I think everyone is missing one important point. I don't care who gets the memberships I donate (i.e. that's why I do it in tournaments) because the money goes to the site. That's what it boils down to is helping out the site.

Please, whether you are for or against this program posting about it here is doing no more then covering it up and the very reason I reposted.
I answered quesions about this at the debate club yesterday and will do it again today if anyone has any. You can also send me a pm with questions although I would rather do it at the debate club to avoid answering over & over. If you are not a member of the debate club and want to learn more about this program request an invitation to the debate club..Thanks.

I personally prefer to "get to know" the person I'm thinking of sponsoring..
I think the program is a great idea, but use it in conjuction with your own good judgement too..

I agree with Lythande here... anyone can bluff its way into getting sponsored.
I bought a membership for my co-worker as a xmas present, perhaps an idea in that way...

A.

I think LindaJ's program (whether original or not) is a very nice gesture. It can also help those who, though they cannot afford to sponsor a pawn on their own, could donate smaller amounts to the cause. I only have one question: How will the 'not be able to afford it' be determined? If it works anything like public assistance, pass!

i think i would just prefer to pay someones membership ,rather than go through boost a pawn programme

1) Having a computer connected to a phone line through an ISP doesn't necessarily mean you 'can afford it'.

2) Just because you can manage to struggle through #1 most definitely does *not* infer you can afford more.

There is a program here at brainking where a needy pawn can get an upgrade to member status for 6 months free of charge.
Pawns must play here regularly. Be at or near their game limit and cannot afford to pay for membership. If you are a pawn or know of a pawn that fits into this category please message me for more information to be considered into this program. Membership is for 6 months only.

Please only those that qualify should apply.Thanks.

I'm not sure if it was BK problems all together, seemed more like DoS attack on one of the providers in Europe since i've got 11-12 hops to www.brainking.com last night I had 20+ then the timeoutes came...

I lost BK access all together last night :o(

i'm on web and have had no problems at any site. i hope it stays that way.

no problems here...must be my clean living ;) hehehe

Yea, I've had trouble also on a few different sites that I go to.

I would not be surprised to hear in the next day or so about either some major internet "attack/hack", or some major problems at one of the main internet routing points.

Did anyone else notice that Chatty made 1169 moves yesterday!!! dang girl, is your TV broken :)

Still haven't found any cookies in my pc.. lol

Anyway.. I had problems with any other site i wanted to go and my pc went really slow.....

I was having network problems here.

Ive been trying to get on here for the last 3 & a half hours! A couple of other sites seem to be playing up aswell.......weird!?

well so far so good... i cleared my internet cache and cookies... seems to be working so far :o)

i re-started my pc too!!!!! guess its something different?!!!

Chatty :-) I had the same problem!! Couldn't open a compose page from my mailprovider and restarted my pc..

same here .... but i thought it was my isp.. as i couldnt access my mail either!!!

eek i'm having problems now with pages not fully loading and getting the can't find server page

errr what the He** is going on??? I'm getting all kinds of strange things happening, I can even see hal of this page.

new.brainking is the same as brainking now...

I had troubles too...

same here, half loaded pages, and server access errors .. seems to be ok right now though :)
*edit* seems I may have spoken too soon ! ;-D

For about half an hour I had serious problems getting in the side.. even when using new.brainking.com.. I can not even remember anymore when i had those problems! LOL Suddenly everything seems fine again... hope it stayes that way :-)

I sent you a message with the code, unbeatableking

can someone tell me hoe to do the HTML (ex. a href thing) please?

Sounds like sour grapes to me, Noholds...Especially frome someone with a Nic like yours.(As the term No Holds Barred, means that anything goes) You say that you will never tell someone how to spend their money, yet "suggest" That they could find better causes for their money??? If that is your logic, I would suggest that no matter how anyone spends their money, there could always be a better use for it!
Sorry, as a non paying member, I am not allowed to post in the Debate forum...

