Right now, only Team Members have access to the search function.  The reason for this is that is it quite a resource hog.  
Goatboy is working on streamlining everything, and will bring it back when he is able.

My first instinct was to tell the people searching for the search button to use the search button to search for threads explaining where the search button went.
[:D]
BTW, that's an open invitation.  If you want to look for something, IM me and I'll do it.

I am looking for a smart female, big chest, independantly wealthy, nymphomanic, that owns a liquer store and a gun shop. Bi sexual tendancies are a plus.

Can yu help me out. The search engine here could not come up with any.

mike

Plenty of those in Texas!

I think the paying Team members should vote on whether non-Team members should have that ability restored.

I also have suggested that we develop a multi-tier membership structure that ensures everyone supports the site.

New members would be given a week or 100 posts to decide whwther to join the site.  After that they would need to pick a membership plan.

Standard called a "sustaining member" would be a measly $10 a year which includes unlimited posting and search functions.

Gold members would receive the above plus access to a premium forum and eligibility for certain giveaways.  $25/year.

Platinum members would receive all of the above plus eligibility for annual board rifle raffle and perhaps discounts on group buys offered by the board, maybe at cost versus a small mark-up for everyone else.  $50/year.

There is not a person on this board who can not afford $10 a year and this gives people the chance to choose a level of support that meets their needs while assuring that the board has the resources to grow and imrpove.

[b] BESIDES TROLLS WILL NOT PAY TO HARASS US! [/b]

[:D]

OK jetlag, that was frickin funny!  What I meant is you won't have the antis showing up and playing games if we ban memberships with hotmail accounts and if they had to submit a check or a credit card to pay for their membership and they couldn't remain anonymous.

Socio, I can live with that BUT I'm tired of lurkers, you should have to have an account (even a guest account) to browse the forums.  Too many people sneaking around here.

[b] THESE ARE MY OPINIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [/b]

I think the search feature should be reinstated to all members as planned.    Every other board that I have seen has a search feature - it is pretty standard.  Besides, the amount of newbies asking the same question would SERIOUSLY increase.  

There was talk of having a server just for Team Members - which would increase speed.  I think that is a good idea.  The gun contest alone is a great incentive to join up.

If we limited the site to just paying members, I fear it would die off before too long.  How can we gain new members if there are no lurkers?

Give me a break, if you aren't willing to pony up $10 under my proposed (personal proposal, NOT an official site proposal) tiered structure that we have a problem.  There are too many freeloaders around here that spend hours on this site a day and offer nothing financially to support the operations and maintenance of this site.

Site sponsors and a handful of paid members should not be carrying the burden, nor should the Avilas be paying out of pocket for your amusement.  Nobody is looking to get rich off of this.  $10 a year is nothing for everything you get from this site.  Hell, split the $10 between an operations fund and the brotherhood assistance fund.  I don't care, but enough already with people hanging out but not ponying up.

[b] ONCE AGAIN, THESE ARE MY OPINIONS AND NOT THOSE OF THE AVILAS OR THIS SITE... THOUGH THEY SHOULD BE ;) [/b]

How about a doantion button up on the header. For those that might want to contribute but don't want to/ or can't spend the 60.00. i have to admit 60.00 is kind of steep. Especially for a newbie that has not hung out here long.

I like the tier membership idea. BUT, this is the internet. Heck people online won't pay for vital things like porn. Getting the general surfer to pony up cash is hard to do. Cutting out the unwashed masses will hurt this site.

jmho.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE!

mike

kinda reflects real life doesn't it.

Does Ed take foodstamps?

mike

my only gripe is the guys with 1000+ posts in a year. They should be pitching in. jmo

Guys,

lets not get into a pissing match over this. Lots of good points on both sides. The posts here are just personal opinions. We all know what those are worth [:D]

GB has stated over and over and over again he wants the site to remain free. Donations are appreciated but not obligated. He stated that the pic hosting and email and such was just a thank you to the guys that are helping out.

