I've decided that in light of all his generous contributions to keep SP running, Seayer should be given a permanent golden "Distinguished Member" title. (In case you don't know who he is, read the Member of the Week thread in this forum.)

However, Seayer has doubts about accepting the title unless the majority of people on SP are willing to allow it to be given to him. Of course, I told him that I have no doubts about the majority supporting this, but he'd still prefer to see it for himself, so please vote in the poll here and convince him.

Poll Information
This poll contains 1 question(s). 71 user(s) have voted.
You may not view the results of this poll without voting.

Poll Results: Seayer - Distinguished member? (71 votes.)

Seayer - Distinguished member? (Choose 1)
* Yes - 94% (67)
* No - 6% (4)

No doubt, there should be more of your generous kind Seayer.

<Taluntain> http://www.sorcerers.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=18&t=000562
<Octara> oh right
<Taluntain> everyone, go vote
<Taluntain> and make sure you vote Yes - or else...

Hehe, good one Aik.

Also, of course!! He have contributed more than a lot of us, the only bad thing is him giving lazy scumbags like me bad coinsience.(sp?)

14-0. He'll surely have the title.

He really puts me to shame.
But Seayer :wave: - you have so deserved this title! Please, accept it. Your generosity must be honoured (or I will feel even worse).

I would have definitely voted yes but I voted no because he doesn't post. Post more!

Sarevok - prepare to be mobbed. And beware of Tal's almighty wrath :p

I didn't vote.

My concern is whether, by giving Seayer this title, he would feel undue, self-imposed pressure to keep contributing, even though he may decide at some point to cut back or stop.

If not, then no problem. He deserves it.

Edit: Oh, yeah, and ditto Sarevok - post more! :)

[ May 15, 2004, 17:10: Message edited by: Splunge ]

@Sarevok Anchev, thank you sincerely for your honesty, and I agree with your words, as why I wanted this poll. I know I do not post a lot, but besides that, I do look through what posts are up. Again, thanks for your honesty.

@Splunge,
I thank you for your concern, but with or without such a title, I want SP to be around for a long time, yet were I not able to donate, I would not, but at this time, I do not face that situation, so is the only way I can think of to help the site continue.

I thank you all so far for your comments, please, keep them coming, and let me know how you feel!

Yes, as long as it is nothing "Only-For-Him." Meaning: what are the rules that *everyone* can get it? If those are set up, okay; with that amount of money, you should get a bit more than a week of ( :p ) "virtual honor."

I've got a better idea.

Tal, instead of a title, why not let Seayer occasionally borrow the BMW you're buying with his donations?

:p :p :p

Disclaimer:
I know it costs money to keep SP up and running, and I know the donations are put to good use (I wouldn't make donations myself if I thought otherwise). But, being the jerk that I am, I just couldn't resist. :D

Edit: I have now voted 'Yes'

Sounds like a fine idea to me, and it reminds me it's about time to pull out my virtual wallet as well . . .


Edite: BTW, I don't think there should be any clamoring for more posting. The fact that Seayer values this site so much without the need for, err, uhhh, spamming makes his donations all the more special.

Well all,
Seeing that in just one day, 34 people have voted that I should get the title, really means a lot to me, by the way, I voted 'no', so if the rest would feel I was worthy, my vote wouldn't matter, but it seems to me that some really wish me to have such, so at this time, I will give Tal the ok to put it on my avatar, and hopefully give him a break about putting the MotW title on me so much ( :lol: ). My sincere thanks to all of you.

I definitely agree that everyone who donates in the same range as Seayer should get the title... though until Seayer came along, there was really only one such person, who donated a number of times (Spellbound). dmc's today's most generous donation also brings him near there, however. So it makes sense that these people should be awarded with a special title.

With the amount of donations this site gets (some pretty hefty as well) I can only assume that SP has enough money to keep it going for years / Has very big monthly bills / Tal eats well!

The sheer running costs of SP (server and all the technical aspects connected with the site) are about $200 every month at this point. Considering the pop-ups have been taken down a few months ago, the advertising income is a grand total of $0 every month. Which means the site is literally running off donations. And only the big ones every now and then help to pay off the bills. Some extra money has accumulated over time, but we've been eating into this fund rapidly lately with literally no advertising income. So don't assume there are stockpiles of cash behind SP. When you have to cough up $200 every month, the donations get used up extremely fast.

