The problem with setting an annual subscription fee is that it then has to be administered, with someone (presumably a paid person) having to maintain records of who has paid, when renewals are required, what to do about refunds, etc.... The simplest way may be for each page of OLO to have a donation button via PayPal or direct debit. Personally, I wouldn't pay $50 a year to subscribe to OLO but I'd happily make a $10 donation if it continued to maintain its current high standards.

I haven't read through all the comments and hence may have missed someone else's suggestion, but is there any chance Bris-based OLO members could actually meet face-to-face to help discuss its future? Surely BrisInstitute would be happy to do so Graham? I think much good could come from it and frankly, am a little over trying to see issues like this be resolved through murky blogs...

Thanks for the news Graham and thanks for the good work Susan.
All the Best for the Future. Cheers,kj .

I second Forrest Gumpp's suggestion here:
<Was it to be possible to have a website hosted under the auspices of OLO under my online persona of 'Forrest Gumpp', I could be interested in paying for it depending upon the cost involved.

I should imagine that it should be legally possible for such a hosted website to shelter under the existing OLO protections as to anonymity and yet still comply with any legislated requirements as to traceability imposed upon any ISP.

I also imagine that the availability of a basic 'template' user website could hold the web design costs to OLO down, whilst providing an opportunity for what I suspect is a largely non-digitally-technically-literate user demographic to enhance their interactivity with the OLO site.>

An excellent idea that surely could prove lucrative for OLO if properly managed.
Giving members a higher profile (which presumably they could edit and maintain to some degree) in this way would also, in all likelihood, encourage them to maintain their credibility in terms of the quality and tone of their contributions. At the moment OLOers are often no more than transients, including their comments, and surely perceive themselves as little more than that, excepting of course the article contributors. Being thus loosely "affiliated" with and recognised by OLO is likely to encourage loyalty and improved contribution (including articles), as well as to entice new members to "invest" in the same way and become "full-members". Spin-offs might include greater credibility for OLO (more money for research).

Of course, Graham, you'd have to pay Forrest Gumpp royalties for coming up with the idea :-)
It might be the answer t

the email refused to send?
so hope this reaches you now

things being what they are...most people google for info...
that intrests them
i have done this a few times..
so know playing the google has good fruits

the trick is to be right up there
in the early stages... of the news BREAKING

have specialist [i hate term moderators..
so will use the term REPORTERS,,,or spotters...
who are monitoring all the media

paid a percentage ...of the visiter numbers..[commision]..
for getting the facts on the board virtually... as they happen!

[then keeping the update/...and histry of the info ...clear and concise]

summerised but able to be expanded upon easilly quickly...
and importantly to be commented upon
[that gets the visiter numbers rolling over/..but you possable realise all this allready]

thing is we have a great concept with olo...
[minimum overlording/censorship and no life time ban's]

we loose people by banning them/..
not only that but those following their raves
its about numbers grayham...some of us are time rich
..but wealth poor

the olo concept should be ...having the best of the best
like good reports on 7.30 report..or lateline..and the other media's

i get great info from listening to bbc while i sleep
at least a few points ...that would make great listening to
or worth a topic to catch the google crowd

[put in one place to help those time poor]

its about putting all the info in one place...fast..
live time
with no urge ...for the reader..
to search google for the latest..or its historic background

they find you via googling..then stay because its all in one place
be it vision/print or voice or simply social commentary

so media compatable media players would take a few links
[but i have an old system...media refuses to play off many links]
so youtube type embedding might be benefitial

as you know i have had bad blogging experiences elsewhere
but thats how i found..[or thought i found ...a home here]
there are many like me that have strong opinion..
but get hounde from place to place

and many who click non stop on every update
were all got different urges/needs

and there comes an anoying point
i get 4 emails..only to find..its the same person/..divided their post over a period of time
because of a posting limitation...

im not sure regulating word limitations help..
[but recognise its your choice]
but surely this can best be done via edit/spell checking..
by many specialist editors..

.getting a share ...of the advert commisions..
a token credit..plus glory...volenteers usually have adgendas

[with the re-edit's..they should be going to the origonal poster...
to advice not censure..
and retain their loyalty...
[respecting their right to say or be heard...]

neither should the whole posts be deleted..
just the offending bits removed..
or reworded...[any complaint must/offer
..their rewriting....their re-edit]

if only so as to save editors their time]
their job being to chose the best version..

[or leting people chose ...vote..on line via paying money]

posting should not cost..but complaints should..
.if only to verify the complainant isnt being paid to censure

i think.. the topic's.. should be more divided..into specialty areas...ideally comments should..recieve pay...and simply reading could cost..

BUT only in the medium of exchange/
the forum accepts..[points being my preferance]

some sites have a point system..that counts points

[like yahoo answers..COSTS 5 points to post/a new topic..
[ask a question]
...and one point EARNED..by each comment

my suggestion is each visit...
should earn a point..[ok may ...earn a point]

and that points can be monetised,,,
[for gifts or ebay credits..or some other type rewards

im not talking big money..

.only say enough ...to pay for effectivly/
..free web acces for posters ..reporters

or those finding and recording the new topic..onto the forum