Forum Suggestions & User Assistance - Blue star / One year donations?

When I click on "upgrade your membership" and then follow through, I'm only given the option of signing up for a recurring account. By next year, I may have dropped bikes and taken up bachee ball (hey, I can't even spell "bocce" now). Also, I don't like the idea of my info being stored on any more computers than it has to. phpBB (the technology behind the forum) has been know to have security flaws in the past -- it could happen again. How can I sign up for just one year?

Mail a check.

phpBB (the technology behind the forum) has been know to have security flaws in the past -- it could happen again.
Except BikeForums isn't using phpBB, it's using vBulletin.

Do a View Source on any of the pages, and you'll see this code:

<meta name="generator" content="vBulletin 3.5.4" />

While vBulletin is powered by php, it's not phpBB.

Except BikeForums isn't using phpBB, it's using vBulletin.

Do a View Source on any of the pages, and you'll see this code:

<meta name="generator" content="vBulletin 3.5.4" />

While vBulletin is powered by php, it's not phpBB.
Oops. They look enough alike to be spitting cousins.

But that doesn't change my basic concerns and question. I was pretty sure there was a "blue star" level -- did they just discontinue that plan? There is not even details provided how the "33 year" plan works. Do you get notified by PayPal and then approve/disapprove each year? Or does it happen automatically without re-confirmations?

I know $25 may not be much these days, but around here that would get you 5 really big, tasty burritos ...

Blue Star = Moderator

If I was seriously worried about computer crime I would not be typing this. But if I were just a little worried I would just mail an money order to support the forums without revealing any personal info and live with the ads.

First off I don't know if I completely understand your concern. Is it that you are worried that by having your name be red starred that it is insecure?

The 33 year donation in like a one year thing, its really just donating the to the website, pretty much the 33 just means that you have a lifetime upgraded membership. Or that you don't really need to donate more than once to reduce ads, and have the ability to use certain forums (for sale etc)

Also if you don't want to use the forum next year...Don't! Once you donate the 25 dollars its not like you have to keep posting and you have to keep participating year after year. Its pretty much just a donation and with the donation you get some extra perks (refer to above)

And yes a blue star does mean a moderator.

Thanks!

hi565
Forum Moderator

(If you have any questions feel free to PM me)

First off I don't know if I completely understand your concern. Is it that you are worried that by having your name be red starred that it is insecure?

The 33 year donation in like a one year thing, its really just donating the to the website, pretty much the 33 just means that you have a lifetime upgraded membership. Or that you don't really need to donate more than once to reduce ads, and have the ability to use certain forums (for sale etc)

Also if you don't want to use the forum next year...Don't! Once you donate the 25 dollars its not like you have to keep posting and you have to keep participating year after year. Its pretty much just a donation and with the donation you get some extra perks (refer to above)

And yes a blue star does mean a moderator.

Thanks!

hi565
Forum Moderator

(If you have any questions feel free to PM me)

Oh. I read this on the donation page:

Validity periods marked * indicate that
purchasing this subscription is recurring, this
means after the period is complete it will automatically
be renewed.

As meaning that my paypal was going to be dunned every year. That's what the words "subscription" and "recurring" imply to me. Why not just say "lifetime membership" ? I suppose this choice of words reflects the usage of vbulletin for other forums that do require annual payments.

The one-paragraph moderator FAQ doesn't mention blue stars -- might be a good addition.

Thanks!

The blue star is the new purple. :lol:

Oh. I read this on the donation page:

Validity periods marked * indicate that
purchasing this subscription is recurring, this
means after the period is complete it will automatically
be renewed.

As meaning that my paypal was going to be dunned every year. That's what the words "subscription" and "recurring" imply to me. Why not just say "lifetime membership" ? I suppose this choice of words reflects the usage of vbulletin for other forums that do require annual payments.

The one-paragraph moderator FAQ doesn't mention blue stars -- might be a good addition.

Thanks!

I'll fix the wording. Some day, I'll also update the FAQ. :)

The blue star is the new purple. :lol:

Whats the new pink??!!

:D turqoise...