NikoGo

“kill the culture of the site”
 
The dramatics.

First off, how she spends her hard earned money is none of our concern. 

second off, I’m sure the money she spent on whatever she wants (magazines, merch, as seen on Lana) is worth A LOT more than debt from having to run the site 
 
this conversation is disgusting and absolutely unnecessary. She isn’t asking for a cent (she’s simply suggesting options), she isnt going to stop running the site (although after some of the comments tonight I wouldn’t blame her). Literally all she’s trying to do is give herself a break and I can’t believe adding different kinds of ads is considered killing the site 

In the end it’s pretty clear this ad thing is going to be an excuse for some members to leave. Ironically, the members who have been complaining about Lana for the past year are the ones who are talking about leaving now, and it’s really sad. The way this whole conversation is going is sad too. I’ve never felt the site is unfair and it’s sad some people think it is. 
 
I support what’s best for the site and if we need an extra ad pop up or donation/supporter/ad free payments to help the site that’s okay with me. 
 

“kill the culture of the site”
 
The dramatics.

First off, how she spends her hard earned money is none of our concern. 

second off, I’m sure the money she spent on whatever she wants (magazines, merch, as seen on Lana) is worth A LOT more than debt from having to run the site 
 
this conversation is disgusting and absolutely unnecessary. She isn’t asking for a cent (she’s simply suggesting options), she isnt going to stop running the site (although after some of the comments tonight I wouldn’t blame her). Literally all she’s trying to do is give herself a break and I can’t believe adding different kinds of ads is considered killing the site 

and your point is what, exactly?
 
the site has never gone down due to no funding and she’s never asked for donations or anything. 
 
she wants to earn money to run the site instead of using her own. Having to click on an x of an ad truly isn’t that big a deal as you’re making it seem 

I just wanted to say thank you for this little reminder of what's important.
LanaBoards is all about the community - the friendships, the love we share of Lana, the memories of iconic moments. So in that sense, we are very rich. Vignette ads or not!
 
Happy is my favourite poem from Violet, and I love that line you quoted. 
& it's true here - people think that I'm rich, and I am, but not how they think.
So while my financial status could always use a little help, I'm rich in the things that are important in life, or at least important to me. Especially regarding my friends, both here and offsite.
This whole discussion and the drama that came from it made me a bit more stressed out tonight than I anticipated, but this post made me step back a little bit and realise things like this are so silly and I shouldn't let them get to my head.
 
Not that anyone particularly cares, especially since this topic really isn't about my personal life (and I don't want it to be, given where some of the discussion has touched on), but in an effort to calm myself down a bit, I made a little nostalgia video of me and my friends driving & singing in cars set to the poem Happy.
 
So with that, I'll touch base with you more on all of this tomorrow. Thank you to everyone who has shared their thoughts, whether in support or in opposition of the proposed vignette ads. Off to sleep for me now x

This thread was... a lot
Anyway, I'm pro ads and pro subscription. I'll even gift someone a year to celebrate 
Not sure if it's been discussed but @Elle would you be open to a tiered subscription type thing like patreon? The difference between the lowest and highest tiers doesn't have to be significant (or anything) but would give people who would like to donate more an easy way to do so.

Okay idk how srs this is but this is Elle's site at the end of the day and she is absolutely entitled to buy things she likes AND run ads to pay for her site.
Like she could take this shit doen tomorrow if she felt like it.
I don't like ads either - as I said they crash my laptop - but I totally understand her asking the general populace.
 
Also @ everyone the delay with the COCC theme isn't Elle's fault, she isn't the only person working on it but we are DOING it so leave us aloen.

Okay all, well this was quite weird!
 
The worst and most ironic part about this whole hoopla was that it has been severely distracting me from work I'm meant to be doing for my actual job that actually pays me, which is how I pay for LanaBoards roll-over costs in the first place  
A bit of a paradox there it seems.
 
