Edit:
I'm simply blown away with you goats. I was expecting a somber farewell in this thread but instead you've done the exact opposite; pulled off a rally at the bottom of the 9th. On a personal note, and this may seem sentimental, but you have given me a new hope for Voat at very dark time for me.
All I can say now is: Let's do this! I think your message is clear. We have a ton of work to do, a short window in which to do it, and I fully understand I can't do it alone. We will need all hands on deck if Voat is to have any chance at survival.
I will post the plans I have for Voat as well as a status update on your contributions by Monday.
P.S. Old goats, be nice to the new kids. ;)
Original Post
As I sit here about to write one of the most difficult announcements yet, I was just reminded that my account is one month shy of three years old. Nearly three years ago I came here from Reddit when the vote counts disappeared and I felt I could no longer trust what I saw. Nearly three years ago I met @Atko and started contributing code because I believed in him, his mission, and what he was doing. So much has happened during these last three years.
I know a lot of you are new, but Voat has been through a wild ride, and never at any point was it an easy one. My memories are bittersweet when it comes to Voat. I’ve sacrificed the best years of my life for Voat, I’ve lost my business partner whom I miss a lot, I’ve lost people in my life, I’ve given up golf which was my passion, and even with all this I still believe in Voat. I still see the dire need for Free Speech in this world, I fear a world without it, and I still will do anything I can to continue providing it.
But alas, I am powerless to keep Voat running without financial support. As of right now Voat has no solid commitments. Voat has always needed a financial partner whom had balls of steel and backing deep enough to give Voat the capabilities to run as an actual business (being able to hire staff and set itself apart from its competitors), not just a one man show. Potential investors have one or the other of these traits, but we have yet to find one with both. In this day and age, this is Voat’s unicorn.
In the past Voat has been lucky enough to be part of special programs designed for startup companies which gave us free licensing on various products and significantly reduced hosting costs. These programs have since expired and we are now paying full costs. Last month was our first non-discounted month on Azure and the usage was $6,600.90 USD. Donations, ads, and merchandise only put a dent in this and this is the primary reason why we have not launched another merchandise run. And begging for donations was always something we hated doing.
I’m writing this announcement to prepare this community, and the Voat family, for the possibility of a closure. I’m not certain on timing and I have too much invested in this place to give up just yet, so I cannot provide any timelines. In the meantime, I will soon be scaling back all Voat’s servers by at least 50%. I will also turn off some features that are resource intensive.
Voat needs funding. Without it, Voat will be no more.
Voat needs an Angel
Canary
https://voat.co/v/announcements/1330806
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NeedleStack ago
Closure? WTF? Why not tell us sooner so we could pull together for a huge donation drive? Anyway, what's done is done.
Prepare for donations but please don't let it slip like this again.
Be transparent and regularly let us know what reserves you have and what you need to keep running.
Edit: Please email me regarding the crochet goat auction. We need to lock down logistics.
Rotteuxx ago
Hell, get me a .DWG of the logo and I'll have laser cut stainless steel keychains & scaled statuettes for sale, 100% profit to Voat.
@Puttitout :)
Gunfreak ago
Think you could laser cut me a stainless steel front license plate?
Rotteuxx ago
Anything is possible rly... although I don’t really want to do business through Voat nor doxx myself by doing business with new Voaters outside of Voat.
Fuck__Reddit ago
I'd buy 2 or 3.
MagaTron ago
Maybe I can make one, what do you need like a 3D model?
Rotteuxx ago
Thx for the offer, I've been working on it with /u/hell since yesterday and pricing is started too.
I'll keep it in mind though.
z_impaler ago
Could I suggest doing same logo (just maybe a little larger) and putting an adhesive back on it so it could go on my vehicle??
Rotteuxx ago
Love the idea !
