Yes, I got a 'free' extension to my visiting here; so what? I've already stated that I'd pay up twelve bucks if only in gratitude to the good that LuLa has done me in furthering my education in matters digital, a service that they rendered me after earlier such kindnesses from members of the original BJP forum did much the same. I eventually quit that earlier scene due the few assholes there who ruined it for the rest of us, who qu¡etly withdrew from what had become an open sewer, and started up our own photographic site, by invitation only. That's one thing that happens when a good place becomes soiled beyond redemption. Problem is, some asholes also migrate.
If I had any objections to LuLa and payment, these have now been overcome due to the fact that content freely supplied is no longer subject to being monetized, the same objection that would prevent me from handing over work to any paper magazine that had no intention of paying me. That sort of submission is normal for a wannabe, and I trod that same route once myself, but comes a time it becomes silly for the individual to persist: it simply cheapens the public (therefore business) perception of the contributor. Same with books: if the stuff's not good enough for a publisher to take a chance, then the same applies to myself, and I'd be an idiot to blow my scarce pennies on publishing vanity; better, and far more gratifying, to have bought a wee Merc, even if only to tool around a deserted summer resort, swanning off to the stray dogs!
As to the relative value of different contributors: of course they vary, and it's not numbers dependent! IMO, one post from Cooter is worth all of those from some other writers. That's IMO. It does not signify that the ownership of LuLa follows my personal beliefs or evaluations in the slightest. In fact, my own 'gift' wasn't even addressed to me by name, so for all I know, perhaps it's computer-generated, and that accounts for the seemingly random manner in which such things happened, and when you deal with the numbers of people who visit this site, seems highly likely to be the only method that's practicable; do you imagine a personal analysis of each and every contributor? Whatever the reason, I really don't feel the owners need explain - it's their site, after all - and the value concerned is about one menu del dia for me, or possibly the cost of a coffee for those living in some cities. Big fucking deal. Of course, there will now ever be the PC brigade that sees imaginary equality as reality, and may God help them all and forgive them, for they are blided by their own faux altruism.
Rob C
