To Everyone Leaving Over The Premium Announcement

[sky14kemea]

I'm not here to take sides, but I would like to know what's got people all upset over this?

This is for people who are announcing their departure, as well as some of you who are probably planning to sneak away, and only say goodbye to friends (and I really hope I won't get one of those messages right now, it'd make me really sad...)

They aren't making you pay for new content, heck, being someone who has paid for it, I can honestly say you're not missing all that much. As far as I've seen the video's are still the same quality. The only perk for me is the changeable title.

I can understand where some of you are coming from, obviously you're worried the Escapist is selling out, just to make a quick buck. But websites do need money to run, and from a few people I've talked too, some of the premium members would've been willing to just donate money, instead of signing up for a shiny membership.

So please, can we all just calm down, and think about this more rationally? Why give up such a good community over something like this?

 

[Timotei]

Most of the people leaving are long time posters who are watching the Escapist undergo a change that they see as negative.

I guess most of us assumed the Escapist could support itself with what it had going on. Guess we were wrong.

 

[TheNumber1Zero]

Some Members have had problems with the Site before, and not agreeing with this whole 'Premium membership' thing puts the final Nail in the Coffin for them.

I do agree that leaving is a bit much.

 

[sky14kemea]

Most of the people leaving are long time posters who are watching the Escapist undergo a change that they see as negative.

Okay, but what changes are you talking about exactly? (Obviously including this premium thing)

 

[BlumiereBleck]

I still remember when the Escapist was yellow.. but anyways its overeaction.

 

[Dexiro]

Have people actually said that they're leaving, or are you basing this off that poll.
The votes for "I'm leaving" on that poll were probably just people joking around.

Either way it's their loss.

 

[Jark212]

And in a few days when everything returns to normal I'll bet everyone who left will feel like they jumped to conclusions, which is what seems like a lot of people are doing...

 

[Plazmatic]

I still remember when the Escapist was yellow.. but anyways its overeaction.

.... escapist was yellow?

 

[Avatar Roku]

I'm not here to take sides, but I would like to know what's got people all upset over this?

This is for people who are announcing their departure, as well as some of you who are probably planning to sneak away, and only say goodbye to friends (and I really hope I won't get one of those messages right now, it'd make me really sad...)

They aren't making you pay for new content, heck, being someone who has paid for it, I can honestly say you're not missing all that much. As far as I've seen the video's are still the same quality. The only perk for me is the changeable title.

I can understand where some of you are coming from, obviously you're worried the Escapist is selling out, just to make a quick buck. But websites do need money to run, and from a few people I've talked too, some of the premium members would've been willing to just donate money, instead of signing up for a shiny membership.

So please, can we all just calm down, and think about this more rationally? Why give up such a good community over something like this?

Copy pasting from another thread:

For a while, I think I've been feeling badly about the changes in the site's community, but I've been ignoring that for the sake of the old days, and I actually managed to convince myself we were no worse off. I can't do that with this change. Hell, the change itself isn't that bad, but it's just so against my image of the spirit of this site, particularly the separate forum for people who pay.

Even worse to me is what I think this says to long time users. "Been a dedicated fan of the site for a while and contributed positively? Too bad, PAY ME BIATCH!" Dammit, I'm acting entitled, but I can't help it, I just feel like the time I spent on this site should be worth something.

 

[Generator]

I don't much see the point in leaving, unless they were already planning on leaving in the first place. Extra perks for supporting the site and everything exactly the same if you don't seems like a pretty good deal.

Of course, I might leave just out of jealousy when everyone has a sweet custom title and I'm stuck as boring old "Gone Gonzo".

 

[Deleted]

I'm not going to pay so I thought I'd let everyone know because I am the most important user here. When I leave everyone will surely notice and the general quality of this forum will decrease so I am using my announced departure as a means to get them to stop the premium thing.

 

[Roxas1359]

Dang it! You beat me in making this! But I do agree with the OP wholeheartedly.

 

[JRCB]

I'm not signing up for it, and I'm still here. I will be here next week, next month, and maybe next year. Hell, I'd probably donate money to the Escapist, even if I didn't get all the extra crap.

 

[Heart of Darkness]

I can see where they're coming from in this, but I still find it silly.

I mean, the site's not going to change for non-premium members. This is merely a matter of helping The Escapist pay its bills so it can continue to operate and, like every other free-to-use site, gives its donators benefits, like ad-free browsing and customizable titles. That's it. It's not like donating will severely impact your experience on this site.

It could also be more for the fact that everyone was PM'd about this, too, rather than just a single news post.

 

[Artemicion]

It's the transition from having everything for free to having everything free except for a tiny bit that you have to pay for.

I guess I can sort of understand that standpoint. But if you can't enjoy something you've always enjoyed because there's something new that you aren't allowed to enjoy then you need to sort your priorities.

 

[sky14kemea]

Have people actually said that they're leaving, or are you basing this off that poll.
The votes for "I'm leaving" on that poll were probably just people joking around.

Either way it's their loss.

I've actually been told over twitter by someone that they're considering leaving, so I'm pretty sure it's past rumours now. :/

Copy pasting from another thread:

For a while, I think I've been feeling badly about the changes in the site's community, but I've been ignoring that for the sake of the old days, and I actually managed to convince myself we were no worse off. I can't do that with this change. Hell, the change itself isn't that bad, but it's just so against my image of the spirit of this site, particularly the separate forum for people who pay.

Even worse to me is what I think this says to long time users. "Been a dedicated fan of the site for a while and contributed positively? Too bad, PAY ME BIATCH!" Dammit, I'm acting entitled, but I can't help it, I just feel like the time I spent on this site should be worth something.

Okay then, I keep hearing stuff about "The good ol' days". Which ones? I've been here almost 2 years now and I've seen no changes except User Groups, and all that did was slow down Off Topic a bit, which in a sense is a positive.

Besides, everything changes eventually, even if it is very difficult to accept...

 

[Troublesome Lagomorph]

I don't see why they'd leave.
Then again, looking at some of (well, one of) the people who are leaving they had good reasons.
But I've only ever seen his reasons, the rest... maybe they are not over reacting, maybe they are.

Knowing that person's reasons, I don't blame them but the rest of people just seem to be over reacting.

 

[sky14kemea]

Dang it! You beat me in making this! But I do agree with the OP wholeheartedly.

Thank you =]

Why not just let people do as they please? Do you think someone angry and leaving really give a shit about what you have to say? Just a thought...

On a slightly different topic, this will just turn into everyone complaining about everyone else.

I know dude, but when one of my good friends tells me their leaving over something like this, I really need answers.

 

[Sassafrass]

I agree with this.

I now copy paste something I said elsewhere about it.

I do not mind the people who have done this. It's good that they are helping the Escapist keep running. Nor do I mind much about those who are over-reacting and leaving. Sure, I may have lost an Admin for PRIATE but shit happens, a new one can be put in place.

Why get worked up over something that isn't mandatory?
To me, I can see why they've done it and I don't blame them, every site needs more cash.

I will only oppose this if the heads of the site make it a mandatory thing, forcing us to pay. But I don't think they will do that.