Well, it’s actually $47 a month now.

It’s not my job to defend the setup, but the reality is that the Third Tribe concept has attracted a group of very impressive people. I don’t mean impressive just in terms of their achievements or good name, although there is a good array of very well known and respected people: for me at least, the impressiveness is more in the quality, depth and breadth of the conversation, and the generous sharing of ideas and thoughtful advice. And frankly, the humility – there is none of the adolescent (with all due respect to adolescents, a group of whom I was once a member) boasting and point-scoring that goes on in some other Internet marketing gatherings.

From what I have seen so far, I doubt that many, or perhaps any, of us would want to set ourselves up a “Internet marketers with a conscience” if the implication is that unspecified others don’t “have a conscience”.

Saying that the formation of a gathering and learning place for people who have a certain cluster of views about how they want to do business and are willing to pay a monthly membership fee means that they are setting themselves up as “the good guys” and thereby labelling everyone else as something other, is a colorful debating point, but it’s what I think lawyers would call a “straw man”.

As for the cost, well, a) it never ceases to amaze me how much people spend at restaurants and bars as if there is no tomorrow (even though I’ m a Sydneysider born and bred, I nearly fell over a couple of years ago when I went to a bloggers’ meetup in a city hotel and one glass of mediocre wine cost $9) and b) it takes money to run things well. I imagine if a perception ever takes hold individually or collectively that group membership does not provide value for money then the subscriptions will cease.

I joined Wealthy Affiliate for the first full month (because there were no refunds I visited frequently) to really assess it. I didn’t feel comfortable. After logging out each time I felt like a shower. (I kid you not). Everyone had this sense of urgency to make money. I’m more of a cautious and critical approacher and then I really get going.

I felt comfortable joining Third Tribe because I had already had experiences with Brian with Thesis, loved Darren’s Aussie contribution and read Chris’s book after picking up a copy at last year’s Affiliate Summit in New York. I haven’t really had much to do with Sonia to date, but that will be remedied soon.

So far, I’ m enjoying my experience – but I’m still hesitant to see how different it is. I’ll do my best to keep the bas*ards honest