Economy
In reply to the discussion: STOCK MARKET WATCH, Monday, December 12, 2011 [View all]Loge23
(3,922 posts)So now an opportunity exists for a talented techie to create another site for Progressive commentary and participation.
DU has been a terrific venue over the years and I applaud the effort. I suppose I am not exaggerating that the site was primarily sustained - and the 3rd generation funded - the contributions of it's participants. "Suppose?" Well, I can't be sure since no financial disclosure was ever posted. I never knew how they needed for each drive or how much of the contributions were funneled directly to the site maintenance. Since this little self-followed law of contributions guides all of my benevolence, I stopped contributing. Now, DU3 will offer memberships which, we're told, will effectively end the fund drives. Why would anyone pay to belong when others can post and view for free? Is it a commerce site or not? Just say so - I may actually want to "buy" rather than "give"!
The answer to that probably lies in the fact that this will eventually, and perhaps sooner than later, become a fee-based site. I don't begrudge the owners for going in that direction nor am I naive enough to think that this well-designed (well, DU2 anyway) and comprehensive web presence is cheap - I'm sure it is not.
But something is different today and it's not just the interface; opportunity is waiting.