Poll

What are your thoughts on this matter? Good? Bad? So-so?

Bad. I thought fansubbing was just an enjoyable hobby with no monetary gains? No pan handling required.
3 (25%)
Good. We should give back to our favorite groups! (Although, minor brainwashing and etc may be involved.)
0 (0%)
Neutral. I don't think it's good or bad, and don't really care.
2 (16.7%)
NEVER SHOULD BE DONE. End of story.
0 (0%)
Why are you asking this anyway?
1 (8.3%)
Brown-nosing is cool. I like to get acknowledged.  :D
0 (0%)
Fansubbing is not a non-profit organization like The American Red Cross....
2 (16.7%)
E, none of the above.
4 (33.3%)

Total Members Voted: 12

Author Topic: Donating money to fansub groups....good or bad?  (Read 26472 times)

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Offline tenkenX6

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Donating money to fansub groups....good or bad?
« on: December 10, 2008, 04:56:30 am »
Alright, this is a rather controversial(maybe) topic that may lead to interesting feedback. Plus, I was bored, so I decided to make a random poll thread.  :D Anyway, select a choice and state your reason(s).


Me, personally, I think donating to fansub groups is unnecessary and honestly, dumb. EDIT: Isn't fansubbing an enjoyable hobby that  is done with no monetary gains involved? You work together with others that share similar fansubbing passions as you and produce unique works.. EDIT: You can get free web hosting and etc these days, so the "we need money to maintain the servers and pay for the bandwidth" reason doesn't apply anymore. Sure, if people are donating their private servers/trackers/bandwidth/etc, it can cost some money, but they're doing this knowing and acknowledging the costs of this process. When I see fansub groups getting lots of donations every month, I start to wonder if they're using the money for their own personal gains, i.e. - like how certain politicians do with campaign money. You know, buying things for themselves, whatever it may be. Now, I'm not trying to point fingers at anyone or anything. I just thought I would post my stance on the matter.  :)
« Last Edit: December 14, 2008, 09:10:48 am by tenkenX6 »
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Offline Sindobook

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Re: Donating money to fansub groups....good or bad?
« Reply #1 on: December 10, 2008, 05:21:02 pm »
Why do groups need money?  It doesn't really cost much money, just time, which is volunteered.  Everything else is pretty cheap or free. 

More than several years ago, money used to be a bigger part of fansubbing, from the 'sponsorship' donations fansubbers would ask for to the $10,000.-or-so profit a major fansub 'distro' (VHS or SVHS) like kodocha could make on the side.  But those days are pretty much gone, you have BT, you have free websites, etc. 

Don't get me wrong the pig gets a lot of 'donations' every month, especially carrots, shiny objects, and other 'chewables'.  But he has no use for money, once someone sent him some paper bills and he just chewed them up.

Offline Tofusensei

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Re: Donating money to fansub groups....good or bad?
« Reply #2 on: December 11, 2008, 03:23:19 am »
Only if the group needs something tangible and absolutely cannot afford it. (e.g. DVDs for a particular classic show, etc.) Taking donations to cover "server costs" is unacceptable. I think it's unethical and I wish groups wouldn't do it. (Yes, I'm looking at you, Chihiro)

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Offline tenkenX6

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Re: Donating money to fansub groups....good or bad?
« Reply #3 on: December 11, 2008, 09:06:01 am »
Only if the group needs something tangible and absolutely cannot afford it. (e.g. DVDs for a particular classic show, etc.)

I have no problems with legitimate reasons like this. DVDs for classic series that have really hard to get or non-existant raws are costly. That's if they're still available/in print.


Taking donations to cover "server costs" is unacceptable. I think it's unethical and I wish groups wouldn't do it. (Yes, I'm looking at you, Chihiro)

Yeah, it's the same thing corrupt politicians do with their campaign money. They may say it goes towards "legitimate this or that stuff" or whatever, but we can all probably guess where it really goes.
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Offline Saintevil

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Re: Donating money to fansub groups....good or bad?
« Reply #4 on: December 11, 2008, 11:05:57 pm »
Yeah, it's the same thing corrupt politicians do with their campaign money. They may say it goes towards "legitimate this or that stuff" or whatever, but we can all probably guess where it really goes.

We need beer money :)

Offline tenkenX6

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Re: Donating money to fansub groups....good or bad?
« Reply #5 on: December 13, 2008, 07:37:19 am »
Saintevil: lol, I see. You forgot to post which one of the choices you picked in the poll and the reason(s).  :P  :)
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Offline Vash

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Re: Donating money to fansub groups....good or bad?
« Reply #6 on: December 13, 2008, 03:05:29 pm »
Am sorry does anybody remember the good old days?

