And I read that as sprinter's site being a child/sibling site of EE.

I just do not see your connection, although the words might be able to be interpreted like that. I know for certain that he is not 'out to get you'.

Off tracking this discussion is a good endeavor.

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)

Harvey's Tips Page When you finally understand it completely... it changes.

Aha, the plot thickens.

(Or is that the plot sickens.) :-) 

Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem)

Harvey's Tips Page When you finally understand it completely... it changes.

Wrong button, this should be "reply to ALL." :-) 

Well, this thread has certainly created a lot of heat and friction among a community that was previously almost religious about courtesy. (At least from what I've observed in the short time I've been here.)

If anything, this thread has revealed so much about so much. If any good should come out of this I would hope it would be that parties on both sides could learn to open up thier minds about the other side of the coin. A closed mind just locks in the darkness. :S 

If the bickering stops, and the understanding begins, then even greater opportunities for new ideas, advancement and cooperation from opposing sides could yield an even greater combined entity.

It's funny, I can see and agree with the point of all the posts except for the parts where insults and criticism are implied or plainly stated.

Though, If I'm to be understanding about that, I guess I have to understand that not everyone has the same degree of diplomatic ability. We all have positive abilities in different amounts. The trick is, to use all our positive abilities--whether diplomacy, forgiveness, understanding or even intelligence etc.-- in a good way and not let our pride sneak in negative motives for them.

It just saddens me to see a community torn in half like this. Maybe I'm wrong and people are just venting, but I'm new here and was just starting to really enjoy getting to know people and contributing and now it seems to be ending.

Just for the record, I won't be joining the "pay" site for reasons I stated previously. I don't have any hard feelings about this though toward anyone. Just a little sad because like I said, to have just discoverd this place and now to see this happening, well, it's just kind of a bummer. :'-( 

Well this has been an E-ticket ride for the past few days. Score another one to the almighty dollar for screwing up a good thing. Thats not a dig at you David, i had no idea you planned to do this, but that my fault. I didnt read deep enough or it was in a thread that didnt peak my interest. I dont join pay sites on the internet, never have never will.

Happy Trails
Clay

I also will not be joining the "pay" forum once its up.
I wish you the best of luck for the future.

An alternative, That I would more than jump for is if it was a yearly donation of say bout $50.00.

As I am in another forum that I and others donate yearly.
We are given to our accounts extra options to a artwork folder
where we share and can request files that we've made/done
and also the option to post in another folder for selling.

They also have the option to donate more to get a "merchant" option where we can advertise our products to other forum members.

They been doing it for about 2 years now and they've grown bigger than anyone had imaged (3,628 users) when they converted over.

Here are the options that they give, might help you out for ideas:

Contributing Member:
This is a voluntary, renewable membership fee for those Registered Members wishing to help defray cost of operating the forum.
1 Year - US$50.00
6 Months - US$30.00
3 Months - US$17.50
1 Month - US$7.50

Merchant Member (Job Shop):
For shops in the engraving, embroidery, sublimation, signmaking, screen printing, digital printing & other areas. This allows you to create new threads in the Merchant Classified Forum to make announcements and, in general, to promote your products and services.
1 Year - US$150.00

Merchant Membership (Supplier):
For manufacturers, resellers, distributors & others not involved in operating a engraving, embroidery, sublimation, signmaking, screen printing, digital printing business. Membership allows you to create new threads in the Merchant Classified Forum to make announcements & to promote your products & services.
1 Year - US$300.00

I've listened to the opinons and have decided to leave this forum free, although it will be headed by another moderator.

I've contacted a person who I feel would make an excellent choice. If he declines my offer, it will be up to the membership to decide who they wish to run the forum.

Once the subscription side is established, I'll continue to participate, as time allows.

How sad is all this..?

I cant believe we have all witnessed this turning into a tit for tat public slanging match...

and the behind the scenes contributions of members being brought forward, then a bucket of humiliation dropped on them...that in my opinion is not very nice... ( how embarrasing :-$ )

My 2 cents worth here is ,David, please dont write disparaging remarks about contributors, their writing styles etc...

:-( 

Keep those things to yourself...

( remember , " If you dont have anything nice to say...dont say anything at all" )

Before anyone else lights into me about defending etc...the best defence here is my last 2 statements.

This has descended into really poor form.... :-( 

Peter

Boy have I been out of touch! We bought our new house and moved the 1st of April, and between boxes and unpacking and setting up the business and trying to find everything!!!!! and working on my website, I haven't checked in in a while.

David and Harvey and all of you guys who have done so much for our industry and for us, the engravers out there, I salute you! I will definitely be one of the EBS folks! This forum has been invaluable to me, and I consider it an honor to be a part of this group. It saddens me to see all of a sudden all the bedlam created by the changes to the site. Those of us who have benefited for so long at no cost should certainly have no problem subscribing to the forum! Time is money! And this falls under the tax deductible expenses!

Anyway, I'm not about to get into a p------- contest. Just let me know when it's time to pay, just in case I am missing in action as I have been this month. I AM IN!

Thanks again! I look forward to continuing my membership with you!