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State of the Bored Address
DerekJohnson
Administrator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 62,413 
To Benny Beaver and Whom it may Concern:
As Hardcore Husky prepares to enter its fourth football season, it's a good time to give you (our "valued" posters), some indication of where we're at and where we're going.
So many of you are here every day and the health of the website is very important to you. I have made no secret of my disillusionment of UW Football and the way it is being run by the narcissistic, insipid people in charge. For me, it would be a type of relief to walk away from Husky Football and never think about it again. But there is one thing that keeps me here and motivates me to manage this site, and that's you fucksticks. Our dynamic and eclectic community is second-to-none for message board entertainment. It's a special thing we've got going here.
That being said, I have spent thousands of hours and much energy keeping things going. When I put out the call for donations three weeks ago, many of you immediately kicked in, and I deeply appreciate that. But the overall numbers were a little disappointing, leaving us short for covering expenses for the year ahead.
Here are some basic numbers: Since starting the site on Nov 26th, 2012, we have had 22.1 million page views. We currently have 2,071 registered members. When you take into account some of you douchebags with multiple handles, I estimate that we have about 1,900 unique members. Of course, many more people than that like to lurk at our threads.
In the month of August, we have taken in about $3,100 in donations. The vast majority have been subscriptions to the Wigwam. Conservatively speaking, it costs an average of about $290 a month right now to run the site (Including server fees, Squarespace, podcast costs, domain, etc). That includes our independent IT and graphics people (Matt, Sondra and Lucy) who have been paid $605 so far this year. I also have to pay 25% of all donations in the form of taxes.
Last year we took in a total of $3,900 in donations and $1,200 in revenue from our sponsor. Unfortunately our sponsor didn't feel we were driving enough business to their Edmonds location, so they discontinued after two years.
Anyway, if we raise a total of $5,000 for the next twelve months, that would enable us to cover expenses. Meaning that in the coming months we need to raise another $1,900.
I've been in contact with a handful of regular posters who plan to donate in the next month or two, so I feel really good about surpassing the $4,000 mark.
But in regards to the next twelve months, I'm asking you regulars who haven't given to consider making a donation. Even $25 helps out and keeps the lights on. I monitor the site stats daily, and I monitor people's accounts. A lot of you guys (and gals) are logging on to Hardcore Husky 2-4 times a day and it's clear you really enjoy what's happening here. Please consider giving back to this community.
Now then, regarding the future of Hardcore Husky...
Many of you have encouraged and praised me for creating and running the site. While I really appreciate that support, I feel like the site has outgrown my original business model. I don't feel like I am doing enough to maximize what we've got here. I realize the need to spend the next 6+ months rethinking the business model in order to adopt a new approach for next year.
Recently I reached out to several regular posters via PM and asked them for feedback. Multiple people suggested more emphasis on football content on the Hardcore Husky main board. I agree with that insomuch as helping steer it in that direction, as long as I'm not trying to dictate where the overall conversation is going.
Tequilla also made a very valid point, when he said that I needed to decide whether to make this place a hobby board or to take on a more professional approach. Given the thousands of hours I have spent managing and moderating the site, it certainly feels like a part-time job already. So it might behoove me (and my esteemed colleagues from the original Bored of Investors) to rethink the site in a more professional sense.
The real trick to this is to not lose our identity. The Game of Thrones character Bronn epitomizes what this site is about. That MoFo is a glib swashbuckler who fancies himself a womanizer, but beneath it all there is a conscience. That's our general persona and/or attitude here. The key with Hardcore Husky is to foster an environment of free speech that teems with ideas and humor. The last thing we need to is suppress that creative, pub-like atmosphere with heavy-handed moderation and rules meant to streamline profits and mainstream the site. At the same time, I maintain subtle limits so the site doesn't implode amid a maelstrom of debauchery and endless one-liners.
That is always first and foremost in my mind when implementing changes here at Hardcore Husky. Keep our identity, keep our soul. It won't be easy, but it's a must.
So over the next 6+ months I will be planning ahead to next year. I welcome all constructive suggestions that any of you may have.
