I was sitting here reading all the Questions and answers-how to's and any body got's.I always looking at the persons name and where they are from-when I noticed that there are a lot of people on this board that have 200-4500 posts.These people aren't even Residents.With all this board has to offer WHY-NOT??????
Posted by Rick Chavez (Member # 2146) on :
50 Bucks seems like a little money, I can't can't speak for every visitor here but, as a single father of 4 who drive 1250 miles a week to work, because I can't afford rent close to work, every penny counts. I don't even have a car, I have to borrow one till either my tax money comes in or something great happens. 50 bucks does not sound like much, but is't a fortune to some of us. Maybe I outta breakdown and cough up the cash, and I will when the time is right, but every once in a while when this subject comes up, it takes away a little of the dignity of those who believe in contributing but either through curcumstance or plain laziness have not become a Resident. I have purchased a book and regretted not becoming a resident, or treated myself to a rare steak and crab leg dinner and regretted it, but I also contribute, and helped, not only here but 8 other design boards. So maybe after I get my tax money, I can remember to become one, till the mean time, I hope that all our contributions and questions are appreciated. Rick
Posted by cheryl nordby (Member # 1100) on :
Well as I sit here cutting my vinyl...I am thinking of a way to answer.
First of all....does it matter? I have been both. I was a resident for 3..maybe 4 years. I connected with quite a few people.. and learned. I don't come to the BB nearly as much as I used to, for one I am busy, and for another...there is alot of repeat stuff. So...does that make me less important. Do I not belong to the clan? When one of your neighbors moves do you automatically take them off your friends list? Or do you still like them?
Steve and Barb run this board as they like, which they should. It is theirs to do what they want. And it has helped many people. I got quite a few things deleted....which is also Steve and Barbs choice. I didn't like it. But so what. It doesn't matter. And you know what....it doesn't matter to me who is a resident or a visitor. A person is important either way, as is their input. Maybe if we put less emphasis on being a 'resident' more might want to be one?
Whatever the reason is for not becoming a resident is everybodys own choice. No it is not alot of money to be a resident. Everybody who is 'just a visitor' isn't broke. And everybody who is a resident isn't making a billion on each sign. It is a personal choice. If it offends anybody...then maybe only the paying members should be allowed.
Posted by CJ Allan (Member # 52) on :
This subject has been worn out a lonnnngggg time ago.............and Toooooooo many times ta be bringing it up again......!!
aand all it's ever done is start a bunch of argueing and name calling between all who get involved......!!
Of course we can start it all over again if everybody ain't got nuthin better ta doo......
.........cj
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
Does it offend anyone that I am not a resident, but never the less have helped in those questions that are of my expertise? Is it so important to those who find fault in those of us who aren't residents? From what I could remember, I've never really asked any questions but yet have answered many. My website has had a link to this site since 1996 and I feel that my site is just as imformative in what I do as this site is to what you do, but without the BB.
I find at my age that it doesn't pay to bicker, back stab, or fall into any subject that puts each of us against one another. I know that there was a point to my 2000 posts or replies from questions asked on this BB which I have given freely from my 50 years of experience in a craft that I hold so dear to my heart. If it offends you that I haven't become a resident, maybe you should spend more time outside as I have, then inside trying to play games with someone elses head.
Posted by Janette Balogh (Member # 192) on :
Steve and Barb have never treated "residents" differently than "visitors" with the exception of the occasional perks and freebies given in the draws etc. It would be their perogative to do so anyway, ... but they don't. They welcome all participations within the guidelines of some pretty simple rules, which encompass basic courtesy towards each other, and respect for the board in general.
It is a free choice to be a resident, and each person makes that choice to meet their own personal circumstances, which should remain their business. The resident/visitor issue is not meant to divide us, and as of now, the site remains free for all to use and enjoy.
For me the choice was simple. I just wanted to give back something to a venue that has given, and continues to give me so much. I give back whenever I'm able to by my participation, but I've chosen to toss in some monetarily too. No big deal. And it should be no big deal whichever way one chooses to go, ... for whatever reason.
The second best reason I have for encouraging someone to become a resident, other than to support the site, is simply because I really do enjoy seeing a face attached to the posts!
Nettie
Posted by david drane (Member # 507) on :
And what a lovely happy face you have too Nettie. Posted by Curtis hammond (Member # 2170) on :
I, like a few others have reasons why not... Most can not gather up the 50 bux.
I have a number of posts. And I hope i post a few hundred more. I give my knowledge freely and will contiue to do so. I know for a fact I have saved several here much money and aggravation in my help.. And I cannot wait to help more.
I had / have my reasons as to why not...... And They are all but gone now.. Steve knows why I have not and he has resolved that challange. So many thanks to him for that.
And now, I will give mine when i'm ready. And, in fact if I could've cought up with him and barb when they came thru here I likely would've.
Posted by John Smith (Member # 1308) on :
well, I like seeing my handsome self every time I post something. Posted by Kissymatina (Member # 2028) on :
Everyone has their own situations. I was a resident for a year, then my taxes lapsed for a few months before I finally got them caught up. With me I just kept forgetting to call Steve & Barb and when I did remember it was too late or I didn't have the time necessary when talking to those 2.
