From time to time I get nastygrams like everyone else for not attending to a request instantly (Although I'm not going to name names among other things), so I'm going to cast a bit of trivia.
It's easy to just go all out on them, but I think a little perspective is worth more than just chewing them out anyway.
For a project that's been run for so long, I'll reveal some disturbing statistics.
From when I stepped in on April 2011 until today (August 2012) we have had:
- About 430 videos uploaded (not including the ones being processed here) directly related to this thread. This is directly countable via the youtube channel. (I estimate 50 of the uploaded aren't directly attributed to this thread)
- I'd estimate about another 200 MAD specific videos that have cropped up between now and then.
That's not the disturbing part.
- Each video has about 2 minutes 15 seconds recording + 30 minutes rendering + 1 hour and 10 minutes upload attributed to it, if we apply averaging across the board.
That's STILL not the disturbing part. (Although if you do the math, that's a lot of time.)
What I'll reveal below should be what scares you:
- I've received exactly zero (Yes, zero, although see the update.) offers to help with the monetary costs of doing any of this, tipping, gratuity or cost offset (Consider the fact that I pay all my own bills, as I currently live alone, so things like electricity come into play). This is mostly amusing, from a very sordid point of view, only because well, you can talk to the others in the community about what they get.
We've talked about it (as we talk to each other), and it's not even a grudge thing. It's just so terribly amusing for all the wrong reasons.
Did I mention donations are not ever considered a business plan, because of the above note? Make sure you never ever plan around variable payments as central to your funding.
- I can count the number of people who've offered their time on two hands (The maintainer of where the compendium is hosted is top of the list, then there's those who've graciously provided time to either help with image preparation or provide translations) and I don't have to use the finger or thumb that's currently under repair to do it.
As always, the door is open. I'm happy for extra hands, a tip, or even just a conversation or a series of suggestions. There's always a lot of stuff that needs to be done, for one, and I'm not a mind reader, so knowing what is upcoming and/or would be useful is important.
Now there's something to consider before you make your move, if nothing else.
Thank you for your attention.
Update 6/08:
Okay, the total's moved from zero to one offer of any sort of offset since the original post was written. I'm very grateful for the support. To clarify, it wasn't a demand of money, it was more a note about the pressures of a mass request filler. It ranges from paying for providing the service, to getting a crystal ball and guessing, to dealing with demands.
There's always costs involved, and it probably ISN'T a good idea to chew people out for things they do out of their own free will, particularly when costs are real and substantial. If you want to see things improve, help out in whatever shape or form. You'd be surprised what you can do to help if you just ask.
If you want to (I'm not going to make anyone) please see this thread
http://forum.project-imas.com/index.php/topic,1503.0.html and you'd note it's the first post.
