BIG BIG question -- Please read!

Hey everyone -- I need to get some opinions from people.

Me and Jeff are having a bit of trouble paying the bills here -- you may not know it or not, but it costs quite a bit to keep a site like this running. In the near future, I want to divide the site into 2 sections, Free and Paid Access. The paid access would probably cost about $10/year.

What features would you expect in a free site, and what extras would you want in the paid section?

I'm compiling my own list of suggestions also and I'll post it soon. In the meantime, I'd like everyone's ideas. One thing is for certain -- the free section would have ads like the current site, and the paid section would have a much cleaner design with absolutely zero ads.

Would you pay for Dumb Laws?

Andy -- admin and co-owner, dumblaws.com

[Serendipity]

I take it you're talking about the site and not the board? Hmm. The site is good (I would say that), but I don't know if I'd be attracted to it if I had to pay. Anyhoo...

Free Access:

Ads, inevitably.

Perhaps a sort of "Free Tour" thing like you get on certain adult entertainment sites that I have never looked at?

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Paid Access:

No ads.

All information contained therein verified and verifiable, with information/advice on how to verify.

Manned feedback facility.

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It's hard to think about.

Yeah -- I really need a type of service that people would be willing to pay for. I don't think the info itself is it. Around June we'll be publishing a book, so of course we'll push that heavily on the site -- but in the meantime....

[paulgro]

To do what you ask, you would have to provide a learning center for law students. I've never really looked at the site, so I don't know what's there. Very few if any will pay for the message board, too may free ones to go to...Don't know what else to tell you....

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"I have not failed. I've just found
10,000 ways that won't work."


Cosmic Coffee Shop (http://pub83.ezboard.com/bcosmiccoffeeshop)
Mod Squad (http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/serendipity/MSPoster/ModSquad.html) Permit Man (http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/serendipity/Permit/PermitMan.html)

[~wildangel~]

http://www.dumblaws.com/ubb/frown.gif

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~Wild, the angel of the Mod Squad~
Friendship is heavenly
My kids adorable faces! (http://fairmayden1.homestead.com/babyface.html)~The MOD Squad~ (http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/serendipity/MSPoster/ModSquad.html)

[RockBottomDLux]

Yes, I know that boards need money to run. Pop-up's are perfectly fine with me. Just as long as one or more dont come up after you close one. If pop-up's will be instituted, make it so 2 or 3 pop up, and then thats it for that visit. I don't see the problem with closing an ad that comes up on your screen

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Keep rollin', rollin', rollin', rollin'......or what ever you are doing!

My Place - CornerHouseGames (http://pub101.ezboard.com/bcornerhousegames)

[cleoeo]

Hmm.
DumbLaws is appealing to the general public of all ages and economic backgrounds; that much is obvious. It also has the potential to be (gasp) educational. Paulgro's suggestion of a "learning center" approach is worth pursuing.
Hook 'em with the universal appeal of absurd government regulations. Educate 'em with a lively but accurate portrayal of how the laws came about. Teach 'em the different workings of governments and law with a lighthearted but accurate website.
Sounds like you could submit a request for funding from a prestigious (and cash rich) University. Aim high. You want a substantial grant, enough to run the site without bias from outside sources. Start with an American institution that's looking to demonstrate that they're still in touch - Ivy League law schools. They may me very interested. And they have $.
And no popups. No one ever bought anything because an annoying popup. Buy into that and you're buying into a loser.

[paulgro]

Pop-ups make people leave not stay. We pay over $34.00 to keep them off our message board...I know you pay more then that, but you get my point...

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"I have not failed. I've just found
10,000 ways that won't work."


Cosmic Coffee Shop (http://pub83.ezboard.com/bcosmiccoffeeshop)
Mod Squad (http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/serendipity/MSPoster/ModSquad.html) Permit Man (http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/serendipity/Permit/PermitMan.html)

[Idnew]

Sorry Andy the message board would die if you charged to use it. As has been stated too many free boards. I realize that's less than a $1.00 a month. Still no one is going to pay to visit a message board. Pop up ads do nothing but annoy you and I never click on them except to hunt for the X.

Sounds like cleoeo has an excellent idea.

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(ô¿ô)Proud member of the Dumb Laws Mod Squad so watch it!*smile*

Attitude Ajustments Gladly Performed(ö¿ö)

My Home Spot (http://members.tripod.com/~freeatlast_3/Doing_Whatever.htm)

Cosmic Coffee Shop (http://pub83.ezboard.com/bcosmiccoffeeshop)
Meet The Squad (http://www.geocities.com/idnew52/Mod_Squad_Poster.htm)

Cleoeo, nice suggestion regarding the endorsement by a university, we'll definately look into that.

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Co-Owner
Bueno Technologies

Originally posted by RockBottomDLux:
Yes, I know that boards need money to run. Pop-up's are perfectly fine with me. Just as long as one or more dont come up after you close one. If pop-up's will be instituted, make it so 2 or 3 pop up, and then thats it for that visit. I don't see the problem with closing an ad that comes up on your screen

Pop ups suck... No pop ups....

[Hamburglar]

More smilies!!!! http://www.dumblaws.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.dumblaws.com/ubb/biggrin.gif http://www.dumblaws.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

I'd pay for more Smiles!!!!! http://www.dumblaws.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[Enforcer]

I don't see what else then what you've got now you could put on the site, but I sure as hell hope the forum wouldn't be paid for cu I love this site but I don't nevr got any money and I sort of boycot anything I have 2 pay fore **** I burn my own emulator and rom-CD's andf stuff and I can assure U, no matter how cool the paid acces part would become, I wouldn't (be able to) pay.
Oh and yeah we could Use more smilies


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I won the Äround the world in 80 posts "-competition
SWAT VAN comin'ATYA

[Idnew]

We could use a change in smilies around, but in the meantime Enforcer check out this site.

Smilies (http://www.mysmilies.com)Just right click on the pic and go to properties and highlight the link and then paste in here http://www.minorannoyance.net/~spin/Smilies/contrib/icw/023.gif

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(ô¿ô)Proud member of the Dumb Laws Mod Squad so watch it!*smile*

Attitude Ajustments Gladly Performed(ö¿ö)

My Home Spot (http://members.tripod.com/~freeatlast_3/Doing_Whatever.htm)

Brain Mania (http://www.brainmania.com)

Cosmic Coffee Shop (http://pub83.ezboard.com/bcosmiccoffeeshop)
Meet The Squad (http://www.geocities.com/idnew52/Mod_Squad_Poster.htm)

[Enforcer]

oooohhhh SHINY!

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I won the Äround the world in 80 posts "-competition
SWAT VAN comin'ATYA

[Enforcer]

oooohhhh SHINY!

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I won the Äround the world in 80 posts "-competition
SWAT VAN comin'ATYA

[RockBottomDLux]

Originally posted by Idnew:
We could use a change in smilies around, but in the meantime Enforcer check out this site.

Smilies (http://www.mysmilies.com)Just right click on the pic and go to properties and highlight the link and then paste in here http://www.minorannoyance.net/~spin/Smilies/contrib/icw/023.gif



He has so many junk smilies. Mine have gone through many calls.

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How else can I say it; I don't speak no other languages!
Extra Smilies Webpage! (http://rockbottomdlux.freewebspace.com)
My Place - CornerHouseGames (http://pub101.ezboard.com/bcornerhousegames)

[Phreakmeister]

You could try V3. They have those *.to-adresses (go.to/***, fly.to/***, surf.to/***, etc.) Then you could use another service (I dunno exactly which one), to have this URL (http://www.dumblaws.com) linked through to the site.

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Do you believe in death after life?