“At risk” - gay story websites and others

[Geron Kees]

7 hours ago, chris191070 said:

I have emailed StoryLover to see if they can help as they have helped rescue a few story sites recently.

Please keep us updated, and thank you!

[Geron Kees]

11 hours ago, ReaderPaul said:

Someone could have access to the website's back end, and not have access to the financials to keep the site up and running.  If only one person has control of the financials to pay for the web access, the site could still go down.  I see this as a potential downfall for many sites, eventually.

Thankfully, sites like GA have backup plans in place.  However, I am guessing many smaller sites do not have such.

There are many pitfalls in assuming control without the explicit direction and permission of the site owner. I should have just said that, without someone 'appointed' as successor, it would be hard to do anything at all.

[ReaderPaul]

2 minutes ago, Geron Kees said:

There are many pitfalls in assuming control without the explicit direction and permission of the site owner. I should have just said that, without someone 'appointed' as successor, it would be hard to do anything at all.

Excellent points, @Geron Kees.  I frequent a website owned by a citizen of the UK but hosted in the US.  The owner of the site has stated that he has a succession plan in place.  At least two persons have access to the backend of the site, and, I assume, the financials, since the other person ran it for a time when the owner had major health issues.

Because of hosting permissions, author permissions, legal issues, and who knows what else, assuming another site's stories and other duties could be fraught with legal and financial peril, not to mention the proverbial red tape.

[chris191070]

5 hours ago, Geron Kees said:

Please keep us updated, and thank you!

At the moment we are struggling to find out which site he used for his domain name.

[chris191070]

I think I have found all of the domain information for tickiestories.us.

Don't know what can be done, know I have this information?

 

[ReaderPaul]

I am not sure either.  I still have not heard from the webmaster at TickieStories, "Pee Jay."

[chris191070]

1 minute ago, ReaderPaul said:

I am not sure either.  I still have not heard from the webmaster at TickieStories, "Pee Jay."

I've emailed Storylover back, asking for further advice. 

I've also emailed AwesomeDude to let him know and ask for his advice.

[chris191070]

Can anyone think of any other sites that need letting know about  Chucks passing?

If anyone has any advice or wants the Domain information, please PM me.

[chris191070]

7 minutes ago, ReaderPaul said:

I am not sure either.  I still have not heard from the webmaster at TickieStories, "Pee Jay."

I'm hoping you here from Pee Jay and he can help us.

[Backwoods Boy]

7 minutes ago, ReaderPaul said:

I am not sure either.  I still have not heard from the webmaster at TickieStories, "Pee Jay."

In the three years I interacted with him, Chuck's email was always from "Webmaster".  He once referenced a "helper", but I seriously doubt that Pee Jay or anyone else has access.  Everything spoke of a one-man operation.  Unfortunately.

[chris191070]

8 hours ago, Backwoods Boy said:

In the three years I interacted with him, Chuck's email was always from "Webmaster".  He once referenced a "helper", but I seriously doubt that Pee Jay or anyone else has access.  Everything spoke of a one-man operation.  Unfortunately.

Yeah, I thought that.

Edited September 13, 2023 by chris191070

[ReaderPaul]

@chris191070 and @Backwoods Boy -- AwesomeDude (Mike) has been in poor health and "Alien Son" ran the site for several months.  Mike is back at the helm now, but still healing somewhat.

Pee Jay has stories on CodeysWorld dot com and on Tickiestories.

[wildone]

3 hours ago, chris191070 said:

Yeah, I thought that.

The Interesting thing is the registrant contact is Tickie Productions, with an address and phone number.

This is sad news to hear.  

As much as people may want to see the site revived or the stories saved, I would caution for anyone to  call the number or write the address on the registration. If his family is aware, or not aware and find out, it probably wouldn't be good for lots of people to reach out, in sympathy or other reasons.

First and foremost, we all must respect the family in cases where someone has died, even if we don't know the wishes of the person the person or if there is a family.

[Geron Kees]

6 hours ago, chris191070 said:

I've emailed Storylover back, asking for further advice. 

I've also emailed AwesomeDude to let him know and ask for his advice.

I was told today that Mike, owner/operator of AwesomeDude, passed away this past weekend. As of yet, there does not seem to be a succession plan in place there, either, though that is not definite.

[wildone]

FYI this is now posted at AwesomeDude. Please click on the link below for more information 

Vale Mike Wengert, 1943-2023

It is with sadness that we advise that Mike, founder and owner of AwesomeDude, passed away on Saturday 9 September after suffering a heart attack.

Please see this forum post.

 

 

 

[wildone]

RIP Mike. 
 

We never chatted personally but knew about you through the admiration of so many others. I have spent many of hours enjoying reading at your site, and even participated in BONN for several years. You will be sorrily missed in this community of ours. 
 

😢

[chris191070]

All we can do is email our favourite authors on tickie and awesomedude and suggest they join GA so there stories are saved.

[Bill W]

It's sad to see a generation of men pass that have loomed so large in assisting the gay community by hosting story sites.  All I can say is, R.I.P. Chuck and Mike, and thank you for all you've done for the gay community.  I hope that we can find a way to continue your legacy.  

[Zombie]

6 hours ago, wildone said:

FYI this is now posted at AwesomeDude. Please click on the link below for more information 

Vale Mike Wengert, 1943-2023

It is with sadness that we advise that Mike, founder and owner of AwesomeDude, passed away on Saturday 9 September after suffering a heart attack.

Please see this forum post.

interesting (encouraging?) comment by Altimexis has been posted in that thread:

”We should probably wait a few days before beginning a frank discussion of the future of the site, and under a different thread. I would like to see the site continue, but there is much to consider before that could happen. At the least, the stories must be preserved for all to enjoy.”

 

 

Edited September 13, 2023 by Zombie

[chris191070]

47 minutes ago, Zombie said:

interesting (encouraging?) comment by Altimexis has been posted in that thread:

”We should probably wait a few days before beginning a frank discussion of the future of the site, and under a different thread. I would like to see the site continue, but there is much to consider before that could happen. At the least, the stories must be preserved for all to enjoy.”

 

 

That's encouraging, it would be a shame if we lost so many amazing stories.

[Myr]

We'll do what we can help our fellow authors and readers of the larger community.

I've penciled in time in my schedule to update our YouTube guides for posting stories/chapters to assist authors with posting.  I know we have a steeper curve than emailing your story to someone and having them post it.

There are other options possible if people involved in other sites wish to reach out to me in PM or by our Contact Us form at the bottom of all our pages.

[JamesSavik]

1 hour ago, Myr said:

I know we have a steeper curve than emailing your story to someone and having them post it.

Bah! It's easy. Better than emailing your story off, and it sits in somebody's inbox until they get around to it.

If you want something done right, do it yourself.

Damn. I just sounded like my Dad.

[lawfulneutralmage]

There are YT guides?!?

[JamesSavik]

17 minutes ago, lawfulneutralmage said:

There are YT guides?!?

 

You can find them :::> Here

 

[raven1]

5 hours ago, JamesSavik said:

Bah! It's easy. Better than emailing your story off, and it sits in somebody's inbox until they get around to it.

If you want something done right, do it yourself.

Damn. I just sounded like my Dad.

I agree about the posting here.  The guidelines have been updated, and if you have problems there are so many ways you can get help from people here.  The first or second time may take help, but you won't have to wait forever to get it.  I never had to wait more than 24 hours for help, and many times got immediate responses.  By the third time, posting was very easy.  Being new to posting poems, I did have to wait a few days while in mediation, but that requirement goes away for recognized authors who post a lot.