Agnostic.com

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This site's business model perplexes me. I've been here for two years and I've never seen an ad, there's no cost for membership, there's no bonus perks that can be purchased at various levels, there's no branded product line of items for sale in an Agnostic store, there's not even a "Donate" button. So how does this site pay its operating costs to say nothing of turning a profit? Is it being operated at a loss? If so, why?

For the inevitable "Why do you care?" replies; because I'm curious.
For the inevitable "Just enjoy it ." replies; I do but I'm still curious.
For the inevitable "It's none of your business!" replies; doesn't hurt to ask.

So... anybody know?

UPDATED: The question has been answered.

Sgt_Spanky 8 July 26
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17 comments

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1

...well, I suppose we’re gonna have to give to every Atheist/ Agnostic organization we know of ..and hope some trickles back to those connected with this place… I think my participation is nearing four years, in November.. Either that, or I’ve been having a real good time!

In the beginning (🙂) ..I was leary… But ‘whomever’ has proven themself/ves to be as stable as many of us are unstable - and I thank them, if silently, sincerely, ..seemingly everyday. Thanks, again ~

Varn Level 8 July 26, 2020

November makes three years, so you have been having a bunch of fun ☺

@Cutiebeauty ..thank you, yup, apparently time’s been flying 😉

0

Admin wanted to give back.

That's the answer.

It is possible for people to be altruistic.

Learn more here: [agnostic.com] (This is from the Learn button at the top of the screen). They aren't hiding it.

1

I've wondered this, myself....just hadn't gotten around to asking. Thanks for opening the question.

2

It's nice to be on a site where I am not bombarded with ads to buy things and demand for donations. This is why this is not Facebook or a church and I like it.

2

My understanding is the setup of the site was volunteer work by the devs, think of something like open source or other software like Mozilla or Libre Office. Lots of individuals offer their services gratis everywhere. Storage for Tb's of data is extremely cheap. Operating costs for a forum website are the most expensive and still top out at $60k from what I see and that would be one with many more features for business use. So if I am sympathetic to a cause and have a few million in spare change, what's $60k to support a cause.

I had some very good forum software that I paid $100 a year for.

2

I sponsored a free website for glass identification for 10 years. The size of the database grew to where I was paying around $680 for Web space and another 50 for the URL. I don't understand gigabytes that well but we had about 19000 pictures on the site. We did not charge for membership but I did accept donations after the costs grew to over $300 a year. Agnostic also gives out T shirts and pens so their cost is even more.

I can understand someone of means wanting to promote the visibility of their beliefs. Religious people spend a lot of money doing that all the time. I hope they established a 501 C3 and at least get a text credit for it. I did not have a 501 C3 but I gave my website to a museum and they gave me a letter which I could have used for a tax deduction to their 501 C3.

Interesting. Thanks for that.

1

Why do you care? Just enjoy it. It's none of your business anyway..

Seriously though... They have a couple private donors who take care of the bills and volunteer site moderaters

Yeah, that seems to be the answer a few people have pointed to. Now I know. Thanx again.

5

my understanding from way back was that this site was created by @admin to create a place for people to connect who are okay without God. it is basically a labor of love is my understanding. a passion for non-belief and web design led to this site as I understood.

this is from the "about us" portion under "learn"

Welcome to the Community

Agnostic is a non-profit and non-prophet community for people who are naturally good without any gods. Our members have a wide range of views about what the site should be about. For some, it's a place to nurture humanist or non-religious principles. For others, it's a place to recover from a religious past or to reaffirm one's non-theism. 

We hope to provide a safe place for people to share their thoughts and opinions, get involved in secular causes, keep up with news, and even meet others. We are not an anti-religion website.

I think we have our answer.

1

Maybe names are being gathered for the Great Purge. 😁 Wouldn't that be a hoot?

Here's a potential theory then; this site is operated by the Xians to gather atheists/agnostics together in one place for easy identification for this upcoming purge. It'll be like shooting fish in a barrel.

