Future of ChessForums.org - Page 3 - Chess Forums

Perseus · 08-06-2007, 09:34 PM

*Sighs*

You say you didn't make any money on the site. My question: How could you ever hope to break even by modern standards?
It's ridiculous to assume that. Investing expertise and a great ammount of time into this forum is something you knew (or should have known) would never break even economically; my estimates would be above the original $5000. I'll disregard your input for now.

The remaining factors well, I don't think they come close to the 1800USD. I will agree that the domain name, liscenses and webspace are things that should be funded from external sources as well. I understand a need for that ($1800?!), though, you could have set up a paypal account and a little donations box on the forum. I've seen it work for quite a number of community-based websites that are appreciated by its members. I wonder if that ever crossed your mind..

The very thought of selling a place where people come and talk is alien to me. You could have easily stepped down as head admin to someone else without there being money involved. Let me add that a head admin doesn't need chess ability. Admittedly it's useful on a chess forum.

A last thought. I find the thought that 'the world thrives on commerce alone' digusting. Talk business models if you wish, it's a sad view of life.

Phobetor · 08-06-2007, 11:21 PM

Perseus, you also have to stop to think what you would have done in his situation. He made the site both to create a nice chess community online, but also (correct me if I'm wrong) because he was interested in chess and wanted to improve. He invested alot of money into this project, without asking anything from the members (not even sponsored advertisements).

Now he got a job, and he has little time for this project and/or chess. He could just keep paying the monthly fees for webhosting, domain names etc., but he decided that he has spent enough money already and wants to stop it. He could have just taken the sites down (which I'm sure you wouldn't have liked either), he could have stepped down and let someone else be Head Admin (which doesn't solve his problem of the costs), or he can give/sell the whole site to someone else.

If he just gives the site away, then first of all he just lost alot of money and gave someone something worth alot of money, but second of all, he wouldn't know that the new owner really appreciated what he got for it's value. Now that he sold it and someone paid $1800 for it, he knows that the new owner must really appreciate the value of the site and really wants to do something with it.

superdanch · 08-07-2007, 12:18 AM

I think selling this site would have been better than to just let is slowly fall apart without the proper care and attention it needs.

You guys make it sound like it was an easy decision for Greg to sell something that he worked so hard on. If he was really interested in making money, where are the ads? I've talked with Greg a good number of times about his plans for CF and he was always thinking about how to make the site better, adding new features and getting everyone's feedback.

I think Greg did the best thing given the situation. In an ideal world we would all have enough time to do everything we want, but I'm sure he has a lot of things he needs to take care of not just these forums. I know he's done a great job so far, and I just hope the new owner can continue the tradition.

Let's focus on being constructive and thinking about what kind of things you want from CF. It's a good time to voice them to the new owner.

Daniel

StuntPope · 08-07-2007, 02:45 AM

Hi guys, I'm the new owner, I've made an initial post here:
http://www.chessforums.org/forum-new....html#post6140

-mark

Perseus · 08-07-2007, 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by Phobetor

Perseus, you also have to stop to think what you would have done in his situation. He made the site both to create a nice chess community online, but also (correct me if I'm wrong) because he was interested in chess and wanted to improve. He invested alot of money into this project, without asking anything from the members (not even sponsored advertisements).

Now he got a job, and he has little time for this project and/or chess. He could just keep paying the monthly fees for webhosting, domain names etc., but he decided that he has spent enough money already and wants to stop it. He could have just taken the sites down (which I'm sure you wouldn't have liked either), he could have stepped down and let someone else be Head Admin (which doesn't solve his problem of the costs), or he can give/sell the whole site to someone else.

If he just gives the site away, then first of all he just lost alot of money and gave someone something worth alot of money, but second of all, he wouldn't know that the new owner really appreciated what he got for it's value. Now that he sold it and someone paid $1800 for it, he knows that the new owner must really appreciate the value of the site and really wants to do something with it.

I read and understand.

Perhaps then, a different viewpoint is required. As of now we're talking about selling the forum (which disturbs me greatly).

Greg has sold:
- Head administrator priviledges. (Obviously)
- Domain rights (for the remainder of the month I'm assuming)
- Webspace rights (though I suppose the actual web content may move to the new owner's space)

I may feel the top of these three should be without charge; but I cannot disagree with any of it except perhaps on a pure emotional level. When the sale, in principle, extends to forum members, member topics and posts, I can disagree with it.

..

To Mark:
Funny, did a ctrl+f on your blog. Can't find 'chess' on the main page. Do tell me that's just odd.

StuntPope · 08-07-2007, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by Perseus

To Mark:
Funny, did a ctrl+f on your blog. Can't find 'chess' on the main page. Do tell me that's just odd.

I haven't ever blogged about chess. As I mentioned in my introductory post, I am coming off of a phase of my life where I haven't been playing, and if I were, I'm not good enough to blog intelligently about it. (Although the intricacies of taking over an online chess community may very well become the topic of future posts).

-mark

StuntPope · 08-07-2007, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by Perseus

To Mark:
Funny, did a ctrl+f on your blog. Can't find 'chess' on the main page. Do tell me that's just odd.

Come to think of it, you should have used the quicksearch option, there is one oblique reference to chess in a post, probably referencing theory in the clumsiest of manners:

5 VC gambits start-ups should watch out for - Under the Radar

Perseus · 08-07-2007, 08:31 PM

Originally Posted by Greg

Hi Perseus,

-Thats correct, I will be staying active as a moderator though

-Domain rights, there are a number of domains not just the one the site uses, and they are all registered for another 1-2 years.
-I think the key thing to recognize is the forum will only get better as a result of this sale, your ideas will have a much greater chance of being developed in reality. I could understand your objections if I went and sold the forum to a company selling chess sets for example, but Mark is a chess fan, with the site's best interests at heart.

I hope you stay around to see how the site develops, and perhaps in time you will see this was a good move for the forums and its members.

Thanks,
Greg

I would offer that if you'd experienced what I have, you would have similar feelings. I don't disapprove of the move, but that you may have received money (among other reasons) because we post here; that's really what nags at me. My other concerns are minor.

As I have stated, I don't object to letting someone else take over. Not at all actually! I know running a forum can be something of a burden and, when you start thinking in those terms, you can begin to resent what once was a hobby.

As I've said in the other thread I'll stick around. Our new 'management' (sorry for the term) deserves a chance.

Crash · 08-08-2007, 06:10 AM

Originally Posted by Greg

Hi Perseus,

-Thats correct, I will be staying active as a moderator though

-Domain rights, there are a number of domains not just the one the site uses, and they are all registered for another 1-2 years.
-I think the key thing to recognize is the forum will only get better as a result of this sale, your ideas will have a much greater chance of being developed in reality. I could understand your objections if I went and sold the forum to a company selling chess sets for example, but Mark is a chess fan, with the site's best interests at heart.

I hope you stay around to see how the site develops, and perhaps in time you will see this was a good move for the forums and its members.

Thanks,
Greg

If you had sold it to a company selling chess sets I wouldn't have thought bad of you. Thanks for creating this site. Its been enjoyable reading and posting here for the short while that I have been here and I am sure that it will continue to be enjoyable under the new owner.

Crash