Send some coin to keep the lights on over at PatriotsPlanet

[Fpcolt]

Well looks like UT is begging for money:

On 12/16/23, my host stopped backing up the site because with nearly 3 MILLION posts in the life of this board, it was taking up too much of the shared memory in the shared server we were on for them to back up the database any longer. The database IS the history of the board and the most important part, and without automated backups, it was something that terrified me. I did some initial research then about moving the site, but didn't pull the trigger because of how much more expensive it would be. I made backups myself and downloaded them to my personal PC and then uploaded them to a Google Drive for safety. It was time consuming and tedious.

Well, on 5/09/24, I discovered thousands of errors in the error log because of the limited resources we had in a shared environment. And I knew it would also only be a matter of time before the host would throttle us or chastise us for using too many resources.

So I initiated moving the site regardless of the increase in cost just to make sure it would stay preserved and perform like a bat out of hell for the future. On 5/10/24 the move was complete in a few hours and the board is screaming.

People have suggested for years that we should take donations but I never wanted to monetize this site. It never was and it is probably one of the few left out there. Yeah I have a little Google Ad at the bottom, but it honestly doesn't do much, and so many users block ads anyway. Ads only work if people see them and then if they click on them. It didn't even cover the cost of the old hosting. But I thought it would be pretty unobtrusive there and help me to defray the costs a little. And it did.

But now, we are on real hosting with a Managed Virtual Private Server in Atlanta (28-3). As of this writing, we are on 120gb of NVMe storage, of which we are using about 60gb. I won't bore you with the rest of the tech specs, but it is a big jump up from where we were in a shared environment. The server is PROACTIVELY managed. They patch the server proactively and keep things running smoothly. There are a bunch of advantages to this that I won't list, but it is way above and beyond what you would normally get with a regular managed server to seek out problems before they happen, and it was the most expensive addon beyond the hosting itself. The host is well known for hosting this Xenforo software we are on. I also paid for an antivirus package that we didn't have before, remembering what happened at the dotcom site and wanting to prevent it from ever happening again. The software that runs on top of the server and OS (a linux distro) that is essential for running the board (configuring email, accessing the files in a GUI, accessing the database etc) is another paid addon that isn't included. There are even other services I considered but didn't go with right now. SO while what we upgraded to might be a little overkill for our current activity, I wanted to be sure that we were in the safest and best performing environment that we could be in, along with easy upgrade paths if we do happen to experience growth. The board should be set for years to come, and it should be less of a problem for me or whomever takes it when I am gone.

I prepaid for a year of hosting, which was a large chunk at once, but saves money in the long run over month to month.

And so, donations, the subject of this thread.... Here is what I wrote about it:

And finally Donations...

I ended up prepaying for the new hosting for a year to save a little money in the long run, but still not cheap. The good news is the board should scream with speed and we will be isolated on our own server. Backups every other day and modern hardware and hosting with very quick support and 99.95% uptime.

I decided to make the donations easy and renewable, so that I am not handling any of the billing itself or fucking around with paypal.

PPP

Patriots Planet Patreon

They handle the billing. You just sign up, create whatever name you want, donate however much you want, change it however you want, and cancel whenever you want (non-refundable).

What do you get for being a Patron?

Nothing.

Except the satisfaction of helping to keep the board alive and another recurring monthly charge on your credit card next to Netflix.

I don't plan on putting any other content there and it is just a voluntary thing with no obligations either way. Donations do not confer any extra privileges here. Maybe after things settle I can make a little "supporter" banner to display on your profile here if you want, but that would be about it.

I took this on, so I will be paying for it either way, but thank you for sticking around and making Patriots Planet wonderful. I appreciate any help you are willing to give.

By default, Patreon is a monthly charge, but that doesn't mean if you decide to donate that you have to commit to paying something every month. I tried to fill out a bunch of different dollar values to be flexible with it. You can choose one you like, signup and pay, and then easily cancel the recurring charge if you just wanted to do a one time or yearly donation or the like. You can change how much you donate at will. There is no judgement for canceling and no worries if you need to. Patriots Planet has been our internet home for 21.5 years as of this writing, and has always been such a pleasure to come to and interact with all of you present or past. I appreciate any help you want to give, but never blame anyone who doesn't want to. It is strictly voluntary with no pressure from me as I kind of hate even making this post. The board is paid for and secure for many years to come and that was always my main goal. You guys are the best.

And here’s the link where you too can send your cash for nothing in return:

https://www.patreon.com/patriotsplanet/about

 

[Dingleberry]

Well looks like UT is begging for money:



And here’s the link where you too can send your cash for nothing in return:

https://www.patreon.com/patriotsplanet/about

Unbelievable. When @Lord Guts @Lord Chevy @LordSensei1958 @jlaff @Ice_Ice_Brady @Lord Mayo joined me and @Kontradiction as exiles on the Planet, we introduced ourselves to Undertaker and offered to assist in anyway. We promised to double the site's activity and told him we would donate to the site if he set it up.

