Good morning everyone. I'd like to start off by saying thank you to all of those who support this site. You've created a community here, a family that I enjoy interacting with.

The reason I'm posting this is because I have been taking some heat in terms of accusations of the site being owned by sponsors etc. We've also taken some heat ref. allegations of bias etc. It's interesting though because it seems that those making the allegations really have no idea of what's happening behind the scenes with this website.

Let me state for the record that having site sponsors is part of the business of keeping this site alive. For those who think that this site is influenced by sponsors, well of course it is! It's influenced by users, sponsors, moderators and administrators! Why wouldn't it be? All of these people have a say in what the site is going to look like.

For those of you who don't know, I spend approximately 6 to 8 hours a day working on this site, trying to make it better for you, and trying to keep it clean and informative. The moderators work very hard as well, and they should be applauded. They're on here all the time trying to make things better for you. They volunteer to do stickers, shirts, run the chapters etc. They work their tails off.

Look at all the chapters. I didn't do any of that. I didn't have the time. That was done by a group of people dedicated to see this site, and our community grow. I applaud them for their efforts. They did a lot of work in a very short amount of time, and they did it right the first time.

To give you quick idea, I have had to fork over more than a few thousand dollars of my own money to do some of the following things:

Pay for servers (twice)
Pay for software (not cheap)
Pay for colocation (definately not cheap)
Pay for bandwidth (even more expensive)
Pay for upgrades, additional hardware etc. (not bad)

I hope you're starting to get the picture here. For those of you who think it's such a sinful or bad thing that I allow sponsors to place ads here and write a few articles, how else do you think I'm going to pay for those things, more out of my own pocket? Do you think donations will cover it? No way. I've been very appreciative of donations and it does help, but it doesn't even come close to reaching the overall expense of keeping this place alive. The sponsors help me achieve that, and in return, they get banners and they get the chance to write some articles. Is that such a bad thing? Is it a bad thing that you guys get to keep coming to the site, while looking at some banners and some decent articles?

I don't think that it's a bad tradeoff at all. I mean come on, there is one top banner and one side banner on the front page. This site has one of the smallest amounts of ads on it that I've seen. Not only that, the articles are informative and interesting. At least I think so anyway. What's so bad about that?

Again, for those of you who think I'm owned by sponsors and who think it's such a horrible thing to do this, then I invite to build a site like this, then come back to me in 12 months. Huge odds against you being able to do it without sponsors, unless you're rich. I am not, so I had to do it the hard way, and I'm glad I did because we have good sponsors and good articles to boot. As a matter of fact, I would rather have it this way because it allows us to reach information that would otherwise be unavailable. Now is having sponsors such a bad thing?

Remember guys, without them, there would be no site for the naysayers to complain about, and there would be no site for us to enjoy while building lasting friendships. What would you rather have, a site with good sponsors and good articles, or no site at all? Common sense must prevail here. This is life. Life takes money.

Have a good morning everyone, and please enjoy the site that not only you have provided, but the site that our sponsors and those who donate their time and money have provided. Lets have fun, that's what it's all about. That's why the sites exists in the first place.

 

Thanks goes out to you Jack for having (as far as I am concerned ) the best site around. Appreciate it very much. I like to see the sponser add and links, gives me a place to price the things I dont need <br><br>One favor.....no pop ups please!!!

 

8) You are appreciated greatly, Jack. 8)

Your site was critical in helping me order and outfit my new truck. So much good info is available here from real-world experts I could not find elsewhere.

My hat is tipped to all who contribute to this site - Jack, the Moderators, and the members who take the time to make it all work.

{rant on} I continue to be appalled at whiners who come on a free site that's hosted by generous people like Jack - then they complain 'cause they don't like something. Give me a friccken' break! Let them pony up the bucks to run their own website if it's that important to 'em! I'm not saying we should not give Jack and the others appropriate constructive advice. This ain't a democracy yet Jack and his crew (all volunteers) go out of their way to make people welcome and meet their needs. {rant off}

Keep up the good work.

