On April Fools Day 2010, Off on a Tangent displayed with a modified template that asked users to purchase a site subscription. All content was cut-off after some introductory text and then had a notice asking users to subscribe to read the rest. The announcement read as-follows:
Get Your OoaT Subscription Today!
Effective today, I am instituting a premium subscription system for Off on a Tangent. If you want to gain access to some of the quality content on this website, please consider purchasing an Off on a Tangent subscription. Prices start at only $75/year! This is much less than some of our competitors, and I think [ . . . ]
Clicking on the various subscription links gave you this information:
Some Off on a Tangent content is available only to paying subscribers. Subscribers receive:
- High quality news, opinion, and creative content from Scott Bradford.
- No more ‘nag screens.’
- Good ‘mojo’ from supporting the independent media.
- A free subscribers’ gift*!
If you want to join the Off on a Tangent community and support quality, independent media, please consider subscribing. Subscription plans start as low as $75/year.
- $75/year unlimited access†.
- $95/year news and reviews access.
- $150/year unlimited access.
- $200/year premium access.
Unlimited access plans unlock the entire Off on a Tangent site with no restrictions whatsoever.
News and reviews plans unlock breaking news, news opinion, and product/media reviews. Fiction, poetry, and other miscellaneous content is not included.
Premium access plans provide all-access rights to Off on a Tangent, including everything in the ‘unlimited’ plan plus publish rights! You can contribute your own content to the Off on a Tangent community!
To subscribe, please contact me directly with a 250 word essay describing why you would like to be an Off on a Tangent subscriber!
* Free gift is available to unlimited and premium subscribers; gift may be made from pipe cleaners and snot.
† $75/year unlimited plan requires 25-year subscription contract and 10-years prepayment.