Long non-VIP request times

Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 1:20 pm Post subject:

Respect is a good word to for each of us to think about in all of this. The dictionary tells us that it means to regard with honor and esteem.

We certainly want to treat all of our listeners with respect and make sure everyone gets a chance to participate. This is what makes SST more than just a radio station, it is a true community. We get to interact with one another on many levels, through requests, chat, and forums. And each of us contributes to the site. VIPs are more than just people who pay for the privilege. For those members that have shown themselves to be outstanding in some way, for example, whether it be by helping out JERIC with a project or participating in a contest he or she will be thanked with VIP membership.

Truth be told, viewing the chat and seeing words like "blackmail" and "coercion" was disturbing to me. Those are very strong and serious words, similar to the word respect and would seem like a knee-jerk reaction versus a well-thought out argument. As a former mod, you know the time and dedication and money it takes to run a site and it is simple economics to realize that all of those resources increase as the popularity of the site increases. Every bit of money that JERIC receives goes back into this site to make it a better place.

I am sorry that you cannot afford to purchase a VIP membership. And that if you could you would "refuse to give satisfaction." I certainly will honor your decision. Please note that we are not trying to blackmail or coerce anyone. We want to reward those that have dedicated time or money to the site. In turn it appears that we have made it seem like a punishment for everyone else. This was and is not the intention.

We ask for patience from all of you, as we try to strike a balance with requests and queue, with nonVIP and VIP status, as well as handling the greater volume of listeners. Rest assured that requests will always be in place for ALL listeners.

I believe it is important for me to share with you how I feel about this site. I am so grateful for its existence that it goes beyond words. At the foundation is an incredible playlist of music that inspires me. I would love this site if all I could do was go to Live365 and click on the listen link. But it gets better, I can do more than listen amazing music, I get to listen to it for free and with no ads. JERIC didn't stop there, he decided to build a user-friendly website that listeners can come together. And just to make it the best radio station ever, he gave up his sole rights to choosing his own music and let's us run the show. Even at just one request a day, how freaking cool is that?! So at the end of the day, if I was stripped of all "perks" that go with this site I would still be happy.
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I think I should have no other mortal wants, if I could always have plenty of music. It seems to infuse strength into my limbs and ideas into my brain. Life seems to go on without effort, when I am filled with music. - George Elliot

Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 4:58 pm Post subject:

Exactly. Saff, I understand your opinion and I do respect you, but I saw no reward for the VIPs. As I stated in my e-mail to JERIC, their request time stayed around the same, while the non-VIPs shot up. I think it's fairly logical to view that as a punishment for the non-VIPs, rather than as a reward to the VIPs.

If such was not intended, fine, I accept that. But you have to realize that, as was stated above, that really did nothing to help the queue length and, as such, I could hardly help seeing it as a pure attempt to make people really, really want to be VIPs.

My remark about not giving satisfaction is one of those I wish I could take back. But understand how I felt at the time . . . like I'd been spit on, like I was being railroaded. I'm sorry if the words I used seemed strong. But jumping the request time from four hours to twelve is pretty strong itself, isn't it?

Thanks, Molossus, for your kind words. I do hope we can all move past this with a minimum of hard feelings.

Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2005 11:19 am Post subject:

While I see what you are saying, I must state that for the most part we are all adults here. Adults understand the difference between someone who pays for something and gets it versus getting something for free. For example, when you pay an additional monthly fee, you can get HBO. If you don't pay the additional fee, you may get a free preview here and there but you won't get to watch it anytime you want. So let's act like adults. Rogue, you are not being 'punished,' you are complaining because you want something for free that others pay for and you can't have it for free. Grow up.

I read the chat log, and it seems that Rogue is the one who suddenly shows up with an accusatory attitude. Rogue starts the conversation with a blatantly sarcastic comment: 13 Oct 05 - 09:31","Rogue","Wow, VIPs just keep getting more important . . . now they are 144 times more important than I am. " then continues with statements like: " I refuse to give the satisfaction." and "But now I have to be honest. I really don't feel like it. " Then Rogue states: "Maybe I'm stubborn, but nothing makes me want to do something less than when someone tries to blackmail me into doing it. " Blackmail? Huh? You still get a free request, you just don't get to do it as often as the people who pay to do so. We are not Communists here, we are Capitalists. Don0don even offered Rogue his request (more than one time), which Rogue just ignores. To be honest, all I see in the chat are people who don't understand what Rogue means but are still trying to be nice to him. SST has a history of antagonizing people who act as Rogue is here, but it didn't even happen on this occasion. I could proceed with examples of where Rogue just blatantly wants to be mad and in fact is trying to antagonize everyone because he is pissed off and is purposefully twisting things around to feed his anger. The fact is Rogue appears to have an underlying issue: he's pissed off because he can't afford the VIP membership. Instead of aspiring to someday be in a position where he can afford it, he comes up with this elaborate scheme that SST is out to punish him. "Rogue","And I hope to reach the place where I can. But now I have to be honest. I really don't feel like it. " (I'm assuming he is referring to not feeling like becoming a VIP, not not feeling like reaching a place where he can afford it). So again, I say grow up.

Everyone should be happy that they get to request at all. It is a privilege for all and JERIC could just as easily let SAM pick all of the songs all day long.

Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2005 11:25 am Post subject:

I am afraid the situation you are talking about above is not a good example Cal. It is not suitable to the real situation at SST.

To make your story a bit more similar to the SST reality from my point of view I woud put it this way:

Lets say you put very big amount of candy for all the children for free everyday. But you ask them: It is free for everybody but please pay attention and don't take more than 25 kilograms a day in total.

Let us say that after a while you see that all the children together are taking away 30 kilograms of candies per day in total. And the other thing you see is that one (smaller) group of children that live close to your house and can visit you more often (let us call them "VIPs") take 20 kilograms from total of 30. The other (bigger in number) group of children that are from the whole city and go longer way to reach your house so they can use less of your candies ("non-VIPs") take 10 kilos.
So you make a decision: To keep amount of candies you give away at 25 kg per day, you let VIPs take 20 kilograms (no change for them) but you say that non-VIPs can take only 5 kgs per day (that means twice less than before). You are making only one group of children taking much less although both groups had their part in excessing a day limit you asked them to obey. And that is a bit unfair for me.

Last edited by molossus on Thu Oct 27, 2005 12:39 pm; edited 1 time in total

Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2005 3:53 pm Post subject:

Cue Jaws theme.... Wink