Things are not going well at all for me at all, I haven't received anywhere near the help I was hoping for, and I haven't been able to visit Skype or the XWF site because I'm having to try and figure out other time consuming means of getting back into a position where I can justify spending a few hours online with the site each day without feeling like I'm digging myself into a pit. I don't know when I'll be active again, but I'm guessing I'll be tied up for at least another week or two.

If you have sent me any Skype messages or any PMs lately, I will try to get to them whenever I return. If they're of an urgent matter, bring them up to Madison.

If anybody wants to help me out in the meantime, you know where the donation link is. Right now we're at about something like 20% or maybe 30% (not sure of the exact #) of the handlers as a whole have helped me out, which is really low and is a big part of why I just sank in the last week, unfortunately. I was not expecting this low of a response, or so many people to "tell me" they will help out but then don't... or talk about how XWF is so much more fun than anything else they could be doing, including video games and other expensive things, but then not donate. I mean seriously, guys, really? I might sound upset, but keep in mind what I really am feeling is insulted.

This isn't 2005 anymore where I can just have an entire site for free and spend all my time on it without having to ever pay anything. This site is a BEAST, and I like it that way, but I just don't know anymore. I've been a member of a major forum community in the past and I remember donating $50 and $100 every other month, and I wasn't exactly rich when I did it. I WANTED to help, and that wasn't even an e-fed and wasn't nearly as fun as XWF can be. Am I that rare? Is it weird for me to expect help from 20/30+ members on a site that I put hours upon hours into every single week behind the scenes and have customized into something no other e-fed (that I am aware of) has ever offered? I'm honestly asking if I'm weird for that, because originally I was afraid to ever ask for help. Should I go back to that? Or should the people who refuse to help, leave? I'm not sure... you tell me.

Whenever I am back in full force, expect a HUGE change regarding what features and options are available for donors vs non-donors, because I plan on thanking donors ten fold once I'm back in a position to spend time on this again. Many options and features are going to be removed from standard, non-donors. It's 2015 and it's time to really start directing my personal energy and the site's resources toward those who have proven they actually enjoy it here. I want the vast majority of people to be donors as we move forward... not the vast majority to be non-donors. Sorry I don't have time to sugar coat my words today as I'm in a rush, but those are the facts, Jack!

I will try to check in from time to time today on this thread, but no guarantees. For those who would like to move forward and get some positive thinking going, I'd welcome some ideas for which already existing features, forums and options you think should be converted to donor-only. I'd also like suggestions on new or returning features you guys think should only be available for donors in 2015. I may also pop back in with some of my own ideas and post them here if I have time.

Holy crap this post got long fast. Sorry about that.