I just had a squiz at the pop up survey. I got a few questions into it before realising that it has nothing to do with improving this site, but is just fodder for a market research consultancy.

Presumably, OLO is paid to host the survey.

Is all of that correct, GrahamY?

No, it is not correct. The survey is for On Line Opinion's use in defining our demographic so that we can show advertisers that they ought to be on our site and that they ought to be prepared to pay a fair price for it.

On Line Opinion provides free commentary and analysis and a vibrant forum, but it can't do it on thin air. So we sell advertising on the site. Generally speaking advertisers are happy with the response rate on the site. Advertising seems to perform better on sites with which readers feel they have a connection or an affinity.

But at the moment the advertising revenue from the site does not keep up with the cost of running it. That cost includes a full-time editor, web hosting and some site and server maintenance and hosting costs. It doesn't include me. The shortfall is made up out of the pockets of people associated with me.

So everyone is anxious to improve this situation. The survey is one way of doing this. I hope if it pops up again you will complete it.

Stop being such a stingy bugger. OLO doesn't just happen for free. It beats donating cash!

Yes some free speech is not free.
Surely it is understood?
Some of us can afford to help why not do so?
Many a forum has folded lets hope not this one.
Ever.

My Google bar blocks any pop ups, they were driving me nuts when
I tried to read the news at SMH etc. So I can't really comment
on this one.

Meantime I've often wondered about the economics about a service such
as OLO, which I greatly appreciate.

I see huge potential in what Graham and friends are doing, in fields
such as agriculture, where people travel huge distances to get to
meetings, at great expense. Forums would be a far more cost effective
way of people communicating, especially in agriculture, where
people are spread out over huge distances. State Govts, Depts
of Agriculture etc, should be knocking down his doors for that
kind of service and there is no reason why it should not generate
a profit.

Meantime, when the OLO server crashes, I again start to wonder if
economics is the problem, despite all those possibilities.

If a cash donation can fix it, I would certainly be willing to make
one, but my contribution would only be one of many and it needs
a solid business plan, if things are as rough as Graham has stated.

I certainly value the role of OLO and appreciate the service.
I'd appreciate more input from Graham as to how things really
stand in finanacial terms and what we can all do, if required.

I like that post yabby, it is balanced.
Maybe an e mail to GY?
We all of us need to understand profit was never the intent of the forum.
I doubt it ever would be possible to make one.
And that GY is a conservative who allows such as me, a realist, space.
Who could ever fiancé a forum that did not have pop ups?
I do not see the poll but willingly would fill it in if it was in polls.
The day will come that sees me unable to support OLO, but not yet.
Each of us who can should.