Social Networks?

[Hans Peter Omann]

IUOMA/NING: "The hosting of social networks won't be free any more".
Could you be more precice. Define social networks ... what shall still be free..etc..?

PETER

[Ruud Janssen]

On Facebook you see on every page advertisings and links to commercial sites. Not an ideal place.

[Ruud Janssen]

IUOMA stays for free. There will never be a charge for members. Donations and other sources will keep the NING platform for IUOMA alive. Already complete 2011 is financed.

[Steve Random]

Mail art was never free! Just look at all those government tax (postage) stamps on envelopes, cards, shoes, pieces of wood, roosters, etc., etc. What would the fee break down per member?

[Ruud Janssen]

Dear HR, I am longer on facebook that this IUOMA-platform exsists... It has to do with which platform works for mail-artists.... Facebook is a comercial Getto in which you get lost easily.

[H.R.Fricker]

dear ruud
I think: facebook is an open space for an open social network. therefor leave the ghetto named IUOMA and join facebook
greetings hr

[Tomoe N]

So which is the most active site? Here or other or all? Paid site has better service (more info) or same contents in the other? I am little confused which to visit when...

[Ruud Janssen]

There is already a blog where you can post mail-art project for free (see: http://mailartprojects.blogspot.com/) as long as blogger is for free. There is also an UOMA-group on facebook (see: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=136126645117&ref=ts) they both were there even before this IUOMA-platform on NING was created. These blogs are even integtrated in this platform using RSS feeds. So all these optiona are already used. That is why this NING-platform is so powerful and has grown into 1040+ members.

[Tomoe N]

I agree. I have donated my art and photography, but even myself trying to cut back paid artist site and posting my works to free artist sites, so it will be not able. That is shame I just join the group recently...
I agree that you can use something like facebook or even in blog (blogger or wordpress or whatever) you can create page for you and other members to post things. That way, I am willing to join again.

Some idea, you can have a gallery call (online or real gallery) to collect mail art and participant fee for your benefit or maybe some winner (best mail art by vote or something), but that would be off from the concept of the freedom of mail art?

[Hans Peter Omann]

If the best things in life are free - then why pay for them?

[Human Artist Vending Machine LTD]

Why can't..a space likeMyspace..or facebook to host the same thing.that is free with ads and banners.
I think it is silly to charge a fee for people who share free art. You just has to work art magazine,art supplies and gets money from groups that have it. Get a grant..there are ways..