Tech: Membership. What's in it for who?

Subject: MEMBERSHIP. What's in it for whom?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 21 Aug 97 - 12:29 AM

If you haven't noticed, there's a blue notice at the upper left corner of the Forum page asking if you'd like to join the Mudcat Cafe. I don't know about y'all, but I'm a naturally suspicious type, and I don't like to sign up to ANYTHING without finding out what I'm getting into. SO, I'm opening this thread to (hopefully) clarify what membership means and entails. First of all, membership is free (we'll beg a bit for donations, but you don't lose anything if you don't donate. Except maybe some self-respect). Secondly, you don't have to be a member to use any of Mudcat's or Digital Tradition's features. So---why bother? Let's look at both sides. What's in it for me? Well, you'll be able to customize your access to Mudcat. We can keep you posted on any new developments that have transpired since your last access. You'll be able to select threads you want to access and avoid those you don't (hear that, Elsie?). There'll be other goodies that Max can explain better than I can--he's the WWW maven.

Subject: RE: MEMBERSHIP. What's in it for who?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 21 Aug 97 - 12:39 AM

To continue--and I was sure I had typed "whom"

What's in it for Mudcat? Partly simple curiousity. We can tell how many hits our site gets, but we have no way of keeping track of the hard-core repeaters (or is it addicts?) There's also the opportunity to solicit contributions--these, initially, will go entirely towards upgrading our server and internet access. Hopefully, 'twill also go, later, towards freeing up a bit of time for Max (to improve the site even further) and me (to expand and improve the DT). We'd also like to know who to ask about things like T-shirt designs and such-like. We guarantee that we're not turning our membership list over to the CIA. Or the IRS. Or ASCAP. Or anybody else.

I'd like to hear from yo folks about what you think of this whole deal. So would Max.

Subject: RE: MEMBERSHIP. What's in it for who?
From: Peter T.
Date: 21 Aug 97 - 10:51 AM

What about a decoder ring? (just kidding). Yours, Peter

Subject: RE: MEMBERSHIP. What's in it for who?
From: Bill D
Date: 21 Aug 97 - 12:07 PM

hmmm....If I list my name as "Bill D" in the official list....and then just type "Bill" once...does that confuse the cookie monster?? I never did understand just how that works. (Someone we all know & love once told me she occasionally uses a pseudonym for certain replies..will registration make that impossible?) As it is now, I have told Netscape not to set cookies without telling me, and I can easily say 'no' to most while saying 'yes' to Mudcat....but in the coming versions of Netscape which I hope to be using soon, I will be able to tell it to NEVER set cookies...and there goes the system...unless it will allow me to configure it to allow only cookies from certain sites.....

anyway, you see the questions this brings up...maybe Max can write up a brief FAQ to all of this....

Subject: RE: MEMBERSHIP. What's in it for who?
From:
Date: 21 Aug 97 - 12:22 PM

A suggestion -- there are currently only two options for donations: yes or no. I felt guilty hitting no, but don't have any money this month. Could there be a set of options something like this?

1. Yes, yes, yes! Here's my credit card number.

2. Yes! The check's in the mail.

3. Not right now, but please remind me in a month or two how much I enjoy Mudcat.

4. No, and please don't ever make such a crass request of me again, or I'll start posting lyric requests for Barry Manilow songs.

Subject: RE: MEMBERSHIP. What's in it for who?
From: Tim
Date: 21 Aug 97 - 02:22 PM

I am in favor of memberships, but it fosters a sense of community while still welcoming visitors. I think this site is the greatest and would be more than willing to support it any way I can, and whatever happened to those damn t-shirts? i just *have* to be the first one on my block ...

Subject: RE: MEMBERSHIP. What's in it for who?
From: Tim
Date: 21 Aug 97 - 02:37 PM

I am in favor of memberships, but it fosters a sense of community while still welcoming visitors. I think this site is the greatest and would be more than willing to support it any way I can, and whatever happened to those damn t-shirts? i just *have* to be the first one on my block ...

Subject: RE: MEMBERSHIP. What's in it for who?
From: Sheye
Date: 25 Aug 97 - 10:00 AM

Hi Dick:

I tied into this string while on holidays and (I think) I filled in the membership info and sent it off correctly, but am not sure. How does one check this out?

Subject: RE: MEMBERSHIP. What's in it for who?
From: Virginia Blankenhorn
Date: 25 Aug 97 - 09:04 PM

Can either of you tell me how two users with different last names (to wit, me and my husband) might have separate memberships? We both use the same computer and the same e-mail address...but our interests, while they overlap, are not identical, and my choice of threads to follow might just get in his hair. Has this ever come up before?

Subject: RE: MEMBERSHIP. What's in it for who?
From: Darlene
Date: 25 Aug 97 - 11:43 PM

how do I customize my personal page?

Subject: RE: MEMBERSHIP. What's in it for who?
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Aug 97 - 05:22 PM

Virginia...yes...it was the first question I asked..go here and read what Max has to say...essentially, you have to do an extra step, if you want to have separate lists, as the identifying 'cookie' is set to the machine...so you both sign up, and each time one of you signs on, just 'reset' the cookie by clicking on the 'reset your cookie' item at the top of the page...

boy, I hope I did all that right!!