I asked him for permission to do an NFL gambling contest that got halted over at Ian's. I told him he and his mods should participate to build participation. Nothing. The contest ended up being mostly exiles. Sensei was a posting machine over there like he is here. Crazy football content. Nothing but silence and sometimes annoyance from the regulars. We managed to light a fire under @Deus Irae who was in semi retirement. He's the only one who can rival Sensei with content. Kontra and I were producing a lot of content, though most of that was either offensive, political, or pissing off the locals. We easily doubled the content there. Nothing!

We were offering to help build and fund his site. His reaction was like we farted in church.

Now, my message for the Planet is, "If it dies, it dies."

 

[Lord Chevy]

Unbelievable. When @Lord Guts @Lord Chevy @LordSensei1958 @jlaff @Ice_Ice_Brady @Lord Mayo joined me and @Kontradiction as exiles on the Planet, we introduced ourselves to Undertaker and offered to assist in anyway. We promised to double the site's activity and told him we would donate to the site if he set it up.

I asked him for permission to do an NFL gambling contest that got halted over at Ian's. I told him he and his mods should participate to build participation. Nothing. The contest ended up being mostly exiles. Sensei was a posting machine over there like he is here. Crazy football content. Nothing but silence and sometimes annoyance from the regulars. We managed to light a fire under @Deus Irae who was in semi retirement. He's the only one who can rival Sensei with content. Kontra and I were producing a lot of content, though most of that was either offensive, political, or pissing off the locals. We easily doubled the content there. Nothing!

We were offering to help build and fund his site. His reaction was like we farted in church.

Now, my message for the Planet is, "If it dies, it dies."


View attachment 5676

The Planet was on life support using 1850's standards. The exiles arrived and brought the EMH from Star Trek. The response - I like my leeches.

I'm with Drago on this one. Besides - we've got a home here. Twisted, dysfunctional, crass, and all-inclusive. This site is proof of Quantum Theory - everyone is at the same time welcome and unwelcome.

 

[Lord Guts]

Once you gotta ask for money means the end for a site

 

[Lord Guts]

Only a matter of time

 

[HSanders]

Unbelievable. When @Lord Guts @Lord Chevy @LordSensei1958 @jlaff @Ice_Ice_Brady @Lord Mayo joined me and @Kontradiction as exiles on the Planet, we introduced ourselves to Undertaker and offered to assist in anyway. We promised to double the site's activity and told him we would donate to the site if he set it up.

I asked him for permission to do an NFL gambling contest that got halted over at Ian's. I told him he and his mods should participate to build participation. Nothing. The contest ended up being mostly exiles. Sensei was a posting machine over there like he is here. Crazy football content. Nothing but silence and sometimes annoyance from the regulars. We managed to light a fire under @Deus Irae who was in semi retirement. He's the only one who can rival Sensei with content. Kontra and I were producing a lot of content, though most of that was either offensive, political, or pissing off the locals. We easily doubled the content there. Nothing!

We were offering to help build and fund his site. His reaction was like we farted in church.

Now, my message for the Planet is, "If it dies, it dies."


View attachment 5676

yeah that was really puzzling as far as why none of your support was accepted.

 

[Dingleberry]

yeah that was really puzzling as far as why none of your support was accepted.

Tribalism. They didn't want a large collection of "noobies" to dominate the discourse.

At least we were able to get you and a couple others over here too.

 

[Fpcolt]

Once you gotta ask for money means the end for a site

 

[Dingleberry]

View attachment 5678

You really are a vindictive dick.

I like that.

 

[HSanders]

Tribalism. They didn't want a large collection of "noobies" to dominate the discourse.

At least we were able to get you and a couple others over here too.

but they had a bunch of fun people over there when i joined. place was very lively. sure there were a few turds but that will happen. i can't remember why there was a mass exodus but i think it might have had to do with a re-formatting/organization of the board and some new rules. i would have thought bringing fun people back would be a good thing.

 

[Dingleberry]

but they had a bunch of fun people over there when i joined. place was very lively. sure there were a few turds but that will happen. i can't remember why there was a mass exodus but i think it might have had to do with a re-formatting/organization of the board and some new rules. i would have thought bringing fun people back would be a good thing.

There was a MAJOR censorship and harassment of lefties. The opposite of Ian.

Lefties may be logically challenged, but I am a free speech absolutist. I will defend their right to be logically challenged!

Of course I know these are private web sites, and free speech doesn't apply. That is their right. But that is a good reason not to be a member of such a place.

