Simply because it's getting too costly for me to operate anymore.
1) It costs approximately $300/yr for the service alone...Add $30/yr for the vbulletin license, $25/yr for the photo gallery and now $50/yr for the new blogging software (I see it as a good addition otherwise i wouldn't have purchased it).
2) I'm not being paid for my time and effort...I've never asked for payment and I never will, i just want to make ends meet when it comes to the costs I have to pay other people.
3) Ad revenues don't work for this type of forum. I've tried it a few times and I've made nothing off of google, nor off of linkshare (which is where all the mac/toy/etc ads come from). I've had a few generous advertisers in the past but to be honest, they never really had great turnout for exposure so i don't really want to offer that option anymore. Ads just don't work unless it's a "niche" and JG has so many things going on, it's not micro enough to make $$ with ads.
I may change my mind and do sponsorship ads for particular forums in the future but at the moment, I'm not going there.
Now, you don't have to subscribe. For the most part, you'll still have the capabilities you had before with access to the safehouse and the photo gallery etc. you'll be able to view and comment on other people's blogs and profile photo albums, you just won't be able to create your own without becoming a subscription member.
The new forum i'm opening up is intended to be an unmoderated forum where anything goes because i know i can trust my Jetgirl Plus subscribers to not get too out of hand, but, in the case it does, i may have to moderate a time or two. I will try to keep it as minimal as possible.
Please feel free to type any questions or comments....i don't expect this subscription thing to go over nicely.. most forum members have a BIG problem with being asked for fees....and in lieu of becoming a subscription member, there's always the option to donate instead.
Thanks for your patience and support.
