Author: Joachim Rang
Date: 15:43:51 08/24/04
Go up one level in this thread
On August 24, 2004 at 15:48:58, Sean Empey wrote: >On August 24, 2004 at 12:31:14, Steven Schwartz wrote: > >>Dear CCC Members: >> >>I have just re-read this post, and I apologize for its ridiculous length, but I >>feel it necessary to tell the membership what is on my mind, and I welcome >>feedback. I understand it is not "on topic" and for that I apologize, but, I >>believe, it is very important to the CCC and CTF.... >> >> >>When the Computer Chess Club began about 7 years ago, ICD was asked to host it, >>I think, because the Founders knew that we sold all the chess software and >>dedicated chess computers on the market and, perhaps, that we would do a good >>job keeping it up and running. And, even though it has not always been a sea of >>serenity, I think, overall, we have kept our promise to make CCC and CTF, >>elections and all, a reliably consistent place to visit. >> >>But things have evolved over the years. The software and dedicated chess >>computer market that were once a profit center in themselves, have become an >>"accommodation" or even a loss leader for chess customers who buy chess boards, >>pieces, tables, clocks, etc. >> >>The profit from chess software and dedicated chess playing computers is down >>dramatically because of an abundance of places on the Internet from which anyone >>can buy. And, as you know, there are more and more instances of programmers >>marketing directly to the end user not to mention freeware chess programs >>galore. >> >>I have no issue with any of the above. This is a capitalistic marketplace, and >>competition will lower the price to the consumer. This, of course, is good for >>the consumer, at least in the short term. But it does make it difficult for >>those selling the product to maintain the support services that are no longer >>properly funded with the profit that was once made. We have chosen to not lower >>the quality of our service to our customers one iota, but that has left no room >>for extraneous expenses. >> >>Bottom line is that any capitalistic advantage that we once had by hosting CCC >>(and CTF) has dwindled to nothing, but the time, work, and expense of operating >>the CCC and CTF have not. >> >>So, what's the answer? There are several choices: >> a) some other organization can take over the responsibility of hosting and >>running CCC and CTF >> b) CCC and CTF can be disbanded and members can rejoin the USENET Newsgroups >> c) members can pay a yearly fee to belong >> d) members can voluntarily contribute >> >>My preference would be either "c" or "d" because I think it is safe to assume >>that "b" would be a disaster just as it was back in the mid 1990s, and I do not >>think many people want to return to that era. I, personally, do not like "a" >>because even though I am sure someone would volunteer to take over the hosting >>responsibility, the time and effort and skill of running elections, fixing >>problems, coordinating moderator issues and communication, and keeping the board >>basically free from unwanted intrusion, is something that we are constantly >>working on and fine tuning. This is not a project that runs on its own. And >>given a choice between "c" and "d', I would prefer to ask for donations before >>forcing everyone to pay. Assuming those who gave voluntarily were generous >>enough to make up for those who would choose not to contribute, I think we would >>do fine, and we would not have to be concerned that members would drop out >>because their free entertainment suddenly had a price attached to it. >> >>I think everyone will agree that the board, the great majority of the time, runs >>extremely smoothly. I am not much of a poster, but I visit and read CCC and CTF >>several times a day. I am sure many of you are equally obsessive. I like the >>idea that ICD is the host of the CCC and CTF, and I am proud of what we have >>helped to create, but I believe it is time for the members to help defray the >>expenses. For 7 years that has been our burden, and for the first 4 of those >>years what we got back in sales from members basically made the hosting >>bearable, but for the last 3 years or so we have absorbed the work and cost, and >>it does not look as if the industry is getting any better for the retailer. >> >>Something needs to be done. I have known it for a long time, but I have said >>nothing until now because I felt I owed something back to the chess computer >>industry, and I did not want to be perceived as being greedy. But we are way >>beyond that point now. >> >>So, that is the way I perceive issues related to the CCC and CTF. Perhaps you >>agree and perhaps you don't, but I am willing to hear what the membership has to >>say, and I welcome your thoughts. >>Steve >>ICD/Your Move Chess and Games >>www.ChessUSA.com > > >I would be willing to host it on my server (www.specwar.com) we can buy another >domain so it fits more properly to chess. I have wrote my own forum software >which runs there. So I can change it to run anyway the users feels it needs to >run. The box sits on a DS3. The forum software is not completed yet but is not >very far from being completed. I am open for suggestions and or comments. I am >willing to host both forums and even personal users pages for amateur engines >including downloads, etc. I would love to contribute to the chess community. >Please give me your feedback. Thank you. > >-Sean I find this a good idea. You should contact Steve to know about the expecting traffic/CPUload to make sure you can handle it properly. regards Joachim
This page took 0 seconds to execute
Last modified: Thu, 15 Apr 21 08:11:13 -0700
Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.