That being said, please continue leaving your thoughts in this thread, but I will probably be pretty spotty the rest of the night until tomorrow. Then, we can regroup. 
I've also proposed Option #3 in another post, which is something to consider for the possibility of a different middle-ground solution:
 
Perhaps I'll make a new thread tomorrow discussing this other proposed option to see if this is more satisfactory to those opposed to the vignettes while the opportunity still exists to generate more revenue for the site with those who are fine with them, but again, if the bottom line is no vignette ads altogether, I completely hear you and understand.
Hearing your thoughts and taking them into consideration was the purpose of this whole discussion anyway.
 
I apologise for all this drama, and I really wish it didn't take that turn, but I know this is a difficult matter.
 
With all said, I really do love you all and am so appreciative for everyone that makes this community what it is (even if it comes with some unfortunate drama from time to time.)
 
All my love xx

members on here make way better merch than lana's team does, so I personally would be totally into that

Maybe this isn't the proper time to discuss all of this given the nature of this discussion, but I'll note a bit on this since the question was posed. 
For a few months now, I've been talking with some people about the possibility of LanaBoards merch through a store. The profits from the merch would go into the costs for the site. I will also hold the opportunity for anyone who would like to contribute their art to the merch designs as well, and they can receive a percentage of the profit if they wish.
All and all it would be nice to generate some more revenue for the site, and if vignette ads aren't the way to go, perhaps merch could be a possibility.
I also have thought about taking inspiration from other forums who do offer subscription packages (that can also be paid in lump sums) for users who want to donate to the site for fun incentives like coloured name tags, exclusive site themes, profile-card badges, etc. This is something I do intend to do just to offer fun perks for those who want to donate. With this, I won't be taking away anything that free Members have access to, but instead offer fun little extras as a thank you for donators x

im so confused because where has elle said anything condescending in this thread? all she was doing was trying to clear up some confusion and giving her thoughts on the subject like any admin would

I just wanted to note on this since the thread took a weird turn especially after the budget conversation (and this is not directed at you, but towards the people speculating budgets. Your post is just a reason for me to explain this further, but this is not geared towards you.)
 
I shared my site budgeting after someone asked because they thought it would be helpful to them to make a decision. 
What I had a problem with was then other people speculating my personal budget. I found that really inappropriate. My personal budgeting shouldn't be brought into a conversation about LanaBoards, even if I am the one who pays for it.
 
Just wanted to explain a bit further why I was upset over that. & again this response is not directed to the user I'm quoting, but just a general thought I thought I should share since the topic of budgets has been discussed for a bit x

Just want to apologise here for anyone who felt any negative away about my responses. Really, I was just trying to clarify things that I sensed were of confusion. That was all. I was not trying to rebut any oppositions, and I feel that I didn't, but rather just answered any questions people had or clarified any misconceptions I noticed.
 
I went into this conversation fully expecting most users to not be receptive of the vignette ads.
The whole point of me opening the floor to opinions was for me to explain what was going on and why the ads would be greatly beneficial, and then to hear what you all had to say in return.
So even though the ads have been extremely beneficial in the week the experiment has been running, I knew that not all members would be on board with this. I did not want to make a decision the majority would be unhappy with despite the benefits for the site, so rather than making the decision myself, I wanted to reach out to you all.
With all great benefits come some deterrences, so I just wanted to see what everyone's thoughts were on the manner.
 
At this point it is a bit confusing as most members in the poll have voted yes, but those who are opposed have voiced strong oppositions that I am listening to and taking into consideration. 
Maybe I can think of some other middle ground. I had suggested the idea of a $2 cost for an ad-free version that could also be paid in a lump sum, but I know some people are not open to that either.
I still have more thinking to do until the experiment ends, but perhaps there could be three options. Vignette ads for those who can tolerate them so the site can generate more revenue, the $2 cost that makes up for the cost of lost ad revenue for those who want to be free of all ads , and a free by-request option for those who are strongly opposed to vignette ads and don't want to pay to remove them either but are fine tolerating the normal banner ads we've always had. If anyone has thoughts on this possibility, let me know.
 
