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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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May 14, 2019 - 08:08pm PT
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As Russ has pointed out it is not expensive to run something on the scale of ST, nor is it technically difficult. A PHP forum has a short learning curve and requires no programming skill. Check out http://www.widefetish.com to see how slick it is with little work to set it up. There are lots of bells and whistle that can slick it out. It would not be smart to try to keep ST going in its present form. Archive it and start a PHP forum. The good content can be moved over from the archive.
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Fritz
Social climber
Choss Creek, ID
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May 14, 2019 - 08:12pm PT
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Per the last link by Sawdust in his above post, the current internet web-site worth of Supertopo is $41,354.00.
My only experience in selling a business was selling my two outdoor stores in Moscow Idaho & Pullman Washington in 1983 for the net worth of paid for & owned merchandise & the depreciated value of store fixtures. The store buildings were rented & the leases were also a liability.
I had built the net worth of the business up to a conservative $650,000 in the previous 10 years, but as my lawyer pointed out, it had been bleeding money for the previous two years due to new local competition, the 1980's recession, & my in-vain attempts to promote & advertise the stores.
Good will counted for nothing on my business with a two-year record of losing money.
I would be curious what the net depreciated value of Supertopo office equipment --- computers, routers, etc is valued, on their latest tax-return.
That is a high-point for value, with a pending lawsuit & a long-term record of unprofitability.
But, I would also be happy to donate substantially, if management changes & my thousands of deleted photos come back.
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L
climber
Just livin' the dream
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May 14, 2019 - 08:18pm PT
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Like so many others have said, I would dearly miss SuperTopo if it just went away.
I don’t post that much anymore (mainly because my life is so full at this time), but I do like to check in every other day or so just to keep up with what’s going on in the wild world of climbing, climbers and cats.
I love the variety of perspectives, the trip reports, the birthday celebrations, the humor, even the memorials—which sometimes break my heart—but I love everything about this place. It’s a community of vastly interesting and individuated people sharing what is important to them, and there’s an irreplaceable richness to those slice-of-life posts that I’ve never seen anywhere else.
That Chris has been running this site for 18 years is enough to grant him sainthood in my book. That he’s been doing it without making any sort of profit from it elevates him into the realm of a deity. It truly had to have been a labor of love, because I don’t know anyone else who would’ve put up with the BS.
There are obviously many reasons why shutting down the SuperTopo forum would make life easier for Chris and his crew…but…truthfully…I hope the powers that be can figure out a way to keep this campfire going. It’s a rare and sacred place, this Forum, and its loss would be a great tragedy.
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jogill
climber
Colorado
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May 14, 2019 - 09:05pm PT
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Here's my suggestion. The American Alpine Club likes to dole out $$$ to youngsters to scamper in the hills. The AAC could introduce on their website a Campfire Forum for older climbers, like those on ST, and fund it through contributions and fees. A service to the climbing community.
Not holding my breath.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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May 14, 2019 - 09:14pm PT
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That is a great idea Mr. Gill.
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JLP
Social climber
The internet
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May 14, 2019 - 09:22pm PT
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Ideas are good - but IMO AAC or similar would make this place [snip] and everyone would leave.
This site appears highly custom, I wouldn’t under estimate the complexity. If you don’t see that and you think it would be easy, you don’t know much, especially to suggest you could just convert it to another platform - because that would be insane.
IMO - site gets transferred as-is - rebranded a bit - and moved to an offshore server - under a shell of ownership - and any f*#king thing anyone want to say or post gets posted - within reason. Think Degnan’s and everyone has had a 6 pack. That’s what has made this forum what it is IMO.
The only moderating that needs to be done, IMO, is to dispatch truly abusive users, and possibly add daily posting limits as mp.com has done - to prevent a user from dominating or excess bickering.
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Ksolem
Trad climber
Monrovia, California
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May 14, 2019 - 09:23pm PT
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The AAC could introduce on their website a Campfire Forum for older climbers, like those on ST, and fund it through contributions and fees. A service to the climbing community.
Yes, and include access to an archive of all the great stuff that is here.
Continuity.