Thanks very much Tal! :D All of us members put a great value on this site and what it has to offer....hell, we spend half our lives here! We're all aware too....of how much it takes for you to keep this little playground up and going for us, free of charge. I think I speak for everyone when I say we're very appreciative of your efforts and don't ever take it for granted. It's quite an achievement -- what you've done -- making SP what it is today. Thanks!

Ditto, Spellbound. Couldn't have put it better myself.

Congrats to both Seayer and Spelly. :)

Edit: I guess I should actually learn how to spell Seayer's name properly. :rolleyes: :p

About 180€ per month? Erm... Why don't you just buy your own server or something?

As to the 'Distinguished Member' -title, well; what are the rules to have it?

/Insert some nifty, official declaration below. :D

My hearty agreement with Spellbound, and congratulations to both of you, Spellbound and Seayer.
SP needs people like you :thumb:

About 180€ per month? Erm... Why don't you just buy your own server or something?
Because that would cost roughly $10,000 USD as well as colocation costs. You're looking at the same price either way. SP is on a dedicated server right now as is.

Wirhe, I already am leasing a dedicated server at the cheapest possible rate with a reliable host, and have learned to administer it myself simply out of necessity. But the server's in the US, and the only access I have to it is remote. If I could buy a server locally and set it up in colocation I probably would, but there's no such option here at any normal price. Also, there are several great advantages to leasing a server, the most important being I can drop it any time and switch for another, or change hosts if need be. If you buy your own box and put it in colocation you're then stuck with it and, usually, the host. Not to mention the substantial initial investment, which I couldn't really afford.

It's 10,000 of a brand new, shiny server, but there are other options too: buying a bit older server, renting one (like now), or making a Linux cluster (like in some universities). 20+ cheap machines and one T1-3 line should do the job far to the future. :D

But, of course, since it would still cost >1000€ and expertise, I doubt it is possible for SP, not to mention the lack of 'cable...' Nevertheless, 180 * 12 = 2160€, so in 3-year term that would mean 6480€ + inflation... Quite a ridicilous amount to pay of rent, when there isn't even option to buy the server out after a time. :hmm:

(In poor students terms, 'course. :p )

Dedicated servers are expensive. Yes, that's a lot more than what basic webhosting costs, but it should be as the datacenter is giving up a lot of their resources for you. In fact, the server is a bargain at it's current price.

renting one (like now), or making a Linux cluster (like in some universities). 20+ cheap machines and one T1-3 line should do the job far to the future.Heh. A T3 line is $50,000/month (minimum). That idea is actually many, many times more expensive than the current situation. A T1/DS1 line is more than $600/month.

As I said, the current situation is the best in all respects, so there's no point in arguing it further. All of this is also completely off topic, so please make a new topic if you want to discuss hosting details.

I'll say yes for Seayer...but can I get one that says "Tightwad?" It seems only fair.

I guess the originater of Member of the Week doesn't get any credit. That's OK, I'm too in debt to get acknowledgment anymore :p Congrats again Seayer, That avatar is worth big bucks ;)

Not to mention, it *cost* big bucks... ;)

j/k!!

Way to go Seayer!!! (and Spelly!!)

How much is a generous donation? is there a link to where it is explained? Perhaps more would donate regulary (or in one huge fundrage) if they knew they were working towards a title and knew when they reached it, recognition is very sought after here at SP or any other forum I think. A great motivator.

Or is dignity and the right for privacy above the Hype of capitalism, competition and fame?

EDIT; Forgot. Good Job Mr $eayer. Enjoy the deserved fame :)

Way to go Sayer. You truly deserve the title of honor, ever the stoicist (or however you spell it).

@Nobleman. I think if peole thought they could get a title it would cheapen it. It's better people donate out of sincerity, than with a prize in mind, though I doubt Tal would care why the money is coming in, so long as it is.

Anyone who donates $100 or more gets the Member of the Week title. The people who hold the Distinguished Member titles have each donated around $500 during the time they've been hanging around SP. I guess it won't hurt to make these numbers specific. I'll do it when I get around to the next update.

Gee...I wish my member was distinguished.