One of the benefits of being a forum admin
 

So, I run four communities of various size, all out of my own pocket and without advertising etc.

There was a knock on my door on Wednesday. A package arrived from the colonies containing something that looks rather like this. (That's about a Meg in size for those on dialup).

That's from members of two of the forums I run. Nice to be appreciated.

Rapscallion

Lucky you!
some receive death threats, booby-traps, pictures of their grandmas & pets kidnapped, etc...

Keep on the track ;)

Pretty awesome thing to get.

I usually get some free stuff sent my way to, or sometimes people will give me their premium memberships for free just for helping out or whatever :D

Wow, my members just keep nagging.

To me, one of the major benefits of running a forum is making new friends. Since my forum is local, I have actually met most of the members. Quiet a few of them have known me for almost a decade. LOL

Like this is my new Friend ;) https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/

Heh - I have to travel to Canadalandialand for my meetings... I have a nasty habit of failing to learn to ski.

Rapscallion

I think when you have a successfull community. The starting off is the hardest bit, hence the reason many admins fail and just give up. If you stick in there, and be patient -- then that its self is rewarding. Although it's a lot more expensive :p

Yep, my first forum took 3 years to gain 100 members and 10,000 posts. But, we're now the 2nd most popular forum in our niche. My second forum, which I started in late Feb, took less than 2 months to get there. It's pretty depressing when you have an empty forum, tried everything, and still nothing comes to fruition. I've been there, it's not a good feeling.

I know how you feel i waited a long time to get where i am 6 months 40 members to visit and come online in aday . Then i see this new forum of the same genre start and have 60 i wanted to give up.