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Piper - it should be pretty inexpensive (< $50/month, and probably a LOT less than that - more like $10-20) to have our own site. If it's under $25 (which I'd expect it to be), I'd fund it myself directly. If it's $50..maybe we could split it up a bit. I really don't think it would go beyond that unless things wen't absolutely nuts and we became a site like ATS or even FR (that has a $200K annual budget IIRC!)

I did some checking earlier and found some hosting options that look pretty good. Just as I was doing this, though, someone reminded me that thecabal put up a Bulletin Board area on his site for TM.

I like what he did over there, and it looks like he used the same freeware software that I was going to use. It separates things into Topics, which makes it much easier (IMHO) to find what you're looking for in the "pile of posts" that we have on TM across the (now) 15 threads (minus the ones that got "zotted"!)

I'll have to touch base with thecabal and see what else the site he set up can support (eg: can we post pictures, video clips, etc?) I'm also wondering if he has it setup so that we can change around the homepage with a list of links, other "must see" content, etc - or if it only can support the main forum and not anything else.

I'd also thought about extending the offer to Jill to host her content in a separate section (maybe called "Posts from the Forums" or something like that). (The BB supports having different sections all listed on the main page). I know she's been having funding challenges, and this might "kill two birds with one stone".

There's also apparently a Yahoo TM group, and it's free - BUT..it's also ad-supported, and I don't enjoy wading through ads to read the BB, so I pretty much "arnked" that one as an option.

Anyway..just my $.02. I'm just a web techie who isn't looking for anything more than just getting us setup with our "own home" so that we can get around some of the problems we've had here, and make the flow of information a bit easier for everyone. This could and probably should build off of what thecabal has done, if it's all feasible.

Lastly - I believe this will only work if the VAST MAJORITY of people here want it. Otherwise, setting up something separate would only divide up the group and splinter the good efforts of everyone who contributes so regularly.

Food for thought! Fellow TMers - plz chime in and let us all know what you think!

Thanks!

I'm all for that! I would donate.

Anything that can support individual IP banning and moderated threads that Mods can edit/delete the post and not the whole thread.

Besides, the Php or other BBS services are layed out better for getting at information than this continuous thread is. Search function works better too. This site is so confusing to find things on that I usually just stick the the current Threat Matrix Thread #? thread and dont go snooping elsewhere on the site. I can never find my way back to where I was.

I think it might be a good idea, but being connected to FR has some bonuses. This website has such a huge user base that it is often the first place to catch breaking news and important information.

It might be better to get a domain name to dump specific things (video, collection of specific data) to rather than completely move to a new site.

If we did move, I would hope the BBS would offer HTML posting, I like that option of FR a lot myself.

I have never really had a problem keeping up with these long threads, but would like the ability to search out certain things that occurred months ago.

It's a toss up. If you guys decide to move, I will be willing to help out monetarily or otherwise.