Pay or Free WAS Cichlasoma: The Death of a Genus

[Colby Dixon]

Is this "pay per read" junk really nescassary? What ever happened to the "free flow" of information on the internet? Why would a knowledgeable hobiest want to come and share their experience "pro bono" when the site itself charges for similiar information? This has been a longstanding gripe I have with the site. Don't get me wrong, some of the "regulars" here are some of the most knowledgeable Cichlid-o-philes anywhere...

Please don't give me any baloney that it is "to cover hosting needs"....I don't buy it...If that is the case, I'd like to see an expense report published monthly so we no where our "donations" are going to...

Yes, I have a bad attitude about this and am being a jerk...but I KNOW that I am not the only one who feels this way about Cichlid Room Companion...

[Juan Artigas]

Is this "pay per read" junk really necessary?

You ask if the “pay-per-read” is really necessary. Well, I value your inout and your participation in the forum but I don’t think I owe you a reply for that question. My suggestion is go to the store and ask the clerk if it is really necessary that you pay for the items that you want. Of just call TFH and tell them because of the free flow of information the magazine has to be for free in the Internet. They may be willing to give you a better answer.

Please don't give me any baloney that it is "to cover hosting needs"....I don't buy it...If that is the case, I'd like to see an expense report published monthly so we no where our "donations" are going to...

I am sorry but until you become a share holder of the Cichlid Room Companion I don’t have to give you any of that information. Much less I need you to “buy it” or not. I also don’t recall any “donations” that you made?

I also think it is unfair that you make your demands in such a tone because the Cichlid Room Companion has been offering you free information for eleven years and thousands of hours have been put into this effort, costing me work hours, money and sacrifices to my family, and for free. Alright, I decided to do that and I am not charging you for it. There have also been other people participating into this effort.

Now, if I get money I can buy software and put more hours to make this never ending page to grow and offer everyday better services and information, if I don’t get money I just can put so many money and hours into this page, for free alright. Until I get tired and give it up that is.

I also want everybody who participates in this page with their work to get something in return for their effort, and that is also the aim. I have to say most times they say they don’t want to get anything, but then I insist. That is what I believe in and what I work for and I don’t need to have a general consensus.

I don’t intend to be rude or disrespectful in any way. As I said I value everybody’s participation in this forum, and I don’t intend to hide my intentions in what I am doing here.

Now you actually got an answer and I need to go back to work! If I get finished early enough I may actually get a couple of hours tonight to work in some problems we have with the forum software.

[Colby Dixon]

[sarcasm]Yeah, that's the kind of answer that really makes me want to donate :rolleyes:[/sarcasm]

[michi tobler]

Juan, I hope you realize that you don't owe an answer to such posts.

If some one does not want to spend the money, well... then don't... and (as I learned in OK) shut it. The internet is a wonderful free source of (to a large part) useless information. I'm not surprised that some are too good to provide for good info; I suggest stick with the free stuff then.

Cheers, m

[DaveHansen]

Wow..I don't even know where to start...what a jacked up attitude. No matter what you say you obviously have no idea about how much time or effort goes into maintaining a site such as this. I have bought the articles before because I love having a nice printable article that I can reference and keep in my library. In addition, the hosting and bandwidth does cost money and it is ignorant to state otherwise and it is a very small way to show support to Juan and the CRC. Many fine folks take their time to do articles and write posts. This is their contribution to the hobby. They really don't need to write them, they know the info already, why should they share with you. What I find ironic is the folks that bitch the most are the ones who rarely if ever contribute anything and are takers for the most parts. I am having trouble articulating what I really want to say. I am shocked someone would approach Juan with that attitude with all the contributions he has made here and to the hobby in general. Hell, if this was a pay site, I would do it because of the incredible resource it has become let alone bitch about $4 for an article. Guess what, don't buy it and do the research yourself.

Juan, I have never met you, but thanks for all your efforts!

[Bas Pels]

My thoughts go along the same lines as Dave's do.

I do enjoy coming to this site, and I realize it costs money to keep it online

advertisements provide some income, but I do not even WANT to know wheteher Juan getss some money out of this site (he deserves it) or looses some

Apart from that, I once heard, the articles offered for sale here, are paid to the writer (who apparently preferes that) and this site gets a provision. One can choose to by the article, or not, both is fine with me.

To me, this is a non-issue

[Mark Smith]

Juan

This site is top notch and you perform a wonderful service to all of us cichlidophiles the world over. This seedy fellow, in my opinion, should be barred from Cichlidae.com until he apologizes to you.

Keep up the great work!

[Colby Dixon]

Juan, and all Cichlid Room Companion contributors,

I apologize, I am out of line. I am quite embarrassed by my previous post.

I should remember not to post about things when I am angry. I have let my frustration with something unrelated to this site (or even fish keeping) get the best of me and I have lashed out at someone whom I should be thanking. You are correct Juan, you don't owe me any explanation, and yes $4 shouldn't even be an issue when I'm getting a high quality product.

As Bas Pels says, it does not matter if you make a profit or not on this site. In fact, I believe you should get something for all your hard work here that is only fair. My disagreement (which I should have shared with you in private with a different tone) is that you Do have such a wonderful site here, and I believe it is a highly indexed and ranked by the major search engines...that it seems to me that you should be able to support the hosting and upkeep costs through advertising revenue alone. It would be great if those articles were free for everyone to read, but contrary to Mr... Hansen's beliefs I DO understand what goes into a real research paper, which is what makes me want to read them so badly. Again, I apologize for my snide comments and rude approach.

Feel free to delete my posts regarding this issue...as Michi Tobler said if I don't like it I should just "shut it".

Thank You,
Colby Dixon

[Juan Artigas]

No problem at all, I value all contributions and discussions to issues concerning cichlids and the Cichid Room Companion, we dont always have to agree, it would be quite boring anyways.

[Mark Smith]

Good job Colby! We all do things we ought not to do, and to face up to such things is great to see!

[DaveHansen]

That is wonderful that this can be put behind us. I too have been guilty of posting stuff that comes out wrong

[Pam Chin]

Seedy,

I am glad you came clean, you may now come out of the corner.

Cichlid Power!
Pam

[Lisachromis]

I've split this from the original topic as it had nothing to do with Cichlasoma.

I'm glad to see the apology. It takes a lot to apologize in a public forum. Must have been a h*ll of a day!

[Marko Lenac]

i didn't see this posts before... but I feel a need to say as a sponsor myself that it worth it every cent. also I think that the thing for free, are not the one I want to learn from. As I had the honor to meet Juan, all I can say is that his work here is everything exept overpaid. Juan thank you for this site. Maybe we don't say it enough. Of course don't forget the autors and experts on the forum.

[taeniopareius]

I wonder is it possible to have something like a more detail abstract or highlight, and maybe a sample page for paid article?

[Juan Artigas]

Patrick,

Thanks for the tip, I will improve on the abstracts.