I, for one, like the moderatio
I, for one, like the moderation done on this site. I almost wish the bad threads would be deleted sooner.
This is a hobby of mine. Working on cars, talking cars, even arguing (intelligently of course) are steps to a learning experience. When my hobbies turn into work, and undue stress with no hopes of rewards for that stress, it drives me away. This is a nice break from reality until I can be in a position where I can surround myself only with favorable atmospheres like this one. Its one thing to curse at Italian engineering because your finger barely reaches a screw that needs to be held down for tightening; because ultimately when you get it and the Miura stops as it should the rewards far outweigh the pains. Look at Jeff's engine. I'm sure that entire process wasn't all peaches and cream. But the end result: the deserved praise, self satisfaction, and pride...WOW.
If I were to post an opinion on a car and it gets censored it would irritate me. I would expect a correction or a rebuttal. Take a look at what's being censored. This is a public community only to a certain extent. JR, David, Henry, and Jeremy have shown that everyone is welcome but that it is indeed possible to overextend this welcome.
Also keep in mind JR is a true enthusiast. He doesn't charge, nor does he want to charge sponsors. He wants to eventually get sponsors and have them give members mandatory discounts, effectively paying back the site through rewarding those who make it what it is. The users. So when you take a guy like this and someone pisses all over his hobby, it will hit very close to home. And as one of the sites moderators/creator, he is entitled to do whatever he sees fit. Its just an added plus that he wants to steer this site in the same direction us users want to see it.
Hosting a site really isn't too pricey unless you get heavy traffic (I'm talking HEAVY traffic that would embarass F-Talk, L-Talk, FChat, and LChat all rolled into one and multiplied by another factor). One of my companies works with a site that gets 1.2 million unique IP hits a day for example. At this small scale, hosting costs very little. And in this site, JR foots the bill. He got too busy to handle the attention the site deserved so instead of charging to hopefully/eventually do away with his day job, he got help from willing and like minded enthusiasts. Its only an added plus that I won't have to risk my credit card number to a non established business. JR has been consistent about one thing. The nature of the site is by and enthusiast for other enthusiasts.
As hard as a creator works I doubt it would be as hard as presenting an engine like Jeff's. Yet Jeff shared with everyone his pride and joy AND the steps he took to get there AND live support should you run into a hiccup. Now whos really doing the hard work? Does Jeff deserve compensation? In this site, praise and the promise of a meal whenever in town suffices; enthusiast to enthusiast. In a pay site, he better get a dollar a view or something, because I would be damned if only someone else profits from my hard work. At the end of the day, it isn't the amount of money ($10 for any of us, is not a big deal, for anyone who can afford internet connections for that matter). But the principle is so fundamentally flawed that I would very reluctantly pay, and if I did, it would have very little to do with the worth of the site. It would have to do with my willingness to give others a chance to fulfill their aspirations.
Cheers
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