The Furry Forums
TFF Central => Announcements => Topic started by: Tweak on August 19, 2012, 11:29:03 PM
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Now that I have your attention.
I realise since I posted about potential funding issues a lot of people here are concerned that the forums will shut down.
Simple answer?
Probably not
The present situation is that the cost of the equipment needed is more than I have available - by a lot. I actually do not physically have the funds available to afford the payments required.
Whilst the donations taken over the past year have been great, these are used on recurring costs for other smaller areas and therefore are not available to cover the largest expense.
If $2000 (more or less) is raised by the end of October then everything will continue as it is now for another year. If it isn't things will have to change. With enough money I can move us to a different but still reliable infrastructure.
I also have a number of other options if required.
This is the present situation and it may change over the next few weeks or months if opportunities arise but at present the current state is in jeopardy.
What is being done to help this?
As always we're accepting donations of any amount, every dollar will help towards this goal. Every cent donated will only be used for the costs associated with the forums.
We've added some more adverts which should hopefully bring in cash towards costs, just a click now and again will benefit us. There may be some pop-unders introduced due to the higher payout associated.
What else could be done?
We're looking into running a big fundraiser to secure as much as possible to help cement the future of the forums. We're looking into perks we could offer as part of this. (Meet me for a day, no adverts on the forums for a year, introduction of a social networking site specifically for you, etc) - you can help with other ideas.
We're taking all ideas to help benefit us.
I'll keep you regularly updated on how things are going, so please help in anyway you can.
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We'll see what happens when my scholarship comes... Also:
Please use descriptive subjects in all topics and posts.
Shame on you. D:
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Please use descriptive subjects in all topics and posts.
Shame on you. D:
Bite me :P
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Have you considered making this a forced-read? As in, as soon as members log in they are redirected to the thread. I think it merits the attention if you can.
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Otebon had a pretty neat idea where a couple of Avid TFF users who do art and stuff, could start commissioning work as a fundraiser for the forum. So you give money to the forum for art, alternatively, we could give the art itself as a prize.
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I did my part this month, and I just wish we had more time :(
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Yeah me too, I can pay a maximum of $400 (but then I'd be completely broke XD) by November first :P
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I have started working now. When my money comes in I should be able to spare some for the good of the forum.
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it's funny that most of the people that here post did or do a donations.
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I really do with I could donate, but being the age of 17 does not help me all that much. :S
But as soon as I can get a job and paypal, first $20 bucks going to the forum!
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i remember making a thread suggesting ideas
one of them was selling merchandise...is that a good idea?
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As of next month I'll actually be getting a constant source of income. I'll use whatever I have left over after paying all my bills and such to donate to the forums (Yes I have a paypal account fear not :P)
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Check our fundraiser here as well: http://igg.me/p/209358?a=1069736 (http://igg.me/p/209358?a=1069736)
We're offering limited perks. Share with your friends and family as well!
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so we have to donate here on the forum or on this website?
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Whichever you prefer, both are being used.
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I would help but, the way things are going for me at the moment I can't. I will be paying off my school project until December.
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Feel free to just share the link, that helps too :)
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Just posted a journal on dA about it, telling folks to spread the word. I have a feeling most of the friends I have on there will spread it around a good bit.
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Just posted a journal on dA about it, telling folks to spread the word. I have a feeling most of the friends I have on there will spread it around a good bit.
Perfect, thank you!
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I figure I can try and help.
As poor as I am, I can't say I'll do any donating, but I will click on some ads and promote the link for you.
It's the most I can do, at the moment, that is.
Sorry if what I'm doing isn't helping, I'm trying.
Of course, anything to keep the forum alive.
:P
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I should be able to make a donation in the next week or two ^_^
anything to help
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I get paid this thursday, so I might be able to help out, after bills, and other stuff is accounted for. But I will donate. XD
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just linked the fundraiser on my FA and told a buddy of mine to link it to all his furry friends too
Post Merge: August 29, 2012, 07:51:05 AM
also why not put it on kickstarter? Thats the most popular fundraising site.
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just linked the fundraiser on my FA and told a buddy of mine to link it to all his furry friends too
also why not put it on kickstarter? Thats the most popular fundraising site.
Thank you for sharing it. :)
We didn't use Kickstarter because Indiegogo, unlike Kickstarter, will give us whatever money we earned regardless of whether or not we meet the goal. Kickstarter will cancel all donations if you don't meet the goal.
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Ive just realized this but after this post.... the funding bar has suddenly reached 64%
I guess it took a post like this to alert ppl to the cause
with 44 days and the ppl i asked to promote this fundraiser (including official omnivore who i met on newgrounds while he was still a furry) I think we can pull this off people :D
Ps:are the donations you see at the front page the same fundraiser? because if not evreything i just said here is wrong >.<
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64% hehe N64
Okay enough with the bad jokes...