In the meantime, I will be writing a weekly article on Mondays during the football season. My topics may or may not involve the Huskies (as my interest may or may not continue to wane), but I will do my best to write entertainingly on some topic.
The Hardcore Husky Podcast will broadcast once a week during the football season. I will be joined by former Huskies Kyle Benn and Mike Monan along with the Sweatpants General, Koopdog, on select episodes. (I still haven't worked out that schedule yet, I may let it grow organically).
Last but not least, our old friend Larry (aka DeLarry) will be entering the podcast world. He and I will be starting a second podcast, covering the Tennessee Volunteers football program. After much discussion, DeLarry and I are adopting the Vols as our second team to root for, given our disdain for the incompetence of the the current UW administraton. He and I will learn about the Vols as we go along, and we're both looking forward to those conversations.
So here's to an enjoyable 2016 football season. Let's hope the Huskies can finally accomplish something of value after a lost generation of fucktarded football, dim-witted administrators, and sociological experiments gone awry.
Again, if you spend time in our community and want to contribute to its overall health, please make a donation via PayPal on the right-hand margin of the site. Or send a check payable to Derek Johnson at PO Box 8298, Port Orchard, WA 98366.
Thank you to everyone, and remember the words of Dave Barry -- "You can only be young once. But you can always be immature."
Derek
As Hardcore Husky prepares to enter its fourth football season, it's a good time to give you (our "valued" posters), some indication of where we're at and where we're going.
So many of you are here every day and the health of the website is very important to you. I have made no secret of my disillusionment of UW Football and the way it is being run by the narcissistic, insipid people in charge. For me, it would be a type of relief to walk away from Husky Football and never think about it again. But there is one thing that keeps me here and motivates me to manage this site, and that's you fucksticks. Our dynamic and eclectic community is second-to-none for message board entertainment. It's a special thing we've got going here.
That being said, I have spent thousands of hours and much energy keeping things going. When I put out the call for donations three weeks ago, many of you immediately kicked in, and I deeply appreciate that. But the overall numbers were a little disappointing, leaving us short for covering expenses for the year ahead.
Here are some basic numbers: Since starting the site on Nov 26th, 2012, we have had 22.1 million page views. We currently have 2,071 registered members. When you take into account some of you douchebags with multiple handles, I estimate that we have about 1,900 unique members. Of course, many more people than that like to lurk at our threads.
In the month of August, we have taken in about $3,100 in donations. The vast majority have been subscriptions to the Wigwam. Conservatively speaking, it costs an average of about $290 a month right now to run the site (Including server fees, Squarespace, podcast costs, domain, etc). That includes our independent IT and graphics people (Matt, Sondra and Lucy) who have been paid $605 so far this year. I also have to pay 25% of all donations in the form of taxes.
Last year we took in a total of $3,900 in donations and $1,200 in revenue from our sponsor. Unfortunately our sponsor didn't feel we were driving enough business to their Edmonds location, so they discontinued after two years.
Anyway, if we raise a total of $5,000 for the next twelve months, that would enable us to cover expenses. Meaning that in the coming months we need to raise another $1,900.
I've been in contact with a handful of regular posters who plan to donate in the next month or two, so I feel really good about surpassing the $4,000 mark.
But in regards to the next twelve months, I'm asking you regulars who haven't given to consider making a donation. Even $25 helps out and keeps the lights on. I monitor the site stats daily, and I monitor people's accounts. A lot of you guys (and gals) are logging on to Hardcore Husky 2-4 times a day and it's clear you really enjoy what's happening here. Please consider giving back to this community.
Now then, regarding the future of Hardcore Husky...
Many of you have encouraged and praised me for creating and running the site. While I really appreciate that support, I feel like the site has outgrown my original business model. I don't feel like I am doing enough to maximize what we've got here. I realize the need to spend the next 6+ months rethinking the business model in order to adopt a new approach for next year.
Recently I reached out to several regular posters via PM and asked them for feedback. Multiple people suggested more emphasis on football content on the Hardcore Husky main board. I agree with that insomuch as helping steer it in that direction, as long as I'm not trying to dictate where the overall conversation is going.
Tequilla also made a very valid point, when he said that I needed to decide whether to make this place a hobby board or to take on a more professional approach. Given the thousands of hours I have spent managing and moderating the site, it certainly feels like a part-time job already. So it might behoove me (and my esteemed colleagues from the original Bored of Investors) to rethink the site in a more professional sense.
The real trick to this is to not lose our identity. The Game of Thrones character Bronn epitomizes what this site is about. That MoFo is a glib swashbuckler who fancies himself a womanizer, but beneath it all there is a conscience. That's our general persona and/or attitude here. The key with Hardcore Husky is to foster an environment of free speech that teems with ideas and humor. The last thing we need to is suppress that creative, pub-like atmosphere with heavy-handed moderation and rules meant to streamline profits and mainstream the site. At the same time, I maintain subtle limits so the site doesn't implode amid a maelstrom of debauchery and endless one-liners.
That is always first and foremost in my mind when implementing changes here at Hardcore Husky. Keep our identity, keep our soul. It won't be easy, but it's a must.
So over the next 6+ months I will be planning ahead to next year. I welcome all constructive suggestions that any of you may have.
In the meantime, I will be writing a weekly article on Mondays during the football season. My topics may or may not involve the Huskies (as my interest may or may not continue to wane), but I will do my best to write entertainingly on some topic.
The Hardcore Husky Podcast will broadcast once a week during the football season. I will be joined by former Huskies Kyle Benn and Mike Monan along with the Sweatpants General, Koopdog, on select episodes. (I still haven't worked out that schedule yet, I may let it grow organically).
Last but not least, our old friend Larry (aka DeLarry) will be entering the podcast world. He and I will be starting a second podcast, covering the Tennessee Volunteers football program. After much discussion, DeLarry and I are adopting the Vols as our second team to root for, given our disdain for the incompetence of the the current UW administraton. He and I will learn about the Vols as we go along, and we're both looking forward to those conversations.
So here's to an enjoyable 2016 football season. Let's hope the Huskies can finally accomplish something of value after a lost generation of fucktarded football, dim-witted administrators, and sociological experiments gone awry.
Again, if you spend time in our community and want to contribute to its overall health, please make a donation via PayPal on the right-hand margin of the site. Or send a check payable to Derek Johnson at PO Box 8298, Port Orchard, WA 98366.
Thank you to everyone, and remember the words of Dave Barry -- "You can only be young once. But you can always be immature."
Derek
Comments
Pay up deadbeats before he listens to Tequila and turns this into a serious place
I do predict if the site goes a bit more mainstream that the wigwam will see a HUGE (Trump voice) boost in both membership and activity. More tits for me could be good, but the thought of this being mainstreamed scares me. Sven would leave. A small part of me would die. My genitals.
Ultimately I'm cool with whatever as long as the wigwam stays and I can say fuck all I want. This is the best website I have ever frequented, and I am not ashamed to admit that I am basically addicted to this shithole. And cocaine. And booze. And chasing skirts. But this place is right there with all of that. That means this is a fun motherfucker. If you agree, pitch in. If not, fuck off.
- Request volunteers to join a small team to help take some moderator duties off your plate.
- Add some additional revenue streams to the site.
- You must branch out into social media to bring in new poasters.
- More articles is a good idea, content drives traffic. You should guest write on other sports sites/blogs in exchange for them linking back to HH.
Not sure what all they do, but TigerDroppings is just as politically incorrect as HH and they have way more members and traffic. Maybe you could reach out to their admin for advice?
And before anyone gives me crap, yes I will donate this year!
Duh.
I had no idea HH existed until Kim mentioned it on the site(dumbfuck)
Part of me wishes I'd taken Sven's directive to "LEAVE". I spend too much time here. My productivity has gone in the toilet and my family thinks I'm a sick fuck. That said, I love this place and want to see it thrive.
Bottom line, every time I check that site out, 700-800 members online, he apparently picks up 4-8 million views a month. So they prob get about $2-3K in ad revenue plus donations which sounds like the way to do it
Maybe become an Amazon affiliate? I'd do all my shopping through a link here to support the sight.
2. Soon after, we get flagged repeatedly for bad language, and the ads get pulled (as happened with Google advertising).