Hi all..
only just been able to log in after a 28hours of being 'locked out' from Avalon server.. eek! (nothing ominous I hasten to add!!) .. I've only just seen the news re: Subs and read all the threads/posts...
Wow. many people have already said a lot of things I also think. But I have a few things to add...
I feel the urge to tackle/question the content/tone of several comments/reasons/statements by certain 'decision makers' (and a small number of other members/mods) in their posts about this whole issue.. but I won't.... I don't feel that will be at all helpful to anyone.. and will only be perceived as being 'negative' I'm sure!
But it has, sadly, become crystal clear (from those same posts), that the level of values/beliefs/ethics around issues of human unity / compassion / love / freedom / truth / accessiblity / equality / respect for all, which I had thought underpinned this forum, are not quite at the level I had hoped/thought they were.
I am very sad at the decision by Bill/Kerry to make the forum paid/subs based. For me, apart from any personal financial aspect, I feel that the very premise of being required to pay (any amount, even 1 penny) to contribute to/participate in a Web Forum is erroneous and rather misguided...(sorry guys, but that's how I feel, no offence intended) ... especially given that:
1. An opinion poll was conducted and a clear majority said they would leave if had to pay to access the forum. To ask the members their views, and then to totally ignore them, and go and do the exact opposite of the forum's own 'market-research' is, to me, madness. It's shooting yourselves in the foot, my humble opinion, and I think something Bill and Kerry, that you might come to regret later, after hindsight has graced with its prescence.
To ask people's opinion, then ignore it and do the opposite of the majority, I'm sorry to say, for me that is a little reminiscent of the very type of political/power-play/'sod the peasants' shennanegans we're all here working to get rid of/overcome.. one way or another!
2. There have been SO many other positive, constructive, workable suggestions, some good, some less practical maybe, of ways to generate revenue for PC/PA 's continued running.... including clear offers to pay outright for PA Forum! Yet these solutions seem to have been put to back burner / done as a small 'sideline' to the Forum Subscription.
3.The very principle of this decision is forcing people to pay to participate .... yes.. forcing! Let's not make 'excuses' here, or try and paint it as something different! Basically, you will no longer be able to particpate in PA if you can't pay! Nor if you prefer to keep your dignity intact and financial position private by not going on the "free school-dinners" waiting list for 'charity-case' members!
4. ... point 3 is something which, by its very nature is, in my view, going along the very same 'mode of operating' that the world we are trying to Ascend, Change & Move On from operates in.. and has been doing for centuries.. hence the very mess we are all in right now on this planet! i.e. oh yes, there's plenty of resources on this planet.. for those who can afford to PAY for them!!!
4. Given a large content of PA/PC material relates to the financial downfall of the West/entire world, end to currencies, possible end of the entire monetary-based world as we know it in coming years... isn't making this a pay-for-membership Forum just going in REVERSE direction of what PA/PC stands for in first place??!!?
OK, enough from me!!!!
My simple summing up of the hundreds of thoughts I have about this decision, and some of the "reasons" / "justifications" which have been given for it, is this:
Just as a Company means its people, and by it's very nature/name cannot exist without them.. a Web Forum
IS its members... and woud be
nothing without them... except a blank template floating around in Cyberspace....
WITHOUT PEOPLE (freely and equally able to contribute) there simply IS NO FORUM!
PC/PA may have cost implications to keep going, am not doubting/commenting on that. But a Forum is a forum. And a business is a business. Don;t mix up the two! And PA is a Forum. Without the equal and free contribution of its members, it is
nothing... no matter who 'owns' or 'runs' it.. no matter who's house the "party" is in!
I personally thank Bill & Kerry and all at PA/PC for bringing the forum intro being.. and also for all the info on PC.... I have no doubt that it has been hard work and I thank you for sharing the info with the public. But, notwithstanding that, even if I could afford to pay £500 per month to be a full member, I wouldn't do it. It's a matter of personal integrity, life-values and personal principles.
I wish you ALL well for the future! And thank you
especially to the ordinary Members.. many of whom have contributed some wonderful and invaluable info, intersting ideas and personal thoughts and learnings...
Peaceful blessings!