Let's see a very gernerous 5k users subscribed at at least $15 a person--ummm...hmmm...you do the math!! Just goofing off I have no clue how many are subscribed maybe only 500 or maybe 15K!!!
Plus Rob has sponsor income for advertising. Plus, the new banner ads that non-subscribed users see are probably a few cents every time one appears. But he also must have some serious hosting costs and on-going IT maintenance labor. So, even if you're optimistic on the math, it's not like hitting the lottery.
I'm a serious lurker here- I don't own a Ferrari, and am not that likely to purchase one anytime soon. I definitely tend to hold back from posting for that reason (.02 posts/day over the last two years), and I bet there are a ton more like me. I haven't noticed the attitude you're describing, and maybe that's because I'm not a subscribed member in the exclusive forums; but I see that kind of neighborly attitude you also mentioned multiple times a day, in pretty much every post. Proper punctuation and grammar isn't all this forum has going for it (though that doesn't hurt), and I think everyone in here knows that. Regardless, a thread like this isn't the way to go about changing a perceived problem. You'll catch more bees with honey, and setting an exemplary example for your fellow Fchatters will have a constructive effect on the community. A negative flamewar thread like this one accomplishes the opposite of your goals. Take a deep breath, count to ten, and think about whether or not you really have something to add to the community before posting, and you'll get along just fine. Just my $.02 for my .02 post of the day.
Vintage, Racing, and General Discussion are my favorites beyond Texas. I lurk ALL forums though. I'm not a post whore, I don't say anything just to say something, I don't take 5 posts to complete a sentence, and I use search before asking a question.
Yes, sponsors are the core of the support, the Google ads showing for non-subscribers doesn't provide more than 20 cents. Literally!
The ignore function is your friend. If someone farts in an elevator and you're not there to smell it why should you care?
Yes, Jim .... but if the person you wish to 'make disappear' is the thread starter, that doesn't work.
really? maybe I can look into that. do you still see it within the forum or just the main page with last thread?
i think the $15 is a very good investment for all the help you can get here so i dont know what the problem is to support this Forum even if you dont have the hottest car ever made.