Deathstalker ago
I can do this. I can make .dwg or .dxf
Phivex ago
Another sell right here.
autexousious ago
made a quick dwg for you. Not sure what kind of topology you're looking for, can change it if needed. Not sure what this file sharing site is, but it says this should be available for 30 days, until i reupload it. https://ufile.io/jknvh
Rotteuxx ago
@Hell was gonna give it a go, whoever has the most free time go ahead & have fun.
As for the drawing (me no cad draw), it needs a frame & stencil like bars for the "o", basically a 2d dwg of a plate with cut out letters & hole for keyring (protruding in a lobe maybe or on corner ?).
I was thinking the goats head or whole goat maybe as a desk trinket, could be sweet.
autexousious ago
Ah, I'm sorry, my mind's been stuck on 3d printing. I'm not familiar with the requirements you're talking about, will look into it tomorrow if I have time.
AliveInTheFuture ago
Who would want to be identified as a bigot in public? A MAGA hat would go nicely with the keychains.
Rotteuxx ago
A bigot ? I though we were Nazis...
Brain activating
"NiggerFaggot" keychains !
HarveyHarveyJones ago
Sign me up. Keychains all the way!
9141747? ago
...................Ahem. Dildoes? Asking for @Trigglypuff.
Rotteuxx ago
Now this is something to look into !
Heck, why not a modular design you can assemble/modify to fit your mood. The R&D could be... intensive ,)
Cyclops winky is copyrighted fyi
guinness2 ago
Sometimes I get so angry that I can't see... so your modular design needed accommodate that mood.
9142308? ago
Ha, but is for Triggles. (: what's r&d?
(,
Rotteuxx ago
The most important part, research & development •)
artfullyours ago
I'd love a keychain!
scrimmmy ago
I may have materials to donate. I might be mistaken, but I think I have some 321 left over.
scrimmmy ago
Ill take one.
Rotteuxx ago
Thank you for choosing the Order by comment option.
You order for :
has been received. Please make payment within 24hrs for processing to go through in a timely fashion.
Regards,
The /v/welding staff.
scrimmmy ago
Best customer service ever.
digitalentity1497 ago
You already sold one!
Rotteuxx ago
A life sized stainless steel VoatGoat ?
Sweet, couldn't wait for someone to finance that !
digitalentity1497 ago
I meant the key chain....lol
Hell ago
I'm on it boss.
Rotteuxx ago
Sweet, I could do pricing within a few hours of getting that :)
SeanBox ago
Read his username and then re-read your last comment.
Rotteuxx ago
Kek
Hell ago
But seriously, I worked it AutoCAD for about 12 years so I can whip something up.
Edit: Anyone got a good link to the logo? Could probably do the goat, too.
Rotteuxx ago
Check the links at the bottom of the page, I think it might be in there
Hell ago
Cheers, I'll check it out.
OzarkMountainMan ago
An auction of a stainless guitar? You did that.
Deplorable_Me ago
Stainless Guitar? Gimme that!
Rotteuxx ago
https://imgtc.com/a/eQsSQgkWxW
http://m.imgur.com/a/WFa4t
I have 2 more albums but they were on sli.mg, I'll repost them at some point... one of those is a 12 string
8non ago
Managed to get a copy via clipconverter - http://www.clipconverter.cc/download/u4V0K3TV/0/
Sounds nice though I mainly play an electric (MX HSS Strat).
Rotteuxx ago
Thx ! Most people expect a Dobro sound or something like a tin can with strings. I always enjoy peoples reaction when they play on one.
Lemongarb ago
How does it sound? Is there a way I can hear it?
Rotteuxx ago
There's a link to a short video in the first album, last line of the album description. Just an open string strum, I ain't good enough a player to record myself & post it.
Deplorable_Me ago
From deep in Godin country. I am humbled by your talent and skill sir.
Rotteuxx ago
I appreciate your kind words, thank you
Rotteuxx ago
Yes, that is a definite possibility !
Pretty sure I have all the materials on hand except for a few trinkets.