Unbunch your panties and get back to having some fun around here.

mike

Guilty as charged.  I find a certain degree of hypocricy in people complaining that the site doesn't have this bell and that whistle, who have thousands of posts, who save scads of money through the EE, who have the money to buy a computer and pay for Internet access and ammo and guns but can't find their way to support the site.  I offered what I think is a more than fair system of a free trial period and a tiered membership structure that everyone can afford.  However, there seem to be a lot of people who expect something for nothing.  Why is it we can bitch about people who expect that from the taxpayers (society as a whole) but think its pressure when it comes from those people who DO sacrifice for this resource?

You may think I'm shooting my mouth off, but hey, I PAID for the right to shoot it off and express my [b] PERSONAL [/b] opinions on this site.  In other words I paid to play, what's your excuse for shooting your's off?

WTF I saw my name on print here and I don't like what is going on!

[b]The site is free for those who want to use it.[/b]

The Team Membership goes this way:

If you wish to help sustain the site, and you want to contribute money, we are very pleased to see you do that as a Team Member.

In return,and knowing full well it is not enough,we try to give those Team Members something back in terms of perks.

One of those things is a raffle for the LEGP rifle(or whatever we call it next) issue # 223 as a token of our appretiation.

It is never enough to repay your generosity, it is only a gesture on our part to thank you for helping out.

[b]Now please,let this not be a divisive thing among us.[/b]

To those who want to help ,we are extremely greatful .

Those that do not (or cannot),they are welcome to the site as well.

While we appretiate your intentions,please stop this us vs them attitude, since it does more harm than good to the community.

Thanks,and enjoy each other's company.

Hey ED!

I still think a donation button would be good. It would make it a lot easier to send you guys spare cash. I know your not in it for the funds but damn. No sense in going to the poor house over it.

I need to move!

I hear what everybody's saying and it is the Avilas decision how this runs.  I respect what Ed Sr. says and am not trying to be devisive, though I can certainly see how I have been.  I apologize for that.

trouble maker [:D]

mike

I want to first say how honored I am to see so many of you feel such ownership of the site. It really was one goal for the Team memberships to create a special bond with the site like that. The same goes for advertisers and dealers who help us keep the site running... each person playing their part and owning a piece of the place.

With that being said, I have not changed my thinking from day 1. The site is here as a resource for the community. The focus needs to remain on fighting the good fight and educating others. As well, the comradery and spirit of the site should never change because one person wishes to take a more active role in support and another person does not.

The search will return when a few things are completed to relieve a bit of the server load and more importantly Bandwidth usage. I have a more efficient system being finalized as well as a few changes before it goes in.

Because the Team guys do support the site and are active "owners", I feel an obligation to them to listen to their needs and wants. I am always trying to improve things for EVERYONE, but some work is specifically done for their benefit. (Photo hosting expansion for example.) I think that it's fair as long as everyone knows that it's a temporary limit on the general user. ([b]SEARCH IS COMING BACK!!![/b])

I also may consider a lower end "membership" and may eventually move the search to that. ($20/year or something along those lines.) At this time I can see that as a possibility simply because that function alone causes the most system stress. With 1000 people constantly on the site we need to focus on improvements that make sense for everyone. (Keep in mind that it's 1000 ACTIVE connections, they are not held in check for 30-45 mins as they are on other sites.) If by limiting searches to Team members, we can increase the speed and usability of the site, then it's something we will need to consider. Again, if we go down that road, I would like to do something nominal such as a $12 or $20 a year membership. ($1/month is nothing IMHO)

As was mentioned in here, the members contributions are put to use on other aspects of the site outside of bandwidth. The idea of a TEAM ONLY server being added to the cluster has been brought up. Basically this would be a special additional server accessible only to the TEAM guys. This also benefits the general community as the number of users on the regular servers would drop. (Everyone wins in this scenario!)

For the record, this site will [b]NEVER[/b] be a pay only site. It doesn't do anything for us to close our doors and make it an exclusive club. Our voices must be heard and opinions shared in order to win the battles we must fight. I will always do what's best for everyone to keep the site running and running as well as possible.

(The 1000 user limit was implemented to keep the site from lagging up so bad. If the site's too slow to use, then it doesn't server any of the 1600+ users we had on here. This is not a permanent addition either, but a temporary fix along with the search.)

I hate paypal as well and am working on getting normal CC system in place. It's just hard to juggle 30 things at once! [=)]