Great concern... Please read

[ImportantDude]

I am posting this anonymously as I wish to keep my identity private in this matter. I am a webmaster of a website here at katz and I am an active part of the katz community, but recent events and changes at katz have caused great concern.

I see katz turning in to a money-motivated website right before my eyes. This new "Live Cams" tab, the sponsored sites ($100+ per link with 5 links? Dude c'mon), + ADS?! I've also heard of people paying to get 4/5* ratings? This is just over the top... What happened to the good old katz? Just a month ago, I remember when katz was so much nicer (as a webmaster) to be a part of. Now, it's traffic to my site has been cut in half, due completely to the fact that more sites are getting higher ratings because of their rich webmasters and theres more/other places to go now that makes katz more money, why bother sending any traffic to my site? (For the record, I'm a 4* site). I understand that running a site as big as katz takes money, but from what I see/hear, $1,500/mo+? No way.

Thanks for reading this.

[st0ne]

Not as anonymously as you think.

I'm not entirely sure what your 'great' concern is? Aside from the fact that despite your mis-guided thoughts about the money we make, and where it goes - katz does indeed cost a great deal of money to operate. If we are to keep bringing the best end-user experiences to the hundreds of thousands of visitors we get daily, and if we are to keep expanding costs are only going to increase. What it takes to operate this site goes beyond just servers.

If your concern is the lack in traffic, this has nothing to do with the money it costs to run this site. No one, and i mean no-one pays for site ratings. We do not accept money just so someone can have a higher rated site. We rate sites on what e feel they deserve. Requests can also occasionally be made to re-rate sites so everyone has a chance. We serve over 800 webmasters and their sites. Not everyone is going to be a low-rated site just so you can horde the massive hits for yourself.

Webmasters who put in hard work, time, and dedicated and have a great site deserve to have 4/5 star ratings as much as the other webmasters who do the same. Obviously the system isn't perfect, but regardless of how well it works, or does not work, the fact is: the more great sites we accept, the more people will share those high ratings.

But we send out hundreds of thousands of hits a day... there is plenty of traffic to go around. Sorry you don't feel the same.

[Baz]

Yeah as we grow so do the server cost's....that's why they need the extra income....and to people paying for higher rating's...ever heard of a RUMOR?

[str8jktmn]

Somebody strike up a violin quartet for this guy. It'll give his winge a little ambiance and create a whiner's atmosphere.

[st0ne]

I am posting this anonymously as I wish to keep my identity private in this matter.

Dude has like 9 accounts on katz :P

[ImportantDude]

Do I have 9 accounts? Actually, this is my second. St0ne - I think you have me confused with someone else.

I am less concerned with the fact that my site is getting less traffic as I am with the fact that I know katz does not cost $2k/mo+ to run. Seriously, that's ridiculous, katz at most has 4 servers (and that's being generous). I know you all run with Emil over at InterCage, and you also have servers elsewhere. Say the average server cost for all 4 servers is $250/mo, that makes $1,000 a month, in which I'm sure simply the header/right ads on katz/katzporn are more than capable of handling from pageviews alone.

I will hand it to the designer (whichever admin does it) that you do a good job at implementing ads in which don't bother the users too much. I must admit katz does a very good job, as well, at everything else, including content quality, fair ratings, etc.

I'm sorry you all feel the need to bash me for concern for the future of katz. While the site has grown in traffic and thus cost to run it, it sure as hell hasn't doubled in cost, regardless of what you admins claim. I apologize about the rudeness, but it's just the way it is and it's the way I feel. I don't come to the forums under this alias to complain, I come to express concern.

[HardHead]

<_< :| :'( B-)

[Erratic]

It's true. I recently got my new Lambo Gallardo, and fuck... the fuel costs are insane. Every reason to increase advertising.

EDIT: In the end, it's really got nothing to do with you, that is the advertising/revenue/expenditure of our website. If that's how you want to form an opinion, then go for it. You don't have to submit to Katz.

[ImportantDude]

Erratic - Is sarcasm really necessary? Am I saying that you all are using the cash for lambo's? No, I did not, I am trying to have a serious discussion and people like you, HardHead, have to come in here and post random smileys just to get your post count up? I'm thougholy disappointed in many of the mature (*cough*sarcasm*cough*) responses in which have been made by some of you (note: im not stating this about the admins, erratic - I realize my statements in which intend the admins are taking the money for themselves may seem incorrect, however have you really ever broken down the income/expenses of katz and who takes care of them? I may be wrong, you all may actually have 10 servers, I mean hell, you are the 588th biggest site...).

