This content originally appeared on Go Make Things and was authored by Go Make Things
tl;dr: a paywall is really antithetical to my solarpunk anarchist values, so I’m making most of my members-only stuff free and public.
Community digital gardens
Back in February, I wrote about how my website would be “my stream” of articles and podcast episodes, and my paid members-only community would be my digital garden.
But I also want a web that’s about free, open sharing of ideas.
I’ve created a lot really valuable stuff about ADHD, finding jobs, getting shit done, and more, and it was hidden behind a members-only screen.
So, I’m ditching the paywall.
I just pushed a huge update to my website that adds a new digital garden section.
You can find reference guides, talks, code snippets and more. It’s still a work-in-progress as I port content over, so expect it to grow quite a bit in the next few weeks.
If you like it, I’d be thrilled if you sign up for a Go Make Things membership.
I still live under capitalism, unfortunately, and need money to live. But there’s absolutely no obligation, Enjoy my digital garden whether you’re a member or not!
The Discord community is still members-only
The only thing I’m not making public is my Discord community.
In my experience, web communities are better when there’s a speed bump or two to keep out the trolls.
But if you can’t afford a membership and want to join the community, send me an email. I don’t want money to be a barrier for anyone.
What happens to the current members-only portal?
Honestly? I’m not sure yet.
For now, it stays up exactly as it is. It’s how folks manage their membership and join Discord.
It also has a bookmarking feature. I’m not sure if I’ll port that over here or not. I’ve had a lot of folks say they like it, but I’m not sure quite how valuable of a member perk it is.
In the near future, I want to bring all of the membership management over to this site, including signups, managing your account, joining Discord, and more.
I’d also love to add support for other platforms, like Patreon or Buy-Me-A-Coffee.
What do you think?
Do you want the ability to sign-in to this site, bookmark your favorite stuff, and access it across devices?
If you’re a member already, what do you want to see happen to the existing portal?
Do you have any other thoughts, ideas, and so on? Send ‘em my way!
Like this? A Lean Web Club membership is the best way to support my work and help me create more free content.
This content originally appeared on Go Make Things and was authored by Go Make Things
Go Make Things | Sciencx (2025-09-24T14:30:00+00:00) Goodbye, paywall. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/09/24/goodbye-paywall/
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