Poll: Will you become a member of the Escapist Publishers Club?

[FactualSquirrel]

Why would I pay for an ad free Escapist when adblock-plus for Firefox works so well...?

Because then you wouldn't be a jerk.

So, do you get money from ads on a per view basis or on a per click basis? Because from experience, those who use adblockers aren't the type to click on ads anyway.

We really aren't, the only reason I use it is because I accidentally click on stuff, and the ones for games don't affect me because I decide what games I want after playing them (or reading previews).

 

[TheDoctor455]

I just signed up for it.
I like this site, and I want to support it.

 

[Kross]

So, do you get money from ads on a per view basis or on a per click basis? Because from experience, those who use adblockers aren't the type to click on ads anyway.

It depends on the campaign, but most are view based for that reason.

Also, people advocating the use of ad blockers on an almost completely ad supported site that has to pay for both staff and hardware resources... Well, "rude" would be among the nicer descriptors.

I believe it's a bannable offense on the forums actually, but I've banned enough people recently.

 

[NeutralMunchHotel]

Not a chance. The only thing that really remotely interested me was the titles, and after looking around the forums they just look tacky. I'm Gonzo and proud! And people talking about giving back to a site that has done so much for them - this annoys me. For most this is a job, they get paid; I doubt they're doing it out of the goodness of their heart.

 

[Kross]

For most this is a job, they get paid; I doubt they're doing it out of the goodness of their heart.

Right, it's a job. We come here 40+ hours a week to an office and make an Internet website. You are the people who pay for us to keep coming back. Either through ads or through things like this premium system.

And this is one of the more painless ways you can let other people pay for us to host content for you.

 

[UnusualStranger]

I would actually love to support this place...but college life, and a lack of income will prevent me from taking advantage of this deal.

Its OK though. I do think this place deserves the $20 I will eventually put into it. Its nice around here....why not?

 

[SextusMaximus]

Yes, and I have done. I feel damn awesome!

 

[NeutralMunchHotel]

So, do you get money from ads on a per view basis or on a per click basis? Because from experience, those who use adblockers aren't the type to click on ads anyway.

It depends on the campaign, but most are view based for that reason.

Also, people advocating the use of ad blockers on an almost completely ad supported site that has to pay for both staff and hardware resources... Well, "rude" would be among the nicer descriptors.

I believe it's a bannable offense on the forums actually, but I've banned enough people recently.

Wait, you want to ban people for using a perfectly legitimite service?

Why would I pay for an ad free Escapist when adblock-plus for Firefox works so well...?

Because then you wouldn't be a jerk.

And then you speak to us like that?

I'm sorry, but these are some things I feel have to be said.

 

[Captain Pancake]

I get the distinct feeling that the website's having some issues with overbearing management. First the age restriction on unskippable that due to my honesty I now can't watch, and now an escapist exclusive members club? Something's not right here.

 

[The DSM]

I got the message saying it is half price, but I dont know the full price.

If its under £10 a year I may consider it.

 

[Kross]

I imagine there will be much "Your opinion doesn't count for shit because you aren't premium" sentiment.

Premium members will be held to the same standards of posting as any other members. When a person is banned, they just lose posting privileges, not access to the other features of the site (Unless they're really bad, then I firewall them).

If people are going around trolling or otherwise harassing members about premium status or anything else, report them and they will be dealt with.

 

[Kross]

I got the message saying it is half price, but I dont know the full price.

If its under £10 a year I may consider it.

Full price is $20 US a year, but the discount brings it to $10 US. Which is about £6.49 I believe.

 

[Dok Zombie]

I imagine there will be much "Your opinion doesn't count for shit because you aren't premium" sentiment.

Premium members will be held to the same standards of posting as any other members. When a person is banned, they just lose posting privileges, not access to the other features of the site (Unless they're really bad, then I firewall them).

If people are going around trolling or otherwise harassing members about premium status or anything else, report them and they will be dealt with.

Well perhaps I'm being cynical, but I'm honestly not convinced.