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Winemaker
Sport climber
Yakima, WA
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May 14, 2019 - 09:25pm PT
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These are all good ideas, but unless Chris is willing to discuss the possibilities then there is no point; I haven't seen any indication that Chris is interested in any sort of buy out or whatever. I think all of this is pissing into the wind unless ST shows some interest. And I ain't seen that.
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sawdust
climber
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May 15, 2019 - 10:05am PT
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Hopefully Chris will continue to run the forum for a long time, but if it ever does get to the point where he feels he must divest himself of it, I imagine he would rather see it go to a good home than die altogether. I wish he would discuss it with us, but as far as I can tell he doesn't actually read the posts here.
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monolith
climber
state of being
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May 15, 2019 - 10:08am PT
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The UI is custom, but I bet the backend has an off the shelf database.
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Hardman Knott
Gym climber
Mill Valley, Ca
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May 15, 2019 - 10:53am PT
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Think Degnan’s and everyone has had a 6 pack.
Ha I first read this as: "and everyone had a six pack" (think abs).
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johntp
Trad climber
Punter, Little Rock
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May 15, 2019 - 12:55pm PT
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Does anyone here have the slightest idea what the financial metrics are for ST?
No clue. Doubt it has salable value as posited above. As I've written before, I participate on a backpacking forum that is member supported with no ads. Members moderate and fund the forum. Can't see why it would not work here.
http://bpbasecamp.freeforums.net/
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dhayan
climber
culver city, ca
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May 15, 2019 - 12:58pm PT
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I am super thankful to have had supertopo to read, learn, and entertain throughout the years - I’m always amazed by the incredible historical accounts straight from the sources. I never participated much other than by getting castigated by some of my heroes now and then but have a ton of respect for all the climbing community represented here and appreciate CMac for creating this resource, even if it’s time has come.
Dhayan
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Bobbleseth
Trad climber
Utah
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May 15, 2019 - 02:09pm PT
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Many that are here, or that left or were booted, are over on FaceBook...
The communication continues, but in a more controlled setting (You're pretty much your own "Hall monitor"...
And there is always Mt Project, which unlike ST, still allows (Or tolerates) photo's and video clips off the internet...
Those that remain here in hopes of it becoming something similar to what it was???...
Time will tell...
But my guess is, this place is TOAST...
For BURCHEY edit: LOL!!!...
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Rankin
Social climber
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
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May 15, 2019 - 02:43pm PT
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Hey Chris I don't know how you've done it this long. You're a prince. Whatever happens I thank you for the forum. -Neil
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seano
Mountain climber
none
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May 15, 2019 - 03:36pm PT
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The AAC could introduce on their website a Campfire Forum for older climbers, like those on ST, and fund it through contributions and fees. A service to the climbing community. You might try getting in touch with the AAC librarians in Golden. In my dealings with them, both online and in person, they have always been extremely helpful, and dedicated to their job of preserving and sharing climbing lore. As that lore moves online, it ironically becomes more fragile: bits don't decay like books, but sites implode, are ignored, are "sunset" after being bought by Google, etc.
Now if Internet Archive were allowed to crawl this site...
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couchmaster
climber
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May 15, 2019 - 03:39pm PT
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2 things.
1st) Thank you Chris and RJ.
2nd) Forgot the 2nd thing. Lets just stick with #1 then for now.
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johntp
Trad climber
Punter, Little Rock
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May 15, 2019 - 05:06pm PT
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But my guess is, this place is TOAST...
I think it could still survive. Not savvy enough to know how. The support is here. I've been connected with many people via this forum. No problem throwing some $$$ to keep the magic alive.
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
Terence Wilson greeneck alleghenys,ny,
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May 15, 2019 - 05:15pm PT
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True.
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Fritz
Social climber
Choss Creek, ID
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May 15, 2019 - 08:43pm PT
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Jim? Per your post?
I have some bitterness about what happened to my thousands of photos during the current ST management panic about their getting sued for hosting copyrighted photos.
You have some problems too.
What does your advice mean? Other than whitie doesn't hear well?
Go ask your local first nations people to help you with your problem in being understood, regarding your big mouth.
What more do you want ?
After the Sioux killed General Custer at the Battle of The Little Big Horn, the Sioux women worked his ears with awls so he might hear better in his next life?
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