Best to y'all
Bill

 

Thank you, Jack. <br><br>I've found throughout my later life that those two words, &quot;Thank You&quot;, don't seem to show the true gratitude I feel so many times, but those are the only words we have. <br><br>For all your very hard work, along with all of the moderators, from the so very many of us who really enjoy this site:<br><br>[b][glow=red, 2, 300]THANK YOU!!!![/[/glow]b] ;D ;D

 

Now just hold on a second here ....... Let me make sure I have this straight. Are you trying to tell me that it costs money for computers, bandwidth, time and so on??? <br>AND that it takes copious amounts of time to maintain a site of this caliber?? <br>Gosh, here I figured that everything in life was free for the taking : <br><br>Seriously though Jack (and everybody else for that matter!) I would wager that nobody out there could do nearly as good a job as what you and your team have done here. If it wasn't for this site most of us (well okay, me anyways) wouldn't be as enlightened about our trucks as we are. My hats of to ya and if anybody feels that they can do beter ... I say good luck - they'll need it and a wad of cash ... or sponsors.<br><br>There I'm gonna crawl back into the mine shaft and mind my own business and get some work done. <br><br>THANKS JACK ;D

 

As usual A Vocal MINORITY stirs up the poop pot. <br>We Support you 100% Jack Great Job. <br>o&gt;<br><br>And to those who stir the Poop If you dont like it here. Dont let the door hit ya where the good Lord Split Ya.

 

Thanks for everything Jack!

Tony

 

Hat off to Jack and the administrative crew over here!<br>I found the articles written by the sponsors very interesting. I know I am grown up and if a vendor writes an article about his product I'll take it with a grain of salt. ( Smoking is good for your health- Dr. Marlboro) ;D<br>The amount of adverising on this site is amazingly low. Look at some of the other sites (not only diesel related) and enter your e-mail there. ... <br><br>AlpineRAM

 

I recall getting shutdown for asking where the money goes on one of the other sites. I asked as paying members what money goes where and who is putting in the money besides the annual subscription. I got an email not to ask that anymore. Here, Jack offers what he can to give us an idea of what goes on.

DC kicks $ to that site and theres a lot of other $ if you do the math.

Here theres a fraction of that and it runs pretty darn good.

Jack, would you be opposed to having some true investment from registered members or vendors on a donation basis? No is my guess and that is why you asked on the site.

Now folks, do not go and take this the wrong way but for this to be a free site it needs either labor and/or money to keep the wheels turning.

For me instead of saying thank-you, I am going to show my gratitude by doing whatever I can. That is my choice. So, we are kicking in some product and Jack can do what he thinks is the best thing to do with it.

I know where some of the pot stirring and accusations are coming from and I think that that energy would be better spent contributing or moving on. hint hint to those.

There would be no sponsors if the vendors did not see a benefit. There would be no site if there was no benefit for folks on the boards. So whats Jacks' $ gain from doing this?
Nothing much I am sure. His dedication is amazing. The other folks that have contributed with time and money are also helping to make this site grow and become one of the main sites for some fun and knowledge.

I think I might send Jack a George Foreman Grill and I know a certain rancher here that could ship some steaks so the man can eat.

I was going to get on my soap box but I cannot find it...Darn sheep. :'(

 

I would like to say Thanks to all the people behind the scenes. I cant believe any one would be stupid enough to think a site of this caliber could be ran with out big money and alot of time. As for the advertisements, Alot of stuff you are looking for if you dont see a advertisement you dont know its available. Any ranting and raving I've done on this site I hope everyone knows is for the good of DTR because I enjoy this site more than the morning paper. Again KUDOS to all ivolved and let's continue to build the best source of diesel knowledge on the web ;D

 

Hats Off to JACK and All The People behind the scenes That Make This A Greaaaaaat Site . I enjoy your site a I will be a NEW diesel owner and Appriciate ALL The Help I Have Rec'd From this site as with help ordering my new truck and future inquires I will have once I receive my baby.<br> Keep up the good work to All<br> THANKS TO ALL

 

Jack, I can't thank you enough for opening this site. The articles are very informative and the people that write the articles are nice folks also. I have an idea on what it takes to start and maintain a site like this (did a research project on it for Economy) and without sponsors, it is very hard to run. Thanks again Jack.

 

My hats off to you Jack, and a sincere THANK YOU to you, Jack, and to all the Moderators that make this site my &quot;Home on the net&quot;.<br>You (and all the moderators) have my deepest respect and appreciation for a great site that is ran effeciently and effectively. <br><br>Thanks to Jack and every Moderator!<br><br>Rich

 

First off who would complain about sponsers, They are the ones that allow our backsides to get on here for free.and who would gripe if the owner gets a free product, If i put in all the work jack has i would get all i could. Geez some people will gripe about anything. The administration here is doing a marvelous job, This is the best site on the internet, Jack please don't let a few people make you think that we all feel that way. It just riles me up when people complain about things that keep the site going. Thank you for the hard work you and all the moderators have put in to the site, I for one really appreciate it.