the site and the forum-you'vebeen a piece in the jigsaw that's brought much enlightenment to us all.

http://www.projectavalon.net/forum/p...pictureid=4814

http://www.projectavalon.net/forum/p...pictureid=4408