Thanks SpanishFan for your input! And sorry, but we didn't mean for this thread to become well hidden, it just doesn't get many posts because it isn't that significant. But yes, we're going to try and contact Ben soon because once the new album comes out, we will have to have the home page updated anyway.

SF makes a good point. The new page should have a donation box on the front page. I have one on mine.

I never said anybody was ungrateful. I never said it matters whether people donate or not. I never said anything about the people who donate only being able to suggest things. This is mostly to address TDA and I can't recall a reason to dislike him aside from this and I suppose I will have to prove this by quoting all his posts.

You won't see me in other threads throwing in money for Les Enfoire DVD's or something frivolous with insane shipping costs and then asking for changes to the site in here. It's a nice group effort but doing that while complaining about the site in this and the other thread is rude in my opinion. If I was Ben I'd do more than tell you off. He's had to cut back and listen to this stuff for much longer than I've been here. This place is the reason you are all even able to coordinate.

You could raise money the same way to improve the site and somebody like Scruffy or an admin on here could list the amount raised so people can see an actual number rather than not knowing if anybody else is donating or how much of a difference it makes.

Well honestly I think anyone who is a member of this forum should have the right to "complain" or make suggestions to better this website. I also feel that obviously the people who donate should have the final say but that doesn't mean people who do not donate should not be allowed to say anything!
Now respectfully Mr. Helix; was is not you who made the suggestion of making the new Alizee pictures thread pictures only with little to no text? http://alizeeamerica.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6503 Well that happened to be a good idea on your part but should we not follow your good idea just because you do not donate?

I think I understand the point Helix is making. But I would still point out that buying a DVD and donating is not an either/or proposition. One can buy a DVD AND donate, or just choose one option, or neither option. I really don’t think that if someone chose not to buy a DVD, they would necessarily donate that money here instead. I think these are two separate decisions people make. In any case, suggestions are always welcome. A good idea is a good idea, regardless of whether the person who came up with it is willing/able to fund it.

I agree.... purchasing Alizée products and making a donation to this site are two different things... They are two different financial buckets in the budgeting system.

With all due respect to Helix, we all have different bank rolls and different levels of interest in Alizée's music. What may seem to be a waste of funds to you, may not be to somebody else. It is well worth it to me to purchase an Alizée DVD because I can afford it and I am in a situation where I can spend money on things that I like an enjoy. I am also, however, able to make donations, so don't assume that I am choosing one thing over the other to begin with! In any event, if given a choice, I would rather have the Alizée DVD and her album over making a donation to the site if I couldn't do both... but that doesn't make me, nor does it make anybody else, a bad person for making suggestions to the site. In fact, if we were to go by that philosophy than we would have to ban Scruffy for going to Les Enfoirés to See Alizée! lol!... (On a side note: I am still jealous because I could have gone to Lyon but I didn't know I was able to go until it was too late!!!.... but next year I am going!!!)

btw, I was not "complaining" as mentioned in earlier posts... I was leaving a suggestion. After all, the posts were in a suggestion forum!

I am also willing to fund and help update the site, as lefty suggests and as I have mentioned before; not just "complain" ... But it's not my world it's Ben's... I just haven't been able to get a hold of him. :(

If I may make another suggest... I think Ben should empower some of the mods to make some of the web site changes while he is away!... domain hosting sites allow for delegation accounts to do that.

I think we should make our site more competitive to other sites such as Alizée Italia and the Alizée forum ...

btw... I have no hostility towards you, Helix... :beer:

I agree that anyone should have the right to complain. I don't understand where people are getting the idea that I think people who don't donate are less important. Heck I've made the argument against that before.

The first issue is with the 3 people who are in here asking for changes while at the same time flashing their money around in the Les Enfoires 2012 DVD thread. I'm not applying this to anybody else.

The second issue is that the dvd thread is community organized. The same people could pool money together and address issues in here but they choose not to.

I think it sets a rude example of going against your words (or appearing to) whether you donate or not. I would be surprised if Ben wasn't at least a little offended that you guys organize funds for merchandise and events while he is left alone taking in complaints.

I still don't see where you are getting this "complaint" word from. If anything, we are benefiting the site by making suggestions, which in the end will have a better chance of drawing in potential members, rather than sitting back and doing nothing.

In fact, the argument can be made that sitting back and not suggesting possible improvements should be shunned upon since they aren't doing anything at all!

And for those that shun people for trying to improve the forum to draw in potential members...well...

Here are TDA's "suggestions" so far in 2012 about the front page and colors. These are all separate posts and don't include ones made about other aspects of the site.

I guess if I think that is complaining, rude or annoying I'm wrong. And wrong to consider that someone else might feel similar seeing you exact same guys making it rain in the DVD thread.

Helix, we are all on this site because we are fans of Alizee. It only makes sense to me that they would choose to pool money over Alizee merchandise, the singer this forum is dedicated to in the first place, before donating to the forum itself.. and that's IF they're choosing one over the other. Everybody has different priorities and logic that goes into how they choose to spend their money.

As for your point about the constant suggestions, or complaints, if you feel that way, well... can those not also be considered contributions to the website? They're giving feedback on ways to improve the website for everybody as a whole. In the case of the requests for a layout change, well, TDA is certainly not alone. If I remember correctly, there have been many suggestions in the past that we should have options to change the appearance of the website, updates to the front page (which will indeed be needed very soon), and other things.

I understand your point, and I appreciate your concern for donations to the site and such, but I don't really see why this needs to be brought up, especially in public. I'm also not sure why you feel like you can speak on Ben's behalf. Just keep in mind that everyone has a different agenda. :)