Whilst i don't post a lot i do pop in and read
One thing i do on my forum is i have google add sense which pays me enough a year to cover my server cost and keep it free for all members perhaps you could do this to help with costs as it places topic specific adds on to you page and you get paid every time someone clicks through to it
Quote:To make all members pay a contribution to this forum to help keep it going or not?
Against:
If the idea is to have as many members as possible so that it, in theory, adds to the value of the forum then probably not a good idea. But it would be interesting to get some statistics on the lines of - how many members there are and how many of these members have made say more than 50 postings.
For:
It helps the cost of maintenance, hardware des and software needs upgrading (especially if it is running under MS Windows :-D)
It keeps the crap out, like 90% of those over at Screwfix, the brainless morons.