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Ninged

Ning has been a popular, FREE website platform that allows for building a social site. Many people have used Ning to build their own little personal network of "friends" (or "followers", depending how you look at it). But now there is a problem. Ning is discontinuing the FREE version (ref).

So, what will happen to all these Ning sites where the administrators have built up a following? Well, they'll either have to dish out the $2.95 a month for the basic setup or they'll have to scramble to move their site to another platform. This is the problem with FREE sites, they are unreliable. Can you imagine some member of a Ning site that has devoted lots of time to interaction. Posting and creating content and now because the administrator wanted to go cheap, all of that time and effort by members might go down the drain?

I'd don't know what to tell ya. To the admins of these Ning sites, I guess it's "I told ya so". When you don't take the time to invest a little effort into building a platform, or when you relinquish your independence for something that is "free", then this is what happens. To the members of these sites that are more than likely going to lose your material. Maybe you should think twice about "following" a person that didn't care enough about you to get a real website.

P.S. This article isn't meant to be "judgmental or self-righteous", only that if a person accepts "FREE" stuff, be it website platforms or tuition, there is usually some sort of catch. I guess we're seeing what the catch was with NING.

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Examples from members

Here are some quotes from members of Ning sites that are concerned about their content.

QUOTE 1

"if you "move" what happens:

a) is all the content on this site just transferred over, or...

b) is the content lost and we have to reprint/copy new articles, blogs, and discussion comments?"

QUOTE 2

"I have informed all my members of these changes and let them know that I will be closing the site down by May 4th.
As the site was created purely for like-minded people to come together and a sharing of information…and not for making money or profit in any way I find myself in the sad position of having to close down what has been an enjoyable and learning experience for many"

QUOTE 3

"Like, I’m sure, thousands of other Ning site creators, I have spent a great deal of time setting up my Ning sites, which are now supported by over 1,000 members, so I trust all Ning site creators will be kept well informed about these developments?

I understand that many people turn their Ning sites into business ventures, but I’m also sure that many, many more people invest a great deal of time & effort into creating sites which simply promote an interest in a whole variety of worthwhile interests of a musical & artistic nature. "

Read more such examples: http://blog.ning.com/2010/04/an-update-from-ning.html

So, I guess it ISN'T "stupidity" to comment on how NING changes are going to affect members of free NING sites.

One more time...

Well, there are some hostile and hateful people out there, oddly enough people who claim they are "pastors" or "elders". The person commented elsewhere that I'm hypocritical because I have at least one free website and post jointly on another.

HERE'S THE DIFFERENCE so that this hateful fellow can sleep at nights. None of the free websites I have are social network sites. This means if the free version goes away and I lose the content, it is only my loss. No one was contributing to the site like the social network Ning sites. Come on now, this fellow can't be this dense now can he????