Kinda sounds like a good idea. I like to know what someone's background is a little bit before posting anyway.

BTW - sorry for your loss. I hope you're feeling better. And welcome back!

At least if they go through the hassell of being verified *hopefully* they are really here to get advice, etc.

I can't wait to see the new changes!

I agree whole-heartedly. Thanks Dawn and DH for everything. I'm getting my Card out now and making a donation to this wonderful site. It can't be much but it's about time I gave back to this wonderful site.

The reality is that the only difference between posting anonymously and posting as a member is that your email address gets verified by StepTalk. Your email address is never provided to anyone other than Dawn and myself, and we only see it if we need to contact you directly. Of course that will almost never happen unless you break the rules.

You are as anonymous on this site as you want to be. That goes for any site on the Internet for that matter.

This decision was made in order to cut down on the amount of work Dawn has to do in order to manage the site.

@KeeKee, we really do appreciate the donation. The minimal income we receive from the advertisements on the site is our only other revenue we get to help keep the site running. The rest comes out of our pockets.

We are preparing to move the site to a new server in order to increase our capacity which means our costs are about to go up again. That's not necessarily a bad thing. It tells us that the site is helping more and more people every month! Thank you for your support!

-Admin

I agree with BBB. I wouldn't mind paying to help keep the site going. I don't think charging a 5 or 10 dollar montly fee would be asking to much. And it would help you both to keep this going much better. I bet most people wouldn't mind.

And I know most people trolling won't pay to do it.

I'm very grateful. If it weren't for this site I think DH and SD's would all be dead by now, and I'd be in prision.

Maybe an annual membership fee that is say a minimum amount like the 12 dollars (you mentioned a $1 a month earlier), and those of us that could give more would have the option to do so. Perhaps adding a chat feature for those paying verified members would be an idea. After all, we'd be verified, and wouldn't have to worry about trolls in the chat group

"Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me"

This site is a GREAT source of support for me. I wouldn't mind some type of nominal fee or one time donation. In fact, I think I'll make a donation now

Hey Dawn, DH, and Admin - I just wanted to say a quick note of thanks to you both!! It is because of this site that I have been able to cope at all with the past few months and have also come to learn some very important things. This blog gave me the "a-ha!" moment I needed to let me know where to look further!

I, too, would have no problem paying for a membership fee. But I also do feel for the members who cannot pay. I think those members are some of the ones who need the help most desperately. Money issues are pretty much the worst arguments in any marriage, and then to throw them into a step-situation, just brings volumes of added stress layers to that equation. It does seem like every few months we see the "how do you guys split your finances" blog!!

I really do like your idea of a premium option though, and the fact that premium members just get an extra feature, but everyone else still gets to post, blog, and just surf.

One thing you may want to think about is an idea that I had from another site I belong to. They only allow limited surfing without signing up and sending your e-mail. The site is free. But you cannot view other member profiles or too many posts without joining. Does that make sense? I'm on a third site as well, where they won't even let you look at other member profiles until you have posted enough, etc. I don't particularly like that feature, because it is hard to find people in the same situation when you cannot view some of their stats.

Finally, the only other thing I was wondering if you would consider is expanding the profile page. I was thinking of almost like a quick questionnaire type thing where people could list a little more about themselves as well as their paragraph or so on their situation. For example, a spot where we could give our "players" in our lives for example... Just a thought!

But really, more than anything!! THANK YOU!!!

*** A rainbow just threw up on me... and now I'm sh*tting glitter! ***

Actually, on the BPD site, you have to post something about yourself in an "introduction" section, then wait a period of time before posting on the boards I think....

Even though I am a newbie here and don't always have time to post alot, I did make a donation a few weeks ago b/c this site gives so much more than other sites do. I could never put my true feelings on the other sites w/o down right nastiness and rudeness from other posters that didn't understand the 'feral skids syndrome'.

I also think having a membership is a good idea BUT it may not be good for ladies (and men) that don't want their significant others to know they are posting here, but may see it on the CC/debit billing statement. I had to go around paypal b/c it is in BFs name and comes out of his checking account.

Anyway wanted to insert my .02 in here and thank you all for being here.

How bout SHSSW.com?

"Thank you for your donation to Super Happy Smiley Second Wives.com. We are happy to provide you a safe place to rave about your fabulous husband or considerate boyfriend, your thoughtful and well behaved step-children and the lovely woman who so lovingly gave birth to the little angels who light up your life. We wish you continued happiness in your blissful home."

I like the idea of a little more privacy, too, and would probably pay for it. The one thing I am a LITTLE concerned about is that we don't create a two-tiered hierarchy, so that the people who don't pay don't get as much access to the support as the people who do. As someone above said, often the people who are in the toughest step situations are also people who are in financial distress, as well. I would like everyone who is REALLY here for help and support to be able to get just as much help as a paying member.

BB

- You are not second best, you are not second class. Do not ever let anyone make you feel that way. (2Bloved)

I love the idea of a premium feature! I would love for this site to remain the same for the non-paying members (this site truly saved my marriage!... well, so far) but offer a paid feature where we could post pictures of our kiddos and give a bit more background to our step-friends. I am very limited in what I put on here, because I just fear it will someday come back to bite me in the a$$.

If there were a no-holds barred blog feature too, I think that would be great. On the main page I could post "Any suggestions for disciplining SD9?" And on the premium page, I could post "Any suggestions for performing a lobotomy on SD9 without her parents noticing?"

Good idea....

yes, I was very sad when a friend of my husbands, who also uses this site, came across my blogs and showed them to him! He was angry and demanded I remove them all before the SK's stumbled across them! I don't know how I could prevent that from happening again... but it would be nice...