I'm just tuning in here, but I'd love to hear the raw critique, maybe some comparisons to sites that do things better - or was this just a graphic design style issue?

Hey player, how much for da red headed bitch?

Let me know about the $60 or $120 thing. Until then I guess I can work the corner with all my ho's for an extra dolla...jk...I'll just charge them more...he he

Yeah I can totally respect the complexities of such a site as this, hats off to you guys for tackling such a monster. True, I didn't see the site 6 months ago, hell, I didn't know this site even existed 6 days ago, but monsters like this are hard to keep pinned, so I'm sure it's been a constant battle for you all and it has obviously come a long way. I just posted some quick remarks on my initial response to the site, which happened to be on design rather than the programming. I've recently noticed that I'm constantly measuring designs up and breaking them down into their micro and macro elements, reading behind the lines and going past the literal, but I know it is hard to work on design when then programming is being a bitch. I just like things to be pretty! But as it were, sometimes initial responses from a fresh eye is what you want when seeking refinement on something you've been living with daily. But obviously I get a little too excited and jump the gun like a freshman who thinks he's already playing on varsity. So, I think I'll settle down for now and look around a little bit more before I try stepping on the field again.

Sorry I let you down. or You just have a dirty mind and need a metaphor. lol

Jeffrey is the master of off the cuff metaphors but I think that's the first one in a while that wasn't totally sexual or gross. Congrats. LOL.

I was just telling a friend how much better the site looks and functions compared to just 6 months ago. So I admit to feeling wounded at your commentary. You have to live in the our house for a while to be a credible contributor. Communities are like kitchens that have been cooking cabbage or fish, today’s bad smell is tonight’s delicious meal…..what smell? Seriously though the complexity of the software and it's functionality have always been the priority. It took me a long time to understand how subtle and complex it is. I have not seen any other site that offers the conversational informal feeling the user gets here. But after a year of Mac and Cheese, grilled cheese, cheese, cheese and some chips fatigue sets in. And we lose sight of our goals. So thanks for pissing us off and getting the energy level up a notch. We need as many new memberships as possible, people who are interested and interesting. Every member has an opportunity to contribute to its health and quality so put your trained eye away for a while, read the postings get to know the characters and you will get far more back.

And we usually don't take things personally but after 18 months we get a little weary of this coming up when most people do fine with what we have and see the value of the connections, not how pretty it has to be. It's funny because I almost didn't launch the site because I didn't like the design – in fact, by listening to my then partner who didn't want to be associated with a poorly designed site (you think this is bad, you should have seen us on day 1!) I actually waited from August until November to launch it before finally realizing the value of the tool was more important than the look. I was right, and 6 weeks later, the Wall Street Journal agreed. Anyway, we have no shortage of chores, no lack of needs, no lack of ideas. It's only about execution. We have no money, but we offer exposure. So anyone who's willing to step up, can.

I think the $120 thing might be a mistake. Let me ask Jesse about that. Whether you pay, or don't pay, the point is, is that you criticized the site being a newbie without any knowledge of how many people work on this site (one who programmed the initial backend – Jesse Tayler, me, who started the thing and works on it when I'm not freelancing to pay my bills, and Jeffrey Riman, who kindly handles business development issues when he's not busy putting food on the table) our financial situation (we're just a couple of guys with no money), or our capabilities (Jesse is a genius programmer and did the best he could with design, I'm mainly a print designer who knows enough web stuff to be dangerous. Jeffrey...let's just say we try to keep him in Microsoft Word.) Finally, that we've asked, but never received the help we've needed repeatedly. We need someone who knows how to reskin HTML/CSS on top of this Oracle database that the site runs on. We're not a couple of kids who hacked some PHP together. This site is some serious hardware and software. Unfortunately, some of the complexities of the backend system which keeps some things running well limits our ability to accomplish certain things in CSS that you might think easy. That said, I took a quick peek at your site and it seems like you do have some good stuff going on there. So instead of critiquing a site you've been on for just a few minutes, why not help us improve. We'd be happy to make you an insider for free then and give you credit. It seems like with the blogs you're posting (besides this one..he he) you're already looking to be a good member. Maybe you can be the one person who has talent who can actually not flake on us.

Drew, pay up you cheap skate, cough up the dough; pay on a month to month basis if you have to. . .stop going out on dates, cut back on a few drinks, eat two meals a day instead of three, sell some of your possessions; you're a college grad now, you figure it out. It's that important to your well being, and sense of what is right or wrong! PS--You would be surprised at all I know, and what I know; but I'm not saying a thing until to come up with the cash, tight wad.

It really wasn't that spicy, I just think I came across wrong. I'm only a little shy. $60 dollars?! I could afford this right now, but the site says $120 and that's a lot of cash for me right now (my parents no-longer give out free money...damn-it). It's definately worth the value though, I won't agrue that and I do intend to pay soon, but so far-and this is another design issue I've come across-I've had no incentive to pay. The site needs to persuade me more to dish out some mulah. Currently the only stipulation "freeloading" has revealed is the inability to send more than one P.M. a day, and the whole event thing. Not to sound mean but I'm sorry, that's not worth $120 dollars to me. But don't get me wrong, I do want to support Adholes and will pay just as soon as I can scrape some cash together (sooner if it's really only $60). How did you know I'm not a paid member anyway?

Damn, I missed all the spicy shit that got deleted. . . . . . . . . . So, Drew you mentioned, "I simply think Adholes can be improved upon in some minor areas"--what might those areas be-specifically? Be gentle now, but communicate your point. I for one would be curious to know. (PM me if you’re shy). . . . . . . . . . Your notion of becoming an “INSIDER at Adholes”, and supporting Adholes with your cash sounds like a great idea (I do the same thing myself). Money cures all sorts of problems. (Spread the word while you at it, and tell all your friends at Ball State University to do the same thing). . . . . . . . . . If people only knew that Marc and Jeffrey are forced to live in a cardboard shelter, in the alley behind Grand Central Station, just so they can afford to pay the bills around here; so all the freeloaders can benefit from their only dime? (Pay the yearly rate while you’re at it, instead of the monthly fee), so they can also afford a bath and some day old bread with jam . . . . . . . . . . Look at it this way Drew, it is part of the cost of your education (your parents can afford to pay this also). Ball State University charges you a hell of a lot of money to go to their school, while Marc and Jeffery, only charge a pittance (of $60 a year) to come to the Adholes. And, you will learn things here and meet people here, you could NEVER accomplish at Ball State or any other University. It is part of the price you have to pay to become a professional. Part of what you have to do, to get into the advertising business and start knowing what reality is and what is really going on; the who’s-who and what’s-what of our industry. . . . . . . . . . . Sure, you could continue to come to Adholes and lurk around for free, but notice what kind of respect free just got you? In reality there is no such thing as a free lunch, the cheap and the short sighted usually learn this lesson the hard way.

I would try this posting again with a different spin. "I understand you are looking interns.........."

Hi, why don't you go start your own social network for ad people and see how you do.