Shutdown Challenge Terms

The shutdown challenge is not active. No contributions are accepted toward it, no live counter is shown, and nothing on this page is a binding promise. This is a draft of proposed mechanics for review, published for transparency.

Visitors who would prefer the commentary be taken offline could contribute toward a published threshold. If verified net contributions reached it, the commentary experience would be taken down under these terms. Supporters could contribute to keep it online. The two sides would be counted under one published, auditable definition.

“Verified net contributions” would mean completed Stripe payments actually received, minus refunds, chargebacks, processor fees (where applicable), and transactions determined to be fraudulent or legally invalid. The counter could move down when qualifying adjustments occur.

Proposed target: USD $1,000,000 in verified net contributions. This figure is a proposal for review, not a commitment.

• Reaching the displayed target would not trigger shutdown immediately.
• A fraud and reconciliation period (proposed: 30 days) would run before certification.
• After certification, the commentary experience would be taken down within a set number of days.
• A minimal compliance page (terms, privacy, payment support, records) could remain.

• Is the target gross or verified-net, and do processor fees count?
• Are pre-certification contributions refundable, and how are post-certification reversals handled?
• What exactly must happen to archives, related domains, and social accounts?
• May the operator run unrelated future projects, and how is that disclosed?
• Could the mechanic implicate sweepstakes, gambling, charitable-solicitation, or consumer-protection rules?

These terms must be finalized with qualified counsel and a tax professional, the processor must approve the accurately-described model, and a human must explicitly enable it before any challenge contribution is accepted. Until then this remains a draft of an inactive feature.