Where we didnt have bittorent. People had fservers. It was really rare to have xdcc bots.
We didnt need money then why do we need it now?
So bittorent is out now. Any average person can help seed that.
Paying groups for there xdcc bots is a crime.
I will wait the time to get it off bittorrent then.
The only thing I can see people give money towards is rare dvds that we can make raws from.

Other then that its a slap in the face to the true fansubbers out there.
Vash XD

Offline YaoiBoy

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Re: Donating money to fansub groups....good or bad?
« Reply #7 on: December 13, 2008, 04:15:25 pm »
I think donating is okay as long as there is FULL DISCLOSURE as to how the money is used and ALL DONATIONS are publicly listed. Donations should be used ONLY to pay for hosting services and R2 DVDs.

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Offline emsko

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Re: Donating money to fansub groups....good or bad?
« Reply #8 on: December 14, 2008, 02:47:58 am »
Well, personally I think it's stupid to donate to fansub groups, but if that's what people want to do, let them... It's not my money.

I've never really liked statements like what "fansubs are supposed to be" and the like...  It's really up to the individual fansubber and fansub group and, in this case, the individual fan.  If I don't agree with it, all I can do is provide an alternative example.

Offline tenkenX6

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Re: Donating money to fansub groups....good or bad?
« Reply #9 on: December 14, 2008, 08:58:14 am »
Well, personally I think it's stupid to donate to fansub groups, but if that's what people want to do, let them... It's not my money.

Of course. The people who donate can do as they please. I won't tell them how to spend their money. I may think it's stupid but they may think it's good/cool. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions.  :)

I've never really liked statements like what "fansubs are supposed to be" and the like...  It's really up to the individual fansubber and fansub group and, in this case, the individual fan.  If I don't agree with it, all I can do is provide an alternative example.

Hmm....maybe my statement came across wrong. I didn't use the "fansubs are supposed to be" part to make it sound like a set in stone rule or anything. I was just merely trying to show my firm stance on the matter. I will do some more editing to fix my poor wording and etc.  :-X
« Last Edit: December 14, 2008, 09:14:16 am by tenkenX6 »
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Offline emsko

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Re: Donating money to fansub groups....good or bad?
« Reply #10 on: December 14, 2008, 09:16:53 am »
No worries.  I wasn't meaning to be critical of anyone in particular, but I realize it came out that way...

Offline tenkenX6

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Re: Donating money to fansub groups....good or bad?
« Reply #11 on: December 14, 2008, 09:24:54 am »
I actually don't think you were being critical. It's just another way of looking at the same matter. Besides, I was probably being a bit too critical myself, when I posted my stance at the start of this thread.
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Offline bastard-sama

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Re: Donating money to fansub groups....good or bad?
« Reply #12 on: December 14, 2008, 09:33:56 am »
You mean we aren't talking about my alcohol fund?
« Last Edit: December 14, 2008, 09:52:45 am by bastard-sama »
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Offline emsko

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Re: Donating money to fansub groups....good or bad?
« Reply #13 on: December 14, 2008, 09:35:34 am »
Yeah, that's why I waited a few days before replying to this thread.  It didn't really change much, though...

Offline tenkenX6

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Re: Donating money to fansub groups....good or bad?
« Reply #14 on: December 14, 2008, 09:36:19 am »
You mean we aren't talking about my beer fund?

Well, you can talk about your beer fund if you want bast.  :D But it will also be appreciated if you state your opinions on the thread's topic, too.  ;)
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Offline mamochan

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Re: Donating money to fansub groups....good or bad?
« Reply #15 on: December 14, 2008, 10:00:14 am »
What does your alcohol fund have to do with donating to fansubs? *kicks bastard to rizon* Stay on topic :P

Also, people who donate to fansub groups are douchebags. That is all :D
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Offline Saintevil

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Re: Donating money to fansub groups....good or bad?
« Reply #16 on: December 17, 2008, 01:21:28 am »
Saintevil: lol, I see. You forgot to post which one of the choices you picked in the poll and the reason(s).  :P  :)

I'm not really for or against it, so I voted "Neutral. I don't think it's good or bad, and don't really care."

I do it for fun, the experience of doing something I wanted to try, and because I like anime. If other people need to add a monitary value to it, then maybe they are doing it for the wrong reasons.

Offline bossyman15

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Re: Donating money to fansub groups....good or bad?
« Reply #17 on: January 10, 2009, 06:43:15 am »
E, none of the above.

E? Should it be G? Everybody knows it should be G.