My intention was not at all to shoot down anyone who was opposed to the vignette ads. I want to make it clear that if I did not care about people's oppositions, I wouldn't have asked, and I would have just silently implemented them. It's because I truly do value your opinion that I asked.
& I feel that I have been fair and receptive. (Me, myself, Elle)
I apologise to anyone who felt I was being anything but that, but please know that was not my intention x
 
 

I am sorry if it sounds contradictory.
What I say has no sway - me blowing up and telling people to go elsewhere was my own (bad) call.
Elle is asking for opinions and is the one who is calling the shots and is still reading all these comments for sure.
I apologise for anyone who I might have offended by that comment. I am just very upset with the lack of empathy and cherry picking of facts over money and how serious this in. Personally over the years I've donated a couple of hundred dollars into the site and it's really jarring for me to read that people are not only rejecting the idea of supporting, but don't want to put up with a minor convenience to help. But I suppose we are all at different points in our lives where we all have different financial positions. Just know that it's really cruel to drag someone when you don't know the full story because sometimes you can seemingly have everything before it's taken away and you still have to foot the bill. I've been there too :\ 
Also re: Discord baddies - you cool kids know who you are. I didn't mean for 'baddies' to come across in a negative way lol: I used to be in the Discord group that was very chill where things were called things out very freely to attempt to have no drama but I left so you wouldn't have a staff member looming over you. Apologies again, I really do like you all.
Anyway . . . I don't know about you, but sometimes people reach a point in their lives when you realise you're not really interesting or special and, believe me, I am way past this point and I think I've said everything I need to here. So I will go back to silently just moving posts around and leave it at that, but probably need to log off for a while too. It's Lanaboards.com, shouldn't be that serious . . . sorry. :\ 

ngl make a lizzy grant theme and i'll pay $24 a year  

This is frustrating for me because I feel I, myself, am being quite open and receptive to what everyone is saying. May not be the case for everyone here, but I do feel that I am being fair here.
I am encouraging this conversation - though I wish it was a bit less dramatic.
Yes, I got upset about someone bringing up my personal expenses/debt, but I feel it was reasonable for me to find that inappropriate, and even then I tried to respond respectfully.
 
I'm not being rude to those who don't want ads.
My responses are meant to clarify things that I sense some confusion on.
I sincerely apologise if my responses are coming off in any other sort of way. I just felt it would be beneficial to answer things that seemed unclear rather than to remain silent.
Again the whole point of me opening the floor rather than choosing to make a decision without consulting you all first was to gather opinions and discuss any questions.
It's just taken a weird turn.
 
 
But again, as I've said in my last message, all the dramatics are simply not worth it, so I likely will not be keeping the ads once the experiment concludes despite it being a good opportunity for the site. Above anything, the thoughts of the members here are what I value the most in these processes x

She's the admin of the site, she's allowed to rebut and comment back to people when her words are being twisted. I wouldn't expect her to NOT reply after people tried dragging her personally for whatever unresolved shit is going on in their own life. This is the discourse baby. If you're stressed she's sending back long responses, then maybe you need to realize the point you're trying to make is rotten 

this is just so insane like it’s just an ad. just click off. and where did this idea of favoritism come into this thread cuz it literally had nothing to do with the current conversation djjdhdhsj. some of you are grown adults and btw you are on a LANA DEL REY FAN SITE. it’s not that serious
 

Damn, you know I was just reminded of the line where Lana says “You thought I was rich and I am but not how you think.”
 
I normally try to not get involved in the drama and just clown around instead but the speculation and, consequently, the extrapolation on someone’s personal and individual expenses/finances absolutely hit a remarkable low. It’s one thing to discuss your opinions on whether or not to have ads but it’s truly another to target and attack someone because of the way you perceive them. The discussion in this thread was never intended to be personal and I would urge that it stays this way. 
 
In my perspective owning a wide platform like Lanaboards is what makes them rich - rich in making friendships, in the ability to bring people together, rich in the way it can provide a voice for us introverts and an outlet for the extroverts, etc etc you get where I’m going. I look forward to reading each and everyone’s opinions on where you stand on the ads and I personally won’t attack you for them, and again I would urge you do the same...especially toward someone who simply wanted to hear your thoughts. 

