Wording things is key. And that includes new updates. After hearing about the new updates of a “membership,” (which was actually a donation program) it kind of concerned me on how people are going to react to this, especially kids.

Memberships have a bad reputation, high costs for small features and are usually forced (like premium). And most companies use memberships as a money hungry scheme.

The scratch “membership” is actually more of a fundraiser to help their site stay alive. Otherwise, they'll shut down and basically become a remain of what it used to be. Basically, like the Okami Pack.

What should it be called instead?

I think the name “Scratch programming fundraiser” is one example of a better name. Any name that yells “we are looking for donations” instead of “we are starting a paywall membership” would help the Scratch Team.

okay nevermind i read wrong cryingface

good idea frl

yes please, too many people are mad without reading further

how about… public donation box? monthly donation box?

I agree— the way they promoted it was not super helpful. But I think it would be basically impossible to re-launch it with the intended effect.

I'm concerned that the allure of new sprites will encourage kids to either get the membership themselves, or beg their parents for it like it's robux.

plum_the_fox wrote:

how about… public donation box? monthly donation box?

That actually sounds good too! The term “Scratch public donation box/monthly donation box” has a nice straight forward ring to it.

rdococ wrote:

I'm concerned that the allure of new sprites will encourage kids to either get the membership themselves, or beg their parents for it like it's robux.

Yeah now that I think about it, it's an issue that can brew in.

CBS24 wrote:

I agree— the way they promoted it was not super helpful. But I think it would be basically impossible to re-launch it with the intended effect.

It can just be rebranded as a fix. It's like making a new pipe that leaks and so you fix it up to make it stop leaking.

pippy2011eight wrote:

yes please, too many people are mad without reading further

This. Kids have more smaller attention spans and so they will just see the term “membership” and argue about it without looking more into it.

zispe wrote:

good idea frl

Thanks!

Complete, 100% support!
The confusing name makes lots of people angry because they assume that the “membership” is about making scratch a paid service…

I think the name “Scratch donation club” would be better, but it implies that any donation to Scratch is automatically Scratch Membership.

Maybe it should be renamed to “supporters' program” because that's the point, you support scratch by donating.

WigglyJoey wrote:

Maybe it should be renamed to “supporters' program” because that's the point, you support scratch by donating.

Yes!! That’s a perfect name! Thank you! :~D

d016 wrote:

Complete, 100% support!
The confusing name makes lots of people angry because they assume that the “membership” is about making scratch a paid service…

I think the name “Scratch donation club” would be better, but it implies that any donation to Scratch is automatically Scratch Membership.

Yes! I like that name too! It's like a donation club with perks.

WigglyJoey wrote:

Maybe it should be renamed to “supporters' program” because that's the point, you support scratch by donating.

That's also a good name! You do support nonprofits with donations so it fits perfectly!

bump


this would remove Scratch's community hate by around 50%

d016 wrote:

bump


this would remove Scratch's community hate by around 50%

I would moreover think it would be more around 25 as obviously scratch users aren't really aware of good changes. But if my suggestion is lucky it could go around 50% like you said :]

Support 100% i kiiiiiiiiiiinda feel like this is roblox now cus yea u know

I for sure agree. Calling it a “membership” leads people, especially children on a site that has always been free, to jump to bad conclusions. Calling it anything that supports that it is a donation, like “Friends of Scratch” or “Scratch Supporters” or literally anything else would be better.

“Scratch Membership” is a bit close to “Scratch+” or “Scratch Pro.”

leahcimto wrote:

-snip-
“Scratch Membership” is a bit close to “Scratch+” or “Scratch Pro.”

Yes!! People get mad if they think if Scratch features are going to become paid, but that's not what's happening.

SUPPORT

_Paymer wrote:

SUPPORT

Please explain why you support

Support. There are so many posts here on removing it.
why did auto correct change it to “There's are”

MiaELamanna wrote:

Support 100% i kiiiiiiiiiiinda feel like this is roblox now cus yea u know

Roblox being compared to scratch is wayyyy to far off. Since compared to roblox no actual crimes related to kids safety have been committed on the scratch site iirc.

leahcimto wrote:

I for sure agree. Calling it a “membership” leads people, especially children on a site that has always been free, to jump to bad conclusions. Calling it anything that supports that it is a donation, like “Friends of Scratch” or “Scratch Supporters” or literally anything else would be better.

“Scratch Membership” is a bit close to “Scratch+” or “Scratch Pro.”

Yes! this! Kids are prone to take things literally. Even I as an older person (not really “old” but probably not in the average age rank for scratch) I almost got upset when I just found out about the membership and I was SO relived to find out it was just a donation program. It's giving a huge false alarm.

d016 wrote:

Yes!! People get mad if they think if Scratch features are going to become paid, but that's not what's happening.

Like I said. The wording gives a huge false alarm. Wording things in a site like this is KEY.

_Paymer wrote:

SUPPORT

thanks!

mtaka4 wrote:

Support. There are so many posts here on removing it.
why did auto correct change it to “There's are”

I've seen them. I predict that TOLORS is going to add that into there, I think my suggestion could be a workaround.
Autocorrect is weird