If you have any questions,concerns or problems with this (pawns membership) idea I will be glad to discuss it with you at length at the debate club rather then clog this board.

PS...I wasn't being condesending about the idea of you starting up a Fellowship. I think you have a big heart, and I would be the first to join.

Case histories of which we are aware;-
Fake Id's getting sponsored...
People saying they would rather buy a DVD...
I am not a bleeding heart liberal and as so rightly pointed out this is a games site. It is not something that is vital to the survival of the individual.
I do not, nor ever will, tell people how to spend their money or comport themselves (except within the bounds of social acceptability).
A public statement was made that memberships would be subscribed for. However worthy an idea given what is available for free I would suggest that individuals could find better causes for the money.

This is a GAME Site.
It is for the playing of GAMES!
When I first found BK, I couldn't afford the membership, which is why I was so glad it was free for pawns to play.
Later I did buy a membership, but if someone had offered to sponser me a Rook membership, I would have been thrilled. And I would be the first to Pay it Foreward when I could.
Possibly you could start a fellowship to help out others in the world, if not by people donating money, then at least to raise the level of consciousness to the plight of others in the world.

MM, its Linda's fellowship, therefore down to her who is allowed.
Steve, why am I 'stirring'? I didn't start the club, I didn't announce it. I'm just asking that you give LINDA a chance to develop HER idea. In what possible way is this 'stirring'?

Charity....
True charity is discreet and needs no publicity...
It is the lending of a helping hand to those in need...
BK is not a necessity of life... Surely the funds could be put to better use where lives could be saved...
Given recent experience .. does anybody believe it will not be abused?
Those who cannot afford the luxury of paid membership already get the basics for free...
If you can afford the ISP charges, phone bills and computer then if you want more you can afford that as well.
So look at the statistics for whatever country you come from... in England how many die for lack of Kidney Dialysis... how many children cannot reach the abuse helpline (run by charity) or samaritans or salvation army or any of a hundred genuine causes that save lives or relieve pain or suffering...
Rather than a token effort here, go quietly forth and when you see someone stranded or in difficulties or even that you can help just because you have skills or equipment... just do it... seek no reward and no publicity and enjoy the quiet satisfaction of having made a difference... however small...

You are stirring it harley.
I think its a good idea etc in ways (so not knocking Linda) But its not new, its not something for a private club, and I will just keep doing it all my own way

Well no members (apart from a selected few) know anything about what is being developed,as we are not allowed. It has been announced on the BrainKing Board and therefore must be open for anyones opinion.

Do you see something wrong with Linda's idea, Steve? I think its very generous and kind of her.
The Sultan of Brunei has lots of personal wealth while all the people around him are very poor, I think thats what Ughaibu is referring to.
MM, you're right, if any rooks or knights had financial problem, nobody would offer to help out would they? Now you know better than that. This programme is a different thing completely. And its JUST started, so give Linda a chance to develop it, maybe to include people who are already members if its successful. But don't give her a hard time while she works out the details.

You been drinking again Ughaibu?? LOL
I wont comment anymore on the below subject MM, I may get banned from this board LOL

The sultan of Brunei?

I know Steve, its a private club i to asked to join.
Lets hope no Rooks or Knight run into financial problems when there memberships are due to be renewed.
Everybody in the world has money problems at some time.

I see we are also not aloud to become part of this pawn helping group by requesting. Even though weve done it before ourselves :o(

I hope someone is also discussing the same thing for those Knights & Rooks that are struggling to keep there membership going.

Within a week or two.

When will game time come back on?

I cant log out??

LongJohn: re New Recruits.

If you're looking for members for your fellowship, please feel free to post on the 'Fellowships' db - perhaps with a link.

That's ok, Fencers about to get out a big ol' can of Raid.

I hate bugs.

Everybody who timed out please send me the game IDs to restore. There was probably some new year bug.