Job

flash9286 · November 30, 2002, 14:04

is this your job mark or do you have a other job. Or is this your source of income.

Skanky Burns · November 30, 2002, 22:17

I don't think Apolyton breaks even, let alone pays the bills. But I'll let Markos answer this one.

Lorizael · November 30, 2002, 22:58

I would think Apolyton produces a substantial amount of income, given the number of popups... but that's a tired subject.

Apocalypse · November 30, 2002, 23:45

SidGames turned a profit, though it wasn't very big and it was while the economy was good.

Ming · December 1, 2002, 00:32

That was back in the good ole days of internet advertising... when people actually believed banners were worth what they were paying for them... The industry learned a lot of lessons from those days

H Tower · December 1, 2002, 00:42

well, last i heard, markos and dan are both still in university, so i doubt they are depending much on the income of this site to keep food on the table

DanQ · December 1, 2002, 02:25

Quote:

Originally posted by H Tower
well, last i heard, markos and dan are both still in university, so i doubt they are depending much on the income of this site to keep food on the table

As H Tower says above, both Markos and I are still university; to expand on that a bit, we are full-time undergraduate students with part-time jobs in addition to our schoolwork, Apolyton and other committments (volunteer, family etc.). Any and all Apolyton's income goes straight towards operating expenses: hosting costs, databases/forum upkeep, domain fees etc. Even when the online advertising market was "hot", as it were, Apolyton was never in a position to 'support' either Markos or myself on any kind of level but then again we were not expecting it to then nor are we now.

That said, we do not want you to assume the worst: let me make it clear that Apolyton is not in financial trouble. We are in the black monetarily speaking. It is thanks in large part to our loyal visitor base that has made this possible even during the prolonged downturn in the online (and other aspects of the) economy.

------------
Dan; Apolyton CS

Asher · December 1, 2002, 02:39

And thanks to the extraordinarily annoying popups, no doubt.

spartak · December 1, 2002, 05:41

Don't be snide Glonky, if 'Poly folded you would only have CG to whinge on.

Asher · December 1, 2002, 05:43

And Beyond3D, and AnandTech, and Oasis, and some chat channels.

Alex · December 1, 2002, 09:23

Poly is a labour of love.

DrSpike · December 1, 2002, 12:59

Popups are annoying, but ultimately we get a nice free service. The efforts of those responsible shouldn't go unnoticed......even if they do give you pcr's for some harmless spam.

Sarxis · December 1, 2002, 21:51

Quote:

Originally posted by Ming
... when people actually believed banners were worth what they were paying for them... The industry learned a lot of lessons from those days

I wonder when commercial Television will learn its lesson.

Ming · December 2, 2002, 00:40

Quote:

Originally posted by Anun Ik Oba
I wonder when commercial Television will learn its lesson.

The industry has already learned that lesson. "Good" Television advertising is one of the most effective forms of advertising. Even BAD direct marketing commercials work... or you wouldn't be seeing them

Alexander's Horse · December 2, 2002, 02:40

Quote:

Originally posted by DanQ

As H Tower says above, both Markos and I are still university; to expand on that a bit, we are full-time undergraduate students with part-time jobs in addition to our schoolwork, Apolyton and other committments (volunteer, family etc.). Any and all Apolyton's income goes straight towards operating expenses: hosting costs, databases/forum upkeep, domain fees etc. Even when the online advertising market was "hot", as it were, Apolyton was never in a position to 'support' either Markos or myself on any kind of level but then again we were not expecting it to then nor are we now.

That said, we do not want you to assume the worst: let me make it clear that Apolyton is not in financial trouble. We are in the black monetarily speaking. It is thanks in large part to our loyal visitor base that has made this possible even during the prolonged downturn in the online (and other aspects of the) economy.

------------
Dan; Apolyton CS

Well congratulations species - that is about the clearest explanation ever of the bottom line situation. Rumours of yachts and fast cars are untrue.

Now, in recognition of my unstinting loyalty, can I have some of my posts back

Skanky Burns · December 2, 2002, 02:50

On behalf of the Apolyton administration:

Rasbelin · December 2, 2002, 03:37

Skanky:

Tuberski · December 2, 2002, 21:22

Quote:

Originally posted by DrSpike
Popups are annoying, but ultimately we get a nice free service. The efforts of those responsible shouldn't go unnoticed......even if they do give you pcr's for some harmless spam.

I agree, especially when you aren't even spamming.

ACK!

DrSpike · December 3, 2002, 05:14

Quote:

Originally posted by Tuberski

I agree, especially when you aren't even spamming.

ACK!

Lol, I don't think it's fair to say there was no spam, but it would be fair to look questioningly at other threads where much worse spam is ignored. I guess Mark was just having a bad day, and decided to spread it out a bit.

Skanky Burns · December 3, 2002, 05:51

It was overly harsh, I agree.
But the last time I publically disagreed with Markos over a punishment of someone else, I got a 10-day ban.

So I'm not saying a thing.

MarkG · December 3, 2002, 09:03

random punishment is better than no punishment. in fact some times it's better than every-case punishment

seriously, we act on the stuff that we see. if we dont see it, we cant act on it...

DrSpike · December 3, 2002, 09:21

Quote:

Originally posted by MarkG
random punishment is better than no punishment. in fact some times it's better than every-case punishment

Well yes and no. It is the eternal equity/efficiency trade-off. You are trying to minimise overall spam by punishing a sample of individuals, which may well be the most efficient way of tackling the issue. But not treating like as like is clearly inequitable. Those that are punished are paying for both their own and others' spam.

Ming · December 3, 2002, 10:16

Quote:

Originally posted by DrSpike
Those that are punished are paying for both their own and others' spam.

And your point?

DrSpike · December 3, 2002, 10:26

Inequity.

And another thing; if the PTB's are going to persist (as they probably should) in sporadic attempts to curb spam, which fall randomly on various posters, I feel you need to look again at the severity of post counts reductions in these cases. 10% given for these little spam incentive reducers, (again, especially given that it has been admitted that these fall pretty randomly) when 10% is also often given for much worse behaviour committed by specific individuals seems inconsistent to me.

Ming · December 3, 2002, 10:35

Consider it just like speeding... many people do it, but only some people get caught. And it's expensive when you do get caught

DrSpike · December 3, 2002, 10:41

Your analogy is not without merit. In both circumstances monitoring is costly, and it is the fine for those who do get caught that acts an incentive for those who don't. I have already said I agree with that part, as inequitable as it may be it is efficient.....as an economist I know lots about mechanisms for providing incentives when monitoring costs are high.

But to continue your analogy would you fine someone speeding at 80 MPH on the motorway the same as someone doing 100MPH on an 'A' road. Of course you wouldn't, and that is why more thought needs to be given to relative fines in our case as well.

Ming · December 3, 2002, 10:47

I've given people 50% PCR's before... would you like me to change yours to that

DrSpike · December 3, 2002, 10:52

If you think I am wrong, say so, and tell us why.

Ming · December 3, 2002, 11:03

Moderators all act in their own way... MarkG is king of the standard 10%... MtG is king of the quick hook... Rah usually just posts in a thread, and the problem stops... I take many things in consideration when giving punishments, leaning more toward variable length restrictions then PCR's.

Different strokes for different folks... and that's just the way it is.

DrSpike · December 3, 2002, 11:09

Ok, thanks for the discussion Ming, though your 50% post did you no credit. I am just trying to raise some points I think are relevant, not campaigning for a pcr remover.

That would abrogate the incentive effect, leaving the inequity and damaging the efficiency. Not good policy.