I'll make a donation right around the beginning of October don't know exactly how much yet ^^ it all depends on how much I have left after AWA ^^;;;
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Ps:are the donations you see at the front page the same fundraiser? because if not evreything i just said here is wrong >.<
The funds being given directly through the forum (on the homepage) are separate from the ones going through Indiegogo. Though they both are going toward the same cause, the amounts listed for each are separate and not counted together.
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Ps:are the donations you see at the front page the same fundraiser? because if not evreything i just said here is wrong >.<
The funds being given directly through the forum (on the homepage) are separate from the ones going through Indiegogo. Though they both are going toward the same cause, the amounts listed for each are separate and not counted together.
ah so to get the true amount you would add the two total funds together ..? that makes enough sense
PS:also some furs who don't go to this site when i ask them to promote it say they don't trust it so i think it may be good to show some of the money been used to directly fund the site i think this should make non TFF members know this is a real appeal
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PS:also some furs who don't go to this site when i ask them to promote it say they don't trust it so i think it may be good to show some of the money been used to directly fund the site i think this should make non TFF members know this is a real appeal
Personally I think this would be a great idea, for forum or non-forum goers. Perhaps an addition to the Donation page, would be something that would show just how much the forum has available in total (not for the month), how much gets paid (monthly), where the money is going, etc. For people who are donating at least $50+, I think it'd only be fair to know just how exactly their money is being used.
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This is a planned addition should things go as we hope. Currently we have $295 of the required amount. If we get more then it will be even better.
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Planning to donate at least $100 when I get dad to either let me use his credit card or get my own paypal account.
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If changes are absolutely necessary, will it affect the IRC?
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Okay, I've spread the link on my website and a bit on Newgrounds. Hopefully that helps.
(Looks at reward tiers)
40$: Teehee, sarcastic insults in binary. That sounds rad. Doodles sound rad too.
60$: I dunno, I kinda like the ads. I found some stuff I never would have found normally through ads. Like this Gaming Furever add at the top of the page.
800$: Okay, now we gotta get some people on that.
900$: Whoa, that sounds awesome. I didn't know Zephyr did 3D modeling.
These are some interesting reward tiers. I like it!
Of course, I can't see non-forum members doing the 800 dollar one, because they might not know you guys, and be all like "Meet Tweak? Meet Zephyr? Who's Tweak? Who's Zephyr?"
Sorry, I'm really nutty. But yeah, we're getting somewhere.
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900$: Whoa, that sounds awesome. I didn't know Zephyr did 3D modeling.
Indeed. It's what I went to school for. :P
I don't offer 3D commissions usually, so this would be a rare opportunity to grab one.
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I assume you guys added popup ads to the site, or it's just me? I'm using it from a handheld device, and whenever there's a popup, it asks "Would you like to open in a new window" and when I went to this topic to say something, I got that message about 5 times, meaning that ad was trying to pop up and I kept denying it XD
Nevertheless, as long as the ol' Furry Forums are still up, I'm happy.
But the batrle against financial costs is not over! We have to defeat this money eating beast using our money!
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Yes, adverts will include popups and intersital ads (ones that load between changing pages) in an attempt to increase revenue. The popups make a lot more income, in theory.
Once the target is reached it is likely a lot will be removed as I dislike ads as well and never like using them here. They are set up to not annoy you too often though! :)
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Only 24 hours (give or take) left to donate.
If you're one of those people that wait to the last second... THIS IS IT!
Go here (http://www.indiegogo.com/stf?a=1583953)and donate! PLEASE!!!! Or I'll do something really silly!
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Donating $150 tonight,
Gettin' that digital image from Zephyr!
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Ever thought of advertising and marketing the comic hosting aspect of this forum?
I don't know whether this has been thought of already, but I thought I would throw in my input.
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There's only about 2 hours left! GOGOGO!
This is your last chance to get some great stuff here (http://www.indiegogo.com/stf?a=1583953). Go forth and grab it!
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Whatever I don't spend at Oklacon this weekend I'll gladly funnel into my only way of entertainment, the Furry Forums.
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Hey, just got the email this was happening! Still my stupid fault for not actually turning up on here ANYWHERE near enough. I HATE seeing Furry sites go under, and can and will help wherever I can, so BAM $150 AUD. Hope it helps. If you need anything more, let me know.
