Author: Sean Empey
Date: 17:15:34 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 should also mention that I would not take away the current function to hold a poll to vote in moderators to moderate the board if I host it. Not much would change, Maybe the forum layout and even that can stay as it is now if that's what the users want. I don't want to take anything from the users. I only offered an option to host it because I can. I would also have the ability to search the forum directly from the server. I don't plan on taking ownership of the forum just take over hosting. The users would still own it, vote in the moderators,etc. If you have any questions at all please e-mail me. see my profile for my e-mail address. p.s. The server also has it's own fully functional mail server (POP3, IMAP4, SMTP, and WEB MAIL) which includes the ability to add mailing lists. The mail server could be a plus for those who would like an option to receive an email when a new thread is added to a thread they are watching, etc. The forum has the ability to format code, coloring if desired. One thing I would need to add would be the ability to add board displays. So please give me suggestions and worries. Thank you. If you feel more comfortable having it hosted by a site like parsimony, I understand. Thank you. -Sean
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Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.