Two thoughts on Pro accounts:
1. For people wondering why it's worth it: I support this site because I know it's full of real people and my personal data isn't being sold to the highest bidder. I rarely use any of the other Pro features, but still feel like I'm more than getting my money's worth.
2. If you can afford to financially support CoSo, please do. If you cannot, please know you are NOT a second-class citizen here and you are equally welcome and valued. This place is for everyone.
@voltronic
CoSo is like NPR, anyone can participate/listen, and Pro is like the tote bag or lapel pin you get for supporting
@voltronic "From each according to their means..." etc
@voltronic ~ if I had a working computer, I would do "Pro" ~ I try donating (on mostly fixed income) $30/yr ($10 x 3)...
Thanks for reiterating who we are (CoSo community) and how we improve (via "giving to" rather than "Guinea pigging" for FB & TW)...
@voltronic I remember, glad you brought it up
@Groovyeli @voltronic I either missed that or forgot about it. My situation was such that I couldn’t have afforded a pro account when the option was first introduced but I was gifted one for a year from an anonymous source. Since then my fortunes have changed so I’ve kept Pro and Patreon accounts, like you, mainly to support the platform. Detlef does too, even though he is so rarely on social media of any kind.
@Botanic @voltronic oh I forgot about those! That was so cool. I’m glad things have improved
@voltronic this. I signed up to pro ages ago, then stopped using much SM at all but kept the payment up as I could see this was a different type of place and I'm in the priveledged position to be able to financially support things I like :) Don't think I've used any of the pro features yet at all
@Zailrand I don't have a credit card, so I help funding it via Patreon - which doesn't give me a Pro account. Still worth it. This place is precious.
And people who cannot *afford* a Pro account deserve a hate free and free of charge "public square" to gather in regardless.
@lovesdaryl @voltronic wonder if there would be a way of doing "pro" Patreon?!
@Zailrand I have no idea if it's technically possible to link my Patreon payment via PayPal to my user data here - I live in the EU, so the EU data protection law is applicable. @voltronic
@Zailrand @voltronic this...not sure I have even tried Pro features yet, just happy to support.
@voltronic
UNIVERSAL RULE OF LIFE
IF IT'S FREE YOU ARE THE PRODUCT.
Want to find out how much of a product you have been? Click the card in the upper left of your profile. Add all you find to every once of content you have added to any free Social Media site and you will get a rough idea of where you stand.
It is the same price as Peacock with 10 times the content.
@voltronic
I donate small amounts when I can. I do appreciate this site.
^ Those who have been here from the early days may remember a bit of a dust-up soon after Pro accounts were first introduced. There were a couple members who were shaming other people for not being Pro members, and some folks on the receiving end left as a result. We are NOT doing that again, and I will personally browbeat anyone who engages in guilt trip tactics.