Allright everyone

We all just got to see exactly how much we love this site by the fact of
it being unattainable for over 12 hours. Now we all need to see that
supporting the site by becoming a Pawn Star is so important.

I will bring this up...there is another Corresponance site called
Goldtoken.com...this site will let you play a certain number of games
but NOT post on their message board unless you pay like $25 for one
kind of memebership...and then higher prices for "special" types of
membership.

I played a few games there and realized it is not even half as good as
what we have right here. Here we have the best community on the
net...we are a tight knit group..with everyone having friends and
making new ones...we get to chat about anything that we want...we
get to play chess...with whoever we decide to play...this is the
most "free" site around.

I have been here for one year and have been the biggest loudmouth
on here obviously...I don't think there is not a person that plays here
that has not heard of me....and that is why I am standing on my
soapbox today and imploring all non Pawn Stars to step up and pay
the small fee to support this site. These two guys had a dream...and
they made it a reality...and we have all benifited from it.

Please guys...become a Pawn Star.

Dave
Captain USA

For what it's worth, this is by far and away the best thing I've ever seen on the net full stop.

YES! I've played correspondence chess at several other sites, and all
but one has been deleted from my favorites list-- and that one will be
deleted as soon as I finish the two games I have in progress there.
This site is far and away the best. And yes, last night definitely
proved to many of us just how much this place means to us. So
cough it up, folks. Hell, if I get a better paying job, I'm gonna send
Russ and Chrismo another check just because they deserve it. They
are doing EVERYONE here a huge service-- and they allow non-Pawn
Stars to enjoy the site to the same extent as those of us who anted
up the green, other than the limit on games played at once. THEY
DESERVE YOUR MONEY!

Just a thought, though-- it seems like most of the folks who hang
here in Forumland are already Pawn Stars-- any way we can get this
message out to those who just come here and play, and don't ever
visit this Den of Verbosity?
Tim
The Dark Squire

Although we all hate to hear a preacher I suggest all that in their
current games...if you are playing with a Non Pawn Star...at least
mention it to them...don't press the issue to the point of
aggravation..one time would suffice.

I think this might help a little.

And thanks Tim for hopping on and saying all that you did....makes
me happy to see others feeling the same way I do about suporting
something that alot of others take for granted. I hope others come
out and can speak as eloquently as you...which would be hard...you
have a great way with words.

Dave
Captain USA

Yer makin' me blush thar, Dave... Seriously, five years of college and
a lifelong passion for words, three years as a reporter and 11 years as
a writer of fiction, had to have SOME results. Whenever I got
aggravated at one of the heavy metal bulletin boards, I would take
great pleasure in annoying the hell out of the offenders by simply re-
posting their posts, with spelling, grammar and punctuation errors
corrected.

But it does bear repeating-- look at how close-knit a family we have
here, all for the price of (a) NOTHING, or (b) the price of a single
dinner at a mid-priced restaurant. If too many people choose the
free-ride option, this place will be dust before you know it (or payment
will be made a REQUIREMENT!).

Here's an idea for newcomers-- play here for one month, as much as
you can, without paying a cent. Chat with your opponents as you
play. If you're not hooked after a month, then... well, your loss, but
that's just a matter of opinion. If you ARE hooked, if you find that
your fingers get itchy every time you see a computer, wondering if
your opponents have made a move since the last time you checked,
then send these poor lads some money so that they can stop eating
canned food for a change!
Tim
The Dark Squire

Dave, Very nice post. I had no idea what I was gonna do tonight. Yes,
we are a tight night group.
John

"tight night" group???Sounds like a session of AA or something
hehehehehe.

Thanks John...You are one of the people that have done alot to tell
people about supporting the site.

I wish I could do more...but I think if we really all pitch in to this and
spread the word a little better to the people we are playing that have
not given up their...$19 or so...then they might just do it.

Dave
Captain USA

I still don't think the 'pawn star' program is the answer. It helps, but
is not a long term solution. Once the money sent in by pawn stars is
used up, we're back to needing more income to keep it going.

