Discourse who host our forums have introduced a new feature that we’re piloting. It allows you to help with the upkeep of these forums that you’ve grown to love.
This is a brand new feature and I’ll explain more in due course but please add any feedback/issues/suggestions in this thread so we can feedback.
It’s really wonderful that they’re helping us keep things sailing, so please be polite with your responses and I’ll do my best to answer any questions.
This has all happened quite quickly and I’m hideously busy with my day job, so I’m still fine-tuning some of the things, like what supporters will receive, how we don’t create any divide between those who do and don’t support us.
Above all, this feels like an elephant just climbed off my back at worrying about keeping these forums alive.
More soon
Sean
For anyone who runs a Discourse forum or wants to nerd out, there’s lots of info about this function here:
I think this question has been asked already, but which is the better way to fund DiS - through the Discourse subscription, or the current PayPal payments?
(in terms of making the most of our money go to where it is needed)
sign-posting to one-off donations if it’s not possible to do this via the Support function
if possible, stick a logo or some kind of specific message on the banner, so it looks more legit (as opposed to looking like an ad banner or something)
Happy to contribute, would like it if this is looked at though (obviously you’ve already posted about it, so I’m happy you’re aware of it). Don’t want anyone who isn’t able to contribute for whatever reason to feel like they’re highlighted in any way, be that through a difference in avatars or something else like that.
Re: the sub icons - it could be perceived as creating a divide but it clearly also has a fundraising function in spreading the message and encouraging all who can to contribute
Maybe it could be timed, like at the start of each month it’s switched on but once you hit server cost target it can switch off …so it’s like a little pass-the-hat each month and then when the target is hit it doesn’t matter who the individuals were, it was a team effort
about to donate but not at all a fan of avatars showing whether you have supported or not, and also the banner showing recent supporters. Some people may not be able to contribute right now and I know it would definitely make me feel guilty