What's Happe-NING?

[XLFD]

Ning has broadcast to all NING sites that they are no longer going to offer the NING platform for free.  Here's their introductory paragraph:

 

Announcement

In July, we will roll-out three new pricing plans and begin phasing out our free service. Many of you chose the Ning Platform to build your communities because it’s the easiest to use, has the most reliable performance and easily scales to hundreds of thousands of members. Our shift to a paid service model will enable us to focus to a greater degree on enhancing the features, performance and services we offer to our paying Network Creators. You’ll immediately see greater control over your network branding, design and member experience. All three plans offer an incredible value relative to our current premium services offerings.

 

We at the Torch love free things, whether it be free people, free will, free speech, or a free forum to exchange our ideas and images.  The plans for sites who wish to continue existing after July, come in monthly fees of $3, $20, or $50.  We would lose some of our favorite features if we choose the $3 pack, and gain some more features if we 'upgrade' to a $20 pack. 

 

About Ning - Pricing Plans.mht

 

We have a couple of months to make a decision on what to do.  We could choose one of the plans, find a NING alternative which can save our content and features cheaper, or consider shutting down.  If we 'purchase' the $20 plan, we could even consider to "consolidate" with other existing NING sites like Dave's, Sheila's, Coco's, etc.  Any thoughts on what would be best to do?

[XLFD]

I hope you are basing that on your perception that we have edited some of your content out, Disarm. A thread-poster does have the right to delete their own thread. To my knowledge, the only other censorship we have had here was for clear violation of the TOS as regards profanity, pornography, and slanderous comments. If you can point to any other censorship due to difference of opinion or any other reason not a TOS issue, enlighten me.

If I come across as some ultimate authority, I apologize. I generally try to do research, and when I post I may sound authoritative on the subject, particularly when I quote laws. If you disagree, I reserve the right to disagree back.

[Sweater Cows!]

hey, I was the one with the idea we all chip in. don't be co-opting my ideas dam it.

I meant it along the lines of (hey, we all want to go to the party but mom won't give me gas money, so who can chip in a couple bucks to fill the tank) :0

So nobody will be asked to pay anything. So, chill the heck out.

Since posting that I found a possible alternative site that may fit our needs. This site can be directly migrated to it. ( not by me, no way,let the savvy handle that).

But now I know there are other similar options out there.

[XLFD]

Thanks, Sheila, and that's what I want: options. I appreciate anyone who has the time to investigate these other options.

[masonco]

Does geocities still do free websites? It has been at least 10 years since I've seen any sites from there.

[XLFD]

I plan on checking out the $20/mo. package that NING has to offer, for the first month at least. If it doesn't knock my socks off, I'll check out what the other sites have to offer.

[masonco]

There no longer will be a free plan with NING.
In XLFD's opening comments, he posted this as the notice he received: (Scroll to the top of the page and this announcement from NING is there with further information.)

Announcement

In July, we will roll-out three new pricing plans and begin phasing out our free service. Many of you chose the Ning Platform to build your communities because it’s the easiest to use, has the most reliable performance and easily scales to hundreds of thousands of members. Our shift to a paid service model will enable us to focus to a greater degree on enhancing the features, performance and services we offer to our paying Network Creators. You’ll immediately see greater control over your network branding, design and member experience. All three plans offer an incredible value relative to our current premium services offerings.>>>>>>>>

[XLFD]

As I read it, nothing will be lost, but the one link I provided does go into a little of the features each plan has. Check the thread-heading where it says "About Ning - Pricing Plans.mht".

[Dave]

Most of the forums are slow from the looks of things, wouldn't worry about that for now :-)

[Dave]

X is back in the lead as far as Administration goes.. to this point I still have options though.. think maybe he left them for me for the time being just in case he can't be here.. or he just forgot.. lol

[XLFD]

My schedule is jam-packed with some stuff for now-- I was out of town for the last couple of days moving other folks around and I have been working 60+ hour weeks for most of the year--, things will eventually calm down.

Likewise, most everyone else is finding better things to do on nice days than typing at a computer... and that's a good thing.

As for the transitioNing, I am going to try the $19.95 premium service for a month, and if that doesn't rock our socks off, I will pony up $20/year for the mini-site, and see what we can do with that. Besides Groups and storage, we don't lose a lot from what I've read.

[Mary A.]

Thanks, X. I anticipate with the fall elections that things will heat up here at the Torch.

[Edie Lindsey]

Amen. Please don't shut this thing down, we're just getting started...

Borrowed computer time still, see you when I see you.