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Thank you, Jade! <3
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I just donated a bit. I will donate more next month. And also when I can sell programms or website stuff :P
Dunno how helpful this might be, but i might could get a server with 25Gb hdd, 1gb ra, no traffic limit, 99,9% uptime, the only thing is, that it will be locsted in Germany. But might be enough to handle a forum, irc, vent/mumble ? It wouldn't be a problem to rent it for me.
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If changes are absolutely necessary, will it affect the IRC?
It's alright to answer that. It won't affect my donations negatively.
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Must've missed it the first time. It's doubtful it will do so.
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MAN I wish I had my own paypal, I'd be happy to fund the rest we need for October. Is there any way that someone else I know could use their paypal to donate through my profile?
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Yeah, as long as you're logged on any Paypal can be used.
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set up a bitcoin mining pool?
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Well as far as I know we have 5 days left
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Just made my very first donation :D
*stares at neat purple nametag*
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:O
YOUR NAMETAG TIMMY
IT'S EVOLVED
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Congratulations Timmy.
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Congrats, Timmy! Your NAMETAG has evolved into PURPLETAG!
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So what's the situation now?
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Invest in legos. :P
And put the dreamkeepers adds back up, i guess...
OR...
Maybe offer commissions too and use 50% of the profits to pay for the forums?
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What I know is that we were meant to have money by the first of november, So I dunno if that's happened or we got an extension or what
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I don't know too many of the specifics myself because Tweak has been working it out. But as far as I'm aware, we've already switched to the VPS which is $1000/year instead of the $2000/year for our original server. Switching to the VPS caused some concern about how it would affect forum performance, but overall it seems to be about the same. Based on the donations we received and the cheaper server cost, it should all be enough for the next year. If all goes as planned, we might even be able to jump over to better equipment before then.
We've been working on switching the server and dealing with the donation rewards from the Indiegogo campaign over the past couple weeks, so things have been busy. Sorry for the delay in an update.
So the short answer is: We're okay for now, thanks to you guys. :)
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alrighty then. You're welcome.
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I will post a more detailed post when I get a chance. I'm currently trying to get everything working smoothly.
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I don't know too many of the specifics myself because Tweak has been working it out. But as far as I'm aware, we've already switched to the VPS which is $1000/year instead of the $2000/year for our original server. Switching to the VPS caused some concern about how it would affect forum performance, but overall it seems to be about the same. Based on the donations we received and the cheaper server cost, it should all be enough for the next year. If all goes as planned, we might even be able to jump over to better equipment before then.
We've been working on switching the server and dealing with the donation rewards from the Indiegogo campaign over the past couple weeks, so things have been busy. Sorry for the delay in an update.
So the short answer is: We're okay for now, thanks to you guys. :)
About the only performance issue that I've noticed since the switch is it says the server is under high stress a little bit more often then it use to. As well as if me and some other people get in a really fast posting frenzy say like the time me and someone else almost beat the current record on the VS Mods thread, where the thread was literally updating every maybe 5-15 seconds one of my other friends said the server was lagging and I started to notice that as well every now and then when refreshing the preview button to see if another person had posted so I could post my post. Other then that everything seems to be the same.
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I personally haven't noticed any difference :P
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I can't say I've seen any difference except for five instances of "502/503". And that it's $1000 cheaper, which still seems a bit more expensive. But then again, I've only ever gotten quotes on things like that, so I wouldn't know about final price :|
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Hey, here's a good idea do a little Furry-Con. Where you live, have a WHOLE bunch of furries pay and hang out. Have food, merch, games, and more interactive stuff! Have Furries from EVERYWHERE try to come! Haha, that'd be amazing.
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It's always been in my plans to work something out for a big meet. Just the logistics of it is rather difficult.
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That and the fact that this forum has such a wide variety of members from all over the world.
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Yeah, good point. Maybe do a give away. Like a giveaway. Person to pay the biggest amount get a huge surprise :3... I dunno :/ just trying to help
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Can we make a deal that if one of us manages to get access to a ridiculous amount of money, we'll fund a TFF fur meet? XD
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I can go with that
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I've kinda done TFF meets before, albeit with three different members over the past four years? Meeple, Tyla-Cat (2009) and Kitt / Katka (2013). Though it's a shame that the former two aforementioned people have stopped contact with me for whatever reason >.>
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The only way we can do a furmeet is at a convention and even then it'd be small meets because the majority of people can't get to the same convention at once.
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If worse comes to worse I can setup a server here at my home as temporary. I have several systems here at home and one I just retired earlier this year as an old gaming rig is perfect to run a Linux server. That way, no VPS, just dedicated hardware that you have control of. OR can use it as a back up system when this one goes down...which I have noticed quite a bit since joining this past week.
Just thought I'd put that out there. :)
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glad to see the dissapearance of tff never happened