And, I suppose it does belong to the katz admins, and it's not up to the users where the cash goes... Additionally, you admins do work hard, and deserve the cash for what you do. However, my original concern stands. Too much of a bad thing can be completely bad.

[st0ne]

katz will never be an ad farm. What we have in place is to cover site expenses.. not to cover personal world flights and off-shore cruises :)

And i agree.. completely random comments by members is completely unnecessary, and childish.

[HardHead]

Well for one thing I'm not about getting my post count up as some are but I had made a post addressing your concerns until I seen your just being a smart ass so I redid it and decided to stay out of it.. But guess what ?? now that you have called me out.. It really isn't any of your dang business how Katz owners keeps the site up and if you really don't like just hop your happy ass else where.. I will say my apologies to the admins of this forum and if ya feel the need to ban me then do so.. but as far as I'm concerned this dude can royally Kiss my REDNECK ASS!!

[ImportantDude]

...A bit more maturity showed by you all might be nice... If I were a goddamn mod here, infractions for everyone, seriously, this stuff is so dumb... We are a bunch of webmasters, this is a webmaster forum, not a "let's spam for no reason in threads pertaining to things that are actually serious!" forum ;)

I'm off to bed, I'll continue this discussion tomorrow...

[Erratic]

BTW, for your information... including all sites over Katz, the servers in total serve 100-150 million page views per month. 30Mbps of bandwidth isn't cheap, nor the hardware to serve those pages.

;)

[str8jktmn]

I agree 100% with HardHead.

It is NO ONE'S business how a site owner conducts their business.

It is perfectly ethical to cover one's overhead costs however they see fit.

At the very least, we should praise the site owners for putting up with the crap they have to deal with on a daily basis.

In the immortal words of Wayne and Garth...."We're not worthy!"

[Drubei]

Rumors and bullsh*t like this are only to catch peoples attention. I can give a rats ass if this is true or not. Katz offer a free service for you to submit your downloads. Whether you get more traffic or not that's on you and how hard you work at it. And if you got the money to dish out for a 5-star rating, then by all means go for it. Regardless if I get a low star rating, at the end of the day I feel good that I have accomplish something. How do you feel for paying off those stars?

Whatever the case, if the admins make good money then so be it. What they do with their income is their personal business. You wouldn't want me to ask about your income now would you? As long as they provide hundreds of forums free submissions there is no need to complain or attack. If you don't like it go somewhere else. It's a free service for crist sake. What are you complaining about? Not getting your moneys worth? What freaking worth did you have to pay for in the first place!

Fact is, without katz you wouldn't even have a place to complain. And without the great customer service they provided, You wouldn't have a thing to respond to in this thread. Keep your thoughts to yourself or go find another forum to talk sh*t. And see how they respond to your crap. I'll be damn if they didn't ban your ass and delete your thread right off the bat.

[HardHead]

Drubei Just said it all...........

[Terminator]

agree with you HardHead ,Drubei's awesome ! ^_^

[crazyman5]

I don't give a care,what generates revenue around here.Just so long as my computer doesn't subsequently,become saturated with spy and adware.If,it's kept at a reasonable level.I'm fine with that.I've seen to many good sites go down because of server issues and other problems.As,for the webmaster shit,that's all Greek to me.So,I'm probably off topic.Keep up the good work.

[Cuddles]

i very much agree with Drubei and hardhead they are right on the QT so lets all tr to get along please keep up the good work all of you.

[Speedy2000]

If I were a goddamn mod here, infractions for everyone
If I were a mod here, I'd start by kicking you out of here :P

A bit more maturity showed by you all might be nice
Talking about maturity, I think you mistyped the URL when coming here: This is Katz Forums, not Kids Forums.

seriously, this stuff is so dumb
You wanna know what's really dumb? Starting useless discussions to get attention. If you wanna get attention, then why won't you go to the Introduction thread and say HI with a very large font size...

not a "let's spam for no reason in threads pertaining to things that are actually serious!" forum
You're absolutely right! So I'd suggest to leave, so that problem is settled :P

And another thing: Not only does server maintanance cost money, but also investing in new features. But as said by others before, it's not of anyone's business what is done with the money that is made because that is private.

[Cuddles]

Way to go speedy2000 you are so right and this is not a kids forum and no one needs to be here looking for attention.

[Wolfdog420]

If a webmaster wants to make a profit from their website, then by all means do so. That's called freedom of trade. Profit is made from a product well liked. If people like a product, then why shouldn't one make a profit from it? Katz is a very well liked product and should make a profit, yet they don't (that I know of). If one decides for themselves, "Hey, I can do better" then do so. But don't try to make others fail due to your own failures.