I am convinced that the only way to keep this site running from year
to year is to have an annual membership fee. That will bring in new
funds every year.

regards, Marc

I second that!

I don't know how much money annual membership fees would bring
in, but maybe it would be enough so Chris and Russ could put the site
on a more powerful and reliable server, and maybe even do away with
all of the advertising.

Marc

If you remember Marc I was one of the first to say that a yearly
membership was the best way to keep this site rolling the way it
should and to continue to improve.

Both Chris and Russ have tried to stay away from that thus far...so
untill that is finally set up...becoming a Pawn Star is still a way to keep
them getting the needed funds for running this site.

When it is set up...I will be the first to send more money to
reestablish my position on this site.

Dave
Captain USA

How do you know how many non-pawn stars read the forum ? They
probably just laugh at these pleas for joining up, dont see the
urgency, or dont see them at all.

The way to get them to pay up for a star is to reduce services over
time down to zero until they go away or sign up for a star. It should be
made as hard as possible to keep re-signing under a new tag / e-mail
address but a certain level of this has to be expected. Star holders
should pay an annual subscription that is less than the sign up cost,
or lose the star.

If this site is so good, and I believe it is other than the server
availability, then this should be done. Server availabilty can obviously
be addressed when the funds are there. This needs to be done soon
before people lose confidence in the availability of the site since they
wont pay for something they cannot access.

Allowing non-pawn stars to participate in the tournament, then
boosting them to have a star just devalues getting a star even further.
It raises the value of the site since everyone seems to like the
tournament, but it devalues the star. BTW, I have no objection to
playing non-pawnstars, I just object to being asked to pay for
something that has no real value - the star. The owners of this site
must protect the value of the star or people will not pay for it no
matter how many guilt trips you lay on them about preserving the site.
Remember that this site sells the star, not access to the site which is
free. Once you start giving stars away the site will be doomed.

This is my favourite Intenet site and I check it a couple of times a day
and I would hate to see it fail due to lack of funding. I will pay the
subscription when that is required as long as the cost does not exceed
the value. Making stars cheap while preserving their value will make
more people buy them and keep the cost down.

Intenet sites do not survive just by being cool, or having a happy
family of supporters. They survive by paying their bills, including an
income for the administrators.

How do you know how many non-pawn stars read the forum ? They
probably just laugh at these pleas for joining up, dont see the
urgency, or dont see them at all.

The way to get them to pay up for a star is to reduce services over
time down to zero until they go away or sign up for a star. It should be
made as hard as possible to keep re-signing under a new tag / e-mail
address but a certain level of this has to be expected. Star holders
should pay an annual subscription that is less than the sign up cost,
or lose the star.

If this site is so good, and I believe it is other than the server
availability, then this should be done. Server availabilty can obviously
be addressed when the funds are there. This needs to be done soon
before people lose confidence in the availability of the site since they
wont pay for something they cannot access.

Allowing non-pawn stars to participate in the tournament, then
boosting them to have a star just devalues getting a star even further.
It raises the value of the site since everyone seems to like the
tournament, but it devalues the star. BTW, I have no objection to
playing non-pawnstars, I just object to being asked to pay for
something that has no real value - the star. The owners of this site
must protect the value of the star or people will not pay for it no
matter how many guilt trips you lay on them about preserving the site.
Remember that this site sells the star, not access to the site which is
free. Once you start giving stars away the site will be doomed.

This is my favourite Intenet site and I check it a couple of times a day
and I would hate to see it fail due to lack of funding. I will pay the
subscription when that is required as long as the cost does not exceed
the value. Making stars cheap while preserving their value will make
more people buy them and keep the cost down.

Intenet sites do not survive just by being cool, or having a happy
family of supporters. They survive by paying their bills, including an
income for the administrators.

Just gimme a few weeks. This week I have scary Maths exams, then the week after next my new
computer is coming. But after that... it's time to get down to some serious amateurish
chess-playing!