Exciting News About DailyStrength!
Hi DailyStrength friends. I want to be the first let you know about some very exciting news that we're announcing today. DailyStrength has merged with HSW International (HSWI), a leading provider of authoritative content on the Web. HSWI has deep expertise in creating quality, locally relevant content for consumers, and we're excited to merge our wonderful community tools with their excellent content. I bet you're thinking two things: a) "Why?", b) "Now what?" or "How does this affect me?" Let me try to answer both. Why? The inspiration for DailyStrength was, and remains to this day, my cousin Andrew Kirsch, who died of cancer at the age of 20. I wanted to make Andrew proud by helping others on his behalf. With Andrew in mind, I developed a theory which ultimately became DailyStrength. The theory was that I could create a successful for-profit business, but, at the same time, help others in a profound way. I wanted to provide a product or service that improved the lives of the people that used it every day, and I didn't want the people who came for help to have to pay for it. The last 3 years have been a wonderful struggle to prove that theory. Running a business, especially in this economy, has been a challenge, but every time I got down, I'd jump in to one of our communities and see the emotion, the support and the love that you all were offering each other, and I'd be re-energized. Everything we did, from hiring folks to building new features to making money, was done with the view that it must ultimately benefit the folks who come to us for help. HSWI has seen the tremendous value of DS, and wants us to keep doing what we do best. They are offering us the resources to invest heavily in new content and features to improve your experience and bring the power of DailyStrength to others. Now What? How Does This Affect Me? The only effects for you, my friends and fellow DS members, are positive. We can finally throw long-needed resources towards the features and needs of DS. We can expand the reach of communities and content we offer. Most importantly, we can continue to be here in your time of need. In the short term, nothing will be different. Over the coming months, however, you'll start to see both big and small improvements to your DS experience as we offer new and improved services to you, our members. The philosophy will remain the same; we'll just have more folks to help us help you. I can't thank you enough for being a part of DailyStrength and spending your time with us. We look forward to continuing to help improve your life. Doug
Replies
Doug, Heard that also, that there will be a fee to be a member. Hope this is not true. can you please tell us if that is true. Thank you. I sure would be lost with out this site!!
Good luck with the merge but please no more advertising than currently already exists and improved security would be great - Any chance of a https url?
Thanks Doug for all you do and try to keep doing for us!!!! God Bless Donna S
I suppose this was inevitable.
I am very grateful for all the help and support I received here.
I am already feeling a little lost - and distrustful.
Any \'experts\' that stay on this site will not be able to contradict the claims of any advertisers - therefore any medical information given is suspect at the very least.
I understand that you have to take care of yourself - so good for you. I feel like I am just so much chattel...
Change is not a bad thing as long as you look out for us Lets do it. God Bless
How many people here have actually checked out HSW International +Inc.\'s company profile???
A quote from their page: *It (HSW) seeks to achieve a consumer following in these fast-growing economies to make its sites compelling platforms for marketers in nearly every business category.*
Note the phrase including the word MARKETERS.
They\'re all about marketing. Open your eyes, people.
EXACTLY!!! This is no longer about helping people, it\'s about money. Many of the people on DS are in physical and emotional pain and they are here for support, NOT to be bombarded with inappropriate ads from tactless marketers!!!
We don\'t need to be targeted any more than we already are. And we sure don\'t need to be reminded of our problems w/the in-your-face ads!!!!
It\'s interesting how you are so concerned about PR, yet the technical aspects of your site suck!!! Many of our reports of technical problems & requests for help have gone unanswered and unresolved.
Your message is loud and clear....money, money, money and to hell w/the rest. So, Doug, put your money where your mouth is and do something GOOD, like protecting our privacy (don\'t you DARE allow HSWI or anyone else use ANY of our personal information for any solicitous purposes!!!
And while you\'re at it, fix the technical problems, like chat and while you\'re at it, speed up the snail-like servers.
Doug, pls keep us safe. And if we have to pay then I am out. I have no money.
In the real world it is all about the Benjamins. I feel sorry for the members who are so nervous about the change.Let\'s face it anyone is tempted by money;some more than others. Many a good place or business if you prefer has had it\'s owner sell out.That\'s free enterprize. In the world today money talks and it\'s just a matter of how loud it has to get to be heard. Look at all the small companies bought up by the big boys. Then look at all the workers who lost everthing because of it. Retirees who lost their insurance and retirement. Face it it is really hard to trust the unknown. I hope that I am proven wrong.
I agree with specialist about fearing the unknown and Raggy about leaving if we have to pay. Please Doug
dont forget the average person out here, we\'re not made of money but have a lot of problems. Isn\'t that what DS is for?
Doug, why fix up something when there is nothing wrong with it in the first place? Please dont change what you made for your brother into something he wouldnt like anymore.
Although, in the past, I have been very involved with DS, lately I have seen a lot of confusion, hurt feelings and don\'t want to add to the confusion. Paying for using the DS site is a burden many cannot afford and so I can see a downsizing of the population, me being one of them (not that it matters to lose one person, lol).
I applaud your efforts and have always respected your involvement and dedication to this site. Your insight and caring flows through every commuity that you visit. Congratulations on your efforts, no matter the outcome.
DS HAS HELPED ME SO MUCH. I HAVE MET SUCH KIND AND CARING PEOPLE AND THE SUPPORT HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING. PLEASE DO NOT MAKE THIS A PAY TO USE SITE. I THOUGHT DS WAS FOR ALL PEOPLE WHO NEEDED SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO GET IT AND AS IT SAID IN YOUR MESSAGE THAT WHEN YOU STARTED THIS SITE YOU DIDN\'T WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THE HELP. LET HELPING ONE ANOTHER COME FIRST AND LETS NOT PUT A PRICETAG ON IT. FRIENDSHIPS AND THE SUPPORT I HAVE BEEN GIVEN FROM DS IS PRICELESS.
I am sorry Doug, that you are recieving so many bad comments about the changes that you would like make, but you must remember...D.S., has saved many people one of those being myself, i dont have very much money or close friends....just the really close friends i have on this site, people who have listened when i thought i was rambling rubbish and when i attempted to take my life so many people listened to my cry for help, THOSE very kind hearted souls who all have problems of there own saved ME, and i no doubt in my mind that these people had problems much worse than mine, when i had no one else to turn to they WERE there for me...many of these people have now become what i see as very close true friends, these are my real friends Doug. I must agree with other people Doug...i would like to know very early if there are going to be charges to be a member, if there are i will have to say goodbye. And i think that would be very sad.