Site maintenance fee ?

[sentinel]

Just wondering does this site need any fees to operate ? forum apps need to be paid ?

[DNS]

Site fees are nominal, very small; just domain registration and web hosting. Web hosting goes up with usage, so we're at only a few thousand USD per year, so still no need for setting up any donations yet from members. However, perhaps at some future time, if we get bigger.

Here is a thread set up for discussing other dana possibilities:
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=2096

[Pulsar]

DNS wrote

Web hosting goes up with usage, so we're at only a few thousand USD per year

What is the range like? $2000-$3000? or $5000-$6000. Few can be either of the above or another
number.
Is there a possibility that you might shut the site if it becomes too pricy? Once Google shut a network site called Google Plus, perhaps it became too pricy for them?
I would rather you requested donations, before that happens.
On aug 13/2009 DNS wrote

Hi Mawk

Thank you for the offer, very much appreciated. But the costs to run this site are very small. There is domain name registration which is only about $10 USD per year and there is web hosting, which is more, but right now that is not very much either, until we reach something like 1 million posts or more. At that time, the web hosting will need to be upgraded to allow for more storage of information and more monthly bandwith. Even at that time I have no problem incurring the cost or if it should be too much, we could take up a collection as needed

Has it become too much? It is OCT. 20/2019
ten years have gone by. Thank you for bearing the financial burden so
far. Much merit for being that "Bearer of Burden"

[DNS]

DNS wrote

Web hosting goes up with usage, so we're at only a few thousand USD per year

What is the range like? $2000-$3000? or $5000-$6000. Few can be either of the above or another
number.

About $3000 to $5000

(this is the total cost for all of my Dhamma / Dharma websites, not just this forum. All 4 DW forums, DhammaWiki.com, and thedhamma.com so not bad, considering it's 6 different websites)

I would rather you requested donations, before that happens.

Yes, donations could be gathered, when necessary.

Has it become too much? It is OCT. 20/2019
ten years have gone by.

No.

Thank you for bearing the financial burden so
far.
Much merit for being that "Bearer of Burden"

de nada

[SarathW]

Hi David
Perhaps a silly question.
Say If I cut and post long sutta as my answer, will it increase the cost.
That is one reason I am trying to create short posts.
Do photos or pictures take more space?

[SarathW]

It appears that it cost an average of $1000.00 per site.
I think we should leave a charge on the percentage of the total post of each user.
For instance if a person got 2.38% of the total post he should be charged $238.00 per annum.

[DNS]

Hi David
Perhaps a silly question.
Say If I cut and post long sutta as my answer, will it increase the cost.
That is one reason I am trying to create short posts.
Do photos or pictures take more space?

Not really, storage space is very minimal fee for websites. Most of the cost is in traffic.

[DNS]

It appears that it cost an average of $1000.00 per site.
I think we should leave a charge on the percentage of the total post of each user.
For instance if a person got 2.38% of the total post he should be charged $238.00 per annum.

No, as most of you know, I like traffic, for spreading the Dhamma teachings, good in the beginning, good in the middle, good in the end . . .

Here's a plan for when we need to start charging:
It should be higher cost for those who post the least. You pay less as you post more. Those with zero posts pay the most. Those who make at least 1,000 posts per year, pay nothing (just kidding)

[SarathW]

Wow it is a good idea.
It suits me.

[SarathW]

Hi David
Perhaps a silly question.
Say If I cut and post long sutta as my answer, will it increase the cost.
That is one reason I am trying to create short posts.
Do photos or pictures take more space?

Not really, storage space is very minimal fee for websites. Most of the cost is in traffic.

I thought the web owner get paid for the down loads.
Is the only revenue for You tube is advertisement and selling your personal data?

[DNS]

Is the only revenue for You tube is advertisement and selling your personal data?

I'm no expert on how youtube works, but I've heard that some youtubers have a channel with ads on it and then the more views they get, the more money they make. For example, FouseyTube makes some prank and comedy videos and has over 10 million subscribers. Due to that and the ads he has, he has earned over $4 million.

[Pulsar]

Dear DNS you wrote "About $3000 to $5000"
That is quite a substantial sum. I thank you every morning, for giving the folks of DW the opportunity
to express the Dhamma of the Tathagata, as they see it.

I try my best not to abuse this privilege, and also try my best

to be excellent to each other

and make this interaction a pleasant experience.

Thanks also to Ven. Dhammanando for being here. Folks like me
gain much from your willingness to participate.

[SarathW]

Anumodana!

[sentinel]

It appears that it cost an average of $1000.00 per site.
I think we should leave a charge on the percentage of the total post of each user.
For instance if a person got 2.38% of the total post he should be charged $238.00 per annum.

I guess to avoid paying I will have to deactivate my account . I can't afford to pay for participation and then had no option but to read through the posts for free since I don't have much money .

[SarathW]

I was just joking.