This may not belong in this topic but kinda relates to raising funds and perhaps making this place even more interesting. (May have been suggested before?)
A V.I.P. forum for donating members only.
I frequent a forum that has a private board which you can only gain access to by donating some money.
This is how it could work; Five levels of subscription
Forum Supporter - minimum donation to get access - say $15
Bronze Supporter - $25
Silver Suporter - $50
Gold Supporter - $75
Platinum Supporter - $100
Once the paypal payment has been processed your forum membership will automatically be upgraded to the appropriate level. The entire process is automatic and your account will be upgraded instantaneously. subscription lasts 1 year. (I don't know how they do the nitty gritty but I'm sure someone round here will).
Perks of membership?!
- Obviously access To The V.I.P. Members Only Forums
- A special Forum Plaque, a bit like the XTeam plaque, that says whatever level membership you have and is the colour of your level of membership i.e.. bronze, silver, gold, platinum colours, basic forum supporter in white.
- other perks could perhaps include the following; ability to totally customise your profile page, increased file size and dimensions of your avatar, other stuff, embedding of videos. I'm sure more can be thought up. More perks depending on level of membership.
OK content of the V.I.P. zone?
Hmmmm this is where it could all fall apart. The forum I frequent is fitness related, the sub boards of the V.I.P forum includes a private media gallery, Private journals, a "lounge" and something called "The Wasteland" one big long continuous thread, a lot of great humour, subject changes from one post to the next, anything goes content, (within reason and within the forums' terms and conditions) a new Wasteland thread is created at the start of each new year, the admin puts up a list of the top ten Wasteland posters at the end of each year, whoever has made the most posts in that thread is the winner for that year.
Strikes me as a great alternitive for the "The Discussion Cube" or "Slipzone"
The whole point to this, is to raise funds and give incentive to donate, and with the creation of a Wasteland type area of the forum keep other areas of the forum a bit more on-topic. What it should not be is somewhere for people to just take there shit out on each other, harmless banter, and mock flaming yes. I would suggest though no religion or politics (imo perhaps that should be a rule for the rest of the board as well)
so what does every one think? I definitely think we need something to make this community a bit more dynamic. (Mod if you don't consider this post relevent to this topic please move to it's own thread in suggestions, ta.)