 

[Jamash]

Why would I pay for an ad free Escapist when adblock-plus for Firefox works so well...?

Because then you wouldn't be a jerk.

So, do you get money from ads on a per view basis or on a per click basis? Because from experience, those who use adblockers aren't the type to click on ads anyway.

Lots of the ads I see are so completely irrelevant it's hilarious. I purposely don't use adblockers on this site because the adverts are just too funny and bizarre, (I never click on them though, because none of the products advertised ever apply to me).

What kind of Escapist user would apply for a new credit card, buy a brand new Range Rover and then look for cheap flights, join a gay dating agency and then need extra soft toilet paper?

 

[Kross]

Wait, you want to ban people for using a perfectly legitimite service?

Why would I pay for an ad free Escapist when adblock-plus for Firefox works so well...?

Because then you wouldn't be a jerk.

And then you speak to us like that?

I'm sorry, but these are some things I feel have to be said.

People that block our ads and then go out of our way to tell other members how to also block our ads, while simultaneously slamming the non-ad revenue options we offer are welcome to leave any time. We're not banning you, and I'm not lying to you.

Advocating ad blockers is NOT welcome.

 

[Dok Zombie]

Why would I pay for an ad free Escapist when adblock-plus for Firefox works so well...?

Because then you wouldn't be a jerk.

So, do you get money from ads on a per view basis or on a per click basis? Because from experience, those who use adblockers aren't the type to click on ads anyway.

Lots of the ads I see are so completely irrelevant it's hilarious. I purposely don't use adblockers on this site because the adverts are just too funny and bizarre, (I never click on them though, because none of the products advertised ever apply to me).

What kind of Escapist user would apply for a new credit card, buy a brand new Range Rover and then look for cheap flights, join a gay dating agency and then need extra soft toilet paper?

I'd think after a bit of gay dating, you'd need extra soft toilet paper.

 

[TheAmazingTGIF]

Yes, I feel they deserve it and I don't want to be left again. (like EGM)

 

[Slycne]

So, do you get money from ads on a per view basis or on a per click basis? Because from experience, those who use adblockers aren't the type to click on ads anyway.

It depends on the campaign, but most are view based for that reason.

Also, people advocating the use of ad blockers on an almost completely ad supported site that has to pay for both staff and hardware resources... Well, "rude" would be among the nicer descriptors.

I believe it's a bannable offense on the forums actually, but I've banned enough people recently.

Wait, you want to ban people for using a perfectly legitimite service?

Why would I pay for an ad free Escapist when adblock-plus for Firefox works so well...?

Because then you wouldn't be a jerk.

And then you speak to us like that?

I'm sorry, but these are some things I feel have to be said.

Arstechnica wrote an article about this a few weeks back, Why Ad Blocking is devestating to the sites you love. [http://arstechnica.com/business/news/2010/03/why-ad-blocking-is-devastating-to-the-sites-you-love.ars] Short version is that if you Ad Block you cost that site money.

There is an oft-stated misconception that if a user never clicks on ads, then blocking them won't hurt a site financially. This is wrong. Most sites, at least sites the size of ours, are paid on a per view basis. If you have an ad blocker running, and you load 10 pages on the site, you consume resources from us (bandwidth being only one of them), but provide us with no revenue. Because we are a technology site, we have a very large base of ad blockers. Imagine running a restaurant where 40% of the people who came and ate didn't pay. In a way, that's what ad blocking is doing to us. Just like a restaurant, we have to pay to staff, we have to pay for resources, and we have to pay when people consume those resources. The difference, of course, is that our visitors don't pay us directly but indirectly by viewing advertising.

 

[jmoore4ska]

I joined just because i like the site and want to see it do well in the future. The more people join, the more money they have to continue to keep the site up and running with interesting content. I understand that not everyone can join, but i personally had no reason not to.

 

[Dok Zombie]

Not that I'm a conspiracy theorist or anything, but there seems to be way more admins posting in this thread than usual...