Hint, hint for all you Ian knob gobblers.

 

[HSanders]

There was a MAJOR censorship and harassment of lefties. The opposite of Ian.

Lefties may be logically challenged, but I am a free speech absolutist. I will defend their right to be logically challenged!

Of course I know these are private web sites, and free speech doesn't apply. That is their right. But that is a good reason not to be a member of such a place.

Hint, hint for all you Ian knob gobblers.

i don't recall it being politically based but that's certainly possible. i wasn't there too much at first. and i have 0 problems with people having different opinions. my issue is only different standards for different people.

 

[Dingleberry]

i don't recall it being politically based but that's certainly possible. i wasn't there too much at first. and i have 0 problems with people having different opinions. my issue is only different standards for different people.

It was bad from what I have heard, though what I have heard is second hand. And you can tell it's true because the politics there is a complete echo chamber.

Some might claim we have an echo chamber here. That is not by choice as nobody has ever and will ever be censored here. We are new. Once we grow, I expect more political diversity. It certainly won't be discouraged.

Aside from @Fpcolt who almost got banned the other day, and @Jack Bauer who has thankfully changed his name, we don't see much wrong opinions.

Oh, and ElRey Venecol was trolling for a while before he lost a Loser Loses His Mask match and had his Luchador mask ripped off. He hasn't been seen since. Probably deep throating Ian.

 

[Lord Guts]

My boy Venecol hasn't been posting at PF either kinda getting worried about him too

 

[HSanders]

It was bad from what I have heard, though what I have heard is second hand. And you can tell it's true because the politics there is a complete echo chamber.

Some might claim we have an echo chamber here. That is not by choice as nobody has ever and will ever be censored here. We are new. Once we grow, I expect more political diversity. It certainly won't be discouraged.

Aside from @Fpcolt who almost got banned the other day, and @Jack Bauer who has thankfully changed his name, we don't see much wrong opinions.

Oh, and ElRey Venecol was trolling for a while before he lost a Loser Loses His Mask match and had his Luchador mask ripped off. He hasn't been seen since. Probably deep throating Ian.

there are a few leftists but we all tend to stay in our own threads because there's no dialogue really. unfortunate.
some here think he's pinko pat over there,right?
i tried to get steve-o over here. he is a leftist but one who will debate stuff and brings up points, not make stuff personal etc. i like him. he told me he wasn't really debating online anymore. he's had stuff happening and is too busy. he and his wife bought a house out in l.a. and have been renovating it. they are both super creative and the pictures he's shared are gorgeous. hoping we can stay in touch and maybe he'll come out of retirement someday.

 

[Fpcolt]

i don't recall it being politically based but that's certainly possible. i wasn't there too much at first. and i have 0 problems with people having different opinions. my issue is only different standards for different people.

You celebrated my banning and were silent/celebrating the banning of other libs. And were hypocritically completely silent about the right wingers being inflammatory.

The fact that you call out Steve-O as being the one lib you were fine with while completely ignoring right wingers that were equally if not more inflammatory is hypocrisy personified. Well done. As can only be done by a sad miserable lonely Karen on this Mother’s Day.

The fact that UT banned libs to try to appease people like yourself, only for said people to either not be there anymore or even over here is amusing, so thank you for that at least.

 

[Dingleberry]

My boy Venecol hasn't been posting at PF either kinda getting worried about him too

He disappeared last off season too. He didn't post from day after the SB until after Preseason ended. Remember the Casino was wondering if he would be back?

He'll be back there in September, playing slap-n-tickle with Tunes, Ian, Ken,and the rest of the merry band of rump rangers.

 

[Fpcolt]

Aside from @Fpcolt who almost got banned the other day

I was merely pressure testing that you and this board are what you said you were!

I’ve never quite met an admin that could take that level of abuse and not ban the offender.

I appreciate and respect that.

 

[Dingleberry]

I was merely pressure testing that you and this board are what you said you were!

I’ve never quite met an admin that could take that level of abuse and not ban the offender.

I appreciate and respect that.

Abuse? I'm married. You're nothing.

And I meant it when I said I am unoffendable. Here and in real life. My level of "don't give a shit" is unparalleled. It's a healthy way to live.

We are going to really push to grow the board as football season nears. Hopefully things get more interesting with increased traffic.

 

[Fpcolt]

Abuse? I'm married. You're nothing.

And I meant it when I said I am unoffendable. Here and in real life. My level of "don't give a shit" is unparalleled. It's a healthy way to live.

We are going to really push to grow the board as football season nears. Hopefully things get more interesting with increased traffic.

I don’t know if you’ve always been that way or you’re like me and you used to care but now no longer do.

Being able to not give a fuck is so liberating. Particularly for me when I remember when I used to care about things I couldn’t possibly give a fuck about now.