Offline tenkenX6

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Re: Donating money to fansub groups....good or bad?
« Reply #18 on: January 10, 2009, 10:11:29 am »
E, none of the above.

E? Should it be G? Everybody knows it should be G.

Actually, in this case, "E" is correct. I was trying to make it sound/look like a multiple choice quiz/test option.  :)
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Offline DesertSkorpion

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Re: Donating money to fansub groups....good or bad?
« Reply #19 on: January 12, 2009, 01:25:23 am »
E, none of the above.

E? Should it be G? Everybody knows it should be G.

Actually I counted it out as H
I voted that fan subs are not non profits like the red cross. Here's my line of thought:
If the fan sub is a very popular one and wants high quality customer service and large bandwidth to offer the best downloads, it would be better for them to use a dedicated server system then the freebie online websites. Those are great for something small time or blogish. However freebie websites are not large enough, nor do they have the bandwidth necessary, to offer a good customer relationship and experience.
Secondly this very forum is another good example. I'm not aware, someone can point me to one if they exist, of a freebie website that offers you the ability to have a decent forum system like the one created by Simple Machines LLC. So in order to have a good sized, decent forum where the fans and the subbers can come together you need to have a server setup somewhere. Unfortunately not every fan sub group gets a dedicated server, the ISP connection, and the bandwidth donated to them. These things cost money. Granted, for the most part, they are still pretty cheap each month.
Thirdly there are equipment costs. For example one of the fan sub groups I am a member of bought a brand new server last year. They do have the bandwidth and ISP connection donated true, but without donations of hard cash there would be no more group. The server they had previously was also donated and the person donating its use pulled the plug (so to speak).
Fourthly a decent and honest fan sub group that finds itself needing to ask for donations will not make a request for huge cash cows every month. They might figure out what the exact costs are and ask for that amount only, they might have bandwidth and ISP donated and therefore only ask for small donations to guarantee they have money in an emergency to replace equipment.
In short there are a number of reasons they need access to at least some cash monthly. If a fan sub group ever said I had to pay to get the sub then it wouldn't be a donation, (left to me to decide if I want to give them anything and/or how much) and therefore not in the same league. I wouldn't even do business with those individuals. Instead I would find someone like Live-evil or Static Subs where I have to say the quality of work speaks for itself and makes it worth my time to consider donations now and then.
Unfortunately at this time I am dead ass poor-boy broke so I can not offer donations, only my appreciation and thanks for a well done job

Offline Prince

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Re: Donating money to fansub groups....good or bad?
« Reply #20 on: January 12, 2009, 03:41:53 am »
personally i don't disagree with donating however i do think regular monthly/etc donations aren't quite right.
by the way the more i look at your poll the more biased i realise it is: the only options supporting it say something questionable about either the person or the group. imagine one where the person wanted to help their favourite anime but couldn't/didn't know how/was too lazy/there was no localisation (as we know many groups like L-E only sub for) etc. Imagine, as a seperate option even, that the group gave donation money to charity or put towards the anime's creators/etc e.g. by buying more of the DVDs or merchandise and whatnot. the DVDs could, perhaps, be donated to some worthy cause, or perhaps brought to some western country such as America/England and sold for almost exactly the same price with smart conversion...
which brings me conveniently onto my next point, as much as i would love to see a financial summary, or perhaps even proper accounts, for the group's donations and expenditures with said donations... do you realise how unrealistic this is? don't forget that a fansub group is practically a meta-group, an internet group with rare few people living together let alone meeting up and sharing tools/'group equipment' like say if you were a school club.
lastly...oh i don't even remember what else i had to say i got distracted, good day

Offline tenkenX6

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Re: Donating money to fansub groups....good or bad?
« Reply #21 on: January 12, 2009, 05:21:43 am »
@DesertSkorpion:  Yeah, it would be "H" if it was an official multiple choice test at school. However, I just used "E" because I'm just random like that.  ;) 


@Prince:  Well, I didn't mean the poll to be biased or offending in any way or form. I'm sorry if you read into the choices that way and were offended in any way. I just created those choices very randomly and pure out of good nature. If you were to talk to me long enough in real life, IRC, or on an instant messaging program, you would fully understand why I chose to type out things randomly like I do. I know it may sound/seem dumb but that's just how I am.  ;D Anyway, sorry again if I came across the wrong way.
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Offline Prince

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Re: Donating money to fansub groups....good or bad?
« Reply #22 on: January 12, 2009, 05:32:32 am »
it's cool, it didn't. but i read through the options, read through the topic, came back to think about what my opinion is and realised there wasn't one. just kinda pointing it out not getting upset no worries. who would get upset anyway it's just a random poll the real meat is in the topic always has been