I know some are tight on money, some just absent-minded like I am. I agree with Nettie, I wanted to join because I got so much from this place.
The only time it bothers me is when you see someone with a zillion posts talking about some new toy they bought yet it still says visitor beside their name. If they spend this much time here and they have $ to blow on toys, surely they can pony up $50. That is $0.96 a week. I find more change than that in my couch.
Posted by bronzeo (Member # 1408) on :
I don't see bringing up the question wrong by any measure. It is how this site as most others survive. The internet in general, and busy sites like this one are very expensive to operate, especially considering the hours that the owners dedicate for us. They choose not to hound us for resident status, but keep doing nice things for us, at still "no charge". For those who can't afford it right now, catch it when you can. Meanwhile, it is the residents, and merchants which help keep this site going.
Posted by Terry Baird (Member # 3495) on :
I intend to become a resident as soon as I can afford it. This site and the wonderful, sharing people on it are a breath of fresh air. The shops that I've been involved with for the last 20+ years are overly competitive, secretive and have never gotten along with one another. I really don't mind the O.T. posts, the jokes or the sometimes controversial opinions. They're better than no dialogue at all. The diversity of opinions and talents on this site is what makes it work.
I've been back in business for 7 months now. I've been able to get a good plotter, a used work van and a new Pentiun 4 in part because of the good advice and honest willingness of you people to help. Things are still tight, but as soon as I have 50 extra ducks in my hand, it's going to Steve.
Posted by KARYN BUSH (Member # 1948) on :
i like posting a picture of a perfect stranger and saying it's me.....makes ya wonder don't it?
Posted by bronzeo (Member # 1408) on :
Me too Karyn Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
As to the comment that the residents & merchants are the ones keeping this site going, I would just offer the thought that if visitors are buying from merchants, that will contribute to the merchants decision to continue to support the site. Of course we residents are also supporting merchants, but the many visitors have their effect also. The great advice offered by all (including the visitors) is a large part of why we residents are happy to pay the tax. I paid mine within a month or 2 of finding this place & am on my second year, but some 4500 post person may have spent a few years as a resident as Cheryl said, so there is absolutely no merit in trying to judge the level of support a person brings here by their pic or lack thereof.
[ March 27, 2003, 07:57 PM: Message edited by: Doug Allan ]
Posted by Arthur Vanson (Member # 2855) on :
Sent my old passport photo in months ago – hasn't appeared so assumed it was just too scary Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
but did you send this pic too... Posted by Ryan E Young (Member # 2325) on :
I have 50 buck tucked in my poket to give to Steve and Barb in person in Florida. I would like to see how much money we could get up to get Steve and Barb to remove CJs picture. Dang thats a scary shot CJ!!! I have to turn off the monitor when my boy is in the shop so he doesnt have nightmares. I have to give him his stuffed biker name snake to protect him when he does. Posted by Arthur Vanson (Member # 2855) on :
Assuming that was directed at me Doug, then no – never seen that picture in my entire life. I sent my photo some weeks after disclosing a few numbers from a blue Visa squeegee. Not a big deal either way, I rather like the little cartoon fellow.
Posted by Steve Shortreed (Member # 436) on :
This Resident deal has never been a big issue with Barb and myself. Letterville is run on the idea that we will make money when, and if, we can help others make money or realize a benefit.
Letterville Residents actually made money last year. Every Resident was given a Tramp CD valued at $90. If you sold your CD, you would be $40 ahead. Not a bad investment!
I need to clear up something Doug said. Residents are the sponsors of Letterville. We have advertisers, but Letterville is dedicated to signmakers and will never be dependant on a corporate sponsor for it's survival. As a small business owner and signmaker, I believe we can, and should, pay for our own meets. We have some wonderful Merchants here, including many who have become good friends. They understand and respect my desire to keep Letterville sponsored by the people it is here to serve.
We appreciate the vast pool of sign knowledge everyone brings to Letterville. The knowledge is free. Take what you need and try to contribute when you can.
I have an issue with some comments Curtis made. It's no secret he dislikes a freguent contributor to this BB. In the past, he has made it clear he would never support Letterville financially as long as his nemesis was part of it. Nothing wrong with that, but to infer our good friend Dave Grundy has in any way been diminished is just flat wrong. It's going to take far more than money to make that ever happen.
Think about it for a minute. Is it right to refuse to do business with someone because you don't approve of their friends and/or relatives? If this is the real reason some are not becoming Residents, please keep the $50 and buy a tank of gas to get to a live meet instead. You are still welcome to use the BB, chat and other site features as much as you want.
So why do so many choose to be Residents when you can use Letterville for free? One reason has to be the incentives. Here's just a few!
The Monthly Resident Draw
You get 12 chances to win some great "door prizes" donated by our Letterville Merchants. I'm hoping some past winners will jump in here and tell us what they won. In most cases, the value of the door prize makes up for many years of Resident Taxes.
The Resident Vault
All Residents get the key to the Resident Vault. Inside you'll find all sorts of fonts, clipart and other goodies that you can download and use in your shop. We're going to be adding lots of new stuff in the near future.
