VideoSift 3.111111eleven11 and a Request for Help
A few more changes around the place ...
You will notice a little panel at the top of the screen that says "Power Points". This is replacing the date based recharge system for *promotes. It acts in exactly the same way- though instead of looking in your profile to see if a promote is available- you just need to look at the panel. If you have 1 point there- you are go to promote.
We've also pulled *quality into the power point system. Now, if you want to *quality a Sift Talk post- you will need to spend your point. We're hoping that this will reduce a bit of the *quality inflation that we've seen lately.
The second change is that we've created a permanent donation system for VideoSift. The truth is - we're struggling a bit to pay the bills. With our surge in traffic starting from late last year, we've already outgrown one round of servers- and it's looking like we are going to need more soon. Of course this doesn't include the amount of staff time that goes into VideoSift. We've all been working for pretty close to nothing on VideoSift for almost 2 years- I would really like to compensate the people that spend so much time building and running the site.
We've created a donation page here- please have a read through and tell us what you think. We're offering a small "thank you" merit that is tied in with the above power point system.
As always, we're open for feedback on this- I know everyone will not be entirely happy with the changes- but we're doing the best that we can to keep our home on the web going. Thanks for your support.
You will notice a little panel at the top of the screen that says "Power Points". This is replacing the date based recharge system for *promotes. It acts in exactly the same way- though instead of looking in your profile to see if a promote is available- you just need to look at the panel. If you have 1 point there- you are go to promote.
We've also pulled *quality into the power point system. Now, if you want to *quality a Sift Talk post- you will need to spend your point. We're hoping that this will reduce a bit of the *quality inflation that we've seen lately.
The second change is that we've created a permanent donation system for VideoSift. The truth is - we're struggling a bit to pay the bills. With our surge in traffic starting from late last year, we've already outgrown one round of servers- and it's looking like we are going to need more soon. Of course this doesn't include the amount of staff time that goes into VideoSift. We've all been working for pretty close to nothing on VideoSift for almost 2 years- I would really like to compensate the people that spend so much time building and running the site.
We've created a donation page here- please have a read through and tell us what you think. We're offering a small "thank you" merit that is tied in with the above power point system.
As always, we're open for feedback on this- I know everyone will not be entirely happy with the changes- but we're doing the best that we can to keep our home on the web going. Thanks for your support.
26 Comments
Raytracegood work as always.
MINKhmmmm it's sad to hear the bills aren't paid.
is it too controversial of me to suggest some kind of restrictions for unregistered guests? It seems there are a lot more lurkers and leechers than active participants. At some point, why not cut them off a bit? For example, show five vids per day then force a cookie deletion or session restart... redirect to the registering page...
Would it really deter good new members from registering? Would it significantly reduce traffic?
I know people always say "i lurked for months before registering and now i am a gold 100!" but seriously, would they have not registered if forced a little? Can you afford not to stop feeding the leeches?
MINKupdate: i read the message. sent you a fiver. don't see anything wrong with power points unless its sift money by the back door... but if sift money was actually linked to donations then i wouldn't have such a problem with it.
good luck. and find high quality channel sponsors for as many channels as possible. even if we didn't click, if the sponsor was relevant, they would get a lot of love for supporting us.
fissionchipsYou and the team have done an incredible job handling the explosive growth of the site. Keeping the site running and the community happy in the process is no mean feat. Charter, here we come.
swampgirlHey Dag remember back when we all discussed the idea of Sift dollars? No one went for it then. Well??
Thanks for the hard work fellas and for keeping "The Suits" at bay.
darkrowanerr..hmmm.. yeah the Sift Dollar ('In Sifty We Trust')...
Ok and actual question then: How does this integrate with Charter Memberships?
kronosposeidonI'm going to use my power points for good.
Anyone got a fart video they want me to promote?
dotdudeJust out of curiosity, how many charters are there on here anyway?
Arsenault185And VideoSift promised me no more ads when I went charter. Well whats with the big ad asking me to donate? Jeeeeeeeeeezzzz. On the 1st when i get paid, I'll be sure to toss a couple bucks your way.
dagComment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)
It's a bit different from our idea of Sift Dollars- for many people it will just be an easier way to know when the promote is ready - without having to go to your profile to look.
There is no real connection to Charter Memberships. They will continue in their current state- and we always appreciate people going Charter.
Thanks everyone for your support.
calvadosMany thanks for this place, Dag et al. I love the Sift; I get withdrawal on the rare occasion that the server's down. Here's some bucks.
dagComment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)
Thanks Calvados and everyone else.
It's a weird feeling for us to be the receivers of all your generosity - it makes us want to redouble our efforts here though - to be honest I would like to strip all ads from the site, and tell the sleazy ad merchants to shove off.
I probably wouldn't make a very good televangelist- but please don't give till it hurts - just what you can spare.
thesnipeMy bank account is hurting but I have a couple nice paychecks to cash tomorrow so I'll save some for the sift.
Great work and great ideas in 3.1.1.eleven11
jimnmsI'll throw some cash in as soon as Dell gives me my refund for the notebook I sent back.
I just had an idea. How about being able to buy power points or extra queue space. For example, you're queue is full and you find something you just have to post before someone beats you to it, but don't want to discard a post. How about being able to buy a one time use queue spot for $1 or so?
oxdottirI have the whole wasp "more likely to talk about sex than money" thing, and I would like to know if it is possible to donate such that I don't get the marvelous dot next to my name, but I do get the fine points. That is, I don't mind giving you money, and I like privileges, but I like to wield my powers from the shadows...
Does that sound too weird? I tried to send "contact us" note about it, but either my machine or videosift seems to be taking a bit of a weirdness holiday.
lucky760>> ^oxdottir:
I have the whole wasp "more likely to talk about sex than money" thing, and I would like to know if it is possible to donate such that I don't get the marvelous dot next to my name, but I do get the fine points. That is, I don't mind giving you money, and I like privileges, but I like to wield my powers from the shadows...
Does that sound too weird? I tried to send "contact us" note about it, but either my machine or videosift seems to be taking a bit of a weirdness holiday.
Below the "I'll Help" button there's a checkbox labeled "Donate anonymously" which allows you to do just that.
SarzyHow is self promote supposed to work? Because I tried it on this post without any luck.
dagComment hidden because you are ignoring dag. (show it anyway)
Hey Sarzy- sorry about that- I think you're right, that should have worked. You may have found a glitch it the Siftrix - We'll let you know when it's fixed.
youdiejoeill add a "me too" to the self promote thing...
lucky760Promoting your own post should work now. Sorry, had a bug. Please inform if it works or continues to err. Thanks.
deputydogservers are lazy little bastards. i'll be donating as soon as i get paid. i'd have done it sooner but haven't had 2 shillings to rub together for as long as i can remember.
keep up the good work.
p.s. dag - that's the best avatar i've seen for a long time.
choggiewhat's all the fuss about tossin' about errant *quailtyies?
evebn misspellleld ones
Arsenault185Maybe, just maybe, (feel free to shoot this down) sifters would be more inclined to sift some money your way if we knew what kind of expenditures you had compared to what you bring in from Google ads or charter fees. I think if the Sifters could see some numbers so we knew what it takes to actually maintain this site, then pocket might open up a little easier.
choggieNo, just shut up and GIVE!! Maybe your pocket might open up a little easier if you were dangled off a fire escape by yer ankles, Arsenot??
Arsenault185Haha. Its funny you all me arsenot. A guy i work with (and have worked with for months) calls me that cus he STILL can get my name right. haha
MarineGunrockOne more suggestion: Change where it says "Videosift3.1" To "VideoSift3.111111eleven11"
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