Now that I know what's going on I am much more okay with the ads. I was previously just worried it was something unsafe about the site and I did honestly think I'd have to stop coming here soon. 
But I've never had trouble clicking away from the ads so it's fine. 
I think you should keep them up, but maybe put a disclaimer somewhere obvious, so it doesn't scare too many people off. You work so much harder on this site than anyone can realise. 
 

No one is forbidden from certain topics, however, I prefer that offsite drama remains offsite. No one is going to receive Warning Points or anything for posting about certain things that you may be referring to, but the best way to stop drama is to not talk about it.
Even this whole thing was more drama than I asked for. I really do hate drama.
 
 
 
 
(speaking to everyone here, not in a response to the quote) The bickering and dramatics is not what I expected when I opened the floor for opinions. I honestly was expecting most users to probably be opposed to the vignette ads, but I wanted to gather opinions just in case, because again, this would have been a really great opportunity for the site, yet I fully understand the frustrations of more ads.
That being said, all this drama is really not worth it. The experiment with the vignette ads that was automatically placed by Google will end in a week. Based on how things are going, I'm gathering it would not be the best idea to keep the ads out of interest for our members here.
I really do appreciate all the opinions, and while I do wish things had gone a little smoother with this discussion, I hear all of you and am listening.
Thank you for the feedback. Again, because I cared, I asked. & I am receptive to all of your thoughts and have taken them into consideration.
 
Also with the whole mod-politics thing - this decision does not impact the mods. This is a me, Elle, thing. I will always do my best to remain impartial and unbiased. I can't speak for everyone, but when it comes to me, the owner of this site, that's my perspective. I am not liable for anything anyone chooses to post here - whether that be a member, mod, supporter, etc. 
So, coming from my mouth, the owner of this site, the one who is ultimately making the decision regarding the ad placements: I will not unfairly treat anyone based on their opinions about the ads. 
 
With what I said above, to reiterate, I'm the one asking for opinions, and I feel that I, myself, the one ultimately making this decision, have been very fair and receptive to listening to what you all are saying.
I hear those who say they do not want the ads, and I am listening. That is why I asked.
 
 
That's all x
 
 

“kill the culture of the site”
 
The dramatics.

First off, how she spends her hard earned money is none of our concern. 

second off, I’m sure the money she spent on whatever she wants (magazines, merch, as seen on Lana) is worth A LOT more than debt from having to run the site 
 
this conversation is disgusting and absolutely unnecessary. She isn’t asking for a cent (she’s simply suggesting options), she isnt going to stop running the site (although after some of the comments tonight I wouldn’t blame her). Literally all she’s trying to do is give herself a break and I can’t believe adding different kinds of ads is considered killing the site 

“kill the culture of the site”
 
The dramatics.

First off, how she spends her hard earned money is none of our concern. 

second off, I’m sure the money she spent on whatever she wants (magazines, merch, as seen on Lana) is worth A LOT more than debt from having to run the site 
 
this conversation is disgusting and absolutely unnecessary. She isn’t asking for a cent (she’s simply suggesting options), she isnt going to stop running the site (although after some of the comments tonight I wouldn’t blame her). Literally all she’s trying to do is give herself a break and I can’t believe adding different kinds of ads is considered killing the site 

buying a website as big as this one isn’t going to come for free or cheap. Sites like this (that get high traffic and have a large user base) sells for thousands. It’s not unlikely she took out a loan, and she’s already said there’s months she’s had to pay with her own money.
 
we’re very lucky to have a close knit site like this, and she’s still aiming to keep it free

“kill the culture of the site”
 
The dramatics.

First off, how she spends her hard earned money is none of our concern. 

second off, I’m sure the money she spent on whatever she wants (magazines, merch, as seen on Lana) is worth A LOT more than debt from having to run the site 
 
this conversation is disgusting and absolutely unnecessary. She isn’t asking for a cent (she’s simply suggesting options), she isnt going to stop running the site (although after some of the comments tonight I wouldn’t blame her). Literally all she’s trying to do is give herself a break and I can’t believe adding different kinds of ads is considered killing the site