Your Photo On Your Posts
It's not a big deal, but many like to see their smiling faces beside their posts.
The Photo Upload Album
Residents can use our web space to store the photos they display here on the Letterville BB. We've invested in a program that makes posting your photos a snap.
So there you are. A list of incentives we feel are a great value. It's just our way of saying Thank You to the users that make this online meet the success it is. We hear from many of you that appreciate the goodies, but insist they would invest in Letterville even without the incentives. Thanks to the generousity of our Residents, everyone is able to share in all Letterville is, and can become. Thanks to all of you!
[ March 27, 2003, 08:30 PM: Message edited by: Steve Shortreed ]
Posted by Don Coplen (Member # 127) on :
Besides all Steve's thoughts on reasons to be a part of this site, we should never forget that this is a very good forum for discussing our political beliefs!
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
...even if you're a visitor with 3816 posts Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
Hey!!! Since ya mentioned my name Steve I thought I should mention that my $75 (Cdn) will be available as soon as "taxes" are up for the next installment!
To address the rumours of my demise..I can only paraphrase Mark Twain..."Those rumours are premature"
As far as Mr. Hammond, self proclaimed signmaker/martial arts instructor/inspirational speaker/engineer/computer programer/sheriff/leaper of buildings is concerned, I have chosen to not acknowledge his presence lately.
I am still a regular on the Bullboard and on the chat channel. I like it and until you tell me to leave, I'll stick around Steve!!!
Posted by just plane bill (Member # 531) on :
I was a draftsman before sign painter, and heree in Oz I do drafting again and use Kadkey. With windows 98 I had to break up my machine designs, in solids, into many parts because it couldn't handle the file sizes. Switching to 2000 which works like NT allows file sizes twice as big as 98. I have plenty of RAM memory, and use a 2 gigahertz computer, so, no prob there.
Posted by Don Hulsey (Member # 128) on :
I do understand the visitors. I visited here for almost 4 years before paying up. I am not knocking anyone for not paying, but I would like to give my reason for doing so.
When we attend a live meet it ranges from $20 to $200 for 2 or 3 days. This is $50 for an entire year. Granted live meets are better, because you actually get to meet people in person, you get soft drinks and food, and you get hands on learning.
On the other hand, here you don't have to drive as far, and you don't have to pay for a hotel room.
The main reasons I pay for attending meets are the education, and the chance to visit with friends. If I can make enough money with the education to cover expenses, then the visiting is free. I have already made enough money with what I have learned on this site to pay my taxes for a few years to come.
What if nobody paid, and Barb had to tell Steve, " we can't do this anymore. Turn it off"??? Where would we be then? Each back in our own little corner of the world without even a complete phone list, to contact all these great friends and resources. Yes, we would still be alive, and still making money, but we would lose a lot more than $50 a year.
Hoping to see you all in person at live meets, and hoping to continue seeing you here.
Posted by Rich Stebbing (Member # 368) on :
In answer to the original question,....I feel that their CHEAP! They all have excuses and can even brag about some big bucks they made on a job, but when "push comes to shove" they don't want to give it up($50). Along with the good advice comes some bickering,slander, etc. Not to say that residents don't sometime misbehave, but at least they got their dime in the kitty. Sometimes I wonder if "sign people" are just some of the biggest cheapskates. They will spend alot of time reinventing application fluids,application tape dispensers, shopping Home Depot for the cheapest paints(even buying the "off colors"). Of course the Industry is plagued by Coroplast,3mil ,econo-this and econo-that. How about Integrity? The going fee here is $50, that's what is asked for. Our politicians here in Letterville (due to their niceness) are in danger of letting our fine community become a mecca for the homeless.
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
Hey, Randy, bein' new myself, I'm not sure what the pros and cons about the 50 bucks are......but I intend to send it off, if for no other reason than I fig'ered it was helpin' defray they're cost in time keepin' up with all the e-mails they get and etc, etc, etc......I'd hate to know 3,500+ people might be e-mailin' me an askin' questions all the time an' so forth......yeh, sometimes money gets tight....but some of us could glean so much info from here, it'd be priceless....so what's $50? seems like a "drop in the bucket" to me......irregardless of whatever "status" it gives you.........'sides, we're all special ANYWAY!! We're sign makers, ain't we? there can't just anybody DO what WE do!!!
quote:
"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
Heh heh, speakin' of gettin' help......what's up with gettin that quote in the right spot??? LOL! Rest assured it is CENTERED on the back glass o' my truck!!
quote:"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog"
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
Sheila, can't say what's the "right spot" for you, but as you see many have a recurring quote that shows below the name as part of their "signature".
If that's the spot you want so your quote shows all the time w/o effort, the go up to top of page under the auction logo & click on "my profile" then click on "Update profile" At the bottom you will see your signature. You can put a quote there.
Just a little un-solicited info in case you care, since your up late, maybe still reading the BB.
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
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at the persons name and where they are from-when I noticed that there are a lot of people on this board that have 200-4500 posts.These people aren't even Residents.With all this board has to offer WHY-NOT??????
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