@Sgt_Spanky Have you ever noticed that there are no 'tens'. Maybe when you get to ten that's when you get the knock on the door in the middle of the night, by a couple of hooded strangers, and you are never seen again. LOL

@Fernapple I thin we've nailed this.

@Fernapple But but but I've always wanted to be a ten.😆

@Sgt_Spanky Serpentine!!!!!!

@Lorajay You are a nice lady, don't go there !!!

@KKGator Hey! You're the one named after a reptile here! No, wait, amphibian? No, reptile, Gators are reptiles. Wait...what was my point again?

@Lorajay You're already a 10. 🙂

@Sgt_Spanky And you're a sweetheart

@Sgt_Spanky I just meant, if anyone has to run, don't do it in a straight line. 😉

@KKGator Good advice. You know a lot about how to survive a purge. When they come for us, you will lead us. I'll handle the zombie apocalypse.

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3

This question has been raised more than once before, and the answer appears to be that the site was started by a consortium of one or two people who pay all the bills incurred because they wish to foster and promote dialogue amongst those without a belief in god. I am happy that it’s purely being done through altruistic ideals, and would not continue to be a member here if it were otherwise. I cannot confirm that this information is 100% true, but as we have never been asked for any money or been exposed to any advertising at any time since the establishment of the site, I feel we can assume this to be fact.

It could very well be but that sort of altruism would be extremely rare and as I mentioned below, I'd still open an Agnostic store and include a Donate button. Both of these could generate some income while keeping the site free.

@Sgt_Spanky They obviously have taken a decision not to do that...I don’t have a problem with it as I don’t want to buy any agnostic merchandise. Maybe they think if they give us an option to donate we would then feel entitled to ask for a voice in the running of the site. Personally, I’m happy that they are not running a commercial operation, but purely one to facilitate social intercourse between members.

I agree with @Marionville. I think things are great the way they are. I like the purpose of the site and that it’s a “gift” to us. Folks should be able to scour Google for atheist merch. Just today, someone posted a coupe of godless T- shirts she’d ordered.

2

I heard through the grapevine that they sell the membership list to some guy by the name of Louis Cyphre, the Director of HR at J.Milton Inc. What he does with the list, only the devil knows.

I've never been targeted for any ad activity from here so if my info is being shared for marketing purposes,, I'm not seeing that either.

come on @Sgt_Spanky, re-read, expand the mind, and think sarcasm.

"They say there's enough religion in the world to make men hate each other, but not enough to make them love."

Louis Cyphre

"Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven."

J. Milton

I overheard a conversation about the Director... I was sitting at a bar, listening to a beautiful song.. sung by the one and only Johnny Favorite

0

Nope, no idea. I'll keep an eye on this thread though, because I'm curious too.

Let us learn the truth together.

We have our answer.

2

I love it.

0

For what it's worth on a laptop or regular computer go to the learn and you'll see where you can buy a t-shirt I did they are fifteen bucks nicely made I think it was either Guatemala or Honduras. It also gives a good idea of what's going on.

Even that's not necessary. If you hang around long enough to reach level 8, you'll get one for free.

@Sgt_Spanky yeah I know I wanted the t-shirt figured I'd help the cause. 😉

3

There is no business model. The site owners are doing this as a service to us. Isn’t that awesome?

Is that confirmed? If so, that's great. Let's keep it free but I think I'd still try to generate an income with an online store and a button for donations.

@Sgt_Spanky Yes that's a good idea.

@Sgt_Spanky I just found this on the About Us page.

Agnostic is a non-profit organization that doesn’t charge anything for the use of the site nor do we take donations. Our funding comes from private individuals who want to promote a positive image of atheists, agnostics, humanists and other secular views. Read more on our FAQ page.

@Apunzelle AH! That must be it then. 👍

1

I am told that we have a couple of benefactors who pay the bills. If that is true or not I am not sure.

That's a possibility but still speculation unless it can be confirmed.

@Sgt_Spanky I was told it by a couple of 'nines', who had